Breed advice for first time dog owner

[Rosiep10]

We've never owned a dog before. Just moved to the Sussex countryside, lots of great walks about and as a family we're quite active, walking and running a lot. We have kids ages 6 and 10 and 2 cats. We'd like to get a dog. I wfh so there's almost always some one at home. We don't want a big dog and had been thinking of a whippet but I've been told sighthounds are a no for cats. Can anyone with doggy experience help suggest good breeds for a first time dog owner in the above scenario. Thank you so much.

Also to add - I have read several threads on here so have some inkling (probably too vague) of how hard the early months/years can be. Welcome insights or things we should consider before going ahead

Ah I was going to suggest a Labrador but then noticed you said not a big dog, although I suppose depends if you’d think of Lab as big or medium? We have a 3 year old Lab now and he is just the perfect family dog, we have a very similar lifestyle/work set up to you and he’s perfectly happy to be out with us all day or equally happy to walk morning & night and spend all the time in between asleep on the sofa, he’s so gentle, amazing with kids, adults, dogs and other animals, they have just the most amazing nature.

The only thing is they are notoriously arseholes when they are babies, and they are “babies” for a LONG time, you have 18 months-2 years of constant training and it’s intense. We got our Lab before we had our baby so I was able to dedicate 100% of my time to his training and needs, I would have struggled to do that now with a child and left to their own devices they are so clever they get into all kinds of mischief. They are amazing dogs though!

Miniature Australian Labradoodle. But join the FB groups of all that tempt you and then leave them when you hear too many downsides and see what's left at the end.

A whippet brought up with a cat will almost certainly be fine (we had a farm-bred ratting Jack Russell who grew up with a cat and was fine with her). I wouldn't think of a whippet as a running companion, though - the sighthounds tend towards short bursts of energy and then collapse on the sofa.

Our JRT used to run miles with DH, so if you want something small but, um, spirited, they might be worth a look.

We have a goldador (labrador, golden retriever cross) and two cats and they all rub along pretty well together. Cats were here first and were quite rattled by the arrival of a puppy to start with. I focussed really heavily on training the dog to be calm around the cats and kept them apart for the first few months. She is a brilliant addition to the household though the first few months were hard! Puppy nipping is not fun. Also bear in mind that walks are limited in the first year which can be a bit frustrating if you are quite an active family. if you do go ahead with a dog, get some of those calming cat plug ins. They really helped our cats.

I agree with EdithStourton get a Whippet if you want one! I grew up with them and we also had cats. They happily lived and slept together!

Maybe a Bedlington Terrier is for you... I don't really know the breed as such exept for one that is really lovely and gentle. At the same time fast, agile and a quick learner.

I second a beddy!

JRTs are great little dogs. Happy to have long walks but equally happy to be on your lap and very portable.
Have had 2 and they are brilliant.

Get a whippet. Lots of rescue centres are full of them and they are lovely little dogs - some are fine with cats. If not a rescue then get a puppy.

Avoid mongrels - particularly the ‘designer’ ones - because they’re rarely stable (mentally or physically) and quite frankly with young children you don’t need that risk in your life.

My working line terrier and her cat. If you want a whippet then get one. Most dogs can be trained to live alongside cats. You will need management initially until pup calms down. We also had to do ‘the cat is boring and he doesn’t want to be snogged or chewed’ training.

A friend has a whippet with a cat and a couple of house rabbits.

Most dogs will be okay with cats if they're bought up with them.

I love terriers as they are big dog personalities in small packages, they do need plenty of exercise and training but I think that's true of most dogs.

Otherwise bichon frise are generally lovely little dogs, poodles and non working line spaniels.

I can 100% mirror this
Yes labs are big but don’t come with a lot of the problems that some (not all) smaller dogs do. Our lab for example never barks, doesn’t chew or wreck the house, doesn’t yap, doesn’t bite, isn’t territorial is physically big but a gentle giant, is calm around old people and kids and so loving. But he was definitely a naughty puppy and can be stubborn hahahaha

As an experienced dog owner I would say get mixed breed or a "designer breed " like Cockapoo. Less like to have health issues. Also, there is no way I would get a puppy. This is way too much hard work for me. We got our Cockapoo at 5 months. The previous owners didn't bargain for the amount of energy he had. We got him half price with all the jabs. I wouldn't get a terrier if you have cats.

I’ve got two greyhounds and two cats, and I run with both dogs. They have a habit of stopping suddenly and peeing on my leg, or taking off after squirrels and dragging me down hills too fast. They don’t make the best running companions, but they’re good for 5k and they love it so much I can’t go without them, as they give me the sad eye.

No, just no.

I have a lovely rescue cockapoo. But she wasn't lovely when I got her, more like a project and subsequent crash course in nervous, energetic dog management.
Mine isn't a pet, she's a working dog with a job.

Also, more healthy is a myth. If both breeds have tendency to hip dysplasia and breeding stock isn't checked (as often not done with X breeds) puppies can still be born with the condition.

Anyway OP would like a whippet, and I think they make lovely first dogs.

It's a myth that mixed-breed dogs are healthier than pedigrees. Actually, vets are seeing far more health issues in mixed breeds dogs now than pedigree lines - especially those which have poodle heritage.

Poodles, especially standards, are some of the healthiest & most robust /problem free breeds around but most of the mixing to create designer dogs (labradoodles etc) is unethical and promotes poor health through generations.

If you're attracted to poodle mixes then just get a poodle - you don't have to have them trimmed in a show cut and they're very intelligent, down to earth, dogs with lovely temperaments. I wouldn't necessarily advise one for first time owners though because they are super intelligent and need consistent, firm training.

If you want to know whether pedigrees or mixes are healthier, run an insurance quote for two similarly sized dogs of similar shape.

The insurance stats don't lie, and historically crosses and mongrels have been cheaper to insure.

I say this as the owner of pedigree dogs.