Which breed?

[Minihero]

Which breed dog do you have?

We are planning on getting a puppy in Spring and looking at breeds. We love golden retrievers and have the space for a medium-big dog. We also like the idea of cocker spaniels and cockerpoos. There's also a maltipoo in our family that we adore.

We have 2xDC age 8 and 6 and DH works from home every day.

We have a Hungarian Vizsla, beautiful temperament, very intelligent, very loving. We’re on our third and I can’t imagine getting any other breed of dog.

I have a St Bernard and a Yorkshire terrier.

I would 100% recommend both.

It really depends how much walking you want to do.

My MIL has a spaniel that just won't stop, despite being 6, my Saint was energetic initially but now she's 2 she just plods along when she can be arsed, and my terrier is just happy with anything.

Don't get a cookerpoo! I have one, but she's hard work, needs a ton of exercise and stimulation... really not a good pet at all. Plenty of people will say theirs is the perfect dog, but be warned with cross breeds, you are reducing the chances of knowing roughly what temperament your dog will have. The chances of getting the highly strung or wild one are increased!

On a different note, I also have Tibetan Terriers. For me, they are the perfect dog. Funny, intelligent a bit clingy, stubborn and pretty chilled about most things. Their aim is to be with you... conquer your heart and boss you around!

But if you have set your heart on a golden retriever, why not just get one?

I have a female Cocker (show) who is 10 and a male Golden (show) who is 2. I also have one rescue cocker (working) that I am foster failing fostering. Both my own dogs need 2 hours a day of good exercise and constant mental simulation - and their litter mates (still in touch with both breeders) are reportedly the same.

What I would say about Goldens is that they play rough, they shed a lot, they drool and they take a long time to 'grow up.' They're not necessarily as 'easy' as people think - you need to put a lot of effort in. Mine is 45kg and, being honest, my husband struggles to hold him back when he greets me at the station with the dogs. That being said, both my Cocker and Golden are sweethearts and I wouldn't change them for the world.

I grew up with GSDs and Collies - definitely would not recommend them. To do them justice they need a properly active family that will work them.

Just be aware that a working-line dog can be a disaster in a pet home - not always, but it happens often enough that it's a bit of theme on this board.

Working cockers etc often need an outlet that plays to what they have been bred to do. Give them that, and they are fine. Deny them that, and things fall apart.

I have working-line dogs myself. The older one lives to work and if she doesn't get the outlet that she needs, she turns into a bloody nightmare. Give her what she needs and she is an absolutely wonderful animal.

Show-line golden retrievers are in my experience really nice dogs: social, affectionate, generally easy-going. Big and enthusiastic as puppies, though, so be prepared for that.

Go for an endangered breed like a Smooth Collie, Bearded Collie, Rough Collie or a Skye Terrier or Selyham. Suggest you go to a Discover Dogs event. Howarts are like retreavers and are lovely.

I have cardigan corgi (the Queen had Pembroke corgis I’ve owned one of those I prefer cardigans). He’s my 3rd. I’ve had other breeds mainly working gun dogs but no longer have a sufficient outdoor lifestyle to provide them with the exercise/mental stimulation they need. They are great dogs they’ll enjoy a walk for 2-3 hours or like today just do 2 30 mins walk, they chilled happy go lucky dogs definitely no neuroses, that are easy to housetrain etc, they’re not prone to separation anxiety, they’re great comedians at times, loving and loyal to their family mine have been excellent with my children, and my friends and family but reserved with strangers and dogs they don’t know, if they meet dogs and people they don’t know on a walk they just ignore them they are definitely not looking for a fight/jumping up at strangers. They are big dogs personalities on small legs, mine have all been exceedingly healthy the last 2 living to 14 years.
The only negatives they have double coats and shed like nothing on this earth and they are originally herding dogs so they cannot be trusted around livestock in fact they will actively seek them, the current one will be under a gate before I can blink if he thinks there are livestock even a coupe of fields away so I’m constantly on the look out!

These responses are really helpful, thank you. Having googled some I have discovered some beautiful breeds I wasn't previously aware of.

We love GRs but our heart isn't set on one breed yet. The shedding wouldn't be ideal but then I think when you love a dog...

We are an active family but not active enough for a working cocker for example. We are suburban and I feel like those dogs are probably better suited to rural life.
Next door have a show line cocker who is absolutely beautiful though. Not sure if there is a substantial difference in temperament?

I love the look and sound of Tibetan Terriers.

We have collies, labs and working cockers.

The hardest work are the working cockers. They are all working dogs and need to be worked. Just the wcs need more work than the others!

Labs are lovely dogs (if you get the breeding right). The do need a decent amount of exercise regularly but then happy to chill. Love every one in the family, can be very hard work for the first 18 months but then just lovely, easy and fun. Can be boisterous though but pretty easy to train to be calm if you give them time.

WCS just mad and never stop. You willl not be able to physically tire them out, they need a lot of training and a lot of approriate mental activities. Mine are detection dogs and work hard (very hard) but still come home raring to go. I would not recommend as a family pet unless you have hours of time you want to fill.

Collies just the best dogs ever. They do need a lot of attention, not always physical but a lot of time as much as you can give them . Really easy to train what they want to learn quite hard to train if they do not want to learn it. Probably not the breed you are looking for.

Goldies love mud You need to love cleaning muddy paws and mud. For me they can be a bit thick but again breeding is important. I hate the goldie love of just stopping or just lying in a puddle but others find it amusing......

@Ylvamoon you're the 2nd person who has warned me off cockerpoos. Such a shame as they are such gorgeous dogs. But warning heeded!

You wouldn't go far wrong with a Norfolk Terrier or a Labrador.

I have a Patterdale terrier. He’s a lovely, well behaved cuddly angel. However he does have a high prey drive (he’s killed a mouse and a pidgeon) whilst on a walk. He rarely ever barks, only if there’s a cat in the garden or at fireworks.

We have a cockerdor, (mum was lab and dad was spaniel) she is gorgeous but it has taken 3 years for her to calm down!
She looks like a little Labrador but others are far more 'spaniel'y iykwim. Very loving and ball/food orientated!!

Would you consider an ex race greyhound? So much more rewarding than a puppy and ours is a real joy.

All you have suggested will be lovely though as someone who has owned a range of dogs from a German shepherd, staffy to now a collie all your suggestions are mentalists 😂 (nothing wrong with that I’ve got one myself) but just prep for a LOT of walking.

though I do want to add and not just to you but something that seems like a big thing now is to call a “cockerpoo” etc. a breed…they mongrels (which I have no issue with, I love all dogs and if I’m honest 9/10 times a mongrel is healthier than a pedigree) I just think it’s wild the amount people sell them for, just something to keep in mind. You want to get your pup from someone who has “had pups” because they love dogs not just as a money making thing because IMO they come from a setting where the pup and the parent dog have never received the love they deserves, the more people buy from these people the more poor pups will suffer for easy money.

I've had labs, German shepherds, and multiple staffs and while I loved my nut case lab, its staffies all the way for me.
They are nanny dogs and great with families in my experience and insanely loyal and loving. We're looking to get a dog next year and will likely look at a Staff for sure.

Is calm an essential trait?

If not, go beagle!! They are the sweetest,most loving, tolerant pooches ( but bonkers and stubborn etc etc ) and so so lovely...but in no way calm!!

And they have the best velvet ears

and beagles have very rub-able bellies

What do you want from a dog? We have an under rated breed, Basset Hound. Wonderful temperament, fantastic with kids. We introduced a kitten and now they cuddle up together. Contrary to belief they are very trainable with the correct methods, ours can be off lead.

pictures fail

We are an active family but not active enough for a working cocker for example.

Our Basset easily does long walks and loves them, but is equally happy with a comfy bed.

We have 2 pugs - they love walks, playing and sleeping. My youngest is quite naughty!! they are prone to some health issues - but so are many breeds now. They are family oriented/ friendly and love cuddles!

These dog pics are making me very happy! All beauties.

I have bernese mountain dogs, a bit bigger than golden retrievers.

Imo you should think about fur - I adore long, silky hair and wouldn't want a breed with short hair or even curly hair. Mine don't need professional grooming, whereas there is an extra expense with the breeds that need it. Finally the shedding. Mine shed like crazy and not everyone would cope.

Also energy levels. Cockapoos are a nice size but need a lot more running around than my big boys, who just lie around snoozing most of the time. My brother has cockapoos and they are high energy. I wouldn't cope!

Finally vet bills and insurance costs. Mine cost a fortune!

If you are an active outdoor family that isn't necessarily looking for a working dog and neither needs or wants to train a dog for specific work then I'd recommend a boxer.

They are the Peter pan of the dog world. They don't slow down until they stop. They are brilliant with children. They have enough energy to keep up and love long walks and love to play but they don't need an excessive amount of walking. They are intelligent and highly empathetic. They have the most expressive eyes and love to try and talk to you. They are a bit goofy and ours had the best sense of humour of any dog I've known. I've got boston x and a staffie now.
Bostons are great with kids too.