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.

How about a Whippet? I don’t own one but they are defo on my list. Everything you read seems to say they are a great family dog?

I have two beautiful female Labradors. Both beautiful temperaments, cuddly and affectionate, generally very easy to train, the one we had from a puppy is great to walk, doesn't pull and we can take her anywhere to the pub or cafes and she is chilled and happy, doesn't chase livestock and is just my best friend. She was easy to housetrain, hardly had any accidents, never needed to be crate trained as she has never chewed anything or caused issues.
The other is a rescue and is work in progress training wise but absolutely gorgeous in nature, loves children, and is a really super little girl. I adore Labradors.

I have a poodle/golden retriever (also has a little bit of lab in her). She would absolutely fit your criteria.

She is basically a GR with a shaggy red coat. Her coat is beautiful but takes a lot of work as I've kept her long and groom her myself. Minimal shedding though. She's fantastic with kids, only barks if people approach our door and is generally a lazy lump indoors. She isn't particularly intelligent (my preference!) but has been pretty easy to train as she's so eager to please. She is happy with as much exercise as you can give her, obviously for health reasons she gets a good amount each day, but if we ever have to skip a day, she isn't bouncing off the walls.

If you were to consider a cross though, it's imperative to do your due diligence as there are many dodgy breeders out there. Most important with the poodle crosses as they're popular so desirable for puppy farmers etc.

Hip/elbow scoring is vital in the larger crosses, especially as retrievers and poodles are prone to dysplasia. Parents should be fully health tested... just puppies that are "health checked" are not enough.

If you can find a decent breeder, they are amazing dogs and I'd have another in a heartbeat (although I'd go smaller as mine is huge and no way I could handle 2 of her on a walk!).

Italian Greyhound? No shedding, no smell, could walk for 30 minutes or 3 hours. Happy at home provided there’s a blanket to snuggle under. Toilet training was never an issue and we chose a breeder who was breeding for confidence. Can take her on trains, busy pubs, camping etc. Great dog.

We considered golden retriever and labs but I’ve never been in someone’s house where the smell doesn’t hit you like a wall. We also wanted a dog who would be relatively uninterested in other dogs and less likely to encounter issues with dog aggression.

We have a beagle.

Pros - amazing with kids and the elderly or disabled, very food motivated, incredibly affectionate, adores people and is generally pretty easy going. He has the softest ears and he smells of popcorn!

Cons - he's vocal and loves to chat back, he also doesn't like being left alone. His recall is iffy unless we're at the beach too so no long off-lead walks in the woods for us!

Don't get an Italian Greyhound with younger DC. They can be quite fragile and sensitive little souls!
A Whippet however would suit you well if you wanted a pointy dog.

PS: re cookerpoo, mine is a rescue, basically a failed pet. But she's excelling in K9 sports, both Agility and Obedience- turning quite few heads! I do think she's a Poodle x Working Coker Spaniel, but who knows, definitely unique in every way!

We have a cockerpoo, and he's lovely. Yeah he's 11 months so still a baby, but he is so so so loving and sensitive. Yeah he's energetic but a good off lead walk, and a good sniffy route and he's snoring his head off. He isn't too much in the house he loves the kids so much so they keep him busy!
He has lots of toys, I work from home too. But hes really good on his own too.
He has lots of toys and chews and things to keep him busy. But he loves a snooze, and adores sitting at the window watching !

He's the most loving dog we've ever had. He was a doddle to toilet train, has great recall and is always eager to learn. On the flip side he's daft as a brush but loves other dogs and adores kids.

Just thought I'd pop a positive cockerpoo story as tbh I've never met a bad one in real life!! My best friend has one and he is very similar, he's 4 now and he's more chilled out.

I think my only thing really is that they seem to have sensitive tummies, so we are just quite strict on what he eats!

Although i will add that if he sees any water at all or a puddle he will just dive into it. He loves water and the beach is his favourite place! We have a dog walker too who gives him a really good run out

Instead of poodle crosses why not go for a Standard poodle. If you choose the right breeder - very few health issues, long life span, loyal, love being outdoors but equally love to cuddle up on the sofa.
And they don't shed!

One of our bernese developed severe mobility problems at the beginning of the year. Not exactly sure what happened - vets were stumped too. Anyway as we have another bernese, and our immobile one has separation anxiety, we got him a buggy from amazon and took him out in it. He would get out and do what he could and then back in again. Then in August he suddenly stopped using it and is walking fine! He is 9, which is old for a bmd. Here he is in his buggy

@Arran2024 that's hilarious. Long term faking it for a lift? Mine kind of does that too. One day he's limping, looking like he can barely make it across the room - no way would I take him out. Others he looks like he could run.

P.s he's adorable.

Look carefully at the health profile of any breed and avoid those that are deformed - frenches, bulldogs, King Charles......the list is endless, or anything with a squashed face, short legs, long back and most with screw tails.

My personal preference is gun dogs. Love a Labrador, they are the perfect pet except for the shedding!

You will see we even added a bath mat so he didn't slip! Seriously, he could barely walk for months. He has lymes disease and it could have been that with a spontaneous remission according to the vet.

I have the perfect dog if you want one that has selective hearing (i.e. selectively never hears 'come', or 'down'), will chase anything that moves with 4 legs, will refuse to go on 'boring' walks, or out in the rain, will take exception to some men for no apparent reason and will pull you along the ground on your chest if they spot any aforementioned fuzzy friend before you've seen it. They can take offense if you're harsh, but don't listen if you're too soft, unless there's something in it for them. They're independent to a fault but also loyal, loving, fab with kids (as long as they don't accidentally knock them over) and sleep for about 18 hours a day. Rhodesian ridgeback - huge, idiotic hounds (the boys), but they really get under your skin. You'll need to weight train and work on your balance in advance if you want one!

Samoyed - she's always being stopped for a cuddle and we're told OMG shes so beautiful - but she does like bog snorkelling and hates the bath 🤪

Your dogs are gorgeous @Arran2024 ❤

(said with no giant breed bias whatsoever of course...😉)

@Arran2024 I'm falling in love with this breed. Are they huge?

Thanks again for all of these responses and photos. Really appreciated.

We want fluffy over pointy. Still not opposed to smaller/ medium sized breeds but I know DH doesn't want a yapper.

Are these difficult like a husky? Are they the same spitz breed? My Akita is and it makes him stubborn and moody. But in a good way. He's his own dog. He'll follow my instructions but the cogs turn working out if he wants to or what's in it for him first. Sometimes I have to put on my stern voice.

@Arran2024 that sounds serious. And plausible. I hope he makes it to a great age with a solid step.

I have a Springer Spaniel, he’s nearly 3 and my DC were 12 and 14 when we got him.

Pros - intelligent, focussed, fiercely loyal, loving and full of joy and fun

Cons - prone to being highly strung and getting overwhelmed (this is improving with age though), extremely energetic, intelligent so needs a good amount of mental stimulation too, took a long time to be comfortable alone and isn’t a dog that would cope being left several hours everyday

He’s incredible and we adore him but I have to ‘work’ him - our walks incorporate gundog training, I do a weekly enrichment class (alternate Hoopers and scent work) and so he takes up several hours a day in attention. If his needs are met he’s really calm in the house and settles well, although he does like to be no more then half an inch from me at all times……

I certainly don’t think I could have given him the life he needs and deserves if my DC were younger or I had more work commitments. He’s very much a lifestyle dog not one that you can get away from a quick walk around the local park.

Love seeing the proper poodle @Jeffandpedro!

Is there a reason (other than just fashion) that people go for the crosses and avoid the standard/miniature poodles, does anyone know? Wondering if there are specific health/behaviour concerns, or if it really is just fashion.

Fluff you say? 😂

What about something unusual like a Bearded collie or a Briard? They are medium sized and active without being too high energy for family life. For a similar shaggy dog look in a smaller package, take a look at the Polish Lowland Sheepdog; they're full of fun and make a great family dog.

If you do feel you could cope with a larger breed then how about a female Newfoundland..?