Best breed of dog for first time owner

[puppyplans]

I'm finally going to be in a position to have a dog next year! I haven't had a dog before so concerned that a rescue would be too much.
I also have cats so no terriers or sighthounds.
I was thinking of a small poodle - are they a good first dog or would you recommend a different breed?

I guess it all depends on your lifestyle, finances and what you want from a dog.

I personally love mini poodles but they need a lot grooming and can be prone to separation anxiety so they wouldn't be a good choice if you need to be out of the house a lot.

Start with the basics

• what size dog? What will fit in your home and car, and what size do you just feel is right? Does it matter to you whether you would be able to pick it up?
• where do you stand on drool?
• how much grooming are you up for doing yourself? How much can you afford at the groomers and how often if not done yourself?
• what's the ruthlessly honest amount of time you have to walk the dog daily?
• what sorts of other activities do you want to do with your dog?

(I'm assuming you have checked affordability - food, treats, poo bags, brushes, insurance, wormers, treats, toys, initial set up with collar/harness/lead/bowls/puppy classes/bed/car restraint etc)

I can't comment on all small and toy breeds but I do find bigger dogs are easier to train and in terms of personality. They need more walking, but seem to be from my experience less anxious and less demanding.

I would completely avoid any breed that was traditionally bred to be more than a companion dog - so no GSDs, Collies, Retrievers, Spaniels, Pastoral breeds. If you don't know what you're doing with them...it can end incredibly badly.

Get something small and 'companion'. A toy poodle, in theory, is fine. But they have a lot of behavioural issues (excessive barking, submissive urination and nervous along with severe separation anxiety) if not properly socialised.

My highly researched position (as in my son told me) is that a Havanese is the companion dog that will make you happiest.

I have a spaniel. She's a nutter, but she does quite like to lick the cats.

I’ve had spaniels, corgis, golden retriever and a cross. We currently have a miniature poodle and she is easily the best dog ever. They are very intelligent, so easy to train. They don’t chew up your house. They live to please. They don’t shed. She rarely barks. She gets on with other dogs. The only downside is the fur which needs cutting regularly. We do it ourselves, it’s not difficult. We cut her the same way all over, so she looks like a normal dog.

They don’t chew up your house.

In retrospect, this is a message I wish I'd read a few years ago...

On the plus side, we'll never need to buy a shredder.

Greyhound or whippet. Very sweet dogs with very few health issues. Don’t need enormous amounts of exercise, low maintenance and quiet. They are also very clever and goofy with people they love/trust.

Please don’t get a working breed or a ‘poo’ mix. They are very difficult to train and anxious, hence the number of badly trained dogs at the park. Invest in a few sessions with a one one dog trainer so you can start as you mean to continue with good behaviour and a happy, healthy well adjusted dog.

A labrador. Their greediness makes them very biddable, though they are energetic puppies.

Actually poodles were/are working dogs, bred to retrieve waterfowl.
They are very intelligent, which isn't necessarily a good thing as a first dog. Dumb loving obedience has a lot to be said for it! Which is why my recommendation would be a well bred show lines (not working) labrador. There is a saying that a labrador is born half trained and a spaniel dies half trained..... little simplistic but my experience woth labradors compared to the pointers I have now is that the labradors would do something 'because you said so and I'm a good dog'. My pointers are like training cats, they don't necessarily say no to a request, but their first response is always 'why?' 😅

That's the standard poodle. Toy ones were bred for a similar purpose but very quickly (within a couple of generations) were specifically bred to become companion dogs (downsizing from the miniature poodle). That was over 100 years ago. Pooch & Mutt (online source, if you want some easy access reading) and some very good authors/behaviourists have written some excellent books on the difference between Standard and Toy Poodles (and also on Cocker and Springer Spaniels).

They are smaller and more manageable if they go wrong. If OP had said a standard poodle, I'd offer the same advice as I had with GSDs/Retrievers.

First time owners with big dogs is just a bad idea IMO - particularly given how dodgy breeding is these days and how every other dog seems to have serious defects - at least if OP gets a dog that has some form of 'working' in it's history, and it's a small breed, if it does go wrong there's minimal risk of serious harm being done.

It all depends on your lifestyle OP and your capability to provide them with sufficient training.

Think about the following:

• what's your home like? Big/small garden?
• Are you near the country/large parks?
• How do you feel about fur/shedding?
• What about drooling?
• What do you want the dog for?
• Do you want a lap dog or a solitary dog?
• Do you have family i.e. kids/elderly that the dog will interact with often?

Thank you so much for all the questions and suggestions.

I definitely want a dog small enough that I can lift, and I can commit to max one hour walking a day I think.

I will have a small garden but am going to be living right beside a very large park.

I would prefer a pedigree only because you are more certain (although I appreciate never 100%) of temperament and I don't want to risk a dog from a puppy farmer.

So a toy poodle is still sounding like a good option!
I love the idea of a lab but I think they are too big for me and too nutty as puppies from what I've read!

I would like a dog for company as I'm going to be on my own, and to get me out of the house.

I'm not too worried about fur - having cats already it's just part of life and I will have all hard flooring downstairs.

I will be at home a lot so will have plenty of time for training.

And continue to be energetic puppies for the first 7 or 8 years!!!

We have a poodle mix (mainly toy poodle). She’s fab. Really easy to toilet train, playful and friendly. Chills out after a walk or run about in the garden. She doesn’t moult or drool. Downsides are she is a bit barky and probably a bit nervous. She’s not 100% keen on big dogs off lead but can’t blame her really.

I would recommend JRT or Parsons Terrier.
Both of mine have fabulous temperament; , love a lap to sit on, very intelligent, not too yappy, great with my grandchild and just the best company. They are happy with a 15 min walk or 2 hours.

I don't think terriers are good with cats though are they?
The cats were here first! 😆

How about a cavalier King Charles (if you can find a well bred one!). If you want one good with cats I’d pick a breeder who has cats.

I love cavalier king Charles spaniels but I have read that they have a lot of eye/cranial problems so was concerned about their health.

Actually poodles were/are working dogs, bred to retrieve waterfowl.
Were is the operative tense: poodles bred for work are like hen's teeth in the UK.

I know a LOT of gun dogs and amongst the dozens is precisely half a poodle. The other half of the dog is working spaniel. She is delight, and a useful beating dog, but she hasn't the push and drive of my (working-bred) HPR.

Our first dog (we'd both grown up with them though) was a farm-bred ratting JRT. In retrospect, it could have been a disaster, but she was a fabulous little dog. The cat was in residence when she arrived, and the cat remained in charge.

I would though, as @Killingoffmyflowersonebyone has said, be vv cautious of starting with a working-bred dog. They are high energy, usually madly driven to either hunt or herd and need a decent amount of mental stimulation. My older dog becomes really quite unlikeable if she doesn't get enough brain-work. Give her what she needs and she is brilliant.

Be honest about your interest in dog training, how much time you're willing to put into the dog (walking, grooming, training) each day, and what sort of personality you're after. Do you want a sweet little fluff ball, or the sort of dog who would like a 3 mile run each morning, please? What sort of size dog can you manage? All those sorts of things.

I think it will be easier to find a well bred poodle than a ckc.
My advice would be do the research, check out the breed club for advice and find a breeder you like that does the health testing and rears the puppies the right way, and be prepared to wait. There is a lot more to finding a good breeder than just KC reg unfortunately, the KC only require both parents to be pedigree to reg the puppies. They don't have any health test requirements so you need to check for all those yourself.

Poodles are amazing. Mine is a miniature. Saying that I did my research and put stacks of training in from the moment I brought him home at 8 weeks. I also was very fussy about the breeder. Research how to find a decent breeder, also research in depth training and socialisation to ensure you avoid any behavioural problems developing.

they are very intelligent so need at least 30min brain /trick training a day, two or three walks and agility is a nice idea for them.

I would not rule out a rescue if you are retired. Consider poodle network uk and be clear on your limits/what you are or are not willing or able to take on then think carefully about any matches they recommend.

Terriers are terrors.
especially jack russels.
Happy, annoying, stubborn, clever but also stupid. I could go on. I have two so im not just hating on a breed!
They are a lovely size but if you haven't had a dog before they aren't just a small easy dog. They are also escape artists.
Clever so somewhat easy to train. But they want stimulation.
One of ours got on with a cat the other really doesn't. one is highly reactive to people and dogs, the other is chill. one can be around children, the other cant.
both adults now they are happy to relax in the evening. but this wasn't always the case. although I love my two dearly and wouldn't change them for the world

Spaniels are crazy (King Charles excluded). anyone I know who got a spaniel as their first was always advised not to and then ignored advice and ended up with a dog that they couldn't handle.
Kings Charles are different. a more relaxed spaniel Breed. they are usually prone to health conditions and need upkeep with their coats. however all spaniels are working dogs.

Any size poodle is great. can be an anxious breed. initially used as working water dogs they are typically high energy.
I wouldn't go for a 'doodle' breed. if you want a doodle just get a poodle.

avoid a Shepard dog. Aussies are attractive and their size desirable but any good breeder won't sell you one as a first dog. Same for collies etc.

Pugs in temperament and size can be desirable but they are typical to health issues. I believe they were bred to be more of a companion than a worker.