1st timer

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Researching for a family dog. I work hybrid and go to the office once every two weeks. Dh comes home at 130 from work. Our boys are 9 amd 11. Both asd but main stream school.
Live near a park and lots of woods. 4 bed semi house, average garden but have 6 chickens.
Nothing too large. I'd love a golden but too large I think. I'd love a cavalier but health worries me. Have also looked at poodles but they are very bright.
Not keen on borders terriers though. Open to other suggestions. My parents have a sprocker so needs to be happy woth other dogs too

You want a dog that is “not too big”. You are happy to train a dog, but you have never trained a dog before. You don’t like drool, you have chickens, sen children and seem to be concerned about dogs being “yappy”. Or having health issues. Rescue have said no to you for a reason.

Look at Australian Labradoodles, they're magic, even do mini ones.

I never said though that every dog needs two hours though. I said most show lines need far more exercise and stimulation than people give them - particularly cockers, and that’s why behavioural issues come about.

You took my example of my own dog and generalised across my entire point…

Spaniel owner here, also do home checks for breed specific rescue. No reason you’d be turned down for a rescue with children that age or chickens! Have you actually been assessed? But I’d suggest a staffie, gorgeous dogs with lovely temperaments imo. Sprockers are bonkers, but a show cocker would also be fab for you (slightly less bonkers than a working cocker). Rescues work hard to place the perfect pupper to each family, please reconsider adopting.

They are fine with noise. They've grown up with my parents dog. They know how to behave so no worries there. I mention is as my youngest in particular is dog mad so would like a calming dog who likes a cuddle

I did think of a cocker but I'm worried they'd be wired. Cockers I know meed 3h plus a day. Couldn't commit to that. Not sure how a show cocker would be tho 🤔

As I said to a previous poster, no dog “needs” a set amount of walking per day, never mind 3 hours. Whoever has told you this has plucked it out of thin air. If someone has the time and inclination to walk their dog for 3 hours a day, that’s a choice, not a need. I’ve had WL Cockers, HPRs, etc, currently have WL German Shepherds. They don’t get anything like 3 hours of walking per day and are well adjusted family pets.

The vast majority of dogs are happy with one or two decent walks per day (I do two for youngsters to break the day up, then one as a mature dog). The usual hustle and bustle of the average house especially where there are kids involved is plenty for most dogs.

I love golden retrievers, and think i'd stick to one of them - just look for a bitch which will be a bit smaller than males! A Show cocker would also be a good choice- the working ones need a lot (I have 2), but show types are much more suitable for general family life. For something smaller, a Shitz zu maybe?

Sorry should have said ours was a show cocker, we've had 2 as family pets, they are very loving 🥰 and would probably need company a lot. As for walking probably once a day and lots of human interaction.

I may have taken your comment too literally but very, very few dogs will want cuddles in the traditional sense that a child would instinctively wish to do (ie the bear hug) regardless of their breed
I would therefore remove this as one of your criteria and from yours and your sons list of expectations in a new dog if that is indeed what you are invisiging -

I have 2 havanese and think they are gorgeous dogs, one is asleep on my lap right now and the other is asleep next to me. They are often used as emotional support dogs as they are smart and calm. My 2 hate going for walks when it's raining and are happy to go out, do their business and return to your lap. Equally If you want a dog for long walks in the woods then havanese are happy to run around sniffing and playing. They are a great breed in my opinion.

Cairns terrier isn’t a bad shout, but the calmest and friendliest (general temperament) of the terrier group are the hard-to-come-by Norfolks and vulnerable breed Norwiches. But they’re still tough little dogs - can go all day if you want them too but usually turn into lap dogs by night.

I really think you'd be best looking for a dog who's been deliberately bred as a pet and companion, rather than the "show" strain of a traditionally working breed, if that makes sense.

They generally don't need tons of exercise, don't have much prey drive and generally aren't intelligent enough to outsmart you

Maybe it's just me, but I'd be really wary about any kind of terrier in a home with chickens!

I had dogs growing up - mainly terriers with questionable lineage.

My DH didn't and I was desperate to get one. I let him choose the breed - I would have had any size apart from toy breeds.

He did loads of research - we went for an Australian Labradoodle - bred to be therapy dogs. Non-molting, various sizes (ours is around 9kg spaniel sized, but you can get larger). Amazing with DC, we have 2 DC.

Honestly she is amazing. Her mum was a dog that got taken into schools to calm DC down. Great family pet.

We used to have 2 border collies with chicken and a couple of rescue cats, they were absolutely fine. We did have a big garden, quarter of an acre, and they had a dog flap.. moved had a Phalene cousin of the Papillon great little toy, happy to be a lap dog but could keep up with the borders on a couple of hours hike up the downs. Very clever little man,he used to come and get me if the water bowl was empty,stand by me, make a funny little noise then walk to the bowl. No oil or undercoat, very soft hair. Lost him last year at almost 18. 2 different borders now, and one has a very high prey drive. Friends have a border terrier, they had a rescue one before, this was a puppy, always someone at home and they say they wish they hadn't got him.

None of my Goldies have ever drooled 🤔

You got lucky!!😅 I know several that do, as well as those who don’t

I won't suggest a breed as I've just become a first time puppy owner as I just got a working cocker spaniel two weeks ago but what I would suggest is looking at exactly what you do and don't want from a breed. Consider how they'll fit into your day to day as well as life in general. Remember that all dogs have their own personalities and that breed traits aren't necessarily a given.

I'm a SAHM (2 primary school aged DC) with a small business. We picked a WCS for our family based on the fact I am home 95% of the time, DH can actually take DDog to his work, we lead a pretty active lifestyle etc. I'm also happy and willing to put a lot of time into training, all through her life, not just in these early stages. We have a decent sized house and garden (plenty big for a cocker anyway) but easy access to woods very nearby as well as plenty of parks. There were lots of other reasons too.

I won't lie, puppies are challenging and I'm already finding some moments quite hard. Overall, it's fantastic but the reality is it is a lot of hard work so carefully considering the breed you want and why is important. I should mention, I'm not a first time dog owner. We rescued a JRT when she was three, and lost her earlier this year at 15yo. I've also got/had several dogs in the family, including Yorkies, Border Collies, King Charles Spaniels, Bichon Frise. All breeds have their pros and cons.

You have a good point! But it's not just terriers that have a prey drive.

But perhaps going smaller, into the toy group, might be more sensible - Havanese or Maltese perhaps?

Oh I know, I wouldn't trust my beagle with chickens either

I definitely think a toy breed is the way to go for OP really, I would just want to minimise the prey drive as much as possible.

Yes you have. I mean a dog which is not stand off ish. I grew up with airdales and they couldn't be bothered with us at all

the chickens - and sheep for that matter- used to terrorise my Yorkshire terrier.

he loved the chicken barn because mice, but if the chickens caught him they would round him up and play with him.

the amount of times I’d have to go and rescue that poor dog from the middle of a gang of sheep or being chased by chickens! They loved him really :)

Course you can't really tell if you are going to get a "stand offish" dog, the 2collies we got almost 30 years ago,both farm bred (they have all been) both got at 8 weeks,both bitches, one wanted to be a lap dog, the other would saunter over and say hello if you were really lucky.. she was just sorting of "there"!

Bichon, havanese, Tibetan Terrier (they aren't a terrier!), Coton de Tulear, lowchen