Which dog breeds is best?

[Princessghost]

Ok...I know the answer to that question is subjective. So.... What dog do you have?

We're looking for our next dog and doing research on the different breeds. We currently have a Weimaraner.

Attributes we need/want:
*Good with children (secondary school age), we also have a cat.
*Good at travelling, we take dog with us in caravan on holiday
*Can run distances when old enough (DH likes to run with the dog...can be quite a few miles)
*Good health/low breed health conditions

Preferably:
*Can be left for a hour or so on their own. (Seriously with a weim I cannot go to the toilet alone)

Does your dog fit these? Or do you know a dog breed that does?

P.s....i know a lot of these behaviours need to be trained into them, but I also understand some dogs are more prone to certain behaviour traits than others.

She sounds wonderful 😍

Mine (standard poodle/retriever) is similar, thank goodness, as she's far too big to be a lapdog 😅 She does like to be near me though... just not on me... unless there are fireworks going off! Happy to be left... just snoozes and noses out the window now and then.

Labrador from a decent breeder (working type).

Having taught many dogs over the years I’d say if you want active and terrier then it’s going to be a border. The other more sociable terriers aren’t built or bred for being overly active. Borders are.

1. Golden Retriever
2. Golden Doodle (some of the soppiest dogs I've ever met apart from Golden Retrievers!)
3. Flat Coated Retriever

I do love Standard Poodles without the pom pom grooming too.

Are you actually me? Even down to the username, although I'm a Miss 😂😂

I thought terrier. I have a spaniel/lab cross, and while he is the world’s best boy, truly wonderful with kids, and game for anything, at eight months I still can’t close the door to the shower cubicle, let alone use the loo alone. All these people with independent spaniels must have different types to the ones I know, who have no sense of personal space and want to unzip you and climb inside.

Thank you everyone for your insights. Some we had thought about (e.g springer spaniel) and some we hadn't....so we'll look into them all.

Not planning on rushing into a decision so plenty of time to research.

I’m currently lying back to back with my black lab. They’re absolutely lovely.

I think personal experience is going to affect people's opinions and may vary! The cocker spaniel we had was absolutely lovely but had terrible separation anxiety and couldn't be left for a second let alone an hour and for that reason alone I would never have another one.
We have and have had terriers but wouldn't trust many of them around cats.
The golden retriever we had when the children were small was lovely and would tick all your boxes as would some rescue crossbreeds we had in the past.

I have two (good pedigree) miniature poodles. They get left alone for several hours at a time no problem. They do follow me around in the house a bit mainly because they are INCREDIBLY nosy. Their recall is very good, they are trainable.
I ran 5k with them both off the lead today they just come with me no bother. They are great family dogs and very loving.

I wouldn’t recommend a cocker spaniel if you have kids under the age of 12/13, they’re mouthy and hyper. Amazing and gorgeous and loyal and legends but I just wouldn’t myself

I agree with this. Mine is 8 months old and would tick every box. So you need to consider a breed that will be compatible playing with your Weimaraner. I have an adult Newfound and needed to 'downsize' for my second dog, but it had to be a breed that was robust enough to play with her. Fitted the bill perfectly for me and we do scent work together.
A Visla would also be good.

Our beagle would fit the bill.

Germain short haired pointer, Labrador, golden retriever, duck rolling retriever, any type of dog that looks like an Andrex puppy type retriever.....

Another vote for a German Pointer - their main vices are prey drive and separation anxiety, but if you already have a companion for them, the separation anxiety at least should not be an issue. And the recall can be managed with intense training

Golden retrievers are the best dogs 100% in every way ever

A few years ago i met a Stabyhoun who charmed me and, having read about the breed, is definitely on my shortlist of dogs I’d consider getting (waiting for children to grow up a bit, I had GSDs as a teenager). I think - having read about the breed - they’d suit you too. Very regulated breeding programme so hopefully not many health problems etc.

Until you make a birthday cake and you end up eating more hair than icing. 😂

I have reached the point where I would say non unless you live on a farm or smallholding and have plenty of money. This is because:
There are very few places to walk dogs off the lead
The public are fed up of being jumped up at by dogs that the owner says is “just being friendly”
Smaller number of people being attacked and bitten.
The cost of vets bills. Can you really afford it or insurance which can easily be £140 a month.
Are you at home enough or is the poor thing being locked up all day?

Have a think and do a dog a favour

Another breed to consider is the English Setter. Great with kids, will run for miles when out and about but chilled couch potatoes when at home

This. If you are prepared to put in some decent training they are the best.

Our 18 month old cocker spaniel would fit the bill! Absolutely gorgeous, happy to run for hours, but equally happy sleeping by my feet while I work from home all day. Sleeps fine in his own room away from us, and can happily be left for 5-6 hours at a time. Travels well in the car, is great with our kids (ages 8-15) and with visiting kids and friends. He can be a bit hyper sometimes, but we have a big garden so he managed to burn off his energy there.

While I agree that you need to be at home enough, and that you need consider how you'd afford a £5k vet bill, but a lot of the rest of your post isn't accurate.

I live fairly rurally and I have off-lead walks that I can reach on foot, and loads of others within 10-15 minutes drive. I can easily put together a five-mile circuit if I feel the urge, with very little of it on the roads.

As for dogs jumping up at people, that is entirely a matter of training. Mine do not jump up at people when we're out walking, be called away from dogs/children/games of football, and kept at heel past on-lead dogs.

Similarly with aggression. Train and control your dog.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, best dog ever. Brilliant family dog, just does whatever's asked of her. Climbing a mountain today? Cool. Mooching at home today? Also cool. Thinks she's a lap dog, would cuddle all day if she could but also fine if we go to work and she's on her own for a few hours waiting for the dog walker.

Really? I don't live on a farm or small holding and there are plenty of places to walk my dog off lead here and I live in London!

OP is already a dog owner so I'm sure she knows about the costs involved.