First time family dog, what breed might we be missing?

[IesuGrist1975]

We are finally in a position to get a dog within the next year due to my father-in-law moving into our granny(dad) annexe meaning a pet dog will be a companion for him on my 2 work days. Our youngest children are 6 years old and 10 years old and we have a medium sized garden and live in an urban area but have access to a good few large parks and spend the weekends at kids sports, usually in muddy fields with loads of other dogs so a dog being happy around other dogs is important.

It will be our first family dog, we have a 9 year old cat and while my parents occasionally bred my father’s working springer spaniels when I was growing up, they lived in kennels rather than indoors so this is a first indoor pet dog. Another thing to mention is that this dog is going to be a bit of emotional support me (my mum is terminally ill) so a dog that is happy to be loved by me would be excellent.

Having done quite a lot of research on here and other online resources I’v got a shortlist of,

• Miniature (or standard) poodle,
• Rough collie
• Border terrier.

These have made it onto the list for being either side of medium. Intelligent, happy with a couple of 30- 60 min walks a day, being good family dogs, happy to relax after a good walk. I’m wondering if we’ve missed any other obvious breeds off the list? Or if any of those don’t really fit the bill? We’ve been in contact with a couple smooth collie breeders and they’re currently what we’re leaning towards but happy to be swayed.

Also, absolutely would not trust a sighthound with a cat!

Mine needs loads of exercise. I can't wear him out. I got him thinking he'd be low maintenance but I was very wrong!

If you manage to get a pug breeder who breeds old-fashioned pugs with longer snouts and slimmer/taller built (like we were extremely lucky to find) - so he doesn't have the breathing issues - there's no better family dog in my opinion.

Ours is an actual dream dog with all the qualities you could wish for in a dog: the loveliest, kindest temperament, adores people and children, can be taken anywhere (the busiest cities, horse shows, kids' sports events, pubs/cafes, camping trips around Europe etc etc) or left at home, is very trainable and loves to please (and get treats), adored by anyone he meets, can run/walk around all day or snooze on the sofa depending on what's being offered.

He's just the absolutely bestest boy and I could never have dreamed of a better family dog 🥰 but I think we were very lucky that our breeder was committed to breed healthy pugs, which is quite rare. We always get asked if he's a mix as he looks slimmer and a bit taller than a usual pug with a slightly longer snout.

I agree. This is my experience.

Beagles are basically hunting dogs (run run run) . In your situation I would not choose one

We have had different breeds of sight hounds over the years from Deerhounds, lurches and greyhounds, we now have a whippet and can’t recommend this breed enough. Fun, clever, affectionate and easily trained, we adore her. Easily the best family dog we have had and very very entertaining.

The fact she is well happy for a walk but also would be very happy to go to sleep and chill or sleep under the table in the pub after a walk. She’s a happy little thing

I would most definitely NOT get a poodle 🐩. We had a miniature poodle and he had absolutely endless energy and only calmed down in old age. He was also smart enough to figure out that he was the boss if the house and we were soft owners who didn't need to be listened to at all (although he understood absolutely every word we said 😂 ). He was infinitely more difficult than our pug. Also he suffered from very bad separation anxiety which poodles are prone to and the grooming was an extra headache.

the number if pugs I see at the Vets for eye problems is unreal.
They go & sniff & get something in their eyes

Another vote for mini schnauzer. Absolutely lovely, very trainable and love a cuddle. Could tell the difference between our chickens and cats (not for chasing) and visiting cats / pigeons (ok to woof at for daring to enter her garden!). A little bit vocal if they aren't well socialised so definitely want to start early.

Border terriers can be snappy. Poodles need a lot of stimulation and because they are so intelligent, they need 100% consistency from everyone in the family (is that likely?)
Another vote for the West Highland terrier from me! Amazing dogs and when we feel the time is right this is definitely the breed that we will get again.

We are extremely lucky that ours doesn't have any of the health problems the breed is prone to. The only time our pug needed an eye check was when another dog scratched him in the eye

Just read others comments on whippet exercise. We walk ours twice a day, first walk is an hour on open fields, so she can run off lead, second walk is 30 mins for a sniff and wee, anyone we meet who has experience of the bred comments on how healthy she looks so we must be doing something right. The other 22.5 hours of the day she sleeps.

Lab/retriever for children. Collies need a job. If they don't have one, they'll find one, and it won't be what you want it to be. They're too smart. A vet I worked with said that they would come back hours after something was done to them and then bite. Good long term memories have a down side!

We have a lab/greyhound mix and he is the sweetest, laziest dog I've ever met. Could easily go round the local streets twice a day for 10 mins and sleep the rest of the time, but does have energy to go to the park/real walks when we want it. Incredibly docile with children, big enough to put off intruders without being ridiclously large. I've been known to ask my DH if I can pay to clone him :).

This!! You already have a cat so it needs to take priority

Yes but they stop and run and repeat. 30 minutes is simply not long enough. Apart from a cavalier I don’t know a single dog it’s long enough for. It is not long enough for my much smaller toy sighthound. Whippets also like to go on a long walk. Standing there and making them run once is not enough. The rest of the time they are coach potatoes as you said.

My whippet would have sent your cat to heaven in a flash. I have heard some were fine with them if introduced as puppies. Still they are built to chase small fluffy things.

Poodles are very intelligent but need a lot of training and attention. They can become fixated on one person and become quite bitey. I don’t think they’re all fabulous around kids.
Will Atherton (YouTube dog trainer) recommends Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Labs for first time dog owners - especially those with kids.

A friend of ours has a mini schnauzer, hes been a wonderful dog to them. He must be nearly 15. He is very smart, they trained him to use a dog bell to tell them when he needs out.

Not a collie, we have a lab and a working cocker, I prefer the cocker as the lab isnt as into us, before these 2 we had a beagle lovely dog x

Yes that is what mine got with a massive run three times a week. Even then I think she would have loved more.

An Irish setter, bonkers but adorable 😀

Agree with advice of @NZDreaming regarding your cat. I made this mistake ( but we still have our cat) I have a hound type dog who has a v strong prey drive and loves to chase the poor cat. The cat has the run of 2 floors of the house that the dog cannot get to but I actually wish I had considered a breed with a less strong prey drive. I think on your list that may knock off borders as with any terrier! But also the recs for whippets, I love whippets but never with a cat. I am not sure about poodles? The smooth collie would be better or like others have mentioned lab, or my fav a golden retriever. They can be challenging as pups but they are very trainable and very affectionate and once you have got past the puppy stage wonderful family pets. But I would avoid all terriers and hounds with your cat.

Someone up thread mentioned border collies, we had them as working dogs, I loved them but wouldn't recommend as just a house pet, or as a first dog.
We've also had a dalmatian - easy going, but a good amount of energy, very sociable, not the brightest and the hair was surprisingly hard work - worked it's way into fabrics and wouldn't brush off. But a lovely gentle dog. Edited to add the cat was always the boss!

Miniature Schnauzer! I have a girl, 17yo. She has been the best, no health issues, not too much barking, very smart, fast learner.