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.

Disagree with PP who said no terriers with cats. We have a border terrier and a cat and they love each other. Our border is a proper little gentleman. Highly recommend them.

But on balance prey drive tends to be off the charts right! Lots of lead walking or long line when smaller dogs are about

I do consistently hear that they need one bout of intense exercise and then they're done.

A colleague got two of them so they can intense exercise each other 😂😂

@schoolstruggle I hear you! I have DC, but when they were young I was so conscious about it that I kept the dogs quite far from them - at least until I trusted the kids. It’s only in the last year or so I’ve allowed DC (11/12 now) to walk them alone, or have them in their rooms alone.

I love my Goldies and I would never, ever, be without them (I literally sacrificed my career to have them!) but I’m very aware that they very sensitive so if they do snap it is nasty.

And they still are a family dog (a brilliant one), but not with young children who often yank them, crowd personal space, and when not properly exercised. Too many people fail to give them what they need and under-exercised but tormented by young children is never good for any breed, but particularly something like a Goldie where people fail to appreciate they are dogs (and social media has so much to answer for) who are very sensitive and have significant needs.

This is our family dog, first dog we’ve ever had ( first dog I’ve ever had in my life and I’m now 47! ) and he’s the most amazing dog you could meet. He is 5 next month, he thinks he’s human I swear. He never barks but he “talks” to us in husky language and isn’t a screamer! Loves other dogs, cats and kids. Needs quite a bit of exercise but this has been great for us as we’ve all got healthier too.
the only downside is the shedding which I didn’t realise would be so bad. We’re on our 5th hoover in 5 years with him. I wouldn’t change him for the world.

You've seen collies working rounding up sheep, haven't you? Running around behind buggies, jumping onto the back with the farmer, jumping off again, mile after mile of whizzing around? That's their natural preferred situation.
Please do not get a collie (unless you are also a sheep farmer).

We’re surrounded by Border terriers and most of them are grumpy little shits. But I suspect that’s because there are so many, inevitably half of them have rubbish owners. I do know several who live contentedly with cats.

We have a Norfolk Terrier. Brilliant breed. Have met lots and haven’t yet met a grumpy one yet. Adore children. Ours gets on with our cat, but he was already dog-savvy. Terriers are terriers though - you have to be prepared for them to be stubborn, not as people-pleasing as spaniels, collies, etc.

A small poodle was one of our top contenders. They can be great dogs.

We previously had a Labrador. Amazing dogs, hard work for the first couple of years. Don’t underestimate the physicality of a large young dog. I have really valued the portability of our Norfolk having previously had a Lab.

Labs and retrievers are what’s you have described, the larger breeds are lower energy as they age. Easier to train and won’t annoy your cat (too much)

Yours is the exception that does not necessarily prove the rule.

Terriers were bred to chase and kill vermin. Spaniels and sighthounds were bred to spot, track and flush game. Those traits develop prey drive which is generally still present in pet dogs. If you have a cat, the safest bet is to get a breed which was not designed with prey drive in mind. I know spaniels which happily live with cats but I know plenty that don’t, mine included. You simply cannot say that terriers are fine with cats based on an individual experience.

Another vote for a lab! Although I am very biased 😂

I wouldn’t get any of those breeds for a first dog, you can’t beat labradors as a family pet……… we’ve had 4!

Timelapse of collies herding - they need to do this job

The landscape and exercise collies NEED

ETA - that I'm agreeing with the poster I quoted obviously and that second video just makes me so happy watching it

@OnlyHerefortheBiscuits wow! I really enjoyed watching those, I love Border Collies but wouldn’t get one for that reason. I don’t think I could fulfill them enough.

Thanks all, I will read through the reply this evening.

Just as a quick one though, smooth and rough collies are not the same breed as border collies. They have a different temperament and lesser exercise and stimulation needs. We attended a breed show and spoke to dozens of different breeders about the breed. They’re not very common though, so lots are aware of them as a breed.
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/pastoral/collie-smooth/

miniature Australian labradoodle

We had terriers all our lives, jacks, sealyhams, welshies, then we got a Labrador, now we’ve got two more….absolutely the most gorgeous, loyal, friendly dogs I’ve ever met. Terriers are great but tend to have an agenda of their own, the labs just want to please!

Schnauzer? Whippet?

Golden Retriever . Beautiful family dogs

Labs… every single time… Nothing crossed you really have no idea what you’re getting although I know they’re fashionable! Definitely not a Daschund!

Smooth collies are lovely. I have a rough collie. They are not like border collies but need a good walk per day plus something else like lots of ball throwing - we have a big garden so I think one without would need another thirty min sniffy walk. Collies love their herd and are aloof with people outside or can get protective. Mine loves everyone in our family and is very huggy and intuitive. The rough coat needs a good brush once a week and detangle round ears and then an 8 week groom session. Smooths not so much but they shed like labs a lot. Collies can be barky. Collie Life website will give you more details. My sister has a border terrier. She’s lovely but they are stubborn. Boys can be barky and more terrier like.
get a smooth collie and save an endangered breed!

Also, there are regular collie (smooth and rough) meet ups round the country so perhaps join a walk and ask people who own them as pets rather than show. All the collies get on - they seem to know they are the same!

Miniature poodle all day long. Loyal, fun, friendly, happy, responsive - they become part of the family so quickly and are very easy to train.

I was the "soft owner" poster 😂

Our poodle was not at all bitey - he never ever bit, BUT

1. he was super energetic and only calmed down in old age;
2. had very bad separation anxiety and couldn't be left alone;
3. required a lot of grooming;
4. was infinitely harder to train and less eager to please than our current dog (pug).

All of the above are representative of the poodle breed.

I’d get a working cocker spaniel. Best family dog ever !

Facebook site Uk roughcollies has details of collie walk meet ups.

I was going to say miniature schnauzer too. I've had two and they are the most loving dogs. The grooming does need to be taken into consideration BUT they do not moult and are as hypoallergenic as possible. Mine didn't like going out in the rain either so no guilt if we had to miss walks due to the weather. They also do not drool, which, after having a dogue de bordeux in the family, was amazing 😊