What dog breed?

[Dolphin5]

We’re looking at getting a puppy …

Our household is me, Dh, dc age 6, lurcher age 9, cat age 3.

We feel ready for our next dog now. Our ddog is a mixed breed of whippet and terriers. They’re wonderful. We’ve had them since a pup and our cat we’ve had since kitten. All of our animals just happened into our lives as basically abandoned/rescues. This is the first time we’re making a conscious decision to go looking.

We have a home with decent garden and are moderately active, home all day. Happy to train to our requirements, hence why we’d like a pup.

We are thinking small or medium size for practicality.

Our ideal breed if space, size, time, breed health implications weren’t a concern etc would be collie dog for me and German shepherd for Dh. But we realise neither are the most practical for family life.

I suppose we like a bit of personality, our current ddog is independent, loving, spunky, fun, loyal to the family, intelligent, trainable, sensitive. I love the terrier in them but we would need to be able to train our pup around the cat.

Do you have any suggestions? Tell me your fave breed/cross? Thanks!

What do you want in a dog? And what do you absolutely not want? That's probably a better starting point for you.

Personally, I love my Goldies. Wouldn't be without one. But their shedding, size, temperament, strength and health issues put a lot of people off - and finding a well-bred one is hard. There are 18 litters on the KC website at the moment and I wouldn't touch a single one of them if I was paid.

A nice poodle or a labrador - both of which are slightly healthier breeds and with less behavioural issues (typically) would be a reasonable choice. But labs are shedders and can poodles yap. You have outliers of course, but breed characteristics are hard to get around...

For years I was a cocker spaniel lass. Fitted my younger lifestyle - could walk the socks of me and then still did the zoomies and needed brain work

Now we are in our retirement years, I have a Frug. - Pug / Frenchie cross. As fiercely strong willed as a cocker, a complete sop that needs to be connected at all times, although is happily left along for a few hours- will sleep rather then look for mischief. Strong as an ox, can manage a 3 mile walk and a good run around a field ( esp if there are sheep ) but cant cope with the heat - no walks at 20oC unless late in the day

So very gentle around children, although his weight - stocky dog - can knock a child over and they are bouncy and just want to be loved

I have a westie and I just love his friendly independent funny little personality. Hes really smart but he hates hates cats. Maybe that would have been different if id had a cat here when he was a puppy though!

I’d just get another lurcher Op, you can’t beat um.

(Very conscious that everyone is going to advocate for their breed but here we go)

I have a small terrier (English toy terrier) who's very good with cats. I don't have a cat myself but he's been exposed to family cats from his first day with me and has always been very fearful / respectful of them.
Now, he's also a terribly shitty hunter. A squirrel can run past him and he's just be like ¯ \ ( ツ ) / ¯

Very big personality, and really gets along with whatever ressembles a sighthound. There's italian greyhound in the breed, so they have the same way of playing, arms up, teeth out, teasing to chase or be chased,
It's not a velcro dog, it's more of a military grade heavy duty cement dog.

They can be yappy, but I'm happy to report that mine isn't, I found it pretty easy to train him that way. Training in general has been quite easy with him.

I'd go for another lurcher... but if you prefer a purt breed maybe a bedlington terrier would be a good fit?

I have Tibetan Terriers, which would fit into independent, loving, fun loyal, intelligent and sensitive (as well as emotionally intelligent). They are also highly trainable, but training is on their terms! Best way to describe this is: Dogs generally ask what can I do for you? A Tibetan will ask what is in it for me? And then decide if it’s worth the effort!! It's what makes them so unique and quirky.

I have cardigan corgis (the queen had Pembrokes) I’m on my 4th and 5th. They are easy loyal family orientated dogs who will happily walk or not depending on what you want to do that day. They have great sense of humour they are big dog personality in a smallish dogs body. They are not needy so if you want a dog that’s glued to you and stares lovingly at you 24/7 they are not for you. Ours have always been good with other dogs as they are generally a little reserved (not nervous) they are more a quick shake paws and move on type when they meet other dogs than a leaping all over each other. Ditto humans they don’t know My 1st arrived when my now grown up children were 6 and 7 he was great and still talked about today by us all even my non doggy (ex) husband.
They have two downsides to say they shed is a bit like saying the pope has catholic leanings. They have double coats and shed all the year round and but twice a year the shedding is unbelievable. And some bark a bit one of mine does bark a bit and it is a breed characteristic my others haven’t really barked more than any other dog.
They are a rare breed only 100 born every year but cardigan corgi club has a page on Its website about available litters most breeders will be exceedingly breed knowledgeable and dedicated.

Bichon Frisé - affectionate, bright and funny. You don't have to have their fur long and fluffy - mine is clipped for easy grooming and because I don't like the puffball look! Mine looks a bit like a poodle.

We've just welcomed a Smooth Collie (not to be confused with a border collie- as per almost all the replies on a thread I made about good family dog breeds!

"Smooth Collies are elegant, active, intelligent dogs and make excellent family pets. They are considered to be a ‘vulnerable breed’ by the Kennel Club as there are less than 300 puppies registered each year and this is a shame as they are a very versatile breed that deserves to be better known. The Rough Collie has always been more glamorous and better known due to the Lassie films, but the shorter coat of the Smooth Collie should not be overlooked as it is very easy to maintain.
There are Smooth Collies enjoying life in agility, obedience, heelwork to music, canicross, flyball, showing and rally in addition to working as therapy, assistance and search and rescue dogs, whilst all being wonderful pets.
The breed should not be mistaken for Border Collies, working sheepdogs, farm collies or Bearded Collies as its appearance and needs are very different." https://smoothcollieclubofgb.co.uk/allaboutthesmoothcollie.html

He is SO lovely. He was 15 weeks when we got him and his breeder had spent a lot of time socialising/ training him but even so, he is great.

I love terriers so would say go for a terrier, I have a jack Russell cross but also like border terriers, westies, yorkies…

Have you had a look at some local rescues?

Another lurcher, or if you want something smaller, maybe a bedlington, cairn terrier or beddy-whippet?

Thanks, I will take a look at everyone’s suggestions.

Cardigan corgi are great as a previous poster mentions,
I have a boy who is full cardigan and my best bud and cuddle bug he is not athletic though and up to an hour of walking a day Is fine, if he's running about with other dogs he will often slow down or stop once he's tired and come to me for a cuddle while my other dog runs about
My girl is half working collie mum and half cardigan corgi dad and while not cuddly she is a dog locals all love to fuss
She's smart athletic and is a dream to train has very few of the issues full corgis have however with a cross you can never be certain of what parts the dog will inherit
Her litter was a mix of all shapes and sizes
She's also unfortunately terrified of loud noises so nights like tonight with fireworks going off are terrible for her, thankfully he couldn't care less
Both are great with other dogs and cats

They are a great breed as a previous poster says but the shedding is awful and I say that after having shepherd's
My floor is never completely free of dog hair and I clean it twice a day
I would get a robot vacuumed but I don't think it would cope!

Please look at endangered uk breeds such as a dandi dinmont, a smooth collie, Skye terriers are gorgeous. I have a rough collie - a smooth but with lots of floof.

There's web sites where you can put in your lifestyle and what kind of chareteristics you want from a dog and breeds will be shown that supposedly will suit. However - they will " a general" and each dog is unique

My first cocker was the perfect cocker, even though he had a bad start to life ( puppy farmed - we didnt have a clue back in the 90's ) . My second, I did all the research, went on waiting lists and jumped hoops - and he was the biggest s**t going, and ended up going blind and having Alzheimer's ( I still loved him mind )

My frug, came to us as an accident and whilst wilful, does what he wants when he wants, screams the place down when trying to clip his nails or check the toes, is the most adorable and lovable dog . Frug ugly, whiskers galore, snores and farts, and has even kicked me out of the bed resulting in a black eye and split ear

Get an idea of the breed you are looking, but expect to have your heart taken by the most unsuitable dog ever born :)

We have a Skye terrier in our village he’s absolutely adorable they are really rare I think about 40 are born every year.. All the hair looks a bit of a nightmare to look after. And this is his owners 4th Skye and this one is super friendly he was at our village show and everyone was stroking him and he was lapping up all the attention but he owner said this is unusual they can be quite snappy.

I’ve two cardigans one is hopelessly unathletic we regularly walk over quite rugged terrain and although he’s improved with practice he definitely no jumper. He does get 2-2 1/2 hours minimum of exercise a day in the summer (although it’s not essential) which he thoroughly enjoys. He like all my previous ones hates water. My other one is completely different she’s very athletic for her size/leg length she would easily jump a stair gate and adores water.
They do have a penchant for livestock including deer which we have lots of and all mine have/are actively looking for them they would be under a gate if they thought there were cattle sheep in the field or even 2-3 fields away. Recall will them go out of the window so I’m super vigilant; I dont let mine off if I’m in any doubt. It’s not insurmountable especially if you don’t have any livestock where you live but it’s something to be aware of.

I know you said a puppy but if you’re familiar with lurchers could you look at rescues as there’ll be lots needing a home.