Help with shortlist please!

[SingSangSung]

Getting closer to getting our first family dog. We've narrowed our list down to the non-shedding breeds below (mild allergies in the house) and are planning to visit breeders/rescues to test for reactions before making a final decision.

Would love to know thoughts on which breed might be best for first-timers, with two very keen (and sensible) young teens in the house (13 and 14 yo). DP and I mostly WFH, so someone will always be home. Thanks!

Somewhat in current order of preference:

• Poodle (miniature, toy or standard)
• Portuguese water dog
• Spanish water dog
• Lagotto Romagnolo
• Bichon Frise
• Yorkshire terrier
• Tibetan terrier
• Maltese

99.99% of people chose a dog based on looks & popularity as in what they see when out and about. They do not chose dogs based on their own circumstances, knowledge and what they are able to offer the dog. That's why soo many end up with behaviour problems and in rescue.

Well that's a daft thing to say. Not only is it completely unquantifiable but you are making a perfect argument for people to consult a behaviourist before getting a dog.

With regards breeds, it's not like they are carbon copies of each other. There is variation within the breed. And people get dogs for all sorts of reasons. Take lonliness and depression for example, people sometimes get dogs to help with that. And sometimes it goes well and other times not so well. A behaviourist - some of whom come from a therapy background - might pick up on that whilst a breed expert may not.
I see it as just an extra string to the bow before getting a dog.
I agree there are some godawful behaviourists out there, some useless, some worse than useless, but there are good ones. And, let's be honest, there are some godawful breeders out there, some of whom will be at Crufts.

@redboxer321 There is variation within the breed.
This is something very often overlooked. Breed traits fit into a bell curve, so you have to prepared that your puppy might not tick all the boxes you expect. Selecting a well-bred puppy from a specific breed increases your odds of getting a dog who will fit in easily, but it's not a guarantee (voice of experience!).

The best thing you can do is meet dogs from the breed, and talk to the owners. Which can be tricky, especially if you're not already hanging out on the playing fields at prime dog-walking times.

We have a SWD and he has been the easiest dog I’ve ever trained. He is very biddable, very loyal and very protective. However the loyalty and protectiveness mean he is not ideal imo for a busy household. Ours is very barky when people arrive, even those he knows well. Ours and indeed all the SWDs I know are very bonded to their families are not interested in strangers, so lack friendliness unlike for eg a lab.
We adore our SWD but his breed ‘quirks’ means he isn't everyone’s cup of tea.

ADOPT ! DON'T SHOP

Well that's a daft thing to say. Not only is it completely unquantifiable but you are making a perfect argument for people to consult a behaviourist before getting a dog
So the behaviorist said their client should get a Labrador or a Maltese at a strech a boxer because its the best fit, but client really like the look of a rottweiler. The client knows Joe Blocks has one and it's fantastic with their DC, the elderly lady across the road effortly walks 2 every day and the postman has 4 in the wider family that are just perfect. Client has never seen a labrador, auntie Mabel has a barky snappy Maltese and they don't like the colours of the boxer. What they really love is that squishy drooling black & tan face of a rottweiler. What dog are they gonna get?
People are stupid and gullable when it comes to dogs, the raise of the PooX is the perfect example of clever marketing and popular belief.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that people take advice from people with good people skills, good communication skills and to whom they can relate. Those skills are behaviourist skills more so than dog breeder skills. That's a broad generalisation but makes the point.
Yes, we've had posters who have had good advice for free on here and have been steered away from making a poor decision but we've also had posters who don't like the way they have been communicated with - even though they have often been given good advice - and obviously we don't know what happened with them in the end.

Also, I get @EdithStourton point about bell curve but take @CoubousAndTourmaIet for example. I think I'm right in saying that she has a dog known to bark but that her current dog rarely does. That's quite a big deal for many people.

That person is not going to consult anyone.

Just going through responses. Thanks, everyone!

To clarify, I've registered with all the big rescues (Battersea, Dogs Trust, Wood Green, Blue Cross, Mayhew, etc) as well as smaller ones and breed-specific ones. I've made individual enquiries whenever a possible match has been posted but so far, no responses.

To those recommending greyhounds or saying "adopt don't buy", allergies are a deal breaker for us, unfortunately, so if the rescue route continues to prove unfruitful then buying a puppy is likely the only way we'll be able to find a suitable dog for our family. The alternative being remaining dogless.

I've researched a number of specific breeders who've posted litters on the KC and Champs, and emailed a few, as it's very important to me, if we do go through a breeder, that we use someone experienced and committed to the welfare of their dogs.

Ah ok @SingSangSung That does sound like quite a bit more effort than I originally read it as. I guess they think that it won't work out with the allergies and worry the dog will be returned. Just a guess though.

Btw, I think we need behaviourist input and breed-expert input. The behaviourist I went to was good at dealing with me and she did help but it was only when I recognised the dominant breed in my dog - it's not immediately obvious - that things started to make more sense.

Anyhow, good luck OP. Hope it works out.

You don't have a link to the quiz do you? I love to know just what kind of psychopath you have to be to adopt a fucking Podenco 😂

@HangingOver https://www.purina.co.uk/find-a-pet/dog-breeds/breed-selector Purina😁

Couldn't get two more different dogs if you tried...the only thing I changed when I re-took it was the exercise one (changed from 'high-energy' to 'not bothered')!

@SingSangSung The thing with rescues, even the ones where you apply for a dog, is they will possibly get dozens if not hundreds of applications for a dog. It really is difficult.

If you are already at the stage of speaking to breeders, please be sure to make sure their dogs are fully health tested (and look at grandparents health tests as well) and that they aren't breeding a bitch more than twice and not before she is 2.5 (three for a larger dog) and after 5. And ask them what happens to the dogs when they can't be bred from anymore - I have to confess, as a breeder I do not engage with breeders who re-home their dogs once they can no longer breed as real animal lovers, do not dump their pets when their 'use' has expired.

They're not committed to their dogs welfare if they breed them too early or too old, over-breed them, breed unhealthy animals, or re-home them at the drop of a hat.

I can tell you that the quiz works! I got a JRT. I'm a big terrier fan. But also a dachshund. So maybe not 😁

Edited to say, excuse all the posts. I'm meant to be doing my tax return.

@SingSangSung Go to Crufts as they have a ‘Discover dog’ section and you can look at the dogs, speak to owners, get details of reputable breeders etc. Most breeds are represented, and definitely the popular ones (not crossbreeds, oodles etc, only pedigrees). Who knew there was a dog breed called Japanese Chin?

(This section can get busy, so go early).

I just took the quiz and we're a perfect match! Turns out, I'm exactly the right psychopath for a Pod 🙂

What a load of crap! And not just because cocker spaniels are about the 100th suitable breed for me. 😂
How are these my perfect match when I put 'a smaller dog would suit me best'?

Hi. Hope I’m not too late to the party but I couldn’t miss an opportunity to sing the praises of a standard poodle. We have had 2 now and had them from no children to now 12 and 13 year olds. They are amazing family dogs. They are so much fun and have huge personalities. Our boy is the cuddliest dog at home and just wants to be close to you. He will run and explore with you all day long, with a smile on his face, equally adapts well to quieter lazy days. He’s amazing with our children and really thinks he is the third baby. We’ve had them alongside chickens, cats and horses. Our boy is around 25kg and I wouldn’t say he’s a big dog, unless on the bed with you then he stretches out as much as he can. They are such an overlooked breed. There are so many active Facebook groups too dedicated to poodles and well worth jointing. We’ve met up on ‘poodle’ walks, which would be great for you to try. They are so versatile, I think a poodle would bring a lot of fun and love to your family.

Paused our search but now starting to look again. Rescue options haven't panned out unfortunately.

I found a litter of standard poodles nearby, and both parents meet the Royal Kennel Club Best Practice Health Standard but the dam has a hip score of 19, the sire's is 6. The dam's parents had scores of 10 and 14. Is that 19 just too high?

@SingSangSung sorry that the rescue options didn't pan out. 19 is about double the standard poodle average so I'd be slightly uncomfortable.

Also, as I am a pro at litter finding, I found the litter on the KC website. Does the breeder own the grandmother (the dam's mum)? If so, I would avoid this breeder - breeding a bitch when she's nearly 8 years old is really poor and honestly I think pretty awful. I cannot imagine putting one of my girls through that at 8.

The problem with finding a puppy is you often have to decide what you'll compromise on. It's rare to find the perfect breeder - every litter will almost certainly have something that makes them less than ideal. It depends what your 'red-line' is. For me, this breeder would cross two of my red lines (lack of care for the dam given the old breeding age, and not good health scores) but those are my red lines. Others might think it's a good litter

Rescue is the best breed

We have a 5 month old mini poodle (chosen due to a new family with allergies) after a lifetime of working spaniel ownership.

He is SO much easier than our previous dogs! He is not that barky at all. He has been so easy to train and learns everything very quickly including housetraining. He has really settled in and is much more like an adult dog than a puppy already, we can take him anywhere.

I don't have any experience of the other breeds you are considering, but they are all brreds we looked into amd decided a mini poodle suited us better. I am a bit of a pessimist, so can't believe how good he is and always waiting for him to turn into a nightmare 🙈😅

From your breed list I'd pick poodle. I'd also consider a miniature schnauzer.

Tibetan terriers are great! Please don’t be put off by the potential health issues if you are looking. Yes, there are some, as there are for all breeds. You might also look at Lhasa Apsos which are very similar, though a bit smaller.

Another vote for poodles, they are a hugely overlooked breed.

Agree with landsharks comment about considering how "worky" a breed is. The truth is for most families a working dog is more hard work than it need to have been to have a dog.

Well done on doing the work to get the decent breeder - dont give up! Like looking for a house, you only need to find one! X

Ha ha, I used to have a podengo. Wanted another and dh put his foot down. 😆 I have a Norwich terrier now.

I hated both my nana’s miniature poodles as they barked a lot, but they were good with young children, easy to train and would just lie down and sleep. Didn’t demand attention 24/7. Friends also had a non clipped toy poodle who was gorgeous and very soppy and non barky.