Experienced dog owner, currently dogless, which breed?

[Springingforward]

Hi, I'm hoping the doghouse hive mind can help me narrow down my options with your real life experiences.
My quandary is that I've owned dogs all my adult life, but have been completely dog free for the last three years. I lost all three of my elderly best friends over the course of 9 months 😭 I miss them all so very much (I needed counselling) and I've got to the point where I'm dog sitting, talking to other people's dogs out and about and just really miss the companionship and company. I'm going to Crufts in March 👍🏻

Difficulty is, I can't settle on a breed that is right for me and where I am in my life currently. Any suggestions welcome.

My situation:
I live on my own, semi rural, lots of nice walks.
Love dog training and things like clicker work. (I've puppy walked four guide dog pups in the past).
Work from home permanently and self employed so can set my own hours.
If I need to go out then doggo can come with me or only be on their own a couple of hours.
Visiting baby grandchildren.
Smallish house, secure fenced garden.

My absolute needs:
From a pup, a rescue may have issues that I can't predict with around young children.
Smallish, cocker spaniel sized or smaller
Not known for being difficult to housetrain (ie. Italian greyhounds) because of info below.
Loves attention
Don't mind grooming
Not super high energy, I'm mid 50s and love walking, but might have a pram/pushchair sometimes and got to think about managing exuberance.

Breeds I've owned and wouldn't again
Cavaliers (had 3) too many health issues now, not one of mine got to 10yrs despite being from 'good breeders'.
Labrador, there will never be another one that will match my 'heart dog's 😭
Whippets or whippet X too unpredictable around other dogs, only dog I've ever been bitten by.
Dachshund - three times ivdd surgery and broke my heart. She never became fully house-trained even before IVDD got her and I was always worried about hygiene.
Not a terrier, I'm just not a terrier person, they can be a bit 'sharp' and have low flashpoints imo, even Borders.
I struggle with flat faced breeds, they just aren't for me.

Can you see why I'm struggling 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️😂 my ideal dog would be something small, short haired with the personality, temperament and willingness of a Labrador. Not sure that exists.

Dog owner and loads of friends with all sorts of dog breeds

Every toy poodle I’ve known has been snappy and one hates all men and dogs. Standard poodles different dog and never known a bad one

i I know you said no rescues but more likely to know their temperament if you go to a decent rescue than a puppy that’s a totally unknown

ive known more problems with non rescues than rescues!

id go for a rescue greyhound. They really are the most perfect companions

Another vote for a miniature schnauzer. Can walk for hours, love their family and company . Very clever , easy to train. Can be very happy is the only down side . No moulting either .

Yappy!

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever would be a good shout. Might be a touch bigger than you want, there is also the Kooikerhondje which is slightly smaller.

Have a mooch around discover dogs at Crufts and meet lots in the flesh, you may surprise yourself with the breeds you like.

Ive had many dogs over the years. Each have their own wonderful characteristics. Labradors, terriers, GSD, Corgi’s, Westies, sheepdogs, I currently own a Corgi and a Sheepdog, and honestly, if you’re looking for complete unconditional , unwavering, smart, obedient, fun and a dog who is completely obsessed with you, Sheepdog every single time. My Corgi is fab, but she is an absolute sass queen 😂 does she love me? Yes! But on her conditions only? Also yes 😅 She is bossy and yappy and tends to “herd” my children which isnt always a bad thing. But a Sheepdog is just very very special breed, thats my honest opinion though

German spitz, Schipperke, Norwegian Elkhound if you don’t mind a little bigger? Spitz are very clean dogs, not super needy, easily toilet trained, and these are more trainable breeds for your clicker work. Elkhounds especially are amazing with children, great temperament and a few pups currently available in the UK. The caveat with the spitz breeds is that some dogs may be tricky with recall and they shed a lot: but doesn’t put me off!

OP you are clearly a gun dog person, so a breed from that group is probably the best fit for you. Perhaps a cross breed ?

I LOVED the Kooikerhondje I saw on the crufts tv last year!

So rare and expensive in the UK though :-(

very good looking dog though

Poodle

Sounds like you need a whippet or a small lurcher.

Easy, loving, chilled out and loyal. Will walk miles or sleep all day ❤️

(biased 😂)

Edit… Completely missed you said no whippets! Sorry 😂 our dogs tastes obviously do not align.

Miniature schnauzer. I've a now 8 year old black boy. My first doggy of my own. Theyre a fab breed but do need a firm hand with training particularly to nip in the bud their barkiness.

My boy is a mini in giants clothing...will walk miles, up mountains and just a fun, game dog.
Non shedding and we groom him ourselves
Miniature schnauzers are classed as utility rather than terriers and dont have such a strong prey drive.
Stubborn and incredibly loving all in one

It’s a shame you won’t consider rescuing as your lifestyle would be good for it in that you wfh. Any dog can have issues regardless of whether they are rescued or bought. On the list of dogs youve had whippets are my favourite. Greyhounds are the most loving gentle dogs as well.

@Springingforward you should seriously consider a Tibetan Terrier.
They are not a Terrier and firmly placed in the utility group. They are intelligent, sociable with a lovely temperament and big personalities. But most importantly, they are just happy to be with you- happy to be very active and go hiking or just chill on the couch with minimal walking...

🤣 whenever I come across a quiet and calm one I just think ffs how did they do that! She recalls well, then dodges being caught. Treats are hit and miss as apparently nothing tastes as good as freedom feels. It’s a different experience with every dog, and I’ve had to adjust my expectations as I was in the mindset of get the same again just make it smaller. Your dog sounds like a dream 🩷

A beagle.

Not big, short haired.

I had one, and fostered several ( not all at once :)

Thank you so much for all your ideas and suggestions. 👍🏻 I've got so much for think about and some rare breeds I've never heard of before too.
I have only met bonkers cocker spaniels and thought there was an issue with 'rage syndrome', aren't they needing endless activity or they would destroy your house?

Sadly I don't think my house is big enough for a bigger breed like a greyhound as lovely as they are.

The herding breeds like corgis and sheepdogs/shelties can be prone to heel nipping and herding with children, my grandchild is my first and still tiny, so that's a characteristic I'd rather avoid. I expect that some of the breed don't do that, but it would be like trying to stop a dog doing their natural behaviour.

Mini schnauzer I have considered, they are VERY noisy, but are lovely.
Poodles I've had mixed experiences with, mostly aloof and guardy.

I don't know anything about the Spitz breeds, Tibetan terriers (which aren't terriers?) so ones to write down for Crufts research 👍🏻 I love Tollers but wonder about what sort of exercise needs they have, might be more than I could realistically do.

I have tried to go through rescues, not one will consider me due to regular visiting children under 5. Even with stairgates and passing homechecks as well.

I had a beagle live next door for a while called Doris 🥰 she howled like the hound of the Baskerville's and had absolutely zero recall 😂 her owner also had a perfectly trained lurcher and was also a vet, so probably wasnt for the want of training!

I've just read my post back and sound negative about many different breeds. I'm an absolute dog lover and just can't imagine my life without a dog always in it. I have to be really realistic about what I can manage and breed traits that it would be unfair to not take note of in my decision.

I even applied for a retired guide dog, even having puppy walked, I was turned down for having young children visiting.

I have a beagle. My breeder (Poppyville) had new pups at Xmas. She's based in Sheffield.

Ours has the most gorgeous temperament. Only issues would be training responsiveness! Beagles are a bit of a challenge but perfect family dogs. Our is three now and so mellow and so lovely with small children (but food theives).

I wonder if a Papillon might suit? They're also known as the continent toy spaniel. Alert and intelligent, easy to train and affectionate.
Their coats aren't short though, so this might be a sticking point for you.

@Springingforward no one who knows anything about dogs believes rage is real (not a dig at you - but more people who pop up and claim their dog has it, when they’re just a crap owner). It’s a catch all phrase for generic bad behaviour or unexplainable neurological conditions. Vets don’t even believe in it…mine likened it to the boogeyman under a child’s bed - everyone knows it’s not real, but people play along anyway 😀

Whenever someone on MN says their cocker has ‘’rage’ what they usually mean is they’re a crap owner and have failed to provide the dog with the life it needs.

Don’t get a retired guide dog. People are probably sick of me saying it, but the way they treat their breeding bitches is abhorrent - worse than some puppy farms with two litters in a year considered acceptable, health testing before a dog is fully grown (so as to skew the scores) and overbreeding and breeding dogs too old and too young. No animal lover should really be supporting them IMO

I had such a calm WCS - she had a bit of Springer in her, but she was so calm from a puppy, intelligent and easily trained. We took advice massively from the breeder, who bred them to work. We didn’t work her but the breeder chose the right dog for us, not too ‘farm dog’, not too timid

Just saw your comments above, ours does not howl but I agree on recall, I just trail a long line if we are in the open but don't bother in our local park. It's the nose, the male beagles I walk with can smell a girl dog going into heat two weeks before any of the other dogs!

We have an Australian shepherd, and she is the best dog we have ever had, in terms of recall, obedience and general disposition. You are right about the herding, (heel nipping), but that was trained out of her by six months. She is the first dog we have ever had that knows property boundary and will sit quietly on the front yard without being tempted off. She is 40 lb, so a good medium size and although high energy, she keeps us busy and does settle down for quiet afternoons.

In the past we have had cocker mix, beagle and have experience with our families' german shepherd and corgi.

The corgi is another one that I would recommend. Our son's dog is great with toddlers and older, and is a happy disposition with good recall and manners.

What about a small labradoodle. So crossed with a miniature or toy poodle. Needs to be multi generational cross though to get the best of both breeds. We have a standard size labradoodle and she is the sweetest, soppiest dog. We have had her for 8 years and had kids for 4 of those years and she is so patient with them. She doesn't have overly high exercise needs and she never has had, she spends most of her time loafing around on the sofa, she barely barks, is okay being left alone as she's not overly anxious.