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.

Isn’t he the one who crates puppies at 8 weeks old out in kennels? And breeds multiple types of dogs?

I know some people seem to swear by him, but I can’t imagine why anyone would be putting puppies at 8 weeks in individual kennels outside. Regardless of my issues with that place, that alone seems unnecessarily cruel - if Dave down the road stuck his cocker spaniel in a kennel in the garden at eight weeks old, you can be sure they’d be reported for animal abuse.

My thoughts exactly. Perfect little dogs.

Easy. Basset Hound! Ours doesn’t howl, laid back, loves long walks but happy to sleep. Loves people and children as well as other dogs. No grooming. Easy to train when you know how (food driven). Heart of gold. Very under rated and people love ours when they see her.

I’d say bichon frise. Calm, loving. Grooming is a downside but I get mine clipped short every 7 weeks and then I don’t need to brush her. 😁

It sounds like you should just go ahead and get a Labrador.
I had 2 ‘heart’ labs (as you call them) and I’m on number 3 now.
Lovely with the children and all that you ask for in a dog.

No, not as far as I know. He breeds labradors mainly, and spaniels.

I’ve got a cockalier. None of the health problems that cavaliers tend to have but a small, active spaniel that is just the right size to handle. Not as much hair growth as a full cavalier either and he’s been easy to train. Loves walks and water and gentle with everyone, I’d trust him around children (as much as you can trust a dog). He’s cuddly and a good companion in the house.

Go to a rescue charity and they'll pair you with a compatible dog (hopefully)

I know you mention your house size and not being able to handle anything bigger than a cocker spaniel but we have 3 big dogs in a terraced house and honestly, as long as they're exercised enough, it doesn't really impact anything at all. Even DH would agree with me who had to be talked into dog #3.

So on this point I would suggest a lurcher which fits in with absolutely everything you want (apart from size) 😁

No poodles were available when I started my search so I have a cavapoo who is mainly mini poodle in heritage - she is delightful, intelligent and affectionate. She is also a Pets as Therapy companion so we work together too!

That’s multiple types of dogs! 😀 he said on his youtube page he kennels them outside…

I have 2 miniature schnauzers, one is quiet, intelligent, loving, well behaved and the other is a noisy idiot.

They both respond well to training, they are clever little things. They do love to sniff though so a walk can take ages.

Miniature Schnauzer. Fabulous dogs, friendly, funny, clever - easy to train.

Yes, but a specialism of gun dogs, he doesn't just breed anything. And yes, he kennels outside, but not from 8 weeks. Many working dogs are kept in kennels outside, I assumed your issue was with them being 8 weeks old, which they aren't. He keeps them with their mother a lot longer than that according to his YouTube videos where he discusses it.

Also, it is worth keeping in mind the definition of 'kennel'. To most on here it conjurs an image of a wooden frame covered in chicken wire, not the custom built, heated kennels that he has which you can also see on his website.

K was born and reared in kennels. It's common practice with working gundogs, so that in itself wouldn't put me off.
I'm not a fan of paying over the odds for a trained adolescent though.

I met the most gorgeous mini schnauzer recently. He was super friendly but also super chilled. His owners hadn’t trimmed him with the typical schnauzer “beard” and he was all the cuter for it!

What I love about whippets is that they don’t bark at least mine didn’t.

Miniature schnauzer

I love my whippet but he's a nightmare. Despite being very well socialised from a young age, once he hit adolescence he became reactive to other dogs and even some humans. We've tried lots of things but now accept that he cant go off-lead unless in a private field and we have to be careful with strangers coming to the house. I really think the majority of whippets are fine but there is definitely something in their temperament- and I think it's because they are timid, fearful dogs - that can cause reactivity. I know from chatting to other whippet owners, we are not alone. I know it's due to them having a fearful temperament.

My whippet also barks but not excessively, and he needs lots of walks/ exercise. He can be out for hours and still you have to drag him home. I love him buy he's a difficult dog compared to other breeds.

Sounds awful. So many shit "dog trainers" out there. Especially macho, male ones.

So much to think about and thank you all again for all your suggestions.
Mini schnauzer isn't one I'd thought about so might be a good breed to research.
I won't be looking into Mordor as not only are they nearly five hours drive from me, I not heard great reports unfortunately.

Looking forward to Discover Dogs and now have more breeds to consider in my search, so thank you all sooo much, I really do appreciate it 😘🐕🐾

Will you please come back one day and let us know when you have a puppy, and of course a photo would be required lovely.

I've got one. He took me 18 months to source because of the CT issue.
Wouldn't be without him. He's currently in the back of the car.
He's a qualified PAT dog and will be coming to Spain for 3 months soon