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.

You say mini schnaus are noisy but I have two and they are not barky at all! One is especially quiet. Occasionally woofs when people come to the door but otherwise he is a silent and refined gentleman. He's 15.5 now and hasn't got much time left. I will miss him terribly.

Not all gunshots are the same though. I have Golden retrievers and I the method of raising them well, to be working dogs, is very different. They’re literally bred for a different purpose to spaniels.

And he says on his YouTube page, eight weeks. So either he’s knowingly contradicting himself (not ideal in someone who claims to be a reputable breeder) or he’s just an idiot. Sounds like I’m not the only one who’s heard bad things judging by OP reply. It’s definitely a care of ‘if he looked or sounded like Dog Daddy, reviews and comments would be very different’

@SpanielsGalore as you say, it’s the combination of things that are the red flag. One thing to crate outside from 8 week, quite another to do it with multiple breeds, keep puppies longer to charge people for basic training etc

Anyone got any experience of German Shorthaired Pointers?

Why don't you volunteer at a shelter and Foster a dog ? every dog is different no matter what people say about the breed. you get to know certain dogs then and know what their personality are like and then fall in love with one and as you have fostered you see how it fits on your life

Another vote for show cocker spaniel (or a very calm working cocker spaniel). They fit your circumstances to a T. 'The rage' may not exist and, if it does, it's rare and it's not just cockers.

If you've not had one before, be prepared for the amount of personality they have! They've got lots of opinions and they're very good at communicating what they think. They make wonderful companions.

I just wanted to say I have had a working cocker, she was my world, but she was unpredictable, even with the training she had, she could be an absolute dream, but she'd turn on a dime and could randomly resource guard something she'd never shown interest in (once it was a dead slug in the garden) She could also occasionally react to loud noises, but not always. Gun shots and fireworks never a problem, a sneeze or cough could cause her to try and bite.
I loved her, but I absolutely wouldn't trust her with children. I had my little girl and she couldn't cope with the noise and things, but because she loved and was loyal she tried to redirect her stress and would chew door frames and stand in corners screaming. She has gone to live with my Dad and she is so much happier. I know it isn't everyone's experience but my girl was definitely not a child/family friendly.

I swear by cross breeds these days, genuine ones rather than designer crossbreeds such labradoodles. Much healthier in our experience than today's purebreds. Trouble is you might end up as we did with one that's not as described - described as a spaniel x terrier, but the reality has turned out to be springer x German shorthaired pointer. He's a fabulous dog, so loving and intelligent and I've grown to love him dearly even if he's not what I would have chosen.

Another vote for a mini schnauzer. They’re vocal, but oh so loving of their humans and great fun to be around. Would have another in a heartbeat.

@CrotchetyQuaver a springer crossed with a German shorthaired pointed sounds wonderful! My two favourite dogs in one - although I’ve owned a Springer who we had for 15 years.
In a year or two I think I’ll feel ready for another dog and considering a GSP.

I have 2 cardigans easy to train, very loyal to those they approve of, but not needy, no speration anxiry, will walk miles or just go round the block, slightly aloof with strangers so they don’t run up to kids/people they don’t know in the park, 1 of mine is also aloof with strange dogs, and doesn’t like confrontation, so positively avoids any dog that looks even remotely aggressive, my other one wouldn’t ever start a row with another dog, great sense of humour, not too heavy so can be picked up if needed, will easily live with cats, fab with kids, they are super chilled, just love them feed them walk them then they are happy and will return your love. They are a rare native breed unlike their cousins Pembroke corgis (the ones the queen had) so are generally bred by knowledgable breed dedicated breeders not puppy farms/backstreet breeders,
Downsides: they shed like nothing on this earth, some bark badly mine don’t, they shed all year round it’s like tumbleweed blowing across the floor, often not trustworthy anywhere near livestock they are herding dogs, one of mine will actively seek out sheep 5 fields away, they shed so not for the house proud, they are low slung so bring in mud/wet, they have a double coat so they shed everywhere, they can get IVDD my first one lived to 14 nothing current 2 are also fine so far, most people don’t know what they are so you will be constantly be stopped and asked “what breed are those?” it can get a bit tedious, oh and did I mention they shed very badly.
I’ve had lots of breeds before from whippets, boarder collies to gun dogs I wouldn’t own anything else now.

I know you said not labrador, but we have a lab cross cocker spaniel ("cockerdor" if you like the mixed up names) and she is fantastic. She's a great family dog, extremely friendly and loves everyone she meets - and the feeling is normally mutual. She's very clever, but very willing with it so very trainable and I've never had such an easy dog. She is active, but not as hyper as a spaniel and just wants to be with you more than anything. Looks like a 6 month old lab. I'm sure they aren't all like that but it's a really nice cross

If you've had a working-line springer, you're in a better position than many to handle any of the HPR breeds.

The German pointing breeds are all lovely dogs, in the right hands with the right lifestyle (likewise vizslas). In my experience of them (almost 20 years of it):
GSPs are clowns. Usually confident, sometimes a bit clingy, loads of fun.
GWPs: great personalities, can be a little more 'sharp' (less tolerant) than GSPs.
GLPs: sweet-natured goofs.
Might be worth considering Vizslas - delightful, gentle dogs.

If you don't give drivey, intelligent dogs what they need, they can turn into obnoxious dickheads (I have one like that, rude and repellent to other dogs if bored and restless, complete doddle when happy).

All the HPR breeds tend to have massive prey drive, but some of the show lines have a lot less - so if you want a calmer dog, go for one with ShChs all over the pedigree, not FTChs.

Though obviously every breed has a bell-curve of behaviour, so you never guarantee anything.

I have a working cocker spaniel and he is a joy! Brilliant with my kids, lazy about the house (never destroyed anything except the odd sock as a puppy). He loves scent work - 15mins of scent games tires him out more than an hours walk. He’s not very sociable with other dogs (prefers humans!) but friendly enough.

Discover Dogs is brilliant isn’t it? Last year I became quite smitten with the Lancashire Heelers

@EdithStourton thanks so much for your thoughtful reply. We had a working Springer for 15 years and he was such an amazing character that we feel we can’t have another and need to get a different breed.
My childhood dog was a Golden Retriever so I do love clingy dogs who live for lots of walk and play.
We do have primary school aged children though so I do think I need to wait a few years for them to be a bit older.
I love this thread for real accounts from people who have owed each breed.

As you're going to Crufts, make sure you spend plenty of time in the Discover Dogs area. You should be able to meet every breed out there and speak to their owners

If I’ve understood correctly you said you’d rescue but only pups? Quite hard to find in the UK but one of mine came from Pound Dogs Limassol, and they seem to have a lot of pups. Mostly working breeds, lots of pointers and hounds (which are my favourite). They’re an experienced rescue and cat and child test dogs.

https://www.instagram.com/pound_dogs_for_adoption?igsh=MXllaDBkbmJnNmR4

Do you know which day you’re going OP? I think we are going on Hound & Terrier Day.

Was also going to say a WCS. Ours is fantastic with children, loves people and is pretty lazy. She just wants company. Of course she was very bouncy and chewed a few things as a puppy but had calmed down by about 18 months. We got ours from Uggeshall Spaniels

That must have been difficult for you. Over the years my SIL has had many working cockers, usually 2-3 at the same time, so she's gone through quite a few and most of her puppies have gone to family members so there's quite a clan that get together a lot. They are all different characters with very different behaviours, a couple have been aloof but the predominant vibe is quite full on. They are lovely and I adore them all, but I wouldn't have one myself as they tend to fuss their owners (and other humans) - which some people want from their pets, but it's not for us. None have been aggressive but a couple had odd quirks like shadow obsessing.

Dogs won't necessarily act exactly like the breed profile or have all the traits from their breed or, also, not have atypical breed traits. Pretty sure you know that @JustADayDreamBeliever! More aimed at OP tempering expectations about specific breeds.

Exactly this. It sounds awful, but the people who sing cockers praises do it loud and proud, and rightfully so! They can be wonderful amazing dogs, but just like any breed, you can't have that guarantee and you just don't know what you'll get. There's a definite 'stigma' when you say your dog wasn't perfect, but I know this wasn't down to training, or stimulation or anything, it was just her. I still see her now, I still love and adore her, but I wasn't the place for her to be. So I just wanted to out across an alternative perspective, but I honestly hope nobody has to make the choice I did, but just because I made that call doesn't mean I didn't love her.

I think a Hungarian vizsla would be ideal.

I know you said smaller, but otherwise a Golden Retriever would be perfect for you. Similar to a lab, but not a lab. Indeed, they are generally calmer than labs. Such a gorgeous, gentle, kind, intelligent and funny breed and of course, absolutely fantastic with small children. Both of mine have/had (I lost my girl in July, nearly 13 years old) the most tender and caring relationship with my grandchild. They adapt to your lifestyle as well and will happily cope with a short walk on stormy days, but also climb Snowdon with you with ease

I am with you on getting a puppy so that they can be trained and moulded into the dog you want and need.

I quite like the Japanese chin when I went a few years ago, and I’m not a toy dog person!

Bit of advice, the Discover dog section does get very busy, so go there early if you can.

( A good excuse to list some pictures from Crufts)

@Silverbirchleaf

Japanese Chins, amazing little dogs. Mine thought he was the size of a labrador.