Advice on small to medium calm dog breed for multi generation family

[CharlotteCChapel]

I'm currently very ill and it has been accepted that having a dog would force me to exercise. Anyone have any advice on a small to medium non yapping dog. We are a multi generation family and dont want a designer one.

Propper cross breeds are OK but although I need to exercise i dont want some that is too energetic like a border collie. We have access to an all year beach.

Whippets are lovely, need a shortish walk and run every day but otherwise very calm and gentle and love their beds. Would you consider an older dog rather than a puppy?

Definitely don’t get a DDog to help you exercise more. Mine is currently jerping me on the sofa. She loves havibg breakfast and a poop and then a nice long cuddle up. I should have been up and about ages ago

Yes if you’re getting a cross make sure you like the ‘worst’ of both breeds, people always seem to assume they’re going to get the best of both breeds but that’s not how genetics work.

People get dogs for all sorts of reasons. I don't see that the OP's reason is any worse than many reasons tbh.

I agree that getting a dog to force you to walk is risky - but, also it depends, I’ll walk dogs, really enjoy it, but will rarely walk if I’m between dogs.., it’s boring 😂 but you kind of have to know yourself whether you’ll enjoy it because you have a dog or resent having to do it for the dog.

The much bigger flaw is you trying to pick a breed tbh, because that means you’d be looking for a puppy - puppies can be really hard work, emotionally and physically, you’ll be rushing in and out of the house and scrubbing floors for at least a few weeks, often longer, having to do extra housework to make sure there’s nothing lying about that they shouldn’t have, potentially being up through the night with it.

Also you can’t walk them at all for the first couple of months - they do need to be out and about but they can’t touch the ground, then for a few months after that it’s not really exercise you’re getting because every walk is a training outing rather than a real walk. So if the main driver for getting one is the walking that’s a good roughly 6 months before you’re close to anything like getting an actual walk in for you.

If you have a proper long think about whether you will actually enjoy the walking and decide you’re still up for a dog, I’d recommend forgetting about breed altogether and going for an adult rescue - and be very realistic about what you can cope with in terms of exercise and training

... 🤔 dogs and walking is a very dangerous ground. I have dogs and walk a lot. But because I enjoyed walking so much, I got into hiking. This then developed into 3-7 day point to point tours. The problem is, although my dogs are fit and used to walking, they are not cut out to do something like 75k hike over 4/5 days. So I have 2 time consuming hobbies, one the dogs (very much into k9 sports) the other is point to point hiking. Often they cross over but sometimes it's impossible.

Since starting this post our situation has changed. My daughter has inherited enough money to buy in their own right so we'll be an adult only home with occasional child visits.

I found out I'm lucky to still be here but exercise is going to be paramount in full recovery, the medics think walking a dog will be a great start

I’d recommend an Australian Miniature Labradoodle- loyal, gentle , non shedding, smiley and intelligent.
They are mostly ‘poodle’ and are a mix of breeds - not just in Australia, that’s just the breed name. Have a google and see what you think. The right dog is waiting for you and will change your life.