Thinking of getting a dog-Breed suggestions
Discussion
After saying goodbye to our 15 year old black Lab over 3 years ago the wife is starting to want another dog. Despite me being dogless for my first time in 40 years I've not really felt much of a desire to get another, it's as much for the kids who are almost 4 and 7.
I'm going to do some research into breeds that would suit our life style.
I WFH so the dog wouldn't need to be left on their own. We have a decent sized garden.
We live just inside the Lake District national park and I'm a keen fell walker I could do a couple of 1hr walks per day then a longer walk of 3-6 hours weather permitting once a week.
Although our Lab was a brilliant dog, soft as you like I reckon a Lab size would be too big and potentially too strong for the kids to walk when they're a bit older.
I'm no dog whisperer but have invested the time in the past to train my dogs, good recall off the lead etc but don't want a temperamental breed or one that's difficult to train.
I'm not bothered about a breed that has guard dog credentials, and we don't have any other pets ot needs to get on with.
A breed that has popped up a few times is a Beagle. Smaller, minimal health issues, Happy with longer walks. So really I guess we're looking for a breed that is good natured with kids, and can handle a moderate amount of exercise.
Both at home and since I lived on my own we've had doberman, labs, collies, and cairn terriers.
I'm going to do some research into breeds that would suit our life style.
I WFH so the dog wouldn't need to be left on their own. We have a decent sized garden.
We live just inside the Lake District national park and I'm a keen fell walker I could do a couple of 1hr walks per day then a longer walk of 3-6 hours weather permitting once a week.
Although our Lab was a brilliant dog, soft as you like I reckon a Lab size would be too big and potentially too strong for the kids to walk when they're a bit older.
I'm no dog whisperer but have invested the time in the past to train my dogs, good recall off the lead etc but don't want a temperamental breed or one that's difficult to train.
I'm not bothered about a breed that has guard dog credentials, and we don't have any other pets ot needs to get on with.
A breed that has popped up a few times is a Beagle. Smaller, minimal health issues, Happy with longer walks. So really I guess we're looking for a breed that is good natured with kids, and can handle a moderate amount of exercise.
Both at home and since I lived on my own we've had doberman, labs, collies, and cairn terriers.
Four years ago we were looking for a family dog, and one of the considerations was that we preferred a pedigree rather than a 'designer' or trendy dog. However, every online criteria search came back to the same dog, a Cockapoo.
Best decision we ever made.
Excellent with the kids (one of who was wary of dogs), a handlable size at 12Kg, very intelligent, doesn't shed fur by the handful so no allergy problems. No formal training but she understands exactly what is expected of her, runs around madly but stops if told, well behaved around other dogs etc etc. I walk her 4-5 miles every morning and longer in the Summer months, we can knock off a 10 mile stroll and then she'll still have energy to have a run around the local field with her buddies.
Best decision we ever made.
Excellent with the kids (one of who was wary of dogs), a handlable size at 12Kg, very intelligent, doesn't shed fur by the handful so no allergy problems. No formal training but she understands exactly what is expected of her, runs around madly but stops if told, well behaved around other dogs etc etc. I walk her 4-5 miles every morning and longer in the Summer months, we can knock off a 10 mile stroll and then she'll still have energy to have a run around the local field with her buddies.
Cool Mart said:
Four years ago we were looking for a family dog, and one of the considerations was that we preferred a pedigree rather than a 'designer' or trendy dog. However, every online criteria search came back to the same dog, a Cockapoo.
Best decision we ever made.
Excellent with the kids (one of who was wary of dogs), a handlable size at 12Kg, very intelligent, doesn't shed fur by the handful so no allergy problems. No formal training but she understands exactly what is expected of her, runs around madly but stops if told, well behaved around other dogs etc etc. I walk her 4-5 miles every morning and longer in the Summer months, we can knock off a 10 mile stroll and then she'll still have energy to have a run around the local field with her buddies.
Yes, for all the flack the trendy doodle dogs get they're generally easy to train, active and friendly dogs. We've got a Golden Doodle (well we look after the in-laws dogs) who is a bit bigger than a Cockapoo at just over 20kg (I think) but shares many of the same traits. Can't walk/run as far now as she is 14, but we'll be out for 30 minutes at lunchtime and a little walk around the block after work.Best decision we ever made.
Excellent with the kids (one of who was wary of dogs), a handlable size at 12Kg, very intelligent, doesn't shed fur by the handful so no allergy problems. No formal training but she understands exactly what is expected of her, runs around madly but stops if told, well behaved around other dogs etc etc. I walk her 4-5 miles every morning and longer in the Summer months, we can knock off a 10 mile stroll and then she'll still have energy to have a run around the local field with her buddies.
You get a few sizes of them, she is a Golden Retriever crossed with a miniature Poodle, the ones crossed with Standard Poodles are huge.
As is normal for posts like this on PH, allow me to simply suggest what I have: a whippet. A fantastic dog that is great with kids. However:
So, all in all, I would thoroughly recommend a Whippet as the perfect dog.
a311 said:
I WFH so the dog wouldn't need to be left on their own.
Whippets are prone to separation anxiety, so will be a nightmare on those occasions you do need to leave them if they are not used to being left.a311 said:
We have a decent sized garden.
My Whippet appears to have super-strength urine that has completely killed my lawn. Not just burnt it... killed it.a311 said:
We live just inside the Lake District national park and I'm a keen fell walker I could do a couple of 1hr walks per day then a longer walk of 3-6 hours weather permitting once a week.
This is too much for a Whippet, they don't have the stamina for long walks.a311 said:
Although our Lab was a brilliant dog, soft as you like I reckon a Lab size would be too big and potentially too strong for the kids to walk when they're a bit older.
My Whippet is around 17kg at 16 months and is too strong for my girls to hold. Especially if he sees a cat/squirrel/another dog/leaf flying in the wind.a311 said:
I'm no dog whisperer but have invested the time in the past to train my dogs, good recall off the lead etc but don't want a temperamental breed or one that's difficult to train.
Recall? What recall?! So, all in all, I would thoroughly recommend a Whippet as the perfect dog.
Another vote for a rescue centre. You never know what they have. In my case I was offered this 17 week old Chow and it's been a fantastic journey. I saw a number of 'on trend breeds' as well. Not all get advertised, you need to visit to see whats there.
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Good question, I’m on my third lab so I’m totally biased , my better half has never had a dog and feeling blessed that we went for a lab , we can walk her off the lead, great recall, great with the kids, she was the runt of the litter and as such is slightly smaller. Absolutely no use as a guard dog , she never really barks, and would help a burglar if they had treats 😝.
Now as for beagles , my sister has basset hound (closely related), nightmare of a dog , barks constantly for attention to the point that my sister’s neighbours are at their wits end, destroys stuff and gets a scent and cannot be recalled, he’s very stubborn as the breed type can be, it could just be how my sister looks after it. Good luck with getting a new dog
Now as for beagles , my sister has basset hound (closely related), nightmare of a dog , barks constantly for attention to the point that my sister’s neighbours are at their wits end, destroys stuff and gets a scent and cannot be recalled, he’s very stubborn as the breed type can be, it could just be how my sister looks after it. Good luck with getting a new dog
I'm also totally biased, but for me , if you can find one , there's two breedes I'd choose. Cairn or Westie. When my last dog passed , a few years ago ,I was drawn to a Westie in a rescue place. Not for me as it had problems with young kids, but I was "sought out" ( and only dog owners will know what this means) by a JRT cross. It turned out that she was a JRT/Cairn cross. Cairns/Westies ( same dog ,differing coats) love the hills, and Ive owned a few, but JRT/Cairn is a a pocket rocket. At almost 10, she is never happier than out and about. Cairns were bred in the highland glens, and JRT in Yorkshire.
Caveat- they have some hereditary problems. JRT cab jump, and Cairn/Westie can dig, so if there's prey around, ( cats etc) be prepared for escapes. My garden has a 6" fence around it on all sides. She's been out twice, using the bird table as a help and several times under the rear fence.
That is the problem, both breeds being highly intelligent ,get bored easily .
Caveat- they have some hereditary problems. JRT cab jump, and Cairn/Westie can dig, so if there's prey around, ( cats etc) be prepared for escapes. My garden has a 6" fence around it on all sides. She's been out twice, using the bird table as a help and several times under the rear fence.
That is the problem, both breeds being highly intelligent ,get bored easily .
We've kids aged 10, 8, 7 and 3 and we've got a 13 week old Cocker Spaniel, which we've had 3 weeks now. Extremely hard first week with him, partly because we had no idea what we were doing, partly because he would wee and poo everywhere, then nip the kids clothing all the time. He's getting much better though now he can go out for walks, now he's going outside for toilets most of the time, nips at the kids clothing less as well. Will never nip at the skin though, if I let him have my finger or hand in his mouth he's very gentle. Will happily let 4 kids fuss all over him, play fetch with them, shows no signs of aggression and loves being around people and kids. Sleeps from 8pm to 6am every night without making a sound or messing his crate.
Cockers seem to come as top family pets from the research I did. Ours came from a reputable breeder that the MiL has had 2 cockers from decades back.
Would 100% recommend a Cocker Spaniel.
Cockers seem to come as top family pets from the research I did. Ours came from a reputable breeder that the MiL has had 2 cockers from decades back.
Would 100% recommend a Cocker Spaniel.
Again another one with bias but sounds like a Working Cocker would fit the bill.
Our boy is 5 now. He'll run forever if you let him, wants to be everybody's best mate (both dogs and humans). His recall is decent but he's a pain on the lead (however I'm sure this is down to us, rather than him). 12-15kg would be normal weight range so size is about what you're after as well
Our boy is 5 now. He'll run forever if you let him, wants to be everybody's best mate (both dogs and humans). His recall is decent but he's a pain on the lead (however I'm sure this is down to us, rather than him). 12-15kg would be normal weight range so size is about what you're after as well
We have 2 saluki cross rescue dogs that would be very happy with the life you describe. Happy to climb Scottish munro summits but also incredibly chilled around the house. Prey drive is about the only issue I can really think of but there's ways around that.
Not all rescue dogs are the same though so tread carefully. I would also absolutely avoid a beagle - everyone i've ever met has been an absolute nightmare.
Not all rescue dogs are the same though so tread carefully. I would also absolutely avoid a beagle - everyone i've ever met has been an absolute nightmare.
Bannock said:
Fozziebear said:
Go to a dog rescue and have a walk around, plenty need homing, loads of potential fun dogs, don't pay £££££ for some cross breed doodle or whatever else these puppy breeders are churning out.
Bullseye. mongrel is the best breed.
BoRED S2upid said:
Bannock said:
Fozziebear said:
Go to a dog rescue and have a walk around, plenty need homing, loads of potential fun dogs, don't pay £££££ for some cross breed doodle or whatever else these puppy breeders are churning out.
Bullseye. mongrel is the best breed.Genuinely curious to know what I am missing here.
Pieman68 said:
Again another one with bias but sounds like a Working Cocker would fit the bill.
Our boy is 5 now. He'll run forever if you let him, wants to be everybody's best mate (both dogs and humans). His recall is decent but he's a pain on the lead (however I'm sure this is down to us, rather than him). 12-15kg would be normal weight range so size is about what you're after as well
A cocker is on my future dog list. Be a few yrs yet.Our boy is 5 now. He'll run forever if you let him, wants to be everybody's best mate (both dogs and humans). His recall is decent but he's a pain on the lead (however I'm sure this is down to us, rather than him). 12-15kg would be normal weight range so size is about what you're after as well
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