What dog for our family Which breed for me?

OH and I are going to add to our gang, taking us up to 4 dogs. It will not be until early next year, just to make doubly sure that we iron out any problems with ours, give us time to save and research!



Whether you have had dogs previously

Yes, we currently have 3 dog

Kerrie large x breed
Rupert Spaniel x
Poppy Rough Collie

(all rescues, had various issues, some a work in progress) I also had dogs as a child (Rough Collies)

Your circumstances - do you work etc?


We both work. Simon is full time, I am at the moment part time, mainly evenings. However this is likely to be increased (hopefully)

How much time you have for exercise

Mine currently get 1 hour very early morning, 3/4 10 mins ramble through the day (wee wee walks) and then another hour or so in the evening. They get a lot more at the weekends and through the summer

Whether you have children, other pets etc

One child (he will be 2 and a bit when we will be looking for another dog) we also have 2 cats, and will be having chickens in the summer

What characteristics you are looking for

First and foremost the dog has to be a good family pet, but at the same time, enough brain cells, and up to doing long rambles. I would also like to dabble in WT Sch agility or maybe breed specific activities.
Also, I would like a dog that is easy on the eye, (I know I know!) I spend a fair amount of the day with mine, so I dont want to be looking at mucky beards. Neither do I want huge grooming commitments, Poppy is easy 10-15mins every day and she looks lovely...I couldnt deal with a Poodle or similar

What breeds you have already looked at and your thoughts on them

Working Cocker Spaniel - I already have a spaniel x, and love his character, temperament and the size appeals to me
Belgain Shepherd (Mali) - I love the look of this breed, but not entirely sure that one of these would enjoy our lifestyle
Rough Collie - I have said that I wouldnt ever own another one, but something keeps making me look at Collienet puppy page, and similar sites. If I did have one, then it would have to be a sable dog!

Anything else you think might be relevant or important

Space is at a premium, so although I LOVE BMD, and some GSD they just wouldnt fit in the house (Or car!) We are planning to move in 2-3 years, so then we will have lots more space.

Working line Border Collie?

Australian Shepherd?

German Shorthaired Pointer?

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever?

Hungarian Vizsla?

All medium sized, minimal (HV, GSP) to average (the others) grooming requirements, all could probably dabble in most dog sports, exercise requirements match what you are willing to give.

hmmm...I dont think BC is the dog for me...I dont know what it is, but they dont "do it I think that they may be a bit too "on the go" for us.

I LOVE the look of the Aussie, and I have been reading mini aussie sites

Will have a read of your other suggestions.

Thankies..Keep them coming!

Probably best to steer clear of working Cockers and Malinois' then. ;-)

Maybe I didnt word that right...its something about BCs that slightly scare me, and worry me into the bargain. I have met some stunners, and know of several...But still not on my list

I know what you mean, i have working springers that work and also do Flyball, but a collie is not for me either, its not the energy levels its just the intensity if that makes sense of the collie.

Thats it...thats the word!

OOOh..had not thought of Springers (Eng or Welsh)


Tell me more! (piccies needed!)

Welsh tend to be a bit more highly strung, i have English, 5 of them they're funny, busy, can be stubborn but easy enough to train and they make me smile, there is a big difference between working and show, usually when i talk to people that have had their first springer they'll never have anything else, they're not for the houseproud as tend to be mega mud magnets, and don't expect them to stay close on a walk because they're usually off in the undergrowth sniffing around, working their brains will tire them out far more than walking them, and don't be fooled by people who say they're thick, its actually the opposite, they're blinking clever and can work most things out,

Loads of Photos can be found here in my Flickr just look at the sets that include the dogs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25550342@N05/

Thank you Lizzy...sound like they are going on the "look at" list!

Am I right in remembering your son is allergic to the dogs?

From your list, I would probably rule out the Malinois, or at least look at showline rather than workline.

Rough collies are lovely dogs - but I think you would have to really research your breeder to find one who bred for energy levels and intelligence as well as for the show ring.

Working cockers are great little dogs - usually very friendly and very "busy" They could certainly suit your needs in terms of a dog to do sports with, a good family pet, as well as not taking up a huge amount of space

what about a flatcoated retriever?

Does this mean that your little boy got over his allergy issues? Do you still need to keep them separate? Do you need a non shedding breed or is that not an issue now?

Sorry I disagree. FCRs want to be with their family , doing what they are doing all the time, anything less and they are not happy. They like to be fully involved and do not do well in kennels. I really don't think an FCR would fit.

How about a more independant breed?

I don't know about that it depends how much is done with dog in between, where did kennels come into it? Was it in the original post? Sorry if I missed it. I know of flatcoats that are kept in kennels, but because of the stuff they do in between being in kennels, and being with their person the majority of the day they do just fine in kennels to sleep.

From the post i got they wanted a family dog, who would be a much loved pet, who liked long walks, and could do training with, wasn't too big and wasn't a dog that bedded a lot of grooming.

I was wondering about that too -- did you ever get to the bottom of that?

depending on your circumstances now maybe a ckcs or a poodle

Sorry, should have updated this.

The current dogs are not in kennels, although when we move we will consider kennels for when we are out.
What we have done, is hard floored everywhere upstairs and downstairs, and have new leather sofas. The dogs are restricted downstairs, as are the cats. I am vacuuming/damp dusting every day, the dogs are being furminated regularly, and I am teaching Alex to wash/wet wipe his hands after he has touched the dogs and then we are indorexing/diatom earthing every month. (before anyone suggests, I am not turning Alex's world into a bubble) He does meet other peoples dogs, and he does go into others homes with dogs/cats/guinea pigs etc...and not a problem. However I am happier keeping up my regime for now. (tis a bit OCD, and a bit of therapy for me, after a rubbish few months)

The dermie, seems to think that his eczema is hereditary (Atopic Eczema) We may never find the trigger, because of the type of Eczema that it is. However, we have (through a diary) ruled out guinea pigs, tomatoes (fresh) and certain brands of fruit juice.

I was never going to rehome the dogs (although some people seemed to think twould have been better for them)

So yes, we are all happy. Alex adores the mutts, and they adore him too.

Sits and waits for the lynching

Lynching? :?

I'm glad circumstances are better as last time I heard, your little lad had been in hospital. So just to check, you don't specifically need a non shedding breed then?

No...shedding is fine xx

Yes, he has been in 2x now with breathing problems (croup, and then he started having fits) nothing for a good couple of months now!

glad everything is ok with him