Breed suggestions

[Goldenstar]

A lab

having been brought up by labs I have to say you can’t beat them

 

[Quoth]

Thanks everyone for your responses

We have a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever and he’s gorgeous - a little ray of sunshine. They’re clever, friendly and active but when at home they can switch off and chill. The males tend to be more easy going than the girls though. They have a fair amount of floof - softer coat than a golden retriever, but they tend to keep it on until you groom them.

One of the few gundogs I’ve never met in person. They look lovely though. Again here my concern would be similar to that with labs. I don’t know how well they cope with more rambunctious and domineering breeds.

Truthfully if I was going for a retriever, unless there was some significant reason to do otherwise my inclination would probably be to track down a curly coat.

Beauceron, Hovawart, GWP?

Dutch herder? Can come smooth and rarely, wire haired.

GWP is a hard no. I had one to look after during lockdown. In my life I have never encountered a dog which enjoyed faeces more than this one, nor one with a coat from which it was so difficult to extract. I’m probably judging the breed unfairly but the sheer amount of time spend cleaning, what I seriously hope was fox poo, out of its beard really put me off.

Beauceron and Hovies are two of the breeds I admire. Being more unusual breeds I’ve found it tricky to get reliable information about the amount of shedding. I would guess the Beau would be about on par with a GSD while the Hovie I have no idea about. Moreover those few beaucerons I have encountered have been quite intense working dogs. I would suspect this is a breed which needs to be more than a companion in order to be happy.

I lost my own Dutchie in October of 2019. She was a lovely dog but definitely one which needed a job.
A beauceron or another dutchie, would be something it’d be looking at 4-5 years down the line.

Vallhunds again another bred I admire from afar. They are a Spitz though so I would anticipate their coat will cause greater grief.

Medium schnauzer.

Strangely enough this is one which I’m just not keen on in spite of adoring the giants. My grandmother had one as well as a corgi. They were awful dogs, though that undoubtedly was due to the treatment they received. They were babied half the time and neglected for the rest. I had to look after them following her death which was not a pleasant experience

Irish or Airedale terrier?

Irish terriers I know nothing about but will look into.

Airedales, well the two I’ve know were lovely dogs when in came to people. With anything else they were downright mean spirited.

I have looked at terriers, the Norfolk/Norwich, Cairn, Westie and Kerry blue in particular but couldn’t find one which was the fit I was looking for.

I'm always going to suggest a whippet, working bred for what you're wanting.

Deerhound would be different.

Oh c’mon people, greyhound obvs surely? ???

Except probably not in this case, they will mix with other breeds but they can be quite discerning in their choice of companions ?

I was giving serious thought to deer and wolf hound at one point, as well as some of the more exotic ibizans and borzoi. I often come across people saying the sight hounds really prefer the company of other sight hounds and based in interactions with greyhounds/whippets in the village, while they all have lovely temperaments, I suspect it to be true.

Springer, obviously. English one. Boy, black and white. Specific, yes, best breed, yes. Equal to a big dog that plays rough, particularly if you get a show type.

I’d agree that a springer is probably the best family pet, albeit a relatively high maintenance one. I disagree that they are happy with large rough dogs. I’ve had 4 including the welshie and they have all had a definite preference for other dogs of a more diminutive stature

Great dane?
They dont shed much, get on with a gang of dogs, and will go on a walk all day long...providing there’s no bridges. Ours used to be terrified of bridges and had to carry him across!!

Great Danes go on the short list. I had briefly considered them but was unsure about their level of shedding.

The molossers was a group I had spent quite a while looking at. The greater Swiss mountain dog, Rottweiler and english mastiff in particular.

 

[Clodagh]

Oh yes to curly coat, they are so rare and so lovely. Or the smaller IWS?

 

[Moobli]

Not that I’m biased but go for the toller! They are the most charming dogs. A picture of my family’s one to tempt you View attachment 57986

I know of a litter due too ?

 

[Moobli]

Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

 

[Rokele55]

I have a border Lakeland (gratuitous photo attached) who mixes with big and small dogs very well. Not overly obedient but that is owner error. Great fun though.

 

[palo1]

Irish or Airedale terrier?

Yes! Most definately an Irish terrier - non-shedding, medium sized, clever enough to train at a respectable level, loyal to the very death and certainly capable of holding it's own with bigger dogs. They are a wonderful ancient native breed Tough as all get out and wonderfully clownish too.

 

[palo1]

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-a...ursuits/irish-terrier-the-gentlemans-dog-9247

 

[GSD Woman]

I say a poodle or Irish terrier. The ones I know from responsible breeders are lovely.

 

[SAujla]

Get a Labrador! Or Bermese Mountain dog, think they shed but not sure how much. I just like the look of them ?

 

[GSD Woman]

The problem with Bernese Mountain dogs is the short life span. Cancer is widespread in the breed.

 

[[69117]]

I am biased but I would recommend a Great Dane. They are truly fabulous dogs, and all the Danes I have had have been absolutely wonderful with other dogs of all shapes and sizes.
They hardly shed, they’re kind, sweet, lovely to have around, and they could cope with that level of exercise. It’s worth noting though that they can’t do TOO much exercise - you wouldn’t want them on an all day hike necessarily. Not good for those giant bones. But in all other aspects they are PERFECT.
They’re also fabulous in the house as they take any opportunity to sleep as much as possible.

 

[Quoth]

Again thanks everyone for the suggestions

Great Danes look like lovely dogs and would be ideal but an average lifespan of six and a half years would be very hard. If I could get them to 9+ I could just about live with that.
Bernese are wonderful dogs too but they are heavy shredders and have quite a lot of health problems. The greater Swiss is basically a way to bypass those problems, reliable health information about them is a bit sparse.
Hovies are also apparently heavy shredders.

Having read the responses and given them some thought it's made me realise just how much I'd like to have a retriever again. A Curly for preference or failing that maybe a Chesapeake if puppies. Maybe a rescue Labrador.

I do quite like the IWS, but looking them up they seem to have quite a poor life expectancy for a dog that size.

I've also done a bit of U-turn on terriers, though I will admit to still being a little intimidated by them. i quite fancy a wheaten actually, though the Irish and Kerry blue are up there too. I'm a bit concerned about trainability and dog aggression. Also about how affectionate they are, I've read some of them can be quite aloof.

 

[CorvusCorax]

The native breeds can be quite scrappy IME.

We looked at an IWS once from a breeder and walked away...they all seemed pretty nervy (wouldn't have coped living with our GSD) and the alopecia which is seen on the tail and face can happen in other areas of the body.
My friend had an IWS x Lab and he was obsessed with water, drank from taps, tried to jump in the shower with her and stuck his head into steeping saucepans.

 

[windand rain]

Newfoundland but the coat might be an issue chose carefully as some but not all drool

 

[Quoth]

The native breeds can be quite scrappy IME.

Ah, scrappy in the sense of poorly put together.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Ah, scrappy in the sense of poorly put together.

No, that they like scrapping lol.

 

[GSD Woman]

Quoth, If you like Berners and Swissies there is a smaller mountain dog, the Entelbucher. I have no idea if I spelled that correctly. A woman in my agility class has Swissies and I can ask her more about them and their problems if you like.

 

[Shady]

Nah. you need a Weim. Oodles of fun...never a dull moment

* goes off slightly hysterically to look for a dull moment*

Or how about my other dog breed. Something a little different. The list of how genuinely unique and wonderful she is is too long.
https://www.pets4homes.co.uk/dog-breeds/grand-bleu-de-gascogne/

 

[maddielove]

I've also done a bit of U-turn on terriers, though I will admit to still being a little intimidated by them. i quite fancy a wheaten actually, though the Irish and Kerry blue are up there too. I'm a bit concerned about trainability and dog aggression. Also about how affectionate they are, I've read some of them can be quite aloof.

I can vouch for Wheaten's fitting your shortlist of requirements. Low shedding, always up for a long walk (but happy to snooze all day too) and full of affection. Our's is pushing 13 and still acts like a pup. Only downsides that we have had with him is being incredibly food focussed and recall is patchy (though he is a bit hard of hearing now) but don't know how much of this is down to his breed. Never had an issue with aggression towards human or dog from him.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

If you want low shedding do not get a Lab. I repeat, do not get a Lab. ? mine drives me mad. I don't know how much fur comes off of her little body. I vacuum one evening and then the next morning it looks like I haven't done it in ages. I shed her, I vacuum her, I bathe her, but its relentless. Sometimes it shows down a wee bit. I love Labs but this is my last.

 

[Moobli]

The problem with Bernese Mountain dogs is the short life span. Cancer is widespread in the breed.

One reason for suggesting a Greater Swiss was the cancer in Bernese.

 

[CouldItBe]

Portuguese Water Dog, my sister has one, doesn’t moult has boundless energy yet equally affectionate ans super smart

 

[yhanni]

A Boerboel - but find a breeder who breeds for tight mouths as the drool can be epic!

 

[buddylove]

If you want low shedding do not get a Lab. I repeat, do not get a Lab. ? mine drives me mad. I don't know how much fur comes off of her little body. I vacuum one evening and then the next morning it looks like I haven't done it in ages. I shed her, I vacuum her, I bathe her, but its relentless. Sometimes it shows down a wee bit. I love Labs but this is my last.

We have a black lab, the sofa in my kitchen is light coloured, and it looks like it is growing its own pubic hair if I don't vacuum it daily ?

 

[D66]

We had a wheaten terrier, they dont shed but do need daily grooming. Lovely, energetic dog well capable of running alongside on a five mile run and if they get a bit wet can jump into the car on their own. Chills at home, good with kids, we had no food or dog aggression. Her recall was not brilliant but generally worked - otherwise trainable. Lived to 15 years.
There are three types, the Irish, English and American with varying sizes and hairiness.

 

[Clodagh]

If you want low shedding do not get a Lab. I repeat, do not get a Lab. ? mine drives me mad. I don't know how much fur comes off of her little body. I vacuum one evening and then the next morning it looks like I haven't done it in ages. I shed her, I vacuum her, I bathe her, but its relentless. Sometimes it shows down a wee bit. I love Labs but this is my last.

I admit I said lab but really no... we have four and a whole litter of babylabs get hoovered up daily

 

[D66]

Years ago my mum took some of our golden labrador's hair to the carpet shop and matched up the colour for the dining room - the living room carpet was dark blue/purple (well it was the 1970s), and when the dog sat down she left a yellow circle.

 

[NinjaPony]

I have to also recommend Duck Tollers. They are on my 'must have' list when I'm finally in a position to own a dog. Smallish for a gundog but can hold their own, energetic but not excessively so, with the most wonderful temperaments. I had a friend who use to breed them and all her dogs were lovely natured.

 

[ihatework]

I have to also recommend Duck Tollers. They are on my 'must have' list when I'm finally in a position to own a dog. Smallish for a gundog but can hold their own, energetic but not excessively so, with the most wonderful temperaments. I had a friend who use to breed them and all her dogs were lovely natured.

Will be my next dog too!
I’m done with the Spaniel fix ?