Help with puppy breed please.

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Vesalius

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I am going to buy a puppy but would appreciate some advice on which breed to get. We are an active family and we tend to walk for 2-3 hours each day over the weekend. My wife is at home during the week, and she will also walk for about an hour daily.
We don't want a large dog but do want one that is very child friendly. We have considered a Cavalier (and I have researched their health issues/DNA testing etc.) but I am concerned that we might be too active for one. Other options would be a cocker or springer but I wonder if they would be too energetic?
Would a cross breed be a good option?
 
How well behaved and trainable would you like your ideal dog to be? Some people would like a spot on type, others quite happy with decentish recall and easy going. I keep thinking about spaniels and hear that springers are easier than cockers. CKC I don't know much about, but I should think a healthy one would take a lot of exercise. Do you want a puppy or happy with rescue/rehome?
 
One minute per week of age rule regarding exercise for puppies. There is no such thing as a child friendly breed; it depends on the dog's training and socialisation, the handler's competency, and the behaviour of the child involved.
 
JRT! Mine has been a very good puppy, loves people and tried to run off with my 11 year old sister! He's happy to have a long or short walk and is a complete clown :)
 
A CKCS would take as much exercise as you can give it - I have never met a family who are too active for one - and would be perfect with children, easy to train etc :)

Choose your CKCS breeder with care however and be prepared to wait for a puppy from a good breeder - I can PM you the name and phone number of someone who runs the Cavalier Club Puppy Register if you like? My mother has bred, judged and exhibited CKCS for the past 35 odd years so I know the breed quite well :)
 
Arizahn said:
…….. . There is no such thing as a child friendly breed; it depends on the dog's training and socialisation, the handler's competency, and the behaviour of the child involved.
Click to expand...

Absolutely right! There are some breeds which have a propensity towards being snappy, but generally speaking, your dog will be what you make it!

Alec.
 
Thanks for the responses. I am intending to get a puppy rather than a rescue dog. I appreciate the comments on training and my son is very keen to take the puppy to training classes.
I feel reassured about the exercise capacity of a KCS. I've also contacted a breeder who does full health testing but I will also look at corgis and review the dog book.
 
A beagle is what you want. Very active, they are use to hunting all day, very cute - just look at their little faces. They are very trainable, and bidable and fun. Perfect dogs if trained and socialised. Or (hate to say it) a labradoodle.

As you walk so much i wouldn't get a kcs. They would get matted fast, unless groomed meticiously (which can lead to skin infections if bathed too much) and their eyes will get infected a lot being so large. Also nasal problems can prevent them doing TOO much exercise. There is long walks ambling about then there is 3hour hikes which i get the feeling you are going to be doing..corgis can get tried having such short legs, if they have problem legs then you can't walk much at all. They can also be snapppy (have been bitten by one when i was a kid)
 
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A whippet! They are excellent little dogs, their not really that big, just leggy. They are active little things and love going out for a walk. However, they are soooo laid back they are just as happy led in front of the fire, or curled up on the sofa. Absolutely fabulous dogs!
 
Very sadly, there are now and will be more puppies in rescues up and down the country after Christmas. I ended up with one last year that was bred for Xmas and then found herself dumped on in a pound.
 
I had considered a Beagle but I had read that they can be prone to wander off. The man standing holding a lead with no dog in sight is likely to be a Beagle owner etc. Not sure if this is true however?
I agree with the sentiment about dogs being bought for Xmas and I will keep a review on the RSPCA website in the new year for suitable dogs.
 
Beagles are little *******! Lovely little things but have been bred to put their noses down and go. Not trainable.
I second corgis beinmg nippy, they are bred for herding and that is how they work.
 
I would wait for the post Chrismas dump, go to your local rescue and spend some time talking to the staff and finding out what would suit you. How old are the kids?

I'd say a spaniel would be fab for active weekends, but bear in mind a dog obviously needs walking daily but puppíes shouldn't be walked much at all on lead, you need to let their bones grow.

If you don't go the rescue route, go for parents that have been properly health tested (as opposed to vet checked which tells you nothing about future puppy health). One of my springers has hip dysplasia, a fairly common issue in the breed (also known within Labradors) and this would mean very limited exercise for the dog. Just make sure you see health test results of the parents.
 
We had a beagle when I was younger, who you definately couldnt let off the lead on walks :p at home he was free to roam our land as we had an invisible fence system. Lovely nature with kids (I was the eldest of 3 at 11 when we got him) but did have a habit of nipping at strangers car tyres and unfortnately this was the thing that killed him; he got too old, arthritic and slow to move out of the way fast enough.
He was great though, was happy doing whatever we did - including the boat!

We also have a border terrier who would also be a great family dog.

The best by far is my current lab - is happy to stretch out infront of the fire or go on a day long trek up the hills. Plus we can let her off the lead happily on a walk and she always stays with us :)
 
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