What breed would you suggest.....

[RunToEarth]

The immediate thought that sprung to mind was a golden retriever or perhaps a flatcoat.

i'd definitely recommend a golden. energetic enough to have a good time walking them, chill enough to sit quietly with you whilst you teach etc. the boys are particularly devoted but i've never known one with separation anxiety.. as for dirt; my boy, unless he's really going for it in deep wet ground, gets a slightly muddy belly and legs but its no harder to clean than it would be on a lab or a cocker?

Another vote for a retriever. We've had a flatcoat, she was loopy but I'm leaning towards the fact that was a lot of training errors rather than a breed fault. My golden is lovely, comes to work with me, as happy outside as she is sat under my desk, really loyal and loving person. Yes, she gets dirty sometimes, but no more than any other dog!

 

[Alec Swan]

…….. . My golden is lovely, comes to work with me, as happy outside as she is sat under my desk, really loyal and loving person. …….. !

And therein is an interesting point; when I was serious about working sheepdogs, as pups they slept with me in my bed (I lived alone at the time! :wink3, and they were with me 24/7. Once we felt that we were 'established', then we made alternative sleeping arrangements, but the bond was in place, and we all co-existed as a pack. It worked.

Today, and as I'm now 'contained' so my dogs live in kennels, but neither they nor I benefit from the situation!! Your bond with your dog R_T_E is probably as strong as it is because of the time that you spend in each other's company.

Alec.

 

[RunToEarth]

And therein is an interesting point; when I was serious about working sheepdogs, as pups they slept with me in my bed (I lived alone at the time! :wink3, and they were with me 24/7. Once we felt that we were 'established', then we made alternative sleeping arrangements, but the bond was in place, and we all co-existed as a pack. It worked.

Today, and as I'm now 'contained' so my dogs live in kennels, but neither they nor I benefit from the situation!! Your bond with your dog R_T_E is probably as strong as it is because of the time that you spend in each other's company.

Alec.

You are probably right, but I do think she is the most affectionate person anyway. Guilty as charged she sleeps in my bed, shares my chair, sits with me whilst I'm cooking, comes to work a couple of days a week, basically every moment I can be with her, I am. I've never been so attached to a dog - she really is my world in a lot of ways.

 

[irishdraft]

Border collies always tend to stay about the place but can sometimes harass the horses, terriers generally disappear if left to their own devices but a slightly built BC can be hard to beat as a dog about the place I find anyway

 

[Onefortheteam]

I second the Dalmatian. I have the same sort of job, freelancing and I'm yard manager at a large livery yard. Mines been with me since a puppy, now 4, she's fantastic around the horses, livestock and customers, she's very friendly but she is also weary of strangers and does bark at people she hasn't met before but I haven't discouraged that being a girl in my early 20s and often on the yard on my own in the dark.

 

[AmyMay]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?722945-Male-springer-needs-a-new-home

A Springer is looking for a home ' post in a ad.