Hi everyone, I'm posting from my mum's account here! I've been looking for a dog for quite a while but I can't seem to find any I'm happy with, I don't want to settle, I want the right dog for me!

I'm looking for a small - medium sized dog, around the size of a beagle, male, one that requires one to two walks a day but is also happy with just one long walk and to lay around to house with cuddles! A short-haired dog that doesn't require brushing every day, but maybe one to two times a week. A dog that is loyal and loves to sleep on a bed with me, one that can be kept indoors and not wreak havoc. Also to be good with smaller, fluffy lap dogs. I really just want a dog that is loyal, loves me and to cuddle and is able to go on long walks every day!

I work a part-time job with rotating rosters, working average of 3 - 4 days a week, never more than 8 hours a day. I'm more than willing to get up in the morning to take him for a walk and another at night. I don't go out very often so I'm mostly home when I'm not working but I do go out occasionally so a dog with extreme separation anxiety could be a problem! My mum suggested a golden retriever and I'm considering one but they do get a tad bit big.

So champdogs, what breed of dog do you think would suit me?

Thanks

Whippet?  

As long as you get someone to walk it to break up the day ;)   Housetraining can be a problem if you aren't there in the day, so maybe a rescue whippet?

I'd agree, they are happy to be couch potatoes at home, but plenty of stamina and energy for walks.  Will need some weather protection in wind rain and cold, nice coat and your away..

Thanks for the response but I was thinking something a bit more cuddly!

Nothing cuddlier than a whippet, their coats are like silk and the muscles so smooth, very sensual to stroke.

You said short coated, doesn't really equate to fluffy cuddly. LOL

There are so many breeds with pro's and cons,, and one mans perfect breed would be my worst nightmare and vice versa.

for example I couldn't live with breeds that drool, but I can live with the hair mine shed when moulting, as I prefer double coated breed.

Where do you live?

I would suggest going to one of the big championship shows on all 3 or 4 days and have a Good look around.  Don't go on locks alone, have a dog breed book with you that tells you the original purpose of the breed, as this will have an effect on mental traits.

Okay maybe a bit longer fur, doesn't have to be short-haired, not so muscly... I'm okay with fluffy! I have a book here and I'm a fan of schnauzers, schipperke, boston terriers and shiba inus. could any of these work? what do you think would be best?

Whatever your choice of breed, I don't think a puppy will suit your needs.  To houstrain, you will need to put pup outside (and stay with it) every hour.  Or you'll never get it trained.  Very hard work, so an adult would be better for you.

And I would expect a puppy, just having left mum, to have seperation anxiety if left for 8 hours.  It would be traumatised.

>schnauzers, schipperke, boston terriers and shiba inus

Most of the other dogs you mention need far more stimulation than you are planning to give, they are not the type to lounge around indoors, but tend to look for mischief if they can't be kept occupied, this means that left to themselves they will start making their own entertainment.  This can be making a lot of noise, or chewing or both ;)

I would say take your time, look around at friends dogs, look into the pro and cons of those you like. Talk to people, it is your decision. I can't imagine someone helping me choose, prehaps advising me against! I fell in love with a breed as a child and it took me along time to have the time and commitment to be able to give one a secure home.

If you're not in any rush then i'd be heading to some Ch shows to check out a number of breeds and also Discover Dogs in November.

There are a few breeds which i'm not suggesting would be perfect, but maybe worth a look:
Clumber Spaniel
Any of the Dachshunds
Sheltie

There are other breeds but they are about the same size as a Goldie or larger or they have a coat which requires more than you are saying you want to put in..

Do you have someone who can help you out while you are at work with house training etc? Would you be taking time off work initially when the pup comes to help settle it? Do you live with someone else who is around all day?
There are lots of questions which need answers to. Would pup go to work with you?

Pugs are great little cuddle monsters, love to go for a walk and then happy to snooze on the couch with you.  My two have very big personalities, cheeky and very playful and really love their food and home comforts.  When I go out they are very happy to hop in their bed and have an extra sleep. They are very easy dogs to live with :)

A dog that is loyal and loves to sleep on a bed with me, one that can be kept indoors and not wreak havoc. Also to be good with smaller, fluffy lap dogs. I really just want a dog that is loyal, loves me and to cuddle and is able to go on long walks every day!

This are more specific character traits really that can be specific to individuals within a breed.  You want a dog that is independant enough to not have SA problems and cope with fairly long absenses from you but you also want a dog that is cuddly and shows that it loves you and likes to snuggle up to you in bed, whichmay be ontradictory and certainly aren't things you can predict easily.  Whippets are lovely dogs that are very cuddly and reallymlike to be close to their owners but can suffer from SA because of that exact thing!  Lots of the breeds that are cuddly and really enjoy close interaction and contact with their owner so thay make them feel 'loved' can be more susceptable to SA.

You can gain that kind of relationshiup with a dog that is more independant minded through training and interaction but again is down to individual personalities.  Given that you needs are fairyl specific I would say that you may be better not focussing on a particular breed but looking at some adult rescues of the appropriate size that have spent time in  foster home so that they have been thoroughly assessed and already have their character developed so you know what you are getting in terms of whether the dog likes close contact or not how much physical and mental stimulation they require due to their energy levels, whether have SA problems or not and how long they are happy to be left on their own,etc etc.

Really the kind of relationship that you are looking for takes time to develop with relationship building stuff, like training and play, building trust and taking time to get to know each other, not something that comes guarenteed in any oparticular breed of dog.  You have a better chance of knowing what you are getting with a well assessed adult dog than you do with a puppy and an adult sounds more suitable for your situation, plus you'd be helping a dog that really needs a new start in life :-)

I couldnt agree more Karenclynes , excellent advise .I just took on a rescue adult dog from a foster home in January , I travelled the whole length of the country ( in the snow )to get him because I got an indepth report from the fosterers on what his personalitity was like and I knew he would fit in with my other dogs well.Dukie is a 1 yr old staffie cross boxer and after having dogs all my life from pups from breeders he is my first cross and first rescue and he has been by far THE best dog I have ever had the pleasure to own or be around but thats because I knew pretty much what I was getting and what his history was.I would definately advise to look into some of the rescue centres around the country and talk to them and get their advice.You never know they might just have the perfect dog for you. I would say though you need to  think seriously  about how much time the dog would spend on his own , If you want to make the transition as smooth and as stress free as possible for you and the dog. 

I have a poodle that matched lots of your criteria but i agree, a puppy wouldnt be suitable unless you could take time off work to do essential house training/settling in/bonding. Are you after a pup? Perhaps look on rescue websites - RSPCA,Bluecross etc, or even, once you have picked a breed for you, have a look if they have any breed rescue sites so you could rehome an older dog?
Good luck in the search!! :-)

Deffintely go to discover dogs in November if you can get there then you can see exactly what the breeds look like and ask as much as you want. Surprising what you might like when you actually meet one

I don't have any specific questions, other than the idea of having your own dog is always so appealing, and I wouldn't want to put you off, but the idea that you'll walk before and after work and the reality is quite different.

Until recently I worked 2 days a week, and it was really hard to walk before OR after. After an intensive 8 hours at work, I would come home, change and be straight out of the door with the dogs, I would worry about them every time I went to work. Add to that the dark, windy, cold nights which seem to take up 6 months of the year in this country, you really have to ask yourself will you really take the dog out when you've been at work? I've seen this too many times, whereby the dog ends up not being taken out, and ends up in such a sorry situation.

All I'm saying, is please think about the commitment which will be required by you before taking on a dog.

well i have 4 staffords and they are perfect for you, which any one who has one on here will agree, my male is so cuddly he loves the bed couch ect, he prefers the car instead of the leader, lol, hes a lazy one who lies on his back in the sun, they are very head strong and will try their luck but a few behaviour classes sort hat out, hope this helps sami xxx

Schipperke, love them but they do not cuddle at least Jack didnt, devoted to Mum but independant spirit and no lap dog.

Me Im a spaniel lover but the coat does need care.

Beagles are good.