I guess you guys must be asked this Q all the time, but as i've only just found this brilliant site I think I have an excuse!.As a family we are considering getting a dog...have been considering for about a year now but still havent taken the plunge. We have 2 cats and 2 teenagers and the dog may have to be left alone for 3 hrs a day/twice a week.We have a house with an average size garden. Obviously we'd love a puppy and given that we are a very busy family one that requires minimal grooming and also not a dog that needs huge amounts of walking. We all have different views on what type(looks!)of the dog, hubby loves king charles spaniels, I'd prefer a small beagle buthave read beagles need vast amounts of exercise...so that rules them out. Are we looking for a dog that doesnt exist?? please, any guidance would be grateful.

Hi Boston terriers are minimal grooming, and self exercising. They are not outside dogs, little house dogs. No more than 25 pounds and below the knee, and shed very very little. Another is French bulldogs.
ttfn :)

If you think that you may not have the right amount of time to devote to training a pup (and with ANY breed, this takes time, consistency and patience) then what about a rescue dog?
There are millions of dogs in rescue, all over the country, and for the main part, they have been discarded because the desicion to have a dog was not properly thought out.
If you dont fancy a crossbreed, then there are many specific breed rescues also, that have older dogs, possibly used to family life, and partly trained, or even fully trained. The benefits of breed rescues are that they will try to match up the dog to suit your lifestyle, rather than you having to pick out a dog you like the look of as you would in many normal rescue centres. Also, i think specific breed rescues are also much more willing to give you follow up advice and care as you and your new dog get to know one another.

Emma