[Closed] 1st family dog. Spaniel?

IMO no. They are highly intelligent, can be hyperactive, and demand a lot of attention. More so than a lot of other breeds.

Springer's ARE NOT a good introduction to dogs...

They are very hard work cos they're so full of energy, and to be frank, a bit thick! That's not to say they don't make great pets, but more for people who already know what they're like and what to expect.

Bigger, more docile dogs make much better first pets IMO.

Or get a cat FTW...

spaniels are crazy and very energetic... springers especially so.
They do have a slighly endearing nature tho and are generally good with the family but are far too hyper and get obsessed easily with chasing things. I have a slightly neurotic black lab who is awesome with the kids

collie!
[img] [/img]

As most of the above have already said, they are a very energetic breed and require a lot of exercise a week. I take mine for 2 2 hour walks a day otherwise they have far too much bounce in them and become a pain around the house. They are very mild mannered dogs so wouldn't be aggressive towards the kids, but they will tend to jump and bound around a lot which may no be ideal if you have young ones pottering about.

The ideal first dog in my opinion is a Labrador; they are extremely loving and well mannered dogs and are great with kids (will let them chew on their ears, prod them etc). My father has one in a relatively small London house with no problems, like all dogs they require a good walk at least once a day but they won't tear the house down if they don't get it. They are also very intelligent dogs, contrary to what many people think!

Springers are a brilliant family pet, as long as you can give them a good hour off lead walk once a day, plus a little round the block in the morning that's plenty. Had my little fella for 3 yrs an couldn't recommend the breed enough

Thanks for all your advice, we have started to fall in love with it already but I think we will back out tomorrow before we commit to it.
The last pet I had was a bulldog over 20 years ago which I didn't have to look after. He was not up to a bike ride either 😉
A lab or a collie would probably be more suited.

A massive Rottweiler, they're just misunderstood.

Don't wear a down jacket and you'll be fine! 😉

I do like Rottweilers but mrs rag doesn't. My dad used to have two as guard dogs when I was a kid both of which never understood their job description, both soft and quiet

Springers are NOT thick but they can be ace at hiding their intelligence behind a wall of flappy eared enthusiasm.

DO require a fair amount of stimulation but don't actually need that much physical exercise (they are VERY adaptable - the breeder we got ours from (many times national field trials champion) didn't believe in loads of exercise for his dogs).

They are BRILLIANT with people and are very affectionate to the point of being annoyingly clingy at times.

Be prepared for 5 or 6 years of 'energy' before they properly settle down though.

I grew up with working Springers so kind of knew what to expect when I got one (or two) of my own though and might be more tolerant of their foibles than other owners.

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

slainte 8) rob

What clourmoise said.

We had one when I was young and I had a tendancy to tease it, so it bit me on the face. Other than that it was great fun - utterly mental though, ruined all the furniture

I'm gonna say Labrador as well. It was my first introduction to a dog. Very mild mannered breed, and easy to train. They are active but don't require huge daily walks, few short ones through the week and a big one at the weekend. Take mine biking with me now she's 2 and has developed and got the fitness. There great with other people and other dogs. Only drawback is they wanna eat everything going.

For Gods sake if you are worried about a springer having too much energy do not get a collie. Springers are energetic dogs that will need one or two off lead walks a day but then so too do labs despite what the owners of many fat examples will you.

I don't think the breed I have in mind exists,
1 good with kids.
2 only needs a short walk twice a day.
3 happy to sit quietly when the kids are in bed.
4 fit enough to run along on a 10 - 20 mile ride once a week.

I might have to give up on number 4 for an easier life.

I dont think any dog could run along on a 20 mile ride once a week.

so too do labs despite what the owners of many fat examples will tell you.

Haha, exactly what I was thinking!

Ours gets 1.5 hrs a day and then a couple of rides or big walks at the weekend.

Unfortunately I don't think there's a dog that meets all your criteria!

spaniel could do 20 mi no probs once trained up a bit. FANTASTIC biking dogs, trade off is that when they are fit, they just wont sit still at any other time. can be quite possessive too.

my vote is for lab.

as per my little lab.

[img] [/img]

exceptionally friendly, great with kids etc. decent size, good enough at biking, tho less agile than some breeds. FANTASTIC with water (up to you if thats a good thing!)

grow quickly though. he's 14 weeks in this next pic.

[img] [/img]

My ex had a springer, female, adopted. It raced around everywhere jumping up and pawing the kids, scratching them, and pee'd itself when excited (normally when someone came to the door) They also had a cavalier king charles spaniel, female, lovely dog for the kids, didn't get trained though (i wasn't around to do it) Heart defect due to inbreeding though. Very short walks only, lots of sleep periods, loveable, dumb, died at 5.5 years old horribly in the middle of the day (blue tongue, rasping, the cat witnessed it, yowled and left the house never to come back. my daughter is still devastated)

I've grown up with cross collies, blue merle shelties and an alsation/red setter (we think) They had the legs to keep up on all day walks, but want out for long walks a couple times a day. Difficult to make compatible with modern life. They are highly emotional and sometimes quite shy which is upsetting.

Whilst as an adult in a family we would like a dog and think for ourselves on breed, admittedly they are best for kids to grow up with for interest, companionship and teaching them about mortality. I'd pick a dog that's best for your kids, and at their age, a king charles is fine if you check the breeders family tree documents to detect inbreeding heart defects.

spaniel could do 20 mi no probs once trained up a bit

You must ride at the pace of an asthmatic ant with heavy shopping then.

ah ha ha ha. i hope not.

saw it with my own eyes last week. she was slowing at the end, but still keen.

to be fair it was more like 14 mi, so you can have a slight concession there.

The ideal first dog in my opinion is a Labrador; they are extremely loving and well mannered dogs and are great with kids (will let them chew on their ears, prod them etc)

Sorta true, if you avoid the working ones ...... if you get one from working stock, they are bright and pretty tireless and will chew you out of house and home unless given a lot of things to do.

Basically the first 10 months will be easy as they are puppies, then at that point they turn into teenagers so start to become hard work until around 4. Hence why you see a lot of people trying to get rid of dogs once they hit 10 months.

Also if you do get a Lab, do not underestimate there obsession with food and water. As they are permanently on the hunt for any unguarded food, and slightly damp.

Also I would get a bitch rather than a dog personally, as they tend to be a bit more clingy.

This book is also well worth a read: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Think-Dog-Owners-Canine-Psychology/dp/1570762503/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334130583&sr=1-2

and finally if you go to pick a puppy do *not* pick the one cowering at the back, or the one that charges towards you. It is *not* picking you, its the most dominant dog and will be an utter bastard when it grows up.

saw it with my own eyes last week. she was slowing at the end, but still keen.

to be fair it was more like 14 mi, so you can have a slight concession there.

Mental, doesn't the owner realise that more than likely the poor bastard is going to have horrendous hip/joint problems as it gets older 🙁

Mine would run himself to death if he though he was being abandoned/left behind.

i tend to agree tbh.

1 good with kids.
2 only needs a short walk twice a day.
3 happy to sit quietly when the kids are in bed.
4 fit enough to run along on a 10 - 20 mile ride once a week.

That dog doesn't exist, as they aren't machines that can turn off and on there enthusiasm for life to fit around your lifestyle.

You need to allow at least two hours a day for training and walking, plus some playtime with them, and you shouldn't leave them alone for more than 4 hours once they are old enough to hang on for that long.

Mine found it very hard to hang on for that long until he was around 1 . Any younger and I would have come home to a house drenched in piss.

Also if you do get a puppy you need to bear in mind they are massively time consuming as they basically play, eat, piss and shit every few hours and they can't hang on if they need to go and being around there own faeces will cause them some distress which can impact there temperament in later life (that's why the mothers eat the shit, if they can't get it out of the kennel)

rmacattack - Member

I'm gonna say Labrador as well. ... [b]Only drawback is they wanna eat everything going[/b]

Very true - mine had his breakfast twice this morning because my wife didn't realise I'd already fed him... That didn't stop him wolfing it down...

Given that he is only 9.5 weeks old with a teeny tiny tummy I'm expecting a call in about an hour to say he has awful diarrhoea...

Lovely...

haha ha.

we are training ours currently. gave up on expensive training treats as you could basically reward him with pocket fluff and he would still behave for it. he will eat ANYTHING.

currently reward him with kibble, and feed him it too...

so despite having a bowl of say 150 pieces, he will still sit, stand, lie, follow etc. all for a single piece of the same stuff, 2 seconds after finishing an entire bowlful.

Just wait until he eats a scouring sponge or some string, as that's always a highlight of dog ownership.

Here's a photo of mine at 2, when he had calmed down a lot (don't look TJ, he's not on a lead and he is in a public place)
[IMG] [/IMG]

saw it with my own eyes last week. she was slowing at the end, but still keen.

to be fair it was more like 14 mi, so you can have a slight concession there.

Mental, doesn't the owner realise that more than likely the poor bastard is going to have horrendous hip/joint problems as it gets older

Mine would run himself to death if he though he was being abandoned/left behind.

indeed, just because the dog can do it doesnt mean it should.

my old one ate a 1990's era golf ball.

(the ones that were basically 3 miles of wound up rubber string forced into a plastic casing)

had some interesting bouncey/stringey poos.

also a classic moment where my old man stood on a stringy bit hanging out, only for dog to leg it, reach the limit of the elastic and have it snap 15 ft back up to his arse.

oof!

Mine has eaten around 15 ft of string in the past, all you can do it put your foot on it and wait for the shocked look on the dogs face as it walks away.

The vilest thing mine does is vomit through gritted teeth, as he is usually dragged away from the puddle before he eats it again. However he has worked out if he grits his teeth he gets to keep most of the 'good' stuff and can swallow it again.

Basically if you get a Lab, prepare to be revolted at what they will do if they think they can eat something.

I had a black lab when I was young, it ate a light bulb 😐 the vet had us feeding it bread for ages. Didn't seem to have a negative effect. Im a cat person but if I was to have a dog it would be a collie 🙂

although my old spaniel wins currently in the dirty food stakes as she once found a fully rotting cod on the beach in south wales, and 'owned' it for about an hour.

lovely trophy that was.

We've got a springer (almost 2 years old), no kids of our own, but several younger nieces and nephews, they love him and he plays very well with them... Only the eldest at 11 is strong enough for him out walking though, he's obsessed with birds, and if on the lead can give a good pull if something interesting flaps past.

He gets 30 mins in the morning (mix of on and off lead). 20mins at lunch, and then evenings vary from 30-90mins. that's plenty for him to be very quiet around the house.

I'd agree with the above comment about clingyness, he's like my shadow in the house, I quite like it though.

He's MY first dog, although I did grow up around Cockers and English Setters.

He's also a magnet for mud....

[IMG] [/IMG]

Worst dead animal mine has found/eaten/rolled in was a rotten bloated (with gas) badger which he 'popped' by rolling on. He was caked in maggots and rotting flesh and to get within 10 feet of him made you physically gag.

Luckily there was a pond nearby.....

I own a springer and a cocker and, whilst it is true they have a lot of energy and are a bit mad in their early years, they do settle down and they can be calm.

However, they do need a reasonable amount of exercise and they are drawn to water and mud like, well, a duck to water. That _could_ cause issues if you have kids, if you like them to stay clean that is. They also like to eat, so you have to watch what they get their hands on, because they will eat it.

They are very lovely dogs though. Our cocker will sit for hours on your lap (as my jumper will prove) and is happy as hell when any attention is paid to him. Same with Ted (the springer) although he does prefer tennis balls to fuss.

My lab used to be obsessed with "helping" in the garage which involved eating tools...

[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

On a serious note labradors do still require a fair amount of exercise as they will eat absolutely everything - you see far too many fat labs around these days so you do have to watch their weight a little. They are however one of the most loving and loyal breeds (albeit the same can be said about springers). Ours, if taken for a couple of 2 hour walks during the day, will happily curl up by the fire in the evening and is great with kids, would never dream of biting them (although seems to want to eat everything else).

re: making them run a long way

indeed, just because the dog can do it doesnt mean it should.

while some breeds suffer form hip problems due to inbreeding and probably wouldn't make good dogs for chaseing bikes. I grew up on farms and the working dogs would (out of choice) follow the landrovers all day, so that's probably 15-20miles at least, every day. They could sit in the landrovers but usualy they'd rather run. One day one even got bored while some fencing was being put up and ran home of it's own accord!

For the OP, have you considdered re-homing a greyhound/wippet? They only want a couple of short (but very fast, off the lead) walks a day and will quite happily sleep the other 23 hours.

think the bottom line is that ALL dogs need bringing up properly, and exercising correctly throughout their life.

bottom line is that if the OP wants a dog to ride descent amounts of xc with once a week, and then stick in the house to play gently with kids for the rest of the week then it isn't going to happen.

fat labs is one of the saddest things IMO. such a lovely form on a decent lab, wrecked by lazy owners.

I wouldn't take it to trail centres, I think it would just be the local forestry loop which is quite a slow pace and 20 miles is very rare for me.
I hadn't considered a greyhound or wippet, but was thinking of getting a pup to hopefully live 10 years plus, so the kids would be teanagers and possibly more understanding when it reaches the end of its life.
This disicion is getting really tough and will make picking my next bike or wheelset simple 😉

just need to think long and hard about it.

question one really should be:

what will you do during the day?

do you/mrs/kids work from home?

Sorta true, if you avoid the working ones ...... if you get one from working stock, they are bright and pretty tireless and will chew you out of house and home unless given a lot of things to do.

There are good and bad working lines [i]and[/i] show lines. Do some research and (if you go down the Lab route) find a nice biddable line rather than a "hot" field trialing line. I've grown up with working labs, which generally did less "work" and more "pet" when I was a kid, but I've got a good working Lab now (and another on the way) and she is as soft an gentle as could be. She very fit but doesn't need much exercise (gets more tired from mental stimulation), doesn't jump up, doesn't steal food off the kitchen bench, doesn't chew stuff, doesn't beg at the table...

They are great around children and easy to train - BUT MAKE SURE YOU DO!! For your sake and the dog! Take it to puppy class (ask at local pet shops or vets), socialise it with other dogs, teach it basic obedience but most importantly have ground rules around the house. You can't scold it for jumping up when muddy one day and then encourage it to jump up for attention the next - dogs don't know the difference and you've gotta have consistency. Especially with young ones around - make sure they take the responsibility of owning a dog seriously and don't see it as another toy.

You must have had a bloody big farm if the dogs did 20miles a day following a landrover. Dogs would have been ****ed when asked to workwhen they got there. My great uncles used to own half the Brecon beacons and dogs weren't asked to run that far. Certainly on the farm I worked on the dogs were worked not flogged chasing landrovers. Whilst a fit working collie could manage 20 miles chasing a bike collies make appalling pets IMO.

I have an (ex) working springer. I probably would go down the Cocker route if I was looking for a family orientated spaniel; that's not to say that Max isn't great, but I don't trust him with the baby at the moment and he does require an awful lot of 'work' to make him compliant.

We were interested in a springer as our first dog but then we got onto labs .apparantly they are usually a good choice to go with cats (we have 2 house cats) and the mrs fell in love with chocolate labs, the rest is history!
Ours is now 7 months and so well behaved. She doesn't chew anything in the house other than her toys (of which there are plenty!), she walks good off the lead, plays with my nieces and nephews - never any concern that they'd come to any harm. Left fir a few hours on a morning and an afternoon with no bother. Just such a sweet natured dog.
She even let's us make her look daft 🙂
[IMG] [/IMG]

The wife's 2nd choice is a choc lab 😉
I've been offered a bulldog today off a friend, which are due in the first week of may but the wife doesn't like them and I'm worried about the health problems.
I know they are great with kids and he won't be going on any bike rides but I still like them.

love labs. proper dogs.

that is all.

Vizla

NOT a GWP

Labs are great family dogs, very good temperament, intelligent, good with kids. We very rarely leave our dog for more than 4 hours and if we do we get someone to look in on her.

Dogs are not endurance animals, they are not designed to run for 10-20 miles ! Shorter bursts is more their thing. Our lab has to work pretty hard to keep up if I cycle out of the bottom few gears in the middle ring. The dog is walked every day, typically 30-90 minutes a weekend walk of 3 hours and she's pretty tired although I appreciate she's not the fittest. Labs don;t over-eat if you don't over feed them, measured dried food twice a day.

If you want to leave a dog all day twice a week then don't get a dog.

I think Springers can be a bit nuts and you certainly cannot leave a Collie alone indoors for expended periods, they are super intelligent and really don't like it.

Have two springer bitches,best dogs l have ever had. They are born half trained and only want to please you. I would get a cage to put them in if l was going out as mine tended to eat the kitchen if left alone. Had three young kids when they were pups and the worst they would do is give the kids a savage licking. Read up on good gundog training books ,lfound them far better than run of the mill training books. Bitches tend to to be softer than dogs. Ask the breeder if the parent dogs were strong or soft. Most of all enjoy your springer,you will not get dafter more lovable dog imo

I wouldn't choose a springer as 1st dog. A Lab would be good family pet though you need to get a chilled one rather than a mad worker. Chocolate ones can seem to be more hyper and a recent study by Tesco insurance suggests they are pretty clumsy too!

[url= http://www.k9magazinefree.com/k9_perspective/iss4p18.shtml ]Clumsiest dogs[/url]

Cavaliers are a nice family pet and I can only remember 1 aggressive one ever.

The dog de jour on here is the Border Terrier and I would consider one next. We have a Tibetan Terrier and she is great with the sprog an the cats as is the MIL own Tibbie.

Bulldog would be a definite no! Just too depressing with their health problems.

All the advice on training classes is great. Make sure everyone who has to walk the dog etc attends The classes too.

Get it insured with a good lifetime cover plan and enjoy years of happiness.

Our rescue springer is fine with 40 mins a day off lead ball chasing and is brilliant with the kids

Whilst most dogs aren't upto 20 miles you must remember breeds such as Dalmatians were bred to be coach dogs and would happily run alongside the coach all day- however dogs such as collies and sprinters will rum themselves into the ground to please there masters so care is required

i can say that my choc lab is far from clumsy, though being a breed that likes to explore and get about they may end up worse off than some other breeds. A dog is a big commitment and they need alot of time and paitence.The first two years are a big hill. They crave mental stimulation, training and playtime. when your away you should see about the kong automatic launcher or few toys. I wouldnt change mine for the world now though. there alright on bike rides if you have regular stops and lots of water, most id do is 10 miles top though. OP id look for a laid back lab and your family will be so pleased for many years, just control there food like humans, if they eat and dont get exercise theyll gain weight.

Our first dog is our springer Alfie. He's a working springer who's 7 years old now. He's always had two or three twenty minute walks/runs a day over the park with a longer walk at a weekend and that seems to be fine for him.
He's never been destructive apart from with his toys which he likes to shred so he's fine when left at home alone. Absolutely obsessed with tennis balls though and will happily chase one all day long if your happy to throw it for him.

Great with kids and our cats, will go mental if someone comes to the front door and pulls like a train when on the lead if you let him which makes it hard for younger children to walk him.
He just has soo much character, such a loving dog who just wants to be with you as much as possible but loves to sleep so will happily hop off to bed when he's tired.

Can't imagine life without him in it as he's such a part of our family now and if we got another dog in the future then I'd look no further than another springer.

+1 A decent outdoor cage.

We've a Field Cocker and tbh while he can be a total and utter nutter, he's also a great family dog. He doesn't need 2-3 walks per day, and will quite happily sleep at my feet for 12 hours (if working from home).

And

[i]I dont think any dog could run along on a 20 mile ride once a week. [/i]

Ours will quite happily, but he'll sleep the next day.

Vizla

I was thinking of building a small kennel inside a 4ft x 4ft x 5ft enclosed box, opening out to a 4 meter x 1 meter run for day times when we are out. He would be indoors when we are. Does this sound ok?
I think we are leaning towards the lab now.

if you let it in it will want to be in all the time.It will need to learn that its outside when no ones there. we let ours in to. if you have a utility or that and you dont mind it lying in it when your there.
Theres deff dogs that will do 20 miles, but its not good for them in the long run, its very sore on everything, heart ,lung ,joints. i actually ice my girls legs after a day were i feel im wrecked after a ride. few rests and if she finds a river she drinks and bathes in it a bit. i have to slow my pace and times to, they try to keep with you and dont understand that they could fall back some, but are afraid to let you out of sight.

short fast walks for the first six months till bones develop, and even up to a year old its nothing too long and straining. you gotta build them up for the bike so its leisuerly rides about 2 mile then up the pace, then again increase distance slow pace/ increase pace, increase distance etc. I feel in the back of mind i cant be helping her joints in the long run but im no athelte, its once , maybe even every other week nothing to fast and crazy and 10 mile tops. you wont be out on the bike with it until about 1 - 1.5 years.

Welsh springers not quite as bouncy as ESS.
I've had springers of both nationality for 22 years now, certainly not thick, far from it. Don't enjoy being left on there own. Great with the kids but they are a bread that needs a lot of attention.

If you do go for one, try & keep them off staircases for the first 6 months,

[img] http://www.flickr.com/photos/44050025@N04/6615558299/ ][img] http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6615558299_dfe83a5123.jp g" target="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/44050025@N04/6615558299/ ][img] http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6615558299_dfe83a5123.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= [/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/44050025@N04/ ]graham_dawn[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[url= http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6615554623_ab4a4e54ff.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7169/6615554623_ab4a4e54ff.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= [/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/44050025@N04/ ]graham_dawn[/url], on Flickr

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2710/4051075536_07a31c3797.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2710/4051075536_07a31c3797.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/44050025@N04/4051075536/ ]gracie [/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/44050025@N04/ ]graham_dawn[/url], on Flickr

My lurcher has a nice kennel thats insulated and a small back yard to be in when we're out. She'll be happy there all day as long as she gets a filled kong with dried tripe. Used to sleep outside until she was about 1 1/2 now sleeps on the sofa. She'll back the house down if left outside when we're in but she knows that means shes on her own for a bit neighbours say they never hesr a peep from her.

Just wait until he eats a scouring sponge or some string, as that's always a highlight of dog ownership.

Or my namesake, the dog Rata's, classic variation on this which was to eat a bobbin of very expensive metallic sewing thread. This emerged in dribs and drabs over the next week or so. On a practical front, it enabled you to tell whether she had finished her business in the courtyard of a winter's night by leaning out the kitchen door and shining a torch down the yard. It was a good week before the heaps lost a distinctive reflective twinkle. Mrs Ratadog was not impressed. I have never dared ask how much the thread cost.

[i]I was thinking of building a small kennel inside a 4ft x 4ft x 5ft enclosed box, opening out to a 4 meter x 1 meter run for day times when we are out[/i]

tbh You'd need something bigger, in fact we'll have a 7'x5' full height metal cage for sale in the next couple of months 🙂

therag:

I don't think the breed I have in mind exists,
1 good with kids.
2 only needs a short walk twice a day.
3 happy to sit quietly when the kids are in bed.
4 fit enough to run along on a 10 - 20 mile ride once a week.

I might have to give up on number 4 for an easier life.

this is pretty much my springer exactly. she's three and crackers sometimes. but not all the time and usually not in the house. she's happy with whatever walks she gets but will go at 100mph when were out. will do a 20mile run no problems (with appropriate stops and care of course).
she is my first dog. my parents had one when i was a kid that was pretty much the same temperament. they also have one now that is the same. crackers when you let him, calm when you want him to be. i think the key is training. as much for you as for the dog.

This keeps getting more confusing, I had been put off them, but now more good recommendations.

to be fair i don't think you'll go far wrong with either a springer or a lab. i have friends with both and all are happy with their choice. flip a coin. find some pups to go see and make sure you see the mum. but be prepared for the fact that whatever you go see, you will be bringing one home!
ours is left alone during the day. never chewed stuff she shouldn't. she'll get a 20-30 min walk twice a day. spends most of her time in hedges/ditches and won't stop for breath. and if i take a ball out for her she'll fetch and leave it until i get bored. she is perfect with our 2yr old son. he is constantly poking her and leaping on her and all sorts of stuff. she just gets up and walks off. if he follows her she hides under the bed. we did plenty of training and socialisation. i know people who have proper working springers, most of whom don't walk their dogs that much. as mentioned above most of them don't feel the need to. for us its about the stimulation while she is out, not the amount of time she is out for.

Retriever and a spanial at same time
Or a couple of ridgebacks
Me mates ridgebackss ripped to shreds 2chairs and a 3 seater sofa out of boredom in 30mins flat.
Keep one in cage and the otherone lies beside quite happy

I have seen both parents, they are kept in large kennels in the garden with huge fields next to the house and get lots of exercise.
When he let them out they ran crazy for a few minutes until the owner whistled, they then both froze until the next instruction. I was impressed.

what ever you choose, you wont regret it. out at 7am again with my boy, up and over strines.

lovely little lad.

[img] [/img]

have you thought about Boxer's? they are a fantastic breed.
cooper, our boxer is 11 months old, he loves the children (8 and 5),loves whatever exercise he gets, whether its a 3 mile walk or a 3 hour run.
he is a bit mental,, as you'd expect. but once the children are in bed, he becomes a different dog, he'll curl up on the settee, and stay there til bedtime.
he has switched the gas cooker on a couple of times, and chewed throught the bathroom door, but that's puppies for you.

did he cook owt?

Springers are awesome dogs, but very energetic. Ours is amazing, they have a very high pain threshold which is combined with a very gentle nature means they're great with kids. Ours loves water too, which is good when it's hot but not when it's snowing.
[img] ?w=450&h=377[/img]
[img] ?w=438&h=346[/img]

Ours is now 7 months and so well behaved

Just wait until she hits her teenage years (10 months+) as they are very easy right upto that point, once they hit adolescence things start to get a little more interesting .......

As for other dogs, Spinones are well worth a look as they are renown for their great temperaments, and easy to train. However they get very very dribbly, and smelly when they get older.

or recently I was chatting (you will get to talk to a lot of dog owners) to someone with a Slovakian rough haired pointer, which was like a long haired lab, but its coat was the colour of a weimaraner. Really nice dog, but a little daft, and the owner said she was great with kids.

Basically if you get a Lab, prepare to be revolted at what they will do if they think they can eat something.

I genuinely laughed at this, it's spot on. We have chickens and never have to clean up after them in the garden, if you get my drift.

My chocolate lab, Ruby, will eat anything and everything she finds when out on a walk. However she's been trained so that my son can sit on the floor with a biscuit and she'll pay no attention. The same when we sit down for a meal. She'll happily spend around 6 hours by herself, but any longer than that and she get's panicy. She's lovely with my boy and really chilled in the house. They don't call them laybythedoors for nothing. I never walk her more than 3 miles, but she gets 2 walks a day. Loves playing fetch with a throwing stick. Feeding is important, due to the amount of "extra sustinence" they find. Ours is on Beta working dog, but only a cup and a half a day with some seaweed powder for her teeth and a bit of bran for bulk. She looks good for it.

All in all, they're great family pets and certainly if we consider another dog it'll be another lab of some type or other. Probably a chocolate one again.

[url= http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2614/5739032023_1b91c5dc50.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2614/5739032023_1b91c5dc50.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaz80/5739032023/ ]P1905_26-02-10[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/gaz80/ ]Gaz A[/url], on Flickr

Dogs are like bikes, nearly everyone reccomends the one they own, and very few people have owned enough different ones to understand the differences. Obviously dogs are a lot more complicated, since they're all quite different, even within a breed, depending on their personality and upbringing.

However, if you're both out working full time every day, give up on the 20 mile rides and get a cat.

I've had 4 springers over the years and love them to bits, they will go all day, but work better at there pace rather than yours and if off the lead will pick up a scent and cover a load more mileage, friendly with kids as long as there introudced from an early age, and despite there demenaour are very intelligent, especially if they think they can get some food out of it.
They do slow down a bit as they get older but not alot.
Bearded Collies will run alongside a bike for miles, and are fairly easy to train, the one we had either liked you or she didn't and if she didn't you werent getting in the house, again she was good with the kids.
Italian Spinone my parents have one at the moment she is 12 or 13 now still loves a good walk and used to walk for miles, but will roll in anything and with the coat it's a pain to get out luckily she loves the bath and hairdrier. The kids love her and she loves them, a little possesive over food and doesnt like strangers in the house, she is fine out and about but in the house needs to be kept an eye on, she is also the happiest when it comes to being left alone, she is also the best at travelling in the car providing it's in the back seat and not the boot.

what about a Greyhound? or Lurcher?

There are lots needing homes, they are well behaved, quiet and are like big cats as they sleep a lot.

They only need a quick burst around the field...

http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/

My mum has had a lurcher and now has a grey greyhound - far nicer than the Standard Poodles before!