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If they had their heart set on a very large dog then a Berner would definitely be a better choice than a Newfy IMHO. I really love both breeds but the Berner is a tad smaller, a little lighter etc. Not by much though. I'd still recommend a sportier dog for an active family. I groom an absolutely beautiful male wavy coated Portie who is a bit over a year old now. The family also has a female curly Portie as well. I do prefer the big wavy boy. So much so that i'd consider the breed myself. Pictures here They both get shortish pet clips for easy maintenance, Molly gets an especially short face trim because she gets quite messy there.

Comparable to the Goldie and the Lab are also the Curly Coat Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever. If they would be open to a dog that needed clipping maintenance, the Portuguese Water Dog. (which can be kept in a utility pet clip and doesn't have to have the breed profile 'lion' clip! )

An alternative large but active and gentle breed, which I particularly love, Is the Italian Spinone I think it would tick all their boxes.

Newfoundlands are beautiful dogs but have a bit of a barge ar$e way of doing things with limited spacial awareness as young dogs. They can be very destructive young dogs too. Good breeding is essential with this breed too. All that said, once mature they are wonderful calm child friendly dogs. I wouldnt recommend them for an active family as it is at least 18 months before they should be exercised beyond playing until tired. They take up a lot of car space and slobber a lot. Are not terribly heat tolerant either. Their sport of choice is anything water oriented, or weight pull, cart pull etc but they can achieve in general obedience. I worked extensively with Newfoundlands and as much as i love them, I would choose a Golden Retriever over a Newfy for an active family.

Yeah I agree the Kerry is a force of its own. I worked at a Kerry kennel and it was pretty much instant dismissal if you let any of the Kerry's even look at each other. None were ever allowed to keep company with another dog. I know some can be softer than others, but most are tenacious to extremes!

Watch them very carefully and determine which one you want and would feel to be the stronger personality. As much as it is hard sometimes, you must be seen to be the boss of everyone, and one of the dogs must be seen to be higher than the other, particularly where strong personalities are involved. Trying to treat these dogs as equals is doomed to fail. Let one be stronger than the other, but maintain boss status yourself.

I would like to hear that you have proper and edequate insurance.

Congratulations! It will probably all work out great, but as you may know, some of those terrier types can literally fight like adults even at six weeks! It would truly shock people who have never seen it. I know of terrier breeders who have to separate litter mate pups by five weeks! Opposite sex unknown to each other should work out pretty well, but be on your guard for bullying and stand over tactics. Remember that you are the boss of everybody. Be confident, stand tall, be direct, firm but fair.

I'm not sure that i would recommend this breed to a first time dog owner at all. There could be some mellow adults around though I suppose? I agree with OP that something out of the baby stage would be better. As a breeder and owner of Basenji's, no, no, no way would I allow a puppy/adult go to this family. As RP says they most certainly aren't for the new dog owner. They are very primitive in their thinking and behaving, which makes them a difficult breed in a lot if ways. They need a strong leader. Agreed! and twelve foot fencing with a lid on top! Lovely, unique breed, but not for everyone! Oh, and barkless does not necessarily equate to silent!

The light here this morning on the river was quite amazing too. When I got up the light outside the house was eerie and so beautiful at the same time. It was like the world outside was lighted from some sort of unworldly place. I actually thought of you and what it would be like there this morning! Beautiful pics.

That its never the dogs fault. Never. To always look past 'blaming' the dog and find the true problem.

some puppies challenge everything you try! The terriers I have had have all been little terriorists to start with! Another thing you might try is to clean up the pee inside with a paper towel or rag and then take that outside to a convenient but as boring as possible spot in the yard. hold it down with a rock or something, and then when you take the puppy out, place it at that spot and draw its interest down to the ground where the rag is. Smelling its own pee in that spot may trigger a response. If you have noticed the puppy using a particular spot during the day, that might be a good place to put the rag down. ETA....sometimes you really need to think outside the box. If the little monkey has a penchant for going on carpet, then take the indoors, outdoors.... get a piece of carpet or a bath mat or such and put it in 'the spot' outside. place a pee soaked rag under it. weight it down with bricks or rock or such and encourage the pup to use the outside 'inside' spot. make a big deal of that magic outside carpet and they are smart enough to learn the difference between outside and inside. If youre really having all sorts of problems maybe use pee pads inside at the spot that seems to get the most attention and slowly move it towards outside until you get success. one way or another it will happen. You just have to work out a strategy for getting best results.

Do you have a wire pen? Perhaps not. If you did you could place it in the yard at the toilet spot of your choice and drop her in it until she performs. Takes all the fun out of it. They soon realise that toilet means the business and theres fun to be had elsewhere so get on with it.

I like to give Gruf a lot of scope for self expression and he gives me a lot! Things he does that make me LOL are he always runs ahead of me to his feeding spot and wroo wrroo wwroooo until I get there when he sits and looks at the spot where he thinks the food/bowl will land. He doesnt look at me. He knows he doesnt need to. His crazy happy flintstone-esqe zoomies around the car in the carport in anticipation of being allowed in the car. He jumps onto any grooming table he can find. he sticks his head into the bathroom when I turn the blow dryer on. Sticks his head stretched right out so i can 'blow dry his whiskers' and he blinks and wiggles his ears and wont retreat until he thinks i have done it properly. When we are out footpath walking he jumps up onto any low garden walls and walks along them all proud with his chest puffed out. When he gets to the end he sits for a hug and a tail butt scratch before he jumps off. There are so many more! I dont really train Gruf. I used to be all into obedience and stuff but as I have gotten older I have enjoyed my dogs more by giving them latitude for self expression and just molding them from what they give me.

From what I read in the opening post, the German Pinscher would be worth a serious look. I reckon it would fit the bill fairly well but best advice would come from a breeder. I also wouldn't discount the standard smooth dachshund if that is a breed that appeals to them. Worth meeting some IRL with a breeder or at a show.

Very new to dogs. As far as pet ownership is concerned only one of them has had pets which was an elderly cat that came to live with them. --Lhok Would an English or Irish Setter suit ? DROOL!!!!! I owned an Irish setter for many years and Riley could sink the titanic in drool!

You've made a good point. And then there's what actually is shedding. I've found those tiny, fine, needle-like hairs that come off some truly smooth-coated dogs really stick into fabrics and are hard to get off. They get left in a patch where the dog's been lying. I've found the 'drifts' of hair, from the longer-coated, actually easier to pick up.... but, of course, there's more of that to do. absolutely! Those really short spikey hairs make furniture into pincushions where as the fluffier softer shedding hairs just come off with a wipe over with a damp hand. Another breed I thought of in the sighthounds was the Saluki. Not a smooth coat but an easy maintenance coat that would probably be less of an obvious shedder than some 'smooth' coated breeds.

The smooth collie by name is not really a smooth coated dog like a dachshund etc. smooth collies have a thick short double coat. It sounds like the OP wants a truly smooth coat. The greyhound might be worth suggesting. Some of them can shed for australia though!

The first breed that sprung to mind was a Pointer. I'm not sure if some of the really dishy faced ones might drool a bit though? Then of course there is the German Shorthaired Pointer, Viszla and Weimaraner. Again some individuals may be prone to drooling esp. Around food. And not exactly breeds that take exercise lightly. The standard smooth dachshund is a big dog on little legs. If they like the breed I would suggest meeting some breeders or going to a show. The other breed that springs to mind as a compromise between a dachshund and a larger dog is the medium sized German Pinscher.

I dont understand why anyone would knowingly pick the runty puppy with heavy and congested breathing. I will never understand why anyone would purposefully purchase a puppy that obviously isnt 100% upon collection. Call me crazy but I want to chose what appears to be a healthy robust puppy with no obvious problems. IMHO a decent breeder would have at the very least noticed that the puppy was runty with heavy congested breathing and held it back for purchase until it was healthier and more robust. I think the breeder here is very much at fault for sending out a puppy that everyone could see was not as healthy and robust as it should be. Only to leave the new owner holding the baby, so to speak. I also think there is something to be said for a buyer who will take a puppy that is runty and sickly in the first place. God luck with your little guy. I sincerely hope he can have a happy healthy life despite his rocky start.

What size would you prefer? First comes to my mind Bichon Frise or Miniature Poodle, or one of the smaller terriers like a West Highland White, Cairn, Border, Bedlington. Miniature Schnauzer or for a medium size, the Standard Scnauzer. A couple of the spitz breeds might be worth a look.....Keeshond, Japanese Spitz

If you decide on a Poodle just in case you are not aware, which you probably are, but just in case!....... The Miniature Poodle is the middle size Poodle, not to be mistaken for the much smaller Toy Poodle. Buying from an ANKC registered breeder should ensure you get a proper size dog in the Miniature size range. Back yard bred and pet store Poodles are very often sort of between the Toy and Mini. Many people are unaware of just how "big" a well bred Miniature Poodle is! But in you case, the perfect size for you :)

I think you are right GrufLife. However I am a bit concerned about the amount of professional grooming required and the cost. How often would one need to be clipped? ETA I have checked out the dogzonline pages and there is nothing there. The mature dogs listings change from day to day, so keep an eye on them. Also just contact breeders of breeds you are interested in as they may have a dog coming into retirement and if the perfect home pops up, you might be on a winner! If you are happy with quite a plain all over clip for a poodle with nothing fancy at all, you could get away with three to four short all over clips per year, averaging around 50 to 70 dollars per clip depending on where you live. poodles look great in short all over utility styles and it gives you value for money and practice workability for home maintenance and outdoor fun in the dirt and prickles or the beach etc! I really can't think of a more ideal breed for you!

Actually I think you couldnt go past a proper Miniature Poodle. They are a tall dog for their size, so around 8 to 11 kg but knee high at 12 to 15 inches approx. They are biddable, trainable, affable, agile, companion dog that will be as happy to sit home on your kneee all day as they are to go out socially. I cant think of anything about the Miniature Poodle that would not suit. The best bit is you can keep the coat as long or short or as fancy or plain as you like too! Here is a link for mature purebreed dogs from registered breeders :) My link