Thanks for the replies.
We are willing to travel 2/3 hours or maybe further. I have enquired about a couple of dogs- 1 posted on here, but sadly it's the young children aspect that's the sticking point and I can totally understand that. There have been perhaps 2 dogs on other sites that sounded ideal, but then the breed wasn't for us...ie too big!! so I suppose we will keep on looking....
We have been very lucky with our collie x rescue, but then she came along before our daughter did and no doubt we wouldn't've got her had it been the other way around
especially as she was a stray. Even then we were really lucky as I know Honey had at least 3 home checks which failed before she came home with us.
Re getting a puppy- of course we always ( well the 2 occasions that we've got a puppy) been to reputable breeders and met mum and dad too. I am quite educated re puppy farming etc, but understand many people aren't sadly...
We don't have a time scale as such and are willing to wait...just would be nice to fill that gap in the big bed!