How about the American Water Spaniel http://www.americanwaterspanielclub.org/Breed/Breed%20Standard.htm, or the Boykin Spaniel http://boykinspaniel.org/pages/boykin-spaniel-/breed-standard?
A female dog in either breed, or a male on the smaller end of the range would fit your size requirement.
Some of what you want is nature (breeding). Some of what you want is nurture. I’ve known some pretty badass wee dogs that can keep up and LOVE the active lifestyles their owners have (my own goofy little cocker/dachshund cross is absolutely up for anything). I’ve also known some pretty pampered big dogs that can barely be bothered to step outside of the house.
Spaniels and beagles would probably be the MOST likely to have a lab temperament, but just about anything will happily go hiking and camping, etc if you take them! I joke that my little dog is like a tank…she’s got a low center of gravity so she can just kinda roll over any kind of terrain. Her only downfall is when something is too high for her to jump up on.
I have an 11lb Chinese Crested who is a total farm dog, loves to hike, goes swimming, chases goats with me. She fetches, learns quickly, is reliable off leash and on, and bold as they come. She does it all.
While mine is a “hairy hairless” they come in a powderpuff variety that is fully haired and lovely.
Plenty of good suggestions. Other small but active dogs-- shelties, miniature aussies, miniature American shepard.
[QUOTE=S1969;8782591]
This one. 
Lab x Chi: https://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/35632601
He’s a puppy though. Lots of lab mixes on Petfinder. Some cute ones too. I’d look at the rescues that pulled them from shelters carefully and use it as a primary tool for sorting, rather than the cuteness of the dog.[/QUOTE]
While I’m disappointed this link no longer works, I do like that when I clicked on it, it says “Petfinder-- Oops!” which is a great description for a Lab/ Chihuahua.
You might also look at Corgis, especially Cardigans. They tend to have a big dog temperament in a small body. They do have an awful lot of fur when they blow coat. Mine have been pretty active and can easily keep up with me, but they can poop out when trying to keep up with a horse.
Can’t beat a Cavalier for their attitudes. I’ve never met a mean one. They are known for some bad health problems, though. Mine is 10 and doesn’t have any of them
What about a Lowchen? I know a couple that are terrific in Agility and Obedience- one also has advanced Tracking titles. The owners tell me they can go all day. They don’t shed (much) though there is grooming involved, although you can clip them. I am told they love hiking, retrieving, and the water- like a Lab!
Although they are pretty rare, I found I could have easily gotten one with no long wait or exorbitant cost.
I had a chi/dachshund/min pin mix for 11 years that fit the bill exactly. I raised her from 6 weeks and socialized her heavily. She was very athletic and adventurous and I will never be able to fill the hole in my heart she left.
[QUOTE=DrBeckett;8786195]
Can’t beat a Cavalier for their attitudes. I’ve never met a mean one. They are known for some bad health problems, though. Mine is 10 and doesn’t have any of them :)[/QUOTE]
This is true. Sweet as the day is long and happy to tag along. Be really, really careful about where you get one and what lines its from. Love them though. A good cav is a really GOOD dog.
I am partial to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Super smart and a great sense of humor. Dogs are around 27 - 30 pounds with bitches being smaller. Dogs tend to love anyone and everyone, whereas bitches tend to be less outgoing. That’s just a generalization - there are exceptions.
I’ve had four during the past 40 years, and all have lived long healthy lives into their mid-teens. With their long backs, however, it’s important to keep them at a proper weight. Left to their own devices, they are olympic eaters with no off switch on their appetites.
They are a herding breed, bred to drive cattle, so they’ve got spunk and endurance (provided they are kept in shape by their owners). They are not a serious runner’s dog, but hiking would be fine. They are always up for action when something is happening, but they are also great snugglers and couch potatoes. They adapt easily to their owner’s lifestyle.
They are not a dog to be left out in the yard for hours at a time. Being a herding breed, they like being with their family. They can have a reputation for being barky, but this is often the result of a bored dog and the owner allowing it. Mine are allowed a few free barks, but after I tell them “enough”, they are quiet. They have a deep big dog bark, not yappy.
They are highly intelligent and need to be part of family life. Like horses, they need a leader and structure, else they become bossy. While they won’t train themselves, they are relatively easy to train, provided you are clear, consistent, and fair. They can seem tough and spunky on the outside, but they are actually very sensitive with a high desire to please their owners. In my experience, individual corgis will vary on this scale, depending on the anticipated reward. Like I said they are SMART.
They shed but regular grooming (which most learn to love) keeps it manageable. The shedding undercoat is a delightfully soft beige and can be saved and spun into hats, gloves, etc.
Just remember with anything that is a herding breed (Corgis included) will be VERY high energy. Which is great if you can get them out and get them moving and playing and thinking every day. But if you’re more going to have the dog be fairly quiet and sedentary during the week while you’re working, you may be in for a surprise! I have a friend who has Corgis. Her young one requires LOTS of adventures and ball throwing in the evenings when she gets home to get him to be tolerable to live with. They ARE fun, I do love me a Corgi, but they are very, very high energy.
Those more familiar with the breed, is it my imagination, or are the Cardigans a little more quiet and reserved? I have another friend who has Pembroke and a Cardigan. Her Cardigan is very chill and even a bit aloof.
I had two English springer spaniels. Wonderful dogs. Either on of them would have fit your needs. However, they do have a long coat if not kept clipped. The females are about 40-45 pounds. Mine were bench not field.
[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8786662]
Just remember with anything that is a herding breed (Corgis included) will be VERY high energy. Which is great if you can get them out and get them moving and playing and thinking every day. But if you’re more going to have the dog be fairly quiet and sedentary during the week while you’re working, you may be in for a surprise! I have a friend who has Corgis. Her young one requires LOTS of adventures and ball throwing in the evenings when she gets home to get him to be tolerable to live with. They ARE fun, I do love me a Corgi, but they are very, very high energy.
.[/QUOTE]
This is really, really variable. Many, many corgis are known for being exceptionally good at being active when you want to be active and couch potatoes when you’re wanting to chill. Then there are the ones meant to excel in agility. Twister is always wanting to work, we train several times a day (albeit a few minutes at a time) but she has two littermates in regular pet homes. A good breeder can match the right corgi to you
[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8786662]
…Those more familiar with the breed, is it my imagination, or are the Cardigans a little more quiet and reserved? I have another friend who has Pembroke and a Cardigan. Her Cardigan is very chill and even a bit aloof.[/QUOTE]
That’s what I’ve always heard from people with experience in both breeds.
I was going to suggest a Sheltie or a Spaniel. Both are small fun dogs.
[QUOTE=yellowbritches;8786662]
They ARE fun, I do love me a Corgi, but they are very, very high energy.
Those more familiar with the breed, is it my imagination, or are the Cardigans a little more quiet and reserved? I have another friend who has Pembroke and a Cardigan. Her Cardigan is very chill and even a bit aloof.[/QUOTE]
I do think that Cardigan’s are generally a little more chill than Pems. They are often a little more reserved as well, although my little Cardigan bitch never met anyone she didn’t like. ALL the people are her BFFs. She was pretty high energy as a pup, but has settled down a lot in her 2 year old year. I have had Cardi’s for 20 years and she is the feistiest one of the bunch.
Try considering an Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle dog. They look similar to an Australian Cattle Dog (heeler) but are leaner, leggier, and don’t have the tan and a naturally short tail. They are also lighter: my guy is a little over 30lbs.
Mine is the best of both worlds in terms of temperaments: giant couch potato at home but game to go on any adventure. I have taken him for runs up to 26km at about a 5:15min/km pace and he was still game to keep going at the end, he is trustworthy at the barn, shy with strangers but warms up quickly and is trustworthy to hangout at a retail store when I work my part time job.
Nothing sticks to his coat, doesn’t shed as much as the labs, border collies, greyhounds I have known.
Only negatives: when young he was a CHEWER but has grown out of that. For someone that isn’t active daily might be too high energy a breed.
[QUOTE=4Martini;8782584]
Thanks everyone! For small I guess I’m thinking smaller than our 55 pound lab (daughter wants a chihuahua- but we’re going to have to compromise to something a little more rough and tumble I think). Maybe ~30 pounds or less.
Needs to be able to hike 5-10 miles. [/QUOTE]Of course, you could get a Chi and your daughter could carry it if it poops out. Unless you mean your daughter needs a sturdier dog–I was figuring rough and tumble was to keep up with the family.
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