Can anyone recommend a small dog breed that is good with children and preferably not too yappy?

[RoverQuestion]

I've posted this in Chat, but this might be a better place :)

We don't want a big dog, but it seems to be hard to find a smaller breed that isn't too yappy and snappy, and also doesn't cost mega bucks (I think we're looking at £350-400 max)

Don't mind a crossbreed (or mongrel, but it seems to be hard to find mongrel puppies).

I think rescue dogs are out, since they don't seem to place those with kids very often, and we'd prefer a younger dog.

The children that the dog would be exposed to regularly would be over 5s.

[EdgarAllanPond]

Staffy? lots in rescue, typically great with kids, so no need to buy.

greyhound/ whippet? again lots in rescue.....

[BoysBoysBoysAndMe]

Our cocker is fabulous with our young boys.

Easy to train. Good size. Very cute. Fur can be kept short. Very loving. But like any other dog they need a good amount of exercise.

[TheMonster]

I second a staffy. We have two.

Definitely not a Yorkshire terrier. Horrid happy things. A friend of mine has two and they bark constantly and try to bite my son.

[MoreCrackThanHarlem]

Bichon Frise.

Happy little dogs, playful, don't shed fur and ime only bark as a warning when someone arrives at the door.

[keepmoving]

We have a bichom frise. Not yappy and excellent with children. Not usuaLly a small dog fan and she fab! Was a rescue dog from small rescue centre not part of national group who were happy to place her with DCs who were 3 and 6 at the time after home inspection.

[EdgarAllanPond]

"
I think rescue dogs are out, since they don't seem to place those with kids very often, and we'd prefer a younger dog."

you get puppies in rescue too. and pedigree dogs.

[DowntonTrout]

We have 2 westie/shitzhu cross dogs.

We got them from a local breeder here who breeds them for temperament. We got them as puppies and they are lovely with children, small, don't need walking for miles.

[desperateforaholiday]

Beagles are lovely, great with kids, not too barky but they dont like being left alone for too long.

[happygardening]

I no expert but I would have thought you'd be lucky to find a good breeder by this i mean all relevant health tests done life time advise take it back no questions asked etc who would sell a puppy for the amount you are able to pay. Few small pedigree dogs from top breeders are likely to be less than £650 and probably more. You could find a breed you liked the look of and go through specific breed rescue they can have younger dogs as small dogs are often popular with the elderly who sadly have to give then up for rehoming when I'll health strikes.

[EdgarAllanPond]

whichever breed you decide, try breed rescue first, they may have young dogs for rehoming or can at least recommend a breeder.

a good small dog from a reputable breeder i would think £650 on the cheap side.

[happygardening]

Im sure yo right edgar i was trying to be optimistic all I've looked at have been £8500 -1000.

[fivefoottwowitheyesofblue]

Border Terrier

[StealthPolarBear]

Shetland sheepdog. Cute, calm and pure comedy

[Billwoody]

I second border terrier

[akaemmafrost]

Minature Schnauzer. This is my stock answer for "what dog should we get?" . I have one he's adorable. Gentle, quiet natured, brilliant with kids, low maintenance and doesn't shed! He's the most loyal kindest dog ever.

[exexpat]

Third vote for border terrier. Ours is great and very patient with children. Yaps a bit when excited about walkies, his tennis ball and so on, but definitely not snappy.

[melliebobs]

We have a Patterdale terrier. Fantastic lil dog especially when dd arrived 7 month ago £300 he cost but he can be a lil bit yappy bonkers when something's different/startles him. Does need a lot of exercise though. So my next choice would be a border terrier. From what I've seen if them they have the same temperament as the Patterdale just a bit calmer

I'm biased though. I'm a sucker for a dog with a beard

[hazeldog]

I had a miniature Jack russel x Norfolk terrier ( obviously that's a bit specific what I'm getting at is a small terrier cross) he was a perfect little playful chap who adored kids and being a cross breed cancelled out the worse points of both.

[RoverQuestion]

Wow, lots of really helpful advice and suggestions, thanks

I'm a sucker for a terrier type dog really, although I do like whippets and spaniels too. I've had a purebred Westie (from a reputable breeder) and a mongrel terrier (rescue dog) before - they were both adorable but typical terriers in that they went ballistic when anyone came to the door, and the Westie also used to rip up anything that came through the door. I'm keen to avoid that characteristic a) because it's a complete pain, and b) because it's not great when you have kids around.

Re the price thing, I do understand about pedigree dogs from reputable breeders being expensive, and I'm keen to avoid 'bad' dog breeders. I've just noticed that some breeds seem more expensive than others, and there are lots of eg Jack Russell and Jack Russell crosses around which seem to be about the £200-£300 mark. Is that just because it's a less 'purebred' breed? I'm not bothered about pedigree as such, as long as the dog is from a good breeder who cares about the dogs and knows the parental lines well. Is that reasonable?

I've been keeping an eye on the websites of the local rescue centres, so far nothing suitable but will keep looking.

[Bayliss1]

Miniature dachshund....ours is fab with our 16 month old!

[higgle]

Whippets are lovely and always seem to be less expensive than other pedigrees ( perhaps because people tend to have two or more?)

[EasyToEatTiger]

A good rescue centre might be a good place to start. It really depends on what you expect from your dog, and what you expect from your children. Most dogs aren't out to maul and kill small people. Most children need to be trained to be with dogs. We have dogs who on the whole have no special liking for kids, but they are happy to be given treats and play games with them. The dogs are happy to go out with the dcs and we keep an eye on what's going on. A lot of rescue centres are hesitant to rehome a dog to a family with small children not because the dog is dangerous, but because they don't know, and they don't want to get the animal back with the news that it's bitten someone. Forgive my ignorance, but I don't really understand what Good with Children really means?

[RoverQuestion]

I suppose good with children does mean different things to different people. For me, I suppose a dog that isn't nervous with people generally, and who preferably has been used to children being around from puppyhood, so that when they do encounter children they aren't too much of a shock - children do move differently to adults and can spook dogs even when they just go to stroke them.

My Westie didn't grow up with children, and was always a bit suspicious of them, she would withdraw and snarl if a small child tried to pat her, especially if she was out and about and not in 'secure' surroundings. She was fine with adults though.

My DD is an extremely gentle 6 year old, and although I don't have any concerns about her, realistically the dog will have to encounter her potentially less gentle friends, and be out and about on school runs etc where children will want to pat it.

[ggirl]

parson russell terriers are adorable