All you lovely dog lovers some advice would be appreciated.

[peachesandpickles]

We have 2 dog mad children age 5 and 8. We are about to buy our first home (large, enclosed garden in rural location).

We promised dd1 a dog when the time is right. She is a very loving, nurturing little girl that has come through some tough times healthwise. She would love a puppy to grow up with her.

We are committed to insuring, training, spending a lot of time with the dog we get.

She has her heart set on a pug and we met one yesterday and she is totally smitten by them. I have to agree that he was lovely and his owners had high praise for the breed.

I know they are prone to health problems and I wonder if anyone has any experience knowledge of this?

If anyone has suggestions of small breeds, good with kids I'd love to hear them.

For personal reasons I do not want terrier type dog and dd2 is nervous of whippet/lurcher type dogs.

Thanks

[peachesandpickles]

hopeful bump

[nicefleece]

we have a lovely spaniel - great with kids, eats everything in sight, needs long walks, but is an absolute sweetheart.

[nicefleece]

cocker btw

[mrslaughan]

I am sure someone will be along with more info - but if you google there is lot of info that comes up. Unfortunately I would class pugs alonside Caviliers and wouldn't touch the breed with a barge pole.

Does it have to be small?

Quite a big difference b/w whippets and lurchers........I would have suggested a whippet - they are lovely dogs, small and relatively free of health issues.

[mrslaughan]

Just to add - we have a giant breed, we got him at 6 months old, he was 45kg and was so excited to see the kids he knocked my son flat (he is 8years old)....he has never done it again and now much bigger. He has only knocked my 3 yr old over, 3 times in the 6 months we have had him, both were completely over excited.

My son was very wistful about cockers and not really in love with ddog to start with - now they are best mates - too the point where I got told today he does not want to go on holiday to the beach (which he has been talking about for at least a year), because it means leaving DDog behind.......

So you see, it is just about finding the right dog for your family......your youngest may be scared of the idea of a whippet, but she would love the dog, if she is indeed dog mad as you say.

[pugoff]

I have pugs. Both are v healthy, boisterous and full of love and naughtiness in equal measure. Research your breeder and how interested they are in you as there are lots out there interested in money more than health of breed. For a good breeder there should be a waiting list rather than easy availability of puppies. Don't overfeed, get good insurance, exercise regularly. I have a 3 month old baby and they are excellent with him (tho never left alone). They aren't low maintenance lap dogs unlike other dogs of this size and do need regular walks and attention and most of all company and time. They are big dog personalities in small bodies. They shed terribly and can be a bugger to train. They are costly to buy and to insure. Some are barkers. But once your heart is smitten by a smooshy faced dog its hard to go back.

Also I personally wouldn't be lured into pug crosses lots of which I've heard of. It can be a poor combination of two breeds worth of health issues or challenging temperaments. HTH

[outtolunchagain]

Have you thought about a mini schnauzer? Have to say we also have a cocker and I love him but he is obviously bigger than a pug.Another choice might be a bichon frise , google them they have v sweet expressions !

[MultumInParvo]

On my way out so a quick unedited answer
Yes they are 'much in little' . I have two. One is a 'well bred' fawn who, at the age of 2 cannot walk around the block without trouble. She is awaiting an operation to fix it. Luckily my insurance will cover it, but then my insurance is £73 a month for the two so youd think so. She is a bit, ahem, thick and wouldn't dream of trying to open a door, climb over a small obstacle etc. she has anal gland trouble, sometimes she expels them on my lap. Nice. Costs £20 every 2 months to get emptied. Eyes keep getting ulcers. From fighting with other dog. They shed hair. All the time. A Furminator is your friend. Despite it you will still always have hair everywhere. Se will be as busy as you are. If I have a sofa day she will lay with me, if I'm busy then so is she. She honestly is a very easy dog. However, if you are outdoorsy people I would say pugs aren't for you.

My black pug (7 mobths) is a bit different. He thinks nothing of leaping fences that have happily contained my other pug, and is way more 'sparky'. Well that's the nice word! He suffered/s from demodex which is not inexpensive to treat. Advocate now for life. He is more loving than she is, as in actively cuddling in to me. She barks more. People say pugs aren't yappy. Well. When you're a kip on the sofa and then you get 9kg of pug leaping off you screeching like a banshee you'd be inclined to disagree. Especially when it's the fifth time.

They are wonderful dogs and I wouldn't be without them. However they are bred so much that it does affect their health, and the fact that my vet now as to correct the effects of a kc registered 'well bred' pug is sad. I wouldn't buy another, nor would I recommend it for this reason. I would go to pdwra (pug rescue) and put your name on the waiting list for a rescue. Whilst I wouldn't buy another after my first i would always give a home to a rescue.

Expensive to buy, expensive to maintain, pain in the arse, hairy, beautiful. A bit like me.
Got to rush

[pugoff]

My black pug is v naughty, athletic and intelligent. My fawn is barky and is a bear of very little brain. They are expensive every which way but I couldn't love another dog in the same way as they are so like little people. They go to the vets at even the slightest worry as I can't take risks, however I am lucky in their health and endless boundless enthusiasm for life (maybe a bit too lucky...

Miniature schnauzers may be another choice as active but happy to do their own thing too, less needy if you like.

[Toomuch2young]

How about a norfolk terrier? Less 'terriery' than JRTS or patterdales etc. Really sweet natured, happy, energetic dogs and a lot less prone to ill health than many breeds.

If you are really against terriers then how about a Lhasa apso? Or Shih tzu? I see loads of them good with children and friendly little dogs.

My personal choice is always a rescue mutt. However you do know less what you are getting but mine have always turned out into brilliant happy, healthy dogs.

I love pugs and think they are great characters however being so prone to breathing problems - over long palate and short nose causes many pugs to struggle. eye problems - cataracts, ulcers, dry eye, prolaspses. Hip dysplasia and luxating patellas. Plus other illnesses like pug encephalitis/ meningitis and prone to obesity, means the happy little dogs do suffer. Even the ones from 'good' breeders can.

Good luck with your decision.

[LEMisdisappointed]

Many breeds of dogs have predispositions for illnesses but i have to say, as lovely as i think pugs are, i can't bear to see them with their squashed up noses and breathing problems. Why would you breed a problem into a dog just because it looks cute??

I would definately have a look into rescue dogs, you can sometimes get pups, however most of the bigger rescues wont rehome to people with children under 8.

[peachesandpickles]

Thanks so much for all the advice and wisdom of your experience. Until we started researching I didn't understand that pugs were bred to look like that, causing health issues. I naively thought that was just a natural occurrence.

I now think we are ruling out pugs - too many issues. DD is a sensible girl and having had health problems in the past she wouldn't wish that on a puppy.

I'll look at some of the recommendations given here and see where we go from there.

It is not a decision we are rushing into and will take our time to do our best for us and our dog-to-be.

[bergedorf]

Mini schnauzers DO need lots of time and attention. That's the main thing! They love being with you and should definitely not be bought by people who will be leaving them on their own a lot.

Also a warning -- they bark a lot! I think they are euphemistically known as a 'vocal' breed.

They are very loyal and loving to their family. More suspicious to outsiders. They are not big bouncy friendly Labradors.

Ours is very uncertain about the DCs friends and will stand and bark at them. This can be quite intimidating.

Personally I think they are ideal for older/retired people who are around a lot.

[MagratGarlik]

Please can I say, the idea that many bigger rescue will not rehome to families with children under 8 is not correct.

We have one rescue from the RSPCA and one from Dogs Trust. We have two children, the youngest was 2 years old when we got our first dog and 3 years old when we got our second.

We spoke to many other (national) rescues, ask of which were happy to rehome the right dog to us.

[Vibbe]

We have a cocker spaniel. She loves kids, loves playing, is chilled at home and loves being around people.
She doesn't bark and is just such an easy dog.
I had a cairn terrier growing up, and it's a lovely breed, but not as mild and interested in people as a spaniel. He was guarding the house and was usually found on a stool, looking out of the window - barking at whatever he could see out of the window. He was a lovely dog, but I think spaniels are more for me.

I have a cocker from show lines, and my parents have a working spaniel.
Their dog has so much energy, even now she's 7 years old - it's a lot of work. My dog is much easier - she needs a couple of walks every day, and then around 30 minutes of training/exercise. And she's not crawling on the walls even if she hasn't been exercised properly for a couple of days.

Here she is as a puppy
And one more puppy picture

Here she is at around 18 months
2 years old with summer cut as long fur is too hot for summer

[kitsmummy]

We rehomed from Many Tears when my DD was 4, they had no issues with that and we got a border terrier x boxer who was 14 weeks old and in foster so they could see that she'd make a great family pet. Have a look at this many tears and do a dog search for dogs under a year old, I think they have around 60 puppies at the moment

[milkybarsrus]

I have a shihtzu. He's absolutely great. He's small but robust which suits us fine. He's not yappy for a small dog he's got a grown up bark. Great with kids, loves everyone and thinks everyone loves him! He doesn't shed, but does need regular grooming. Small meals ; small poo's. doesn't need walking everyday to keep sane. Good with people who have allergies. I would get another one tomorrow if I could! Everything about him suits us. He's coming on holiday with us coz he's so cute......... He's on my lap right now.....argh