Companion for a cocker

[Claraoswald36]

In the next year I want to get my cocker a friend. He is a show cocker and the most super social dog with no issues just a bit boisterous. I Want smaller ideally. Dp has vetoed a dax sadly and a fox terrier which I really fancied. I keep looking at Westies and thinking they are so compact and hardy looking. I also like border terriers but some are much prettier than others. My cocker castrated so no risk of puppies if I had a bitch. Any recommendations?

[Tate15]

I have three dogs.

A whippet, a whippet with a little bit of greyhound and a pug puppy with a little bit of jack Russell.

I can recommend the whippets as being perfect dogs! Little puggy is being raised as a whippet!

[Greyhorses]

I wouldn't touch a westie due to having so so many health problems such as skin, allergies, diabeties etc etc. They are often quite fiesty too which puts me off (here's where hundreds of people say they have lovely healthy westies- I meet on average 5 a day at work and bar the odd exception and having been bitten more than once my mind is made up )

I dont have massive amounts of experience with smaller dogs but I do like bichons, border terriers and whippets. All seem to have nice temperaments and are pretty hardy.

If it was me though I would go and see what they have in your local rescue and go from there

[Claraoswald36]

Thanks folks. I started the thread after my almost daily trawl of the rescue centres. They probably won't give me one as dd2 is only 3 plus I'm worried about not having any history and issues. Though in fairness I'd love to avoid the puppy stage! Really I want a 9 month plus dog.
Thanks for the info the Westies I had no idea about the skin. I adore whippets though I was thinking smaller - I want dd2 to be able to hold the lead. We babysit a chihuahua and she walks it in a euphoric state! I want a hardier dog than that though that will fit in with mud addicted cocker boy!

[Tate15]

My whippets are very hardy, get covered in mud and have high energy outdoors and sleep like cats indoors.

Low health problems and very, very loving.

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Doesn't fit the smaller criteria but these are my pair of hooligans dogs, Mollie (border collie) and Cop ( rapscallion, spaniel). They are well matched.

[Claraoswald36]

Awwwww I love love collies. Fab pics especially the action shot - my cocker looks a lot like that

I'm after smaller because dd2 is desperate to walk it on the lead and my cocker pulls quite hard even with a harness - though he is faultless off the lead and has a perfect recall.

[Claraoswald36]

I'm wondering about whippets though - I can see they fit most of the criteria or even a dinky Italian greyhound

[TrionicLettuce]

If it's the shaggier look of border terrier you're not keen on you can avoid that by keeping them properly hand stripped.

Whippets are super little dogs, though of course I'm a little biased as I've got three

IGs are very different to whippets, they're like tiny whippets on speed. This page on the club website is worth a read if you're considering one. They can be prone to leg injuries as well, it's important to find someone who isn't breeding for extreme fineness of build.