Tell me about your dog

[KenAdams]

DH is likely to work from home for good after this so we could finally get a dog.

We're after something that's not too big - we have a medium sized garden and an 8 year old DD so will need to be ok with those. We live semi rural so lots of open space around.

We looked at a beagle but thought its tendency to run off might be too strong so currently thinking of a cross breed, maybe a beaglier.

DH isn't keen on cavapoos or cockapoos which I quite liked.

Ideally it won't shed too much either.

If you have a dog that might suit our lifestyle please tell me about him/her.

@KenAdams he is mostly focused on sausage hunting at the minute....

and falafel

@Zaphodsotherhead all this time I've seen your name around and I never knew you had a Patterdale. We lost ours last November at 12 and a half - same message to OP though, mine was semi feral and an absolute pain in the arse, don't get one. I adored her and miss her horribly of course, i still have a discreet cry every day, but she was a dick.

We have a border terrier puppy now - that would fit the bill?

@horrayforharoldlloyd that is a very cute dog but I have a dd with hair like that only on her head and that's high maintenance enough 😆

My DH is/was not a dog person, so he also had criteria like 'must not drool, not too hairy, can it do small poos, won't need shouting at' (most of my family are from the shout loudly and repeatedly school of dog training).
We got a collie/staffie/lurcher pup born into rescue foster, and he is perfect. I have 2 DC of 8 & 10 and a technically non-secure garden, so going the trad rescue route didn't work for us either, but via a foster home they were more practical.
My DSis has a scent hound too - his recall is dreadful, he is selectively deaf, runs off for hours at a time and even when on-lead walking has to stop, sniff and pee every 20 metres. Drives me bonkers. He sheds everywhere too.
I grew up with a variety of labs & collie crosses - lovely family dogs. For me spaniels are too intense, long hair dogs too much work and small dogs a bit pointless as we like to do very long walks & canoe trips etc.
DDog is also my work companion so comes out on farm trips with me, so he needs to be trustworthy.

Rescue.

@MortyFide

I am so sorry for your loss. I adore mine with every fibre of my being. She's cuddly and adorable and loyal and the biggest pain in the arse ever. My girl has great recall but only because she hates being more than four feet away from me - they are truly a dog that sorts the men from the boys! I've had dogs all my life, but never Patterdales and I'm bever having another one.

Hope you can soon remember your girl and smile.

A border terrier, or as others have said poss a rescue, I suspect there will be lots after all this is over!

Coton de tulear
Border terrier
Poodle
Lhasa apso
Tibetan terrier
Bichon frisé
All non-shedding and all small enough to fit a medium garden. Small poos, especially if you feed high quality (not supermarket) food. No visible bums (schnauzer’s bum always on show)

Cocker
Springer
Labrador
All shed, medium, great family dogs.

If you go the rescue route, try a small rescue or a specific breed rescue. They might have puppies, which would be my preference for a first time dog owner.

We 've a miniature schnauzer. Absolutely hands down the BEST dog ever. Very high maintenance though...hairy ears and grooming every 5/6 weeks but you 've to brush them daily. They don't shed though.

I had rescues before. Had them for 6 years, a Corgi mix and a whippet mix. Both fab but they attacked dd when she was a toddler so had to be pts. I was devestated.....

Our dog now came to us as a puppy last year and it made a massive difference...she grew with the kids and I m relaxed with her. I spent years v nervous of dogs. DD is now 14 and DS is 9 so those ages help.

Small mini poodle

Lovely personality! Fun and doesn't require too much exercise. But does get naughty if she's bored. She's so cuddly and the perfect family dog.

But grooming is a pain and expensive. I thought I could do it myself but she won't let me! But it is nice not to have the shedding.

Please get a rescue.
Mine is from abroad.
I've had no problems/issues with her, she is the funniest, loveliest dog. My kids adore her, and she adores them.
(And she's really pretty and doesn't shed either)

Photo of her sitting on my pile of fabrics I've just got out to make some cushions....she worse than my cat at sitting on the things you are using!

We have a miniature schnauzer and she is amazing. Been a dream from when she was a puppy. Really easy to train, they are very clever and loves training. Brilliant with the kids, can go for long walk, but OK to laze around as well. Doesn't shed. Independent, but totally part of the family as well. Honestly she is the best dog in the world. I thought long and hard about what breed to get and kept coming back to miniature schnauzer. Oh and ours doesn't bark either.

A miniature schnauzer that does not bark?? Where do you get one of those?? Amazing!

Lol ours barks but when you say stop she does...as Luna lady says...the absolute best dog ever. High maintenance but so loving and AMAZING with kids and just happy all the time.
I swore off a dog for years but our s has totally stolen my heart. But the big thing for me is that she s brought out a nurturing side of the kids....they absolutely adore her and I think back to life before her and it was a bit empty...didn't realise it...but we all dote on her. My goodness they are a super clever breed and v easy to train

I agree wholeheartedly!
Love his loyalty and how cuddly he is.
He’s a great mix of totally soft and really robust.
Not enjoying the grooming on lockdown though - he’s looking more like a sheep by the day. Daren’t do his eyebrows in case it becomes a “bad fringe” moment!!

We have a golden doodle. She is an absolutely super dog. I’d have another tomorrow but you have to be VERY careful selecting a breeder since they have become fashionable.

She’s clever, brilliant with my 9yr old who is a wheelchair user and my 11yr old who is autistic.

We’ve had her from a pup but next time I would rescue as there are so many doodles bought by people who fail to train them and then give them up because the dogs are bored, untrained and difficult.

Miniature poodle from me too. Perfect - medium size, loads of fun when taken out but happy to snooze, cuddle, play at home. Adorable and fun. No shedding. Needs to go to groomer every 6 weeks. Don't be put off by mental image of pom poms etc - cute cut / teddy cut poodle is just fab curly dog.
If you live semi rurally don't get a white fluffy like a bichon because it'll be a brown fluffy in seconds.
All the dogs pictured above are gorgeous!!

Havanese or any Bichon dog. Or a Tibetan Terrier. I was also recommended ShitZu but I like a more pointy faced dog.

I have a Havanese - she's as bright as a button and doesn't have a mean bone in her body. None of them do. She'll run for miles or sleep all day depending on the family plans. Confident with children, friendly and plays but just walks away when she's had enough. Has a strange fascination with babies! She gets on her tummy and wags and sniffs them and looks at everyone like 'what is it?' Excellent with other species. No kill instinct like a terrier. Very easy to train to heel/ recall and do little tricks.

Caveat: they are bad to house train, mature later and tiny bladders. Mine barks at the drop of a hat too, but that's not all of them I'm told. Will not respond well to being left alone for more than 2 hours. Barking, soiling, chewing etc. Fortunately you can just stick them under your arm and take them most places. Mine has been to work with me a few times!

They're great, really robust, loving little dogs!

Second vote for lurcher here. We have a Bedlington terrier X whippet (looks like Greengrass' dog on Heartbeat!) Low maintenance coat wise, just needs a quick brush a few times a week. He loves cuddles and is very affectionate and is fab with children. Very calm/quiet in the house, apart from when someone knocks on the door. He loves a good off lead blast around the woods but will sleep the day away after a good walk. There are often lurchers in rescues if that's an avenue you are considering.

My Havi on a hike

Another schnauzer lover here. Been 6 months without my special boy and swore off dogs when I lost him. Now waiting for lockdown to end to I can get another. So smart and loyal, gentle with kids, bonded with every family member, equally loved a long walk or to curl up on your knee. Liked a bark and didn't like a rain shower. A big 'proper' dog in a small dogs body. You have to commit to regular grooming appointments but they look so handsome when theyre done you won't mind one bit.

Liked a bark 😂🥰

@Zaphodsotherhead Thank you. At the moment I still struggle, I can smile about her but most often it makes my cry a bit. I've ordered a rose for her (called Wildfire ) which I'm hoping to plant in a pot with her ashes, if the rose ever arrives that is.

This morning the puppy is being so horrible I just long to have my old girl back. I'm not bonding with him very well.