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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Looking to get a smallish dog, any recommendations?

75 replies

jammybean · 12/03/2013 16:11

As the title says...

We have an animal mad 18 month old and we'll be moving out of London in a month, so space isn't an issue. Ideally a breed that's good with kids. One that doesn't shed its fur every second month. And definitely not a "girls dog" says DP.

We have 2 labs in the family and DP has grown up with gun dogs, so were not complete novices.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

OP posts:
wizzler · 12/03/2013 20:00

We have a poodle... and he is fab... doesn't moult but still brings in shed loads of mud after every walk.
He is not a girly dog , he is a family dog. Great with the two DC ( 8 and 6) .
Check out my profile pics but prepare to be smitten ( we took photo on a clean day!)

LottieH · 12/03/2013 20:05

I agree re border terriers. they are not yappy (ours actually has quite a deep bark). He is fantastic with the children & guards them too when we're out. only negative is that occasionally steals food off the table but we've learnt our lesson! He loves walks but equally if it's awful weather he'll put up with no walk. He loves just being around us.

Mondrian · 12/03/2013 20:07

Puggle

tabulahrasa · 12/03/2013 20:08

Whippets don't need as much exercise as poodles or some of the terriers, more than a tiny tiny dog, but mostly as long as they get to hare about for a bit they're happy enough...so not so much you hiking for miles as them running circles round you on a normal length walk.

ChipTheFish · 12/03/2013 20:11

Staffie all the way. The reason you see so many of them in rescue centres isn't because they are naturally aggressive, it's because idiots who want them as some kind of 'status' dog, get them home and realise what big softies they are.

Our staffie is loyal, affectionate and even tempered and he is amazing with kids. We don't have any ourselves, and he hasn't been brought up around them.

Despite this whenever our nieces and nephews are round he will follow them all around the house, and not react if they pester him a bit. Can't say enough good things about staffies!

tabulahrasa · 12/03/2013 20:24

staffies if you're willing to ignore their unfair reputation - they're great wee dogs.

superfluouscurves · 12/03/2013 20:53

too girly?

LadyTurmoil · 12/03/2013 20:55

wizzler Your poodle is gorgeous! Do like miniature schnauzers as well...

LadyTurmoil · 12/03/2013 20:57

Black Retriever X Rescue www.facebook.com/BlackRetrieverXRescue?fref=ts often has puppies and young dogs looking for a home (if you do go for something a bit bigger after all)

saintmerryweather · 12/03/2013 20:58

Cockapoos are a bad idea if you want low shedding - see the explanation re labradoodles. As well as the fact that there are no reputable breeders of doodle or poo crossbreeds. id probably go for a minature poodle in your situation op, or a small rescue greyhound

LadyTurmoil · 12/03/2013 20:59

OOh, just remembered Heathlands (Hertfordshire) had some lovely puppies www.heathlands.org.uk/image.php?imageid=1801 Don't know if there have any still available but you could give them a ring...

MrSlant · 12/03/2013 21:08

Whippets are very low maintenance and excellent tempered dogs. My friend got hers when the children were small and it has put up with everything, mine follows me around like a puppy and is currently asleep on my knee. He only has one long walk a day and I mostly stand whilst he runs happily in ever increasing circles. Lovely low maintenance short hair too. (won't say never sheds as no dog does but it's only about 2x a year for my boy). He's also self cleaning. Gets filthy on the beach/muddy stream and by the time he's come home in the boot it's all come off his glossy short fur. Also doesn't like going out in bad weather at all. Unlike some breeds who want walking day in day out for 2 hours he gets quite offended if I try and take him out if it's inclement.

LadyTurmoil · 12/03/2013 21:31

Like the sound of your dog MrSlant!

Anomaly · 12/03/2013 21:57

What about a Shih tzu? We've two, they don't shed and they are amazing with the kids. My two year old can hold their leads. They do need brushing regularly but that doesn't take long if you keep their coat short. I clip them myself it really isn't that hard if you get a decent set of clippers.

MrSlant · 12/03/2013 21:57

He is part cat I think, the perfect dog for not very doggy people! (he is my baby and my love and that is so embarrassing as I dislike people very much who talk about their pets like that Blush)

happygardening · 12/03/2013 21:58

I know Im going to upset every whippet owner in the UK now but having just had a whippet to stay for a 2 weeks I personally think they are as dull as ditch water. Ok very sweet and gentle but they are not in your face type dogs. I suppose it depends what you want in a dog and in a rural location they do have a bad tendency to run off. Many seem to shake which I find slightly irritating and they are definitely glass half empty dogs.

happygardening · 12/03/2013 22:00

MrSlant is right whippets are perfect for "not very doggy people".

MrsRandom78 · 12/03/2013 22:05

Another vote for a border terrier. Ours puts up with all kinds of crap with no complaints, great with people in general, is prone to the odd scrap with other dogs (small dog syndrome!) but nothing major. Loves a good walk but equally happy with a lazy day occasionally!

clam · 12/03/2013 22:12

"Cockapoos are a bad idea if you want low shedding"

Well, mine barely sheds, and I know dozens of owners who maintain the same. They are LOW-shedding, not NON-shedding, and the amount will be variable, as for many other types. For the record, my sister's lab is about the worst dog I've ever come across for moulting - and chewing (as a puppy).

MmeLindor · 12/03/2013 22:14

possibly not 'manly' enough for your DH but do consider Maltese terriers or Bichon Frise. Ours is Maltese x Cavalier.

Doesn't shed, has the most amazing temperament, great with kids and doesn't like rain.

We also looked at Border Terrier (which DH was keener on) but we found our wee dog before we found a border.

saintmerryweather · 12/03/2013 22:18

Yeah but the thing is clam for every one you know whose cockerpoo doesnt shed there will be someone else whose dog sheds bags of hair. you cant possibly tell what the dog is going to end up like. if you dont have set criteria and you just want one, sure go ahead and spend silly money on a chance. id rather pay less money and know for sure what im getting in terms of coat type and temperament

MrSlant · 12/03/2013 22:59

I know many, many whippets and none of them shake a lot. Most of them sleep a lot but I quite like that. They aren't very 'doggy' dogs in that they don't have that in your face 'love me, adore me, tell me I'm a good boy' thing going on though. They are beautiful and chilled and very loving in an undemanding way. I have children to demand my attention, my dog is just lovely.

MrSlant · 12/03/2013 23:00

Whippets don't smell doggy either Wink

LadyTurmoil · 12/03/2013 23:25

Couldn't resist showing you this one jammy www.dogwatchuk.com/mini-a-cute-scruffy-rescue-dog/ So cute, also past the chewing/biting/peeing puppy stage. Small but looks like she's got plenty of character!

CMOTDibbler · 13/03/2013 10:52

Maybe what HappyGardening is saying there is that whippets are not like terriers in a 'look at me, bouncy bouncy' way? To me, this is a good thing with small children - my whippety lurcher likes to play, but likes to curl up with you and sleep a lot, He's very happy with a short walk, and access to the garden to run round with his toys when he feels like it.

His recall is good too - admittedly this takes a bit more work to establish with sighthounds than with a lab etc, but we live in a rural area and he's fine with dogs/sheep/horses and doesn't eat fluffy things. Unlike my cats!

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