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The doghouse

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

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Original poster

Recommendations on small dogs for young family!!

22 replies

Hollyrose · 17/03/2015 10:57

Hi,
So I;m looking at getting a dog as our family pet. We have two young girls, and a normal sized 3 bed, but being a new build, it has quite a small garden so we would be wanting a small-medium. We will not be getting a dog until the time is right, and I have done all sorts of research into costs of everything. I have also looked right in to Cavapoo's. For me this seems like a really good family breed. But before I set my mind to that i just wondered if anyone else had any recommendations?
Thanks :)

OP posts:

basildonbond · 17/03/2015 11:08

They're not a breed!!! Many of them are lovely dogs but they're cross breeds and you can't tell how the puppies will turn out just from looking at the parents. There are zillions of cocker/poodle crosses around here and they vary enormously in size, coat type, amount they shed, energy levels etc

You'd need to check that any puppy's parents had had all appropriate tests for both breeds as cavaliers especially can have horrendous health issues (don't believe a breeder who tells you that's unnecessary and talks a lot of guff about hybrid vigour)

I'm not personally a fan of terriers but we know lots of families who are very happy with their border terriers, or how about a plain old poodle? The miniature ones would be perfect size, they don't shed and are very trainable- you don't have to give them a silly haircut and with a puppy clip they look just like loads of the poo-crosses

tabulahrasa · 17/03/2015 11:10

Well cavapoos aren't a breed, so there's no guarantee about what they'll end up like...and finding a breeder that does all the health tests is much much harder with a crossbreed.

If you like little and fluffy, why not a poodle?

Bichon frises are also nice small dogs.

mistlethrush · 17/03/2015 11:11

Some larger dogs would be quite happy with a small garden - and possibly easier to manage.

tabulahrasa · 17/03/2015 11:14

Oh and garden size...I've a tiny garden and a Rottweiler, it really doesn't matter much.

The garden's a handy place for housetraining and the odd game, but really it's walks that matter.

SPARKLYSTARSHINESBRIGHT · 17/03/2015 13:23

We have a cavapoo, we have had a year now. I had no knowledge/experience of dogs prior to this. Our neighbours had the brother of ours, and another friend also have just had a cavapoo. They hadn't had a dog before either. I have to say they are the easiest dogs to train and look after, she's no trouble at all, walked for an hour a day but fine if she's not walked at all if it's raining. Vet checked and she is fine although the 50% Cav King Charles health problems worries me a little.

Which ever breed you go for, research them thoroughly. Good luck!

BohemianRaptor · 17/03/2015 13:32

Border terriers are great family pets. On the small side but sturdy and generally great natured (never came across a bad natured one in 20 years of working with dogs). The new cross breeds such as cavapoos are a bit hit and miss with regards to health but seem to be generally good natured. Like a pp said whatever breed you go for do a lot of research first, they all have different characteristics and needs.
I'd also recommend watching some you tube videos on canine body language with your children, teaching them your dogs signals is one of the best things you can do in terms of maintaining a safe and happy household for all.

SistersOfPercy · 17/03/2015 13:52

As has been said Borders are great, as are Scotties, though Scots can be stubborn but once trained are loving little dogs.

BagelwithButter · 17/03/2015 16:23

If you are willing the pay the ridiculous high price for this type of cross breed, look at a pure poodle. Just as cute looking, non shedding, small and very intelligent.

If a cavapoo, comes out more "cava", they can shed a lot and could also have health problems associated with cavaliers.

Poodles are great little dogs, very underestimated as people associate them with the silly showdog pompom hairdo, but a simple clip is all you need.

Look at the choc coloured poodle here (Ref AV245) lovely looking 11 mth miniature poodle

YNK · 17/03/2015 16:33

You can't beat a staffy.
Biddable, loyal, trustworthy and robust enough to keep up with children and still be a total snugglebunny.

Rescues are full of them and you won't be paying a byb for a mongrel.
Who would want that on their conscience?

mrslaughan · 17/03/2015 19:11

poodle - very cute when they don't have a poodle cut.

BabyGanoush · 17/03/2015 20:59

Don't like the dismissive attitude to "mongrels"

Mongrels can be ace, and not as prone to health problems!

insanityscratching · 17/03/2015 21:09

Oh Bagel I wish I hadn't looked. I desperately want a poodle but reluctantly decided Eric (a poodle x shih tzu) would be an only dog. The little brown one is lovely but the pair of girls just below would fit in beautifully here.

YNK · 17/03/2015 23:11

Mongrels are fab, even my staffy is of dubious heritage.
I was brought up with pedigree boxers, but I have never paid a penny for any dog I've owned.
They have all been mongrels.
I rescue dogs so as not to encourage breeding.

tabulahrasa · 17/03/2015 23:12

"Mongrels can be ace, and not as prone to health problems!"

My best dogs have been proper mongrels, as in no idea what their patents were.

But it's not true that crossbreeds are less prone to health problems - they can get most of the ones that either of the breeds they're bred from can get.

When you buy a pedigree dog from a good breeder, the reason it isn't cheap is because they've spent lots of money on health tests and making sure they do everything they can to give the puppy a healthy start.

The problem with with many breeders of crossbreeds is that they skip that bit and then add even more on to the sale price.

You can get a well bred poodle puppy whose parents have good results from all relevant health tests for nearly half the price of a poodle cross whose breeder has cut every corner going.

A dog bought from one of those breeders may well be lovely, most dogs are, but its breeder is still ripping people off and taking chances with the health of what will be someone else's pet.

It's not an issue confined to just breeders of crossbreeds, but it is much harder to find a good breeder amongst them than it is with pedigrees.

tabulahrasa · 17/03/2015 23:13

Excuse the typos, I'm on my phone and it read ok to me until I actually posted...

meandjulio · 17/03/2015 23:17

I'd say look at a larger dog. If the garden is secure I would definitely look at a whippet or greyhound.

Original poster

Hollyrose · 18/03/2015 16:52

Thanks all for advise! I will be doing some more research into other breeds. Unfortunately my husband isn't a huge dog person, hence why I am doing lots of research in to everything before we do find a dog. I've done so much research in to poodles, Cavapoo's and K.c.c, so if that is what we go for then I know all about the health risks both sides, and what to look for with breeders. i also know that as a crossbreed, they are more in to the 'designer dog' category as oppose to a mongrel so the price is sky high!! I have grown up with so many dogs, but have to say our mongrel, although is getting old now, has been fab and no health problems. But being a jack russell boarder terrier cross he seems to have picked out the best bits of both breeds, not being yappy or anything. My husband has made it clear thugh that he doesn't mind a Cavapoo, but doesn't like a poodle, he doesn't want a terrier, and he doesn't want a large dog, so it does leae me quite restricted. But I will look in to all your advise and research some more dogs!! Thank you!

OP posts:

HcachumBabow · 18/03/2015 18:30

If your DH is set against a poodle then bear in mind that something like a "cavapoo" may end up very poodle-y anyway, in both appearance and temperament. I've seen some that could easily be mistaken for pedigree poodles.

tabulahrasa · 18/03/2015 18:36

One of those is a cavapoo, one of them is a poodle.

If I didn't know where the photos were from, I couldn't tell you which is which, l

Recommendations on small dogs for young family!!

SconessMcFloness · 18/03/2015 20:26

Dh wasn't a dog person either, but they get under your skin and he is besotted with our whippet....spoils him rotten!

orangeyellowgreen · 18/03/2015 20:50

I've never seen a poodle cross which wasn't uglier than a poodle and I'd never trust a rescue staffy with young children. They're in the rescue centre for a reason. and the staff there can't know how one will behave around children, they're hardly going to toss a few toddlers in to see how they get on.

BagelwithButter · 18/03/2015 23:20

BabyGanoush we weren't having a go at mongrels, but rather the "designer" crossbreeds that are being bred on purpose, often with little, or no, regard for the health of the puppies.

Holly Don't really understand why your DH would say yes to a cavapoo but no to a poodle, they can look very similar, as tabula says.

insanity he is lovely, isn't he? Well, if you can't have him, you can share amongst all your friends....

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