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The doghouse

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

Could you suggest some breeds?

41 replies

stilllovingmysleep · 23/04/2017 10:57

Hi all, we're finally going to go for it and plan to get a puppy hopefully in a few monthsSmile Delighted that I've convinced my DH!

Could you suggest some breeds please? I do like the looks and size (and characteristics) of poodle mixes, but am convinced by MN misgivings about them so will try looking for some good breeders of other dogs.

Characteristics we want:
To need up to 1 hour walking a day
Good with children
Easy to train for first time owner
Not too much shedding
Not too big but not tiny
Not too energetic (so nothing with a cocker in it etc)
Relatively ok to be left alone (after being trained obviously) for 4-5 hours or so.

I have thought of: bichons, poodles, mini schnauzers.

Other ideas or thoughts / recommendations?

OP posts:
BiteyShark · 23/04/2017 13:42

Dogstrust sometimes have puppies as they mentioned them to me when I visited.

IntheBenefitTrap · 23/04/2017 13:50

Definitely!

Floralnomad · 23/04/2017 14:22

Lots of rescues have puppies , and particularly slightly older pups , we got our dog at15/16 weeks from Battersea but my mum has had 2 8/9 week old pups from them as well .

gigi556 · 23/04/2017 14:55

My 14 year old Yorkshire Terrier recently passed away and I would get another in a heartbeat. Yorkies meet a number of your criteria (although not all).

Pros
They are small - many advantages to a small dog - small poop, don't eat as much, can be carried if necessary, easier to travel with

Medium amount of exercise needed. Yorkies do require walking but not an excessive amount. They can walk far if you want them too despite being small. In her last year, my yorkie went on at least one 10 mile walk.

Hypoallergenic - they require grooming as they have hair rather than fur and do not shed.

They love attention - they are lap dogs and extremely affectionate.

Cons
Training - not as easy to train as other dogs but will be trained. They can just take a bit longer than say a Labrador. I remember house training was difficult but we got there in the end.

Barking - I've put this as a con (even though I never had a problem) as other people constantly asked me if my dog was yappy. She wasn't. I'm not sure if this was a wrong impression generally about the breed or if it's common with the breed. Generally speaking, dogs are yappy when they are bored so it's usually a problem with the owner not giving them enough exercise and/or attention.

Kids - they aren't known for being great with kids, but if you are introducing a puppy into your home, it shouldn't be a problem. Mine never bit but might give a warning nip where it looks like they going to bite but it's more a snap without contact to say you're scaring me! Because they are small I think they learn to be a bit defensive out of necessity.

I got a yorkie because I knew someone else with one and fell in love. They are extremely loving, loyal dogs.

As a general note, I would strongly advise a bitch. Male dogs (even when neutered) tend to be more hyper and territorial. I have experiences of owning and observing both sexes and would never get a male dog in future.

Floralnomad · 23/04/2017 15:10

I have to disagree with gigi about male dogs , it's obviously a personal preference but 'hyper and territorial' is a massive and unfair generalisation .

gigi556 · 23/04/2017 15:30

Ok yes, it a massive generalization... There are many lovely male dogs but on a whole I find bitches more docile.

Dogs behavior also massively reflects the time, energy and training an owner put in. BUT you can get a lemon of a dog in any breed or sex!

arbrighton · 23/04/2017 15:34

Our miniature poodle is a complete cuddlefiend, happy with one walk per day, parents health tested.

Not great with kids though but we didn't have kids when we got her and then nephew pulled her ears. She's more likely to run away than anything else though.

does need regular brushing and clipping though and is quite vocal which can be irritating

Lucisky · 23/04/2017 16:16

Someone mentioned a beagle. They are pack animals, hard to train, need a lot of exercise and are total and indiscriminate hoovers when it comes to anything edible, or even vaguely edible. You can guess we used to have one years ago! Personally I don't think they make good house dogs. Now I shall stand back and wait for the flack.

Floralnomad · 23/04/2017 16:58

A beagle would probably need more exercise than the OP wants as well .

minxthemanx · 23/04/2017 19:41

Dear god not a beagle! I have one that was going into rescue; he's absolutely adorable and I love him dearly. I actually prefer him to DH a lot of the time. Grin BUT beagles eat anything and everything; he goes thru the bins eating anything (including bathroom bin, imagine what's in there. ..), he spends the whole time on walks with his nose to the ground desperately searching for food. He opens cupboards and helps himself when I'm at work, empties recycling bags round the garden, snatches whole blocks of cheese off kitchen worktop if I turn my back. ...when I leave the house it's a military operation to remove all bins, block food cupboards, pre empt anything he might get up to. Beagle are lovely, lovely dogs and I wouldn't be without him, but they're hard work.

PacificDogwod · 23/04/2017 19:46

Whippetty-lurcher, defy Smile

Small.
Short haired.
Do not need much exercise, but will walk as long as you want to.
V trainable and (like any other breed) if well socialised good with kids.

Look at rescues.

Don't get a puppy unless you are prepared for the newborn/baby/toddler/teenager stages all to pass in about 1 year or so.

Do not get a beagle or a poodle as a first dog.

mamalovebird · 23/04/2017 20:02

I have a 10 month old Miniature Schnauzer and he is great fun, love him to bits. Takes a lot of rough and tumble from the kids (age 3 & 7) and is very playful. Very affectionate and loves a lap nap in the evening. He's been pretty easy to train without the need for classes but he has his moments where he's a cheeky little blighter - they have quite a cheeky personality which I love!

The kids have had to learn fast that they can't leave food around as he's quick to nab anything going. He likes to chew but we have a box of toys so he has never chewed the furniture or anything like that.

They do bark but not too bad... good guard dogs in that respect but he's not aggressive in way.

They don't shed hair but they do need grooming every 8 weeks and the beard needs a quick brush every day.

I work 3 days and luckily work locally so I nip home at lunchtime to let him out. He doesn't seem too put out to be left. We leave toys and bones out for him though and the radio on.

We were split between a cockapoo or schnauzer. So glad we went with schnauzer.... his personality suits our family perfectly. We'll be getting another one when circumstances allow. The cats are not quite so enamoured though Wink

arbrighton · 23/04/2017 20:07

Pacificdogwood

The poodle is my first dog.....

I was lucky I think, as breeder did most of the ground work with toilet training/ sleeping on her own/ crate but I've had to deal with the neuroses.

Wouldn't be without her though. Find her more manageable than the collie cross we've just gained. 4 times the size, sheds, chases things (ducklings for example)more successfully, goes into lie down and stalk and don't listen mode, bounces up at people etc, chases bikes.

YolandiFuckinVisser · 23/04/2017 20:12

Have you considered a Staffie? Quite small, good with kids, love a cuddle, happy to exercise as much as suits you.

JigglyTuff · 23/04/2017 20:16

That chart is hilarious and not very accurate I'm afraid. But useful for sizes/breed ideas

stilllovingmysleep · 24/04/2017 06:18

Hi Yoland thanks for the suggestion, but we are looking for much smaller types of dogs eg Bichon / mini schnauzer etc, very different to Staffies

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