Help me find the right hilarious little dog for the kids

[CindyLouWhoo]

I've had dogs since I was little so we are an experienced dog household. DDog passed a few mo the ago and I'm ready to start thinking about a new dog. Our last dog was a rescue and a big working/guarding breed. Whilst he was utterly bomb-proof with the kids he wasn't much fun for them. As we now have two kids under the age of 8 we will need to go to a breeder. They adore next doors JRT but I'm not sure I can quite handle a JRT. I was thinking a border terrier? Any other suggestions?

Actually, our Saint was very playful when she was younger probably from 12weeks to about 6/7 years old. We did have 2 older dogs as well at the time, which were also very playful, so I'm not sure if that influenced how she was.

For the first year we had to be careful not to over-exercise her due to her growing bones (as with all giant breeds), but she loved playing hide and seek in the woods and playing fetch.

I was originally thinking of her middle/old age where she was much calmer.
She died short before she was 11yo, and was pretty 'young' in her outlook until the last 6-8 months, although running around like a loon and playing fetch stopped around 7 yo.

She was a continental Saint Bernard though. They're more athletic looking and less wrinkly than English Saints.

She was a beautiful dog, inside and out, and 8 yrs later I still miss her.

We put a lot of effort into training her (1 on 1 lessons for her first year, as well as group lessons) and she was fantastic on the lead. Even children could hold her and she never pulled, no matter what appeared.
She never walked past your leg and the lead was always slack. Being such a large, powerful breed it was important to us that she was very well trained, which is why we went for the extra 1 on 1 lessons with someone who was experienced with her breed.

Usually, we just attend group lessons and train at home, but she was our 1st giant breed and we wanted to do things right.

Actually, despite my adoration of Borders, I have to admit that training can be an issue. Someone once said of ours “She’s not very well trained, but she is very well brought up”

can you put a clowns nose on a normal dog?

Also, never refer to a Border as a small dog, they are Big Dogs. They just happen to be smaller than other big dogs. 😂

Mine would be fine with older children, the vet could saw his leg off with a rusty blade and he'd just lick him. It's small toddlers that freak him out.

We tried a red nose, but she wouldn’t cooperate long enough for a picture. However.....

[awaits brickbats from proper dog owners]

Actually, it is very difficult to find a decent pug breeder. They are pretty much exclusively owned by people who care more about what it looks like than it’s quality of life.

I have every right to say this having watched hundreds of the bloody things suffocating to death or with eyes hanging out from trying to be a normal dog but not being able too.

Op, I would go for something like a Labrador if I was you.

How about a Lakeland terrier? They never stop playing. Footie, chase, tug of war. Terriers are noisy and very strong willed but they definitely barge right in and become a proper member of the family.

For a 100% family dog that's gentle and loves playing, though, it has to be a cockerpoo. They are all, every single one, really gentle and playful, whereas terriers can be a bit bossy and bark.

@Greyhorses - were those pugs from very reputable breeders then?

The only pugs I've come across that have those sorts of problems were ones purchased from places like Facebook and Pets4Homes.

icant even the ones from reputable breeders are a disgrace. Some of the KC registered ones are the worst of them all.

I work in veterinary referral mainly spending my time trying and failing to help them breathe.

You do realise KC Registration means nothing and anyone can do it if they have a registered pug themselves?

And you're wrong, sorry. The ones from reputable breeders don't tend to have any breathing issues at all. I have one, he's 9. Never been to the vet. I also know of hundreds of others that are all fine.

I second a lab. My boy is fantastic with my girls. They’re now 11 and 9 and he’s three so the youngest was 6 when we got him and they adore each other. He can be a proper loon. He’s gentle and placid when you need him to be and then he’s off racing round the garden with them. Easily trained, very clever and willing and so loving and obedient. Beautiful breed.

Ohhhh that is a soulful lab @MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig! And i think @BertrandRussell looks ace! The cat had a Santa bat in this house last Christmas.

Haha my phone ate the word dog. I don't in fact think that is @BertrandRussell

Why do you need to go to a breeder? Rescues have lots of breeds and even puppies. We have a 5 year old boxer ( rehomed him 6 months ago) he's great with the kids, housetrained and fantastic. But I got the dog because I wanted one and we were ready as a family for a dog. We were on the waiting list over a year with the boxer rescue to get a dog who we were right for. After having him I do t think I'd ever go to a breeder to get s puppy ever again.
Look at all your options before getting a dog that suits the kids.

"The cat had a Santa bat in this house last Christmas"

Like this?

@bertrandrussell, @cindylou

Another dog that can have health problems and of course quite a variable temperament but if you can get a healthy one Cavaliers can be nice little dogs. My mum had one and he was very playful and gentle.
My own dog is a lurcher and we rescued her. The rescue place would only accept children over 5 but they would work with you to help pick a dog that suits you. Ddog was only 7 months old and she took to my dd straight away.

A black Labrador (and a good vacuum cleaner as mine sheds endlessly)..

My friend has a bichon frise who is lovely.

Honestly you can't go wrong with a labrador.

I wouldn't go Pedigree I'd find a x-breed terrier. We have a cairn x Lakeland and he's tremendous value, the funniest most affectionate little dog we've ever had. So much character. Best £100 we've ever spent. Non pedigree to avoid all the inbreeding problems.

Don't go for a PBGV. They are hounds and hounds are a law unto themselves. And they howl. My friends had them and they really aren't for the faint hearted.

We have a JRT X Rhodesian Ridgeback... She's now 2 and she is SO good with my 11 month old. They play (very gentle) tug of war and lay down together.
Although they try to greet each other by French kissing if I'm not quick enough! 🤮

@EmmaJR1 JRTX Rhodesian Ridgeback ! 2 very different dogs What does your dog look like?

The lab we had when I was a child was the best family dog ever. He used to sit beside my sister when she was murdering practicing her recorder. His ears went flat every time hit a bum note (frequent). He did agility over the patio furniture, he wore a cape, he went walking for hours with me when I was an angsty teen, and listened to me crying over my parents breaking up. He lay on the floor with us watching the tv. He was a star. He was never quite fully trained - mum always said that she and he came to a gentleman's agreement about his obedience levels! But he was always gentle and kind. He pulled the sledge, he went rockpooling with us on holiday. It's ten years since we lost him (he lived to 16!) and we all still miss him dreadfully.

My spaniel is a lovely dog (although yes, neurotic and needy!) and very tolerant of ds. But when we lose him (not for years, I hope), we will be having a lab.

@Moxiebelle yes they are, no one is sure how she happened! 😂