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?

I've never met a calm chocolate lab or any kind of spaniel. I can't bear spaniels, literally every one I know is a nutter.

We have a mongrel, cross between a Scottie and a Westie, and he is fantastic with the dc.

He loves playing hide and seek with them, ball games and anything really. He gives them so much happiness and laughter as he is always ready to play.

We have a pug / chihuahua/ bit of terrier cross ...dad was a pug ,mum a chihuahua cross....she goes like the wind,nothing catches her,she's a fabulous companion for my 8 yr old..looks like a mini French bulldog ,so we get lots of fuss out and about.shes easy for my son to walk ,(obviously I'm there too)and he did her training classes...pet insurance is low ,eats very little ,not much cost......and she's just amazing and picks things up quickly...the only down side is an odd puddle on Lino indoors on a very wet day...she's not keen on rain,but adores snow ❄️

Shame I can't clone her for you...we've had so many people ask if I'm going to let her have puppies..but no she's been done,she's far to precious for that..

@Penguin34 it might be worth getting a dog behaviourist in now to work with you.

Does anyone have any experience of Schnauzers? I'm not in a position to have a dog right now, but hope to one day and have heard good things, but also that they can be stubborn and bark a lot.

rally I also really want a schnauzer but worried about barking! Spoke to a breeder yesterday who said yes they will bark when someone comes to the door but otherwise it's all about the training....? Am I being naïve thinking I could train it not to bark all the time?

My friend has one and she barks constantly. Put me off for that reason.

merry do you know if your friend tried to train it not to bark all the time?

Yes I am sure she did as she hates it!

I'll get shouted down, but I'd go for a Boston terrier. I've got two, they don't have very squashed faces, no breathing issues, no excessive snoring. Our vet says they're in great shape.

And they are HILARIOUS. Adore children, adore exercise but are just as happy to sleep, cuddly, kind, playful, quick to pick things up, expressive, affectionate.

I've had dogs all my life and this is the best breed I've ever had.

We meet and walk all sorts in our dog walking business. Running through the dogs mentioned so far... Both Tibetans were very good natured but not very bright, and one has had horrendous congenital health problems. That one was rescued from someone who'd bought a cute pup off Facebook though. Pugs... lovely temperaments but I have not so far met and walked a single one who could cope with more than half an hour especially on a warm day. Same for the bulldogs, both English and French. Rotties, one lovely, one a bit too boisterous for children. JRTs, I second a previous poster, mostly they are brilliant but I've met one who despite being bred from good natured playful parents and brought up in exactly the same family home as her mother was just a grumpy snappy horrid dog. Borders, all have been good family dogs. Airedales, two lovely, one not so lovely with children. Labradors, 80% perfect, 20% not so perfect. HOWEVER the not so perfects were all rescued post puppyhood. Cavaliers, two with massive health problems, two without. Lovely natured but not particularly playful. Cocker spaniels, show type tend to be more emotionally clingy than the working types. The ones whose owners have actually trained them to work as gundogs are noticeably happier. Cockerpoos, great fun but dear god the combination of spaniel coat and poodle coat sucks up filth like a sponge and is a nightmare to wash and dry after any walk in even faintly damp conditions. Mini schnauzers would probably fit the bill temperament wise but are very noisy whenever people approach the house. Every single one has had this trait.

alpaca the mini schnauzers you've dealt with - what are they like with other dogs (that they meet on walks) and strange children?
Also if someone just walks past the house would they bark? Or is it just when someone comes to the door? And do they stop once door is opened?

We have a Springer who has grown up with our kids. She's 9 now and they are teenagers but she still acts like a puppy when they walk in. She's always wanted to play, make sure you have the time for a few good walks a day though

@TOOmuch @T00much sorry don't know if those were capital o's or zeros... and apologies for late reply haven't been on for a couple of days. Two of the mini's bark at everyone whether they recognise them or not. Others only bark at strangers. They're all good mixers out on walks and good family pets. One was a bit grumpy sometimes in her old age, but fair enough, she was getting creaky.