If you have a small(ish) dog what dog do you have and why did you choose them?

[SummersB]

Having lost our beloved Lab some time ago, we are thinking of getting a new dog at some point in the future. Due to circumstances, we are thinking of getting a smaller breed this time, however, having only ever had Labs we are a bit clueless about smaller breeds, their characters and their challenges. So if you own a small(ish) breed - why did you choose it? What traits first attracted you and what challenges have you encountered?

Miniature poodle (not shaved or with pompoms, just a one length cut). Wonderful dog. Medium sized so I can lift him, doesn't fill up half the house, have him on my knee for a cuddle etc but big enough to do bigger dog things out and about. Loves to walk, fetch the ball, good with people and other dogs, bright, very affectionate, adorable looking, doesn't shed at all, not at all food motivated, very similar looking to a cockapoo but seems calmer so will snooze by my feet in a cafe after a walk etc. Negatives: terrorises our poor cat, cost of the grooming parlour once month (don't really mind as prefer to loads of shedding in the house), probably too fluffy if you live somewhere very rural and muddy. He really is wonderful. Other nice dogs I meet out and about are miniature labradoodles, show cockers. In my experience miniature schnauzers and dachshunds tend to be aggressive but that may be a generalisation.

I have a yorkie.

They’re “proper dogs”, just small scale .

Pro’s are very portable. Curls up on a lap easily. Loves the cat, other dogs, people and children. He isn’t yappy at all- i’ve had to teach him to bark at the doorbell. Now he’s a great alert dog.

They’re actually very trainable. Mine has all his basic commands better than my mum’s lab. Recall is definitely better!! Great off lead.

Loves walks, stays close, does 10min checks all his group are there. Likes a little potter and a sniff, but his “job” seems to be to walk with us not go off hunting. Long muddy walks are no problem, but equally if we cba he’s happy with the garden and playing in the house.

He does have a very strong mousing instinct. More so than the cat. He can get a bit obsessive over dark corners or under the fridge. Probably are mice but they wouldn’t dare come out!

Coat is more than manageable. It’s “hair” rather than fur, doesn’t shed. Mine has particularly fine hair even for a yorkie so I keep him short or it knots, but even then he only needs a grooming trip every 3 months or so.

Cons- he did have a luxating patella which was fixed by the vet. He is very small though (2kg) so almost expected. We knew that when we took him on. He’s been slow to housetrain but has it now. He is so small you have to watch he doesn't get overwhelmed by other dogs playing rough, or children crowding.

My main issue is stopping other people treating him like a baby or a toy and maintaining his manners. I’ve had visitors try and carry him round all day. (He has legs! Is my most common phrase!)- even the vet picks him up for cuddles. He’s tolerant of it all- but he is a dog and needs to behave like one.

Fab dogs

We have a rescue JRT. Cons: Very hard work because very bright, very manipulative, easily bored, doesn't like hyper children, men in high vis jackets, needs you to be on your game at all times, very feisty, nippy, barks loads, needy. Pros: fastidiously clean, never damages anything that isn't his, very loyal, very loving, very playful, likes most people and most dogs, listens and prides himself on following instructions, very funny and very attractive. Do not get a JRT if you want a laid back dog.

Oh,forgot to mention, he needs lots of interesting exercise where you walk him different routs including lots of off lead running around, and where you play ball games and mentally stimulating games with him. 1.5- 2 hours a day min.

We have two mini wirehaired dachshunds. They are very little, but think they are big... and stretch to fill an entire sofa. Very little shedding, and coats are easy to maintain at home.

Wires are definitely the cheekiest of the dachshunds, and have selective deafness at times, but huge personalities and great fun.

Happy to laze around or go out on long walks - these two are not at all keen on the rain though, and have to be firmly removed to the garden to pee if there's the slightest hint of moisture in the air!

Oh wow! Thank you all for the lovely comments, that’s all so helpful. Also I love reading about other people’s dogs and hear about why they love them so much, it’s brought a tear to my eye, especially as I miss my lab so much.
The pic of the foldable lurchers made me laugh!
Lots to consider here, some breeds I had heard of and some I hadn’t at all, or hadn’t considered before so that’s great. Thank you all

I have a working cocker and and she's an absolutely amazing family dog. Never bothered the kids or been bothered by them and so so loyal. Eager to please and easy to train and she was a rescue dog aged 2yrs when we got her. I'd consider this breed because in all the years and all the dogs I've know never have I come across such a wonderful dog.

Miniature schnauzer here, although ours is a bit taller and stockier than the average mini. They are very affectionate and sociable dogs, intelligent but can be stubborn! We absolutely love this breed and are considering rescuing an older one.

I have a miniature smooth dachshund. Previously I had Bassett Hounds who were 30kg +. My daxie thinks she's a big dog, very affectionate, a bit barky. Much more transportable and doesn't moult. Lots of character but quite needy

Used to have a 7kg border terrier who was lovely but looking back was hard work:

Now have a a 5kg cavapoo who is a loveable laid back back ball of fluff. Basically total opposite to the border

Would have another cavapoo wouldn't have another border terrier.

Also have had a cocker spaniel who was lovely.

I have to vote Shih Tzu, I've found them to be a lovely breed, ours doesn't shed at all, she is great fun and not yappy. We worked quite hard socialising her when she was young and so far so good. We've grown her coat but getting it shorter in a few weeks, I love the long haired look but it does take quite a bit of maintenance.

Bichon or miniature poodle. Very.energetic but also v sociable with other dogs. A bit nippier and less laid back.than a lab or spaniel.perhaps. excellent recall and great for long offlead rambles.

I’ve met some lovely gentle staffies. Great dogs an£ not too large. My sister has a springer cocker cross who is adorable and not. too large

I have a terrier cross (yorkie/jrt) he's still only a puppy at 7 months but is everything I wanted in a dog.

Lots of character, loyal and loving, bright and easy to train, loves kids and people, is robust and has plenty of energy!

He is also quiet, not yappy but would bark (I think) if someone tried to break in!!

I love terriers.

I have three chihuahuas! I fell in love with one and then once you have one you can't stop

We've got a mini Aussie labradoodle and he's brilliant. 14 inches tall, a proper lad, athletic, gentle, playful and makes all the family smile every day. He's got all the qualities I love about labradors as well as having the intelligence of poodles and a coat like a teddy bear. He's a very happy addition to our family

I have a Shih Tzu boy. He's not the brightest, but extremely handsome, comical, good-natured, etc. Doesn't bark unless someone's at the door, and completely non-shedding. Happy to walk for ages or just laze at home. He's remarkably stocky and robust, but then was the pick of the litter, so is quite big for this breed (10 kilo). He's our first family dog and the best decision I ever made.

Here's my boy

@Dieu one of our friends has a magnificent large Shih Tzu boy, he's awesome!!!

Two westies here, after losing my beautiful, black lab girl, after 13 years, leaving me heartbroken. I didn't want to 'replace' her, and always be comparing the new dog with her, so I chose something completely different. These two are stubborn, spirited, work as a team in causing maximum mischief, but they are also endlessly happy, robust, non-shedding (added bonus after a lab) and with good training, excellent company to every person and dog they meet. I love them too bits. Good luck!

We have terrier mix. We wanted a smaller dog because we had a small dog and thought it would be harder on us and unfair on the dog to have a bigger breed.

Small dogs have a lot of behavioral problems stemming from people treating them like babies and not dogs. I've even witnessed owners laughing about it when their Chihuahua bit their guest. They wouldn't have been laughing if their dog was 40kg instead of 4. So with every single thing you do with your small dog, first think: "would I have let my Labrador do this?"

Secondly, alot of big dogs were bred to hunt or work in a team or guard the household. Which is why there a lot large breeds like Labradors that are very calm and people oriented. Alot of small dogs were originally bred to hunt on their own such as digging out foxes from tunnels. As such, they are often moody, independent and stubborn. This is especially true for Terriers. If you're looking for a calm, low maintenance dog, I would stay away from Terriers, daschunden and any other hunting dog. If you stick to toy breeds that were bred for companionship, you will probably have an easier time.

Of course every dog is different and this is just a generalization of breed characteristics. But with any small breed, make sure you are prepared for what a different experience it might be from having a Lab.

He's got all the qualities I love about labradors as well as having the intelligence of poodles and a coat like a teddy bear. He's a very happy addition to our family

My mum has a “mini labradoodle”. It’s as thick as your dumbest labrador, sheds, has a coat that needs combing (not brushing, proper combing) daily or it mats, virtually untrainable as it only engages what little brains it has to do what it wants. It also has a small poodle body on ridiculously long legs.

Oh and far from being “mini” fucking thing kept growing until it’s only slightly smaller than a labrador. Plus it thinks it’s a lap dog so tries to sit on your knee constantly and expects to be picked up if it cba to walk.

She loves it, obviously. It is a great dog and has lots of good points, it’s loyal and great company for her, but definitely not all the good points of the parents!

I have a working cocker who is 15kg so depends on how small you consider small.

One criteria I had for choosing a breed was the ability to pick them up and carry them in an emergency as we walk in the countryside and in forests and may not meet anyone out and about. I remember one dog as a child collapsing outside and my mum couldn't carry him home which was very distressing. I have also had to put this in practice when he refused to walk any further in the snow

I’ve got a Pomeranian. I was dead set on getting a whippet but DD wanted a Pom, so I read up on them and realised they were the kind of dog we wanted. I’ve never regretted not getting a whippet.

Some people call poms “yappy and snappy”, mine is neither she’s a very sweet, gentle loving dog with a bark not a yap. I think the thing is some people treat them as accessories when they’re actually very intelligent dogs so they get bored and behave badly.

Having met lots of small dogs since getting mine if I were to get a dog of a different breed I’d probably go for either a bichon or a miniature poodle.

@micahi think the Aussie mix is the difference. Anyone can breed a poodle with a Labrador, that's not what we have