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?

@ForkHandlesplease
My DH absolutely adores him and the way he greets us when we've been missing for any length of time from 1 min to a couple of hours

Does he do little squeaks of joy while trying to jump up and roll over for a tummy rub at the same time?

I have a Yorkie, very small & sweet natured, my shadow glued to my ankles. Not a barker except at the door if someone knocks. Up till recently I had another one who was the gentlest, sweetest dog I’ve ever owned. That says a lot as I’ve owned lots of dogs, grew up with working collies & a grandmother who owned & showed Pekingese.
I showed & bred Cairns for years, owning sixteen in all plus occasional litters. Wonderful dogs for a family, full of fun, easy to care for, very robust & healthy. Terrific temperament...lookout world here I come.
Must say, when I was showing the show rings with the most young children & babies round them were the Staffie rings. Wonderful family dogs, very maligned because of their looks.
I also have a Skye Terrier, had four over the years. Pros, very beautiful , very, very rare now, high on endangered native breeds list. One year the litter I had was the only litter born that year in the U.K. So good to keep the breed from becoming extinct in this country. But...cons, & probably why getting rarer, not easy temperament. Very dour Scot. Very much a one man ( woman) dog. Mine won’t have anything to do with anyone else. Not vicious, just intimidating as sits & glares, if approached by strangers when we’re out, often are as people are curious as to breed & stunned at her glamour, she shouts at them, well more curses & swears, don’t get me wrong, never bites. Also coat takes a great deal of work.
Here she is.

Wow farmland that must take you hours!

We have a cockerpoo aged 6 he is medium size cery affectionate and clever but stubborn.
We also have a shipoo she is 20 weeks (shih and poodle cross) she is very clever, learns really quickly with training, very affectionate loves cuddles, she also loves walking or stay and chill at home. She is a bit nippy at the moment as her teeth are coming in. Only problem im facing is toilet trainning she had it mastered straight away for weeks but has started pooping in house every now and again, but she is still very young.
She is also amazing off lead, recall is brilliant, she has been going to puppy class for 6 weeks and passing with flying colours.
We chose her as i wanted a poodle cross and she was perfect we did look for about 8 months tho as she was our first puppy, our other dog is a rescue dog.

A relative (male) had a Yorkie - complete with red bow. She was called Tootsie..
Relative was 6'4 and built like a shed!!

I know someone with springerdors, they look lot like labs but lighter build so not really much smaller.

We have a rescue Parsons Terrier, complete princess and lap dog. She would happily be out walking all day so long as it's not raining, avoids puddles, the sea and mud!!

She is a bit of a barker but I'm sure that is down to the abuse she endured and then living with a huge teen Labrador that means she's fearful of bouncing or over interested dogs.

Great recall, loves fetching the ball and a game of chase with any willing dog, ok with cats but will chase if they run.

I am big breed dog lover but when she stands on you or you get tail whipped it doesn't hurt. When she's stressed with other dogs and barking I can just pick her up as she's only 6kg.

We had always had small dogs
Two Yorkies
Two Lhasa apsos
We wanted a playful, small dog.
Mustn't shed hair.
Good with people and other dogs
Doesn't need a massive amount of walking
Must one able to spend some time on her own
Not yappy
Teenage son wanted a Wolf hound or working dog.
We got a Dandie Dinmont Terrier and never looked back, she is 14 months now and what a good companion, I wish we had got one years ago.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/dummys-guide-to-dandie-dinmont-terriers/

Have look at some of the Rare breeds as they may suit your needs.
We often miss the best dog for us as we don't do enough research.
Next on the list if we can ever have two
www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/dogs/glen-imaal-terriers-wilful-adorable-sadly-extremely-vulnerable-203761

In praise of JRTs - the two that I know well are loving, loyal and gentle but quite hardy and will walk for miles if you want to. Very friendly towards other people and mine is a rough coated one who hardly sheds - just the odd hair. And I have a navy sofa so it would be really obvious!