Going around in circles. Pls help. French bull dog?

[Sodamncold]

I have done so much research I have lost the plot!

I have two children who adore dogs. I grew up with dogs (boxers). Now will be working from home and decided it’s the time to have another member of our family.

We would love a small/very small dog, and one that is open to lots of cuddles.

French bull dog?

Huge thank you

And it’s not just mud - currently my sofa is full of leaves and grass as the dog keeps brining it all in on his fur (no groomers and not brave enough to try myself).

I have to say that's never happened to me, but I suppose it depends what breed you have. We went for a short-haired, low-maintenance breed on purpose when it comes to grooming - no way could I cope with a breed who needed daily brushing or regular trips to the groomer.

Please don't be put off by tales of mess and mud OP - it's perfectly possible to have clean and tidy home with a doh - just make sure you pick a low-shedding, short-haired breed and invest in a good vacuum cleaner!

@vanilla - he’s a fluffy type - usually not so long haired but with lockdown - no groomer! I’ve had smoother haired dogs before - but all shedding which is generally far worse in the “mess” stakes.

I don’t think being houseproud and having a dog are mutually exclusive - but if op is worried about them passing wind, I’m guessing she may be the on the extreme end and may resent the faff.

If you're very houseproud you're going to have to let your standards slip a bit or be permanently hoovering or washing floors.

My dog is small, paws about the size of a small cat, but come winter I am fighting a losing battle with mud; okay she's long haired so that doesn't help, but even so.

She will come in from the garden and mud will fly onto the walls, across the tv screen - tv is near door at coffee table height - and be walked across the carpet if I don't manage to catch her in time to wipe her paws.

Even at this time of the year when the garden is dry I get dusty foot prints when she comes into the house from the garden.

Oh and if you have a garden you value, you might find that your dog has other ideas as to what constitutes a lovely garden.

My dog was in hospital recently for two days. I was amazed at the difference in the state of my carpet.

Having said that, I'd far, far rather have my dog and muddy walls than be without her.

I'd love an Italian greyhound. Small whippet like dogs with gorgeous faces and great characters. I have a cocker spaniel and she is wonderful, but sheds loads so I wouldn't recommend one for that reason.

I’m in the camp that the house proud will tidy up like the person who has posted, who vacuums daily. As I am never going to be that person - I needed a breed where you can go a few days in between and where a good rub with a towel gets the mud off after a walk

If your house proud you need to hope you don't get a dpup like mine - who likes to pee on lovely soft surfaces - you can have her outside for 2 hours but she'll cross her legs and wait til she comes in to pee on the rug, a cushion dc have dropped on the floor, I've had to remove her bedding from the crate as she fancied the lovely fluffy lining and fluffy bed as a toilet. The other day I got a picnic blanket out to sit on outside and she came and peed on it - she'd been outside a good hour by then she once even climbed on to DD's lap outside and had a pee rather than do it on the grass 🙈. Oh and she likes to poo in the back corner of the lounge under the table and chairs where you can't get her out - nothing a bit of enzyme spray and vigilance isn't treating but I'm glad I held out on buying a new rug and am glad it was one of the old cushions 😬

My friend has an Italian greyhound, she’s beautiful but extremely high maintenance - fussy eater, as in just won’t eat sometimes, terrified of everything- noises, people, dogs, her own reflection and runs off if spooked. Very needy. Was also quite aggressive - probably nerves. Her legs were also so fragile my friend couldn’t let her jump onto furniture in case she fell off. She would yelp and limp if she banged her leg. She shares her now which has worked out better so she gets a break and the dog has grown in confidence.

We love our rescue Jack Russell. Although she has long hair it doesn't shed too much and we just give it a good brush a couple of times a week. Loves long walks but dozes round the house most of the time. And very affectionate/ good with children and other dogs.

If I were you, I'd not consider anything except a boxer, especially with you having boxer experience! But then I am biased. They truly are the best breed though!

Another Boston fan here! They are super dogs. Minimal shedding, can keep up with the Family on long walks or make do with short walks. Very loving, intelligent and so friendly and
good with kids.

If I were you, I'd not consider anything except a boxer, especially with you having boxer experience!

Boxers drool something chronic though - not ideal if OP is as house proud as she says!

I was going to suggest retired greyhound or perhaps whippet if you want something smaller. I take my dog to hydro and the hydro therapist sees a lot of Frenchies due to spinal issues so personally I wouldn't have one.

I have pomeranians and a Maltese. All very loving dogs

I know Mumsnet loves a greyhound, but bear in mind they won't have been raised in a house, so will only be used to being kennelled unless they've been in foster long enough to start training and settling into a house. They generally aren't treated particularly well, they are racing stock not pets, so might have all sorts of psych issues. They're not all goofy, loveable couch potatoes who slot straight into a home. On here they are revered as a sort of saint in dog form. Some of them have been chewed up and spat out by the racing industry and have the scars to show for it.

@Alittlepotofrosie well said.

I do get a bit annoyed when they're suggested on every single thread on here. I'm sure they're lovely dogs when trained, but they're not all the perfect dogs MN make them out to be.

Greyhounds are lovely but OP said small. And they’re really not!!

Whippet - clean, small, lovely dogs

Haha I nearly suggested whippet!!

Jack Russell? They're small affectionate and very clever so easy to train. They are energetic though so need lots of walks

I have a whippet. He doesn’t take up much room, happy with a short run rather than long walks, will literally sleep 23 hours a day if allowed to, hates mud, hates rain, would never dream of getting in any form
of stream/river, amazing with my children, has no smell at all (he has had an occasional run in with fox poo but will happily stand in the bath while he has a warm shower) so basically he is very clean and doesn’t make any mess really in my house. He’s never chewed anything he shouldn’t and is basically a soft, lazy cuddle monster! He also has an Italian greyhound friend who is very similar in personality but I will admit, very fragile looking although she gives my large whippet a run for his money!

My friend has an Italian greyhound, she’s beautiful but extremely high maintenance - fussy eater, as in just won’t eat sometimes, terrified of everything- noises, people, dogs, her own reflection and runs off if spooked. Very needy. Was also quite aggressive - probably nerves. Her legs were also so fragile my friend couldn’t let her jump onto furniture in case she fell off. She would yelp and limp if she banged her leg
All of this x10 for an actual full size greyhound. Plus everything Alittlepotofrosie said. I can only imagine 90% of people recommending them have never actually had one. And they always recommend them to first time dog owners too. I’m an experienced dog owner of many years, rescuing and fostering, and though we all adore her, our current ex racer greyhound is by far the most difficult dog we’ve ever had. Skittish, health issues, can’t be left, didn’t get the greyhound handbook (sheds, barks, up and down like a yo-yo, won’t get on the sofa for cuddles, wants walking constantly instead of the 23 hrs a day sleep fest etc etc). And when she got one tiny cut on her paper thin skin on her leg, it was the longest and most stressful TWO MONTHS I’ve ever had with a dog before it healed They are adorable but they are not always easy and they are not for everyone. Basically all dogs are individuals, please don’t assume the breed will suit you just because everyone else says it will.

We have a terrier mix (yorkie/jrt) he's the perfect dog, small but sturdy, loves people esp kids, can take him anywhere, is happy to go with whatever we're doing, low maintenance, happy on his own for a bit but super affectionate.

Can you tell we love him a lot? 😉

I love terriers, great characters and great little dogs.

Miniature Poodle
Bichon frise (though not big walkers)

Both these would fit your bill nicely.

Some of the terriers might work.

With any breed, an older rescue is more likely to be calm and lazy than a puppy. As you're open to a rescue, maybe go (after lockdown is over) to your local Dogs Trust/other rescue and see what they have without definite ideas of a breed, just tell the staff what traits you're looking for.

Love french bull dogs. Maybe consider getting a cavelier king charles spaniel. They're small, cute and very cuddly

I can’t really suggest anything as don’t have experience of non-shedding dogs but my mum had two golden retrievers that shed, drooled and loved rolling in mud and her house didn’t smell and is beautiful. But she hoovered daily. And washed the dogs every time they jumped in muddy puddles (and that was their favourite thing). So it is possible. And I wouldn’t say her house is not furry - it’s just not obvious when you walk in.
My house on the other hand contains one spaniel and is minging. It’s not his fault; I’m just grubby.