Dog Breed Advice

[matted101]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping for some advice on possible dog breeds having gone round in circles. We used to have a (rescue) Jack Russell who was lovely but neurotic. He sadly died last year and we terribly miss having a dog in the house. I have been researching for months and still can't decide what would be best. We have decided a puppy this time, having lived with our previous dog's many issues. About us:

• I work part time; my husband works from home
• We have a 5-year old child with additional needs
• We live in the countryside with a medium sized garden

Dog requirements:

• Low/non-shedding
• Child friendly
• Not too tricky to train
• Friendly family companion

We love terriers but I wonder if a poodle cross would be easier? I've looked at Miniature Poodles but I'm not sure... It seems every second puppy around here is a Cockapoo, and I am aware of the pitfalls of puppy farms. The prices also seem CRAZY to me! On our list:

• Australian Labradoodle (Puppy farm worry/designer dog/expensive)
• Goldendoodle (Puppy farm worry/designer dog/expensive)
• Cockapoo (Puppy farm worry/designer dog/expensive)
• Border Terrier (Are their coats oily? Bad with other dogs?)
• Lakeland Terrier (Bad with other dogs?)
• Spanish/Portuguese Waterdog (Not sure)

Any advice/suggestions would be much appreciated! Thank you.

Have you thought about a bichon frise? Fabulous little dogs. So child friendly and good natured all the time. They just love people!! Low shed too. Only issue is that they don’t like too much alone time but it sounds like that wouldn’t be too much of an issue for you.

What a lovely dilemma to have. I watched 12 Puppies and Us on TV last night and have now fallen in love with Norfolk Terriers.

My main problem is bullying nagging persuading DH that a dog is exactly what he needs in his life!

Keep us updated on your puppy journey so I can live vicariously through mumsnet.

Fiat of all well done for doing your research! Not many people would go as far as you have.
We researched for a year before we got our Labrador.
A dog is only bad with other dogs when they are not properly socialised and trained by their owners. I hate it when people stereotype certain breeds, large or small.
The majority of the terrier breeds are very stubborn and harder to train as they are very independent and have their own minds.
A working or pastoral breed are easier to train as they love and live to please their owners.
Poodles are the divas of the working dog world! The crosses are easier but bare that in mind.
Perhaps a labradoodle? They are a wonderful cross breed to have. You have the best of both worlds with that type of cross.
In order to get the right dog, you may have to travel to get one. Not good in the current climate we are in but worth it.
We travelled a fair distance to get our lab as the breeder was top notch.
Good luck with tour search 👍🏻

Something like a romagnolo might work for you - they don't shed, middling size. Their reputation is that they are very social, lively, friendly dogs who pick things up pretty quickly (most gundog breeds are very trainable). The KC website suggests vast amounts of exercise, but I have a breed with a similar suggested amount, and they are very fit and happy on about two thirds of that provided they get some brainwork on most days, and now and again a really long run.

Terriers are definitely much harder to train and some terrier breeds have a (deserved) reputation for dog aggression (JRTs being one - and say that as the former owner of a much-loved and now deceased JRTx). The border terriers I know range from the fairly jolly to the fairly arsey, so if you go for a border, look carefully at the parents temperaments.

There is nothing wrong with crosses as such, but you can't guarantee coat type at all, and finding ones that have been properly bred rather than churned out in some gruesome puppy farm will be very tricky.

*lagotto romagnolo.
I was so busy making it clicky that I forgot a whole word.

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of grooming every 6-8 weeks for life if you go for a dog that doesn’t shed.

We had a pair of Lhasa Apsos when the kids where small, but have now upgraded to a Dandie Dinmont fantastic family dog that can be left for 2-3 hours in a crate if required, Non shedding, general good health, cheap to keep, very cuddly and affectionate a bit more stubborn than other breeds but a fantastic companion.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/dummys-guide-to-dandie-dinmont-terriers/

Can I ask what you aren't sure about with mini poodles? We got one, he's our first dog. He is all of the things you have said you are looking for.

He's great with my kids. My youngest can become quite emotional and have meltdowns which are pretty noisy. My mini is always there licking her feet or trying to snuggle up to her. He really helps.

He doesn't shed at all. It's fantastic.

He has been easy to train. He was quick to toilet train and learnt all his basic commands really quickly. He still pulls a little on the lead but that's our fault for being inconsistent. His recall is good.

Wow - thanks so much for all the thoughts already. Not keen on Bichon Frise but thanks for suggesting. Funnily enough I have looked at Lagotto Romagnolo but then I read on some breeder's site that they are primarily working dogs and not suitable as pets? The Dandie Dinmont looks very sweet, but tiny! Ditto the Norwich/Norfolk terrier, which I've always quite liked. I was worried that mini poodles would be yappy and I think there's the (probably incorrect) idea that they are prissy. I prefer the look of the faces on the doodle crosses, but I have done lots of reading on poodles. I have spent literally hours and days researching! I think I might be obsessed!

Miniature schnauzer

Sounds like me when I was researching. It's like a rabbit hole of dog information and lovely pictures!

My mini isn't yappy at all. I think historically they have sometimes been bred, bought and raised as fashion accessories and so the temperament and training have been overlooked. A good breeder will breed for temperament. Mine likes a bark at the distant neighbourhood dog that barks occasionally but that's it. Oh and when someone comes to the door. But I'm fine with that so haven't stopped him. (We have a noisy house so I used to miss the doorbell).

Their faces can look how you want really. Traditional poodle cut is face shaved so their nose looks longer. Ours has had his cockerpoo phase.

A dog is only bad with other dogs when they are not properly socialised and trained by their owners.

Unfortunately this is incorrect. Most dog aggression or fear aggression or reactivity is through poor breeding not through poor socialisation or training. So research your breeder over and over again.

If you are considering a Poodle x , why not have a look into TibetanTerriers?
They are not Terriers, they are a fun loving utility dog. Small to medium sized and low shedding and good for allergy sufferers.

Puppies can be boisterous, but the adults are very loving.

Funnily enough I have looked at Lagotto Romagnolo but then I read on some breeder's site that they are primarily working dogs and not suitable as pets?
I think that would depend on the lines. I had a look here and yes, some of the dogs are definitely in work, but the website says, 'As well as having the potential to be a working dog, the Lagotto makes an excellent family companion'. IME working-line dogs are usually happier if they get a chance to fulfil their working drives, but there are always dogs (or lines) that have a much lower work focus, as people breed for different reasons, and that looks to be the case with this breed.

If you like the look of the LRs, in your shoes I'd approach the club and also phone a few breeders.