Border terrier or mini poodle

[User2309]

We are looking to add a dog to our family and think we have finally decided on one of these breeds.
Which do you think would suit a family better? We are not first time dog owners and have time for walks and training. We really want puppy/dog to be part of the family and join us on our holidays etc too.

[Dozycuntlaters]

I have a border terrier, she is an absolute delight. She loves a walk but she also loves to chill, and she's a really really good girl. She's 9 months old and so far I can't complain. She has a wonderful little nature, borders tend to be loving and loyal but feisty and can be very stubborn. They are a clever breed and quite easy to train.

[Onesundaymorning]

We have a miniature poodle and he's such a lovely family pet. He adores people and is very affectionate. He likes to sit on or next to us, and, like a pp said, is very adaptable to having walks at different times and of different lengths. He's clever and will rip things up if bored (still a puppy though, so to be expected) but is easily distracted with toys and scatter games. He can be fussy with food though and gets bored of the same food after a while! We think he's just perfect for us (family with a primary aged child).

[poodlefan]

"Do you know if the standards are a bit more stoical than the miniatures?"
I don't know the answer to that but a standard is a totally different ball game to either a miniature poodle or a boarder terrier We have one locally he is 28" to the shoulder a powerful big moving boisterous dog and absolutely gorgeous. Id like to get one when I retire in a few years time Ill be 60 and might consider it but Ive had big boisterous dogs before and know they take up more time and equally important more space in your house car etc. Miniature poodles are really bred to be companion dogs mines currently curled up on the sofa (not taking up much room) next to me. If he doesn't go out for a walk till lunch time he doesn't care as long as he can sit with me. Standards are more working dogs they were bread as gun dogs so just will require more time and effort on your part (and a bigger sofa). They are really athletic we keeps our miniature out of the living room with a normal stair gate a standard would jump that effortlessly! I drive a mid size SUV the dogs goes in a cage in the boot and I can get luggage etc in if I had a standard poodle the cage would take up all the boot. Its one thing having a 15" to the shoulder dog skipping around your park its another having a 28" to the shoulder dog bouncing round. I regularly meet the one local to me he's impeccably well behaved but we have lots of narrow very paths round here some people are anxious when they see him poodles move like dressage horses big powerful bouncy strides are the norm it clearly worries some people.when space is at a premium.
I'm not saying don't get one Im thinking about it for the future but realistically miniatures are fantastic happy devoted little family dogs,

[MaxNormal]

poodlefan your posts are really interesting. Your boy sounds amazing.
Do you know if the standards are a bit more stoical than the miniatures?

[Ellmau]

Miniature poodles are lovely little dogs.

[Roonerspismed]

I love both breeds although don’t have either

I would struggle to choose! I think with young children I would err towards a female mini poodle.

[poodlefan]

Mines never nipped and rarely chews things even as a puppy. He loves me more than anyone else in the world but happily goes off for a walk with the rest of my family, good friend the dog walker etc. There pretty awesome little dogs, and I love owning a non shedding dog. What ever colour you get they are all going grey/white some quicker than other I met a stunning brown standard the other month he was only 6 but he was going very grey/white.
I have more than a slight weakness for standard poodles but they can be huge and very boisterous.

[itstrue]

I don't think you could go wrong with either as well

[2catsand2kids]

I don’t have any experience of border terriers but we have a male mini poodle and he is the most gorgeous dog (but I am definitely biased). We have two children (age 8 and 10) and he makes a great family dog. He’s very friendly to other dogs and people we meet and he doesn’t bark at all. He’s generally pretty chilled and has been very easy to train. We brush him every couple of days and he gets groomed every 6-8 weeks. We are first time dog owners and I’m really glad we went for a poodle.

[User2309]

@fastforwardtospring adorable!

So much to think about...

[DenisetheMenace]

Know nothing about poodles I’m afraid.

Borders can be tricky though and fixate on one person, pretty much ignoring the others.
(I love them, but only because I was that person 😁. He wasn’t a “family” dog.)

[Fastforwardtospring]

Think you need to see how cuddly a BT can be, here’s my girl having a cuddle with DD, like having a live Teddy Bear!

[Rodders92]

I’ve had 2 border terriers one male ,one female both lovely dogs great with people and other dogs , lots of early socialisation , Could be stubborn but great characters

[MissShapesMissStakes]

@poodlefan I know exactly what you mean about the pain threshold! My mini just limped until we carried him because he has stood on a nettle. I've had him to the vets with a suspected broken leg based on the howling and shaking he was doing - carried him in, put him on the floor and he ran over to the vet and jumped around like crazy (he loves people more than being dramatic it seems).

I like the size of my mini. He's around knee height so nice and compact but also not easy to trip over.

He has never snapped. Even as a puppy the biting was a lot less than I expected.

[flippertygibbit]

They're much the same really but I'd go for the BT. IME poodles can be nippy. I prefer bitches of any breed to dogs.

[RedSoloCup]

I've got border terrier crossed with a toy poodle!! He's amazing it's not a common cross though but if I could get another I would 🐶

[poodlefan]

We’ve always had male dogs an old fashioned breeder once told me years ago that they make better family pets no idea if that’s true. Miniature poodles for the show ring have to be 15” to the shoulder I think it’s a good size big enough not to be an overgrown rat small enough to easily pick to put in the car. As I said we never do stimulating games with ours he’s very chilled. I was told that some poodle experts say black ones are the calmest white one the most neurotic.
They are also exceedingly healthy often living 15 years mine is now 10 and never had a days illness. He has a very low prey drive he 1/2 heartedly chases the odd rabbit when out walking but he never wants to be more than about 200 m from his human family so quickly looses interest. Mine never pulls and has excellent recall. We are strict with our dogs and have very clear boundaries he never tries to push then unlike other dogs we’ve had in the past. I’m no dog training the dog walker frequently comments on how well behaved he is and how happy and cheerful he is. He’s also friendly to everyone that comes in the house.
The only thing I would say is that he has a very low pain threshold the other day he was screaming his head off and I came rushing into the kitchen to find him he’d caught a claw in his fur no injury at all you’d have thought his leg had been cut off. All our previous dogs have been working/yard dogs and have been very stoical with an injuries.

[grannycake]

Sorry. Barky not Barry

[User2309]

@grannycake she can be a little barry? What does this mean please?

She sounds like a lovely pup.

By the sounds of it I dont think we could go wrong with either.

[Wolfiefan]

Met a few dog reactive borders over recent years. You can use a Mars coat king or even handstrip the coat yourself.
Poodles? Don’t know many toys. But the poodles I know are active and bright. How much training/stimulation/walking can you commit to?
And contact breed club re breeders. Also check which specific health tests parents should have before breeding.

[grannycake]

I meant to say we have a camper and she had her first weekend away over Easter. She absolutely loved it. Sat with us outside the van and just watched everyone else - no barking at all

[grannycake]

I have a 10 month old BT. She's beautiful - loves all dogs, children, passing people in the street. She can be a little Barry but we're working on that and it's definitely improving. Very easy to train and eager to please. She's curled up next to me at the moment fast asleep

[User2309]

Do you find your minis a nice size too? As in not too big not too small....I'll be honest there is a lot of poodle type dogs near us at the moment. I cant say 100% if they are poodles or cockapoos, they can look so similar when cut all over I think....

When did you start grooming your puppies?

I assume either breed would get used to camping if introduced from an early age?

[MissShapesMissStakes]

Another poodle vote. We had two kids 9 and 12 and he's great with them both. Grooming - I have him short all over and don't brush him at all. He's clipped every 6 weeks and it's £35 a time.

We used to walk a lovely border terrier but she was so focussed on squirrels she couldn't be let off and had no idea someone was on the end of the lead.

My mini likes to think he could catch a squirrel and he tries but he wouldn't run far away from us anyway.

Poodles are def people dogs. He is at his most relaxed and happy when we are all together. He follows us around the house. He's rarely in a room without a person by choice. Though he was fine being left (before lockdown, not sure now as haven't tried it for a LONG time).

[SunnyAfternoonInWinter]

Poodles are the best dogs. DH didn't want one as he isn't a fan of the look, we ended up with another small/toy breed and DHsays he wishes everyday he'd listened to me and got a poodle.