Help me chose a breed

[CheersBoris]

I’m hoping to be able to get a puppy in the near future. I’ve spent well over a year learning about breeds and breeders and what a dog will need so I’m not after advice about that.

So the breeds id love to hear of peoples experiences with are;
Shih tzus (maybe not able to handle longer walks?)

Westies (barkers?)

Mini poodles (need a lot of stimulation and sensitive?)

Cavaliers (health)

Cockers (resource guarding?)

Frenchies (health)

And possibly some of the poodle crosses (I know,I know, bad breeders..)

I’m aware of health issues within a couple of these breeds being significant. I’ve also put a lot of consideration about what we could offer the dog in terms of exercise ect.
So the main things I’m wondering about and prioritising are..
Exercise requirements, I’m willing to put in what’s needed but ideally not a dog that absolutely needs more than an hours walk every single day but is physically able do stroll around a park for a couple of hours or more

A dog that isn’t too vocal (neighbours)

My kids are 8 and 16 so able to respect the dog and be involved in training. A playful dog would be good, my youngest has adhd and likes to play outside.

A small-medium dog.

PM if you’d like some breeders that were recommended to me. Cavaliers have never been cheap!

I’m always happy to help someone find a good breeder!

@CheersBoris

Lots to think about. People with poodles and cocker spaniels how much exercise do they need? My garden is tiny so count that out. All exercise will be walks.

Mine gets anything from 20 mins and a couple of spins around in the garden (I haven't got rolling acres any more) to 4 hours sometime as 1 long walk sometimes up to 3. Having had gun dogs before that who were out all day on the farm and thus were used to and expected miles of walking we find the poodle very adaptable. Today he's done about 1 3/4 hours as two walks yesterday he did 3 hours as 2 walks, tomorrow Im busy he'll be lucky to get an hour. Last week it was slashing with rain one day he did 2 1/2 in the slashing rain he couldn't care less and the next he did 20 mins (I did care). It's not just his age he's adaptable; who ever said they are not for first time owners is talking rubbish they are sooo easy. Just treat them like a dog, expect good behaviour, be firm but kind lay down consistent rules from day 1 and they are no problem mine has never pushed any boundaries or gone through a naughty phase. They don't leap on everyone, or knock people over or pull you over when on the lead, mine doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body, all my dog walkers think he's brilliant and so well behaved.

Oh meant to add they do love to play especially with a ball.

Rather than researching what a breed is supposedly like, the best advice I can give to find out what a dog will be like is to meet the mum!

I have 2 Maltese dogs but they couldn't be more opposite. What I can tell you though is that both are exactly like their mums. It's remarkable how different they are for the same breed.

They are both gorgeous though and any future dog I get will be Maltese or Maltese cross. Maltese/lhasa apso is high on my list.

This our baby, currently asleep with my daughter in her bed. But I do know that pugs have health risks (touch wood the pugs I know from the same breeder are all healthy)

We have a miniature poodle and I’d recommend the breed, he isn’t at all barky and is very adaptable in terms of walks (could get away with 30 mins a day occasionally but he usually gets two walks a day of between 20 mins and two hours, plus he goes with a dog Walker twice a week where he gets to run around a paddock with other dogs for a couple of hours). He is very easy to train and it’s great that he doesn’t shed, but we do brush him every couple of days and take him to the groomers every eight weeks and we keep his hair quite short all over. He is very very friendly and loves everyone he meets and is very happy in any situation (you can take him into town, to pubs etc and he’s not phased at all), plus yesterday we were doing loads of work in the garden and he wasn’t bothered by the loud machinery.

The one downside of him is his separation anxiety, but we have been working hard on this with training and we can now leave I’m for up to a couple of hours and he’s fine, but it has been a lot of hard work to get to that point and it has definitely made dog ownership harder.

I think poodles could be the way to go

I have a one year old border terrier. She is great with people, children and other dogs. We chose the breed for the temperament, activity level and health. They have no real health issues, will cope with 2 30 minute walks but can equally go on a three hour hill walk. She only barks if she thinks someone is outside the front door and has been relatively easy to train - we have had Jack Russesl and Springers in the past and she is definitely the easiest dog we have ever had

When ive researched border terriers it says not suitable for first time owners. Must be the terrier thing but I’m surprised to see so many recommending them.

I’m pretty much stuck between
Shih tzu
Cavalier
Miniature poodle
To be honest I might end up going with shih tzu just based on cost. Unless I can find a great breeder for either of the other two.

I’ve researched Lhasa’s and border terriers but they just don’t seem quite as suitable as the others. I’ve ruled out cockers and westies now though.

@CheersBoris

When ive researched border terriers it says not suitable for first time owners. Must be the terrier thing but I’m surprised to see so many recommending them.

I’m pretty much stuck between
Shih tzu
Cavalier
Miniature poodle
To be honest I might end up going with shih tzu just based on cost. Unless I can find a great breeder for either of the other two.

I’ve researched Lhasa’s and border terriers but they just don’t seem quite as suitable as the others. I’ve ruled out cockers and westies now though.

I'm a first time owner with a Border and and she has been a delight , so easy to train, so chilled out and fantastic with the kids . I went through a kennel club breeder so knew the parents and their personalities.

I also looked at cavaliers but it was the health risks that put me off. I was told that you more likely to get a cavalier with a problem rather than without .

Good luck with your search

The problem with 'not suitable for first time owners' is that 'first time owners' are a varied bunch. You have first timers who honestly haven't the first clue, and won't bother to do any research about raising and training a puppy, all the way through to first timers who grew up with with dogs and helped to train them.

We grew up with dogs and our first joint dog was a JRTxPatterdale, definitely NOT a first-time dog, but she was a great fit for us.

So I have found a cavalier breeder that does all the health checks ect and have actually been on the waiting list a while so could get a puppy end of this year

I have also found 2 home cavapoo breeders with pups due, not as convinced they’ve both done extensive health testing. One of them has cavs and has used a stud poodle and claims to have done all tests, the other has just one pet cavapoo that she has bred with a poodle and id want to see her cavapoos parents health tests and I’m not convinced she has those.

Which would you prefer?? I’m worried about health with cavs or cavapoos? Is it less risk with mixed breed?

Or failing that. There’s loads of shih tzu breeders, and a lot cheaper too.

I’m also going to look at border terriers for about the 5th time. I actually know a brilliant one but she’s really old.

I think I’d be less worried about a cav mix as compared to a full cav due to the fact their skull would hopefully be a bit bigger.

Saying that a friend has 3 Cavs, none of whom have health problems and my neighbour has 2 who are also healthy. 🤷‍♀️

I also know one Cav without health problems, but also one Cav and one Cavapoo with heart conditions They are an amazing breed (the best!!) if you can get a breeder who is very careful about health tests