Recommend A Breed

[AnotherOne4]

Hi all, we are thinking about getting out first dog, but can't decide on what breed to get. What would you recommend? Below is a list of what we are after:

• Small dog you can pick up and carry (if needed too)
• Dog that likes to socialise with other dogs, particularly Shih Tzu's (as my parents have two, and we will see these often)
• Low maintenance (ie, doesn't require trips to the beauty parlour every three months!)

Pup/dog would need to be male. He would have company 24/7 mostly, but we would leave him on his own occassionally (just so he is used to it). We have plenty of garden space/fields near by etc.

Just undecided on what to get.....I like the idea of a Maltese or Bichon Frise

@islaviolent I'm biased with borders seeing as we have one too.Ours rarely barks too, and is so friendly with people and other dogs. I wouldn't get any other breed other than border terrier now!

@AnotherOne4 don't let the wire coat put you off, although they do shed. Despite not being the softest coats, they're very practical. Very easy to clean and dry as the top, wired coat is waterproof. They have softer downy fur underneath. When stripped (groomed) they tend to feel softer.
Borders are great as they're a small dog with a big dog attitude and stamina!

Sorry OP, I'm not getting the idea you're keen on a Chihuahua but if anyone else is, they can get along with other dogs - I have had them with other dogs, up to 5 at a time and only one slightly tricky relationship among them. I would never have chosen one but took on a rescue and just fell in love with the breed.
Current "poo" is actually a Chihuahua cross and lovely as well.

As they got older, terriers were happy with one good walk per day and time in our largish garden.

Cavapoo loved a walk but the perfect lapdog, if that's what you're looking for.

OP I hope you find your perfect dog.

I'm bias but we have a black pug and he is simply the best dog ever. Small, very loving and cuddly, wants to please so loves his training. Today he stayed over at my friends house and they have a toddler and a Frenchie puppy and our lovely boy was so patient and with the very excited puppy and the toddler in a strange house with my friend whom he had never met. He is just a model boy

Oh, and he doesn't require trips to the groomer

IME Westies are very nice dogs but they do yap at every single passer-by.

Any rough-coated terrier you can strip yourself - I used to do ours, usually over a couple of evenings as she'd get restless after half an hour or so.

It's worth remembering that true working terriers are quite thin on the ground. Most have been bred as pets for generations and don't have the intensely focussed prey drive of dogs like working Jack Russells. Just make sure, if you want a chilled pet, that you don't get one of those!

Starting to look into Papillon breeders as they seem fantastic pets. Nice size too.

@GiantCheeseMonster by no means do I want to pick up and carry a dog around with me. It's only part of my criteria, as the dog would more or less go everywhere with us, and I think in certain situations in would be easier to pick the dog up and carry it. (I remember once, my parents took an old family dog to the garden centre. He proceeded to...empy his bowels shall we say....right in the middle of the place. It was so embarrassing! lol. Where by if you were carrying the dog, he wouldn't have the chance to do this)

You mentioned a Papillion. Whenever I hear of that dog breed I always think of Crufts. Don't they often win? Do they also have the fantastic angel wing ears?

It's worth bearing in mind that many dogs dislike being picked up and by doing so, you put them in a very vulnerable position.

It's why many "handbag" dogs have the reputation of being yappy and aggressive - because when they're picked up, they feel vulnerable and become defensive.

Picking your dog up should be an absolute last-resort - ie. for safety reasons or to lift them over a style etc. Otherwise, don't. It's not fair on them.

@Selok looking at Malshi's now. Defo a contender. Where did you purchase yours from?

@AnotherOne4

Found a breeder at pets4homes! To be honest, I don't think they were professional breeders it was my first ever experience, I was a bit naive but we have been so lucky. Please be careful with breeders but Malshi breed are amazing, there is a facebook group about Malshi dog owners you can get information there from other owners as well!

@Selok I was browsing on Pets4homes, but then I heard alot of bad/negative feedback, and it scared me. I've also been browsing on freeads.

Haha such a cute looking pic

Be careful. Just made enquiries about Papillons. Breeder got in touch to say that puppies have "just arrived". Wow what a coincidence. Same day I have enquired 🤔 clicked on link - £3k. Not a chance!

@HarrisMcCoo Wow, I don't think I'd ever pay 3k for a puppy. Trust your instincts. Some breeders don't give a sh*t about the pups, they just want the money

I was browsing on Pets4homes, but then I heard alot of bad/negative feedback, and it scared me. I've also been browsing on freeads
Mentioning those two sites will likely get you a lot of abuse on mumsnet. However. Like anything, if you are careful it is a perfectly good way to get a puppy imo, the vast majority of breeders now, good and bad, have some sort of web presence.

There are going to be puppy farmers and dealers on there, without a doubt, but you can also find home/hobby breeders and (good) KC accredited breeders too.

You just have to be careful.

It’s often screamed on here, usually by the same posters, that you must go through the breed club and only select breeders breeding occasionally for a new show prospect but being Kennel club registered or being involved in showing or being part of a breed club in no way guarantees ethical practice.

There have been many horrifying incidents of respected show breeders who were Kennel Club registered and breed club members being found to have dogs in squalor, euthanising perfectly good puppies for being the wrong colour or having other cosmetic issues, or being from the wrong parent as with the border collie breeder (forget the name) who shoved them in the freezer after the vet refused to PTS, overbreeding bitches etc etc

You just have to be careful.

My older girl was from FreeAds, I saw her with all her siblings and her mum, she is old now and still very healthy and has a wonderful, kind, gentle temperament.

My new pup is from Gumtree, often affectionately referred to as Scumtree on here.
The family live literally 10 minutes away from me, I have seen my puppy regularly from about two weeks of age and been sent multiple videos of him with his siblings and mum and dad.
The parents are family pets and have lovely temperaments.
They aren’t health tested, neither was my older girl but actually, while I would love for all breeders to utilise the available testing, a huge, huge proportion of Kennel Club breeders, including those on the Accreditation scheme, don’t either.
So I dont lose any sleep over it.

Wow, I don't think I'd ever pay 3k for a puppy
Depending on what breed you are after you won’t actually get one for much less..
All the apparently decent breeders of my puppy’s breed (into showing, Kennel Club reg etc) charged around £2,500.
The cheapest I could find was £1,500.

My Scumtree puppy is a more sensible price, as was my older dog.

I know people on Mumsnet always lecture others about not picking dogs up, but sometimes it's necessary (at times even to get them into a car or lift and some places actually ask for you to pick your dog or you need to quickly get him out of a situation he shouldn't be in or he gets hurt and is on "crate rest" so can only be carried etc etc etc). It's definitely easier if you have a "portable" dog. And ours is a lap dog who actively asks for you to pick him onto your lap.

Another picture of our boy with our tortoise

Good afternoon OP
I have a Bichon Frise and a Lowchen. Both purebreeds although you may not have heard of a Lowchen.

I have had Bichons for over 20 years and they are wonderful little creatures, their coat does take a lot of maintenance but they are friendly towards other dogs and children when brought up and trained correctly (as like any other dog!) They are also quite sturdy and robust and very healthy. You aren't going to break one by accidentally standing on him when he gets under your feet like the risk of a Chihuahua, Papillon or Pomeranian.
I have recently just bought a Lowchen which are the sweetest most affectionate little dogs, we show so we keep her coat long and in traditional Lion Trim I know that this is a preferred taste but if not showing can be kept in a short Teddy tri. They are wonderful with other dogs and so good with children. They are also portable and grow to 13 inches at the shoulder...they are very rare and you might have a wait for a puppy but they are so worth the wait! I've included some pics of my bichon and lowchen.

@XelaM what a cute face! My parents have a black Shih Tzu, and he reminds me of him. So adorable.

@Pix89 I'm thinking a Bichon would be too high maintenance for us. Although I would like one, as they tick every other box, I have to keep telling myself that this decision we make is for the next 10-15 years. We want a breed that we can give 100% too, and in return a breed that gives us 100% iyswim. Now a Lowchen....that's a cutie. Do they get on well?

Thanks for all you posts everyone. It good to hear from real pet owners and their experiences

Poodle crosses aren’t popular on here but I have a shih tzu poodle cross and she is everything you say, she’s perfect! Very portable, a great companion and always up to come along wherever we’re going

Oh sorry I missed the but about not going to the groomers! She has a very curly coat so does need grooming.

@AnotherOne4
Oh my goodness, I just can't see past a Lowchen. The bichon and her get on so well, they are best friends. The breed is very intelligent and so eager to please. Lowchen are very lively but also do very very loving and They will give back 100% what you give them. They are very similar to the bichon in temperament, size, sturdiness and are much easier to maintain coat - this was one of the reasons I got one because a bichon coat was getting too hard. The lowchen is actually part of the bichon breeds family (bichon frise, Maltese, bolognese, havanese, lowchen, bolonka, Coton de tulear) They come in lots of different colours- the only non recognised colour is Merle. There is only a handful of Breeders in the UK however, and only 35 were born last year so they are indeed a rare breed...as I said previously you might have a wait. But the Lowchen Club do have a list of recommended Breeders and contacts on their website and I believe they have a puppy coordinator too who is in the know of available pups/Litters.

Short coated whippet. Dog on easy mode.

Do not listen to the internet and get a corgi. They may look cute but we had them before they were trendy and they're fiendishly intelligent, food-obsessed, barky, manipulative little demons disguised as adorable bread loaves. Love them but absolutely not an easygoing family pet for a first time owner.

Gorgeous pics @Pix89 It's a breed of dog I've never heard of before, but if what you say is true: only 35 born last year, my guess is they will be very expensive.

Thanks to all who have posted. I've looked up every breed mentioned. I think I need to do more research. I'm really liking the Malshi though.

I had a thought.....about maybe doing a grooming course. That way I could groom a dog myself. I might be biting off more then I can chew here, but it's another thing for me to consider. Reed do some courses on offer at the minute

@AnotherOne4

You'd be very surprised. I payed under £1500 for my girl last year.

I love your idea about grooming course as well. My mum was same as you and didn't want to go to groomers frequently, she taught herself how to groom and trim bichons and saved herself lots of money (especially when she got up to 4 of them at one point ) have a look and see if there are any grooming schools near you :)

There are dog grooming classes near me, but these seem to cater towards people wanting to do it for a business - as they teach about all different breeds and temperaments, services and price lists you should offer etc.
I wonder if there are classes why you can just take your dog along and they will teach you. I'm sure I could borrow my parents dogs and take them along.....