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Original poster

Best small breed for a family

62 replies

Dirtystreetpie · 15/12/2021 13:24

Hi, I would love a rescue dog, but with 3 young children we don’t seem to be eligible anywhere.

We ideally would like a small sized dog, with a good nature for family life. I grew up with golden retriever and they’re may favourite but I feel too big for us. Would love any opinions. Thankyou. I am home all week and kids are all at school now so have lots of time to offer a wee pooch.

OP posts:
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9
LightDrizzle · 17/12/2021 00:59

Wire coat podengo pequeno here:

Best small breed for a family
LightDrizzle · 17/12/2021 01:04

Smooth coat podengo pequeno:

Best small breed for a family
bluetongue · 18/12/2021 08:51

It’s probably bigger than you’re looking for but whippets are amazing with children. They just have brilliant temperaments and don’t smell and shed very little. Once mature they don’t need huge amounts of exercise and just love to sleep.

Of course they can have high prey drive, aren’t always the most trainable and early recall training is a must.

Limegreentangerine · 18/12/2021 08:58

I know not everyone's cup of tea , but I've got a miniature jack Russell ! So fiercely loyal , cuddly VERY clean , cute and excellent with our four month old baby!

Can walk for hours or can have a snuggle day on the sofa if's it's cold and rainy (she's a wuss) mine doesn't yap either but we focused heavily on this during training and she's as cute as a button !

Thischarmlessgirl · 19/12/2021 12:23

@IdrisElbow my mini dax sounds just like yours! She’s a dream with children and is happy to sleep all day under a blanket or walk for miles. Being so small she’s highly transportable. She can be a little aloof with other dogs but isn’t particularly vocal when out, she can be territorial at home so goes nuts when the doorbell rings.
They are such affectionate, loving characters Smile though I can see how they certainly wouldn’t suit everyone and the health problems sometimes associated with them.

Sloelydoesit · 19/12/2021 20:49

I vote for Miniature Schnauzer too!

Obviously biased because I have one but he's just the loveliest dog. Clever, a little bit stubborn but has the nicest nature. Loves everyone, has been good to socialise with other dogs. Happy all the time. No growling or resource guarding, respects the cats.

Top dog and I ❤️ him

ToastandJamandTea · 20/12/2021 12:21

Our miniature Schnauzer is the greatest. He's nearly one and is so lovely with our children. He's friendly with other dogs and strangers and adores visitors.
I was apprehensive about excessive barking but he is a really quiet dog.
I wouldn't be without him.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 20/12/2021 13:18

There's a KC breeder near me with a litter of Miniature Schnauzers available atm, and I have to admit I'm very tempted. Would love to hear more about them if OP doesn't mind me piggybacking on her thread?

ToastandJamandTea · 20/12/2021 13:32

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

There's a KC breeder near me with a litter of Miniature Schnauzers available atm, and I have to admit I'm very tempted. Would love to hear more about them if OP doesn't mind me piggybacking on her thread?
Happy to answer any questions 😊
Lovethedogg · 20/12/2021 13:42

We have a miniature schnauzer. He’s loyal, clever, slightly stubborn, a bit barky but no more than any of the poodle crosses I know and it’s been fairly easy to train him out of it. He can walk/run for miles but also happy with a short walk on a lazy day. Doesn’t shed but needs clipping. He’s looking at me from under his eyebrows now, the eyebrows are amazing!

EddyMerckx · 20/12/2021 14:09

We have a miniature schnauzer too. He is such a great dog. Very loyal and affectionate, great with children, happy to walk all day or just potter around town, no moulting (so no dog hair tumbleweeds) and easy to train (because very food orientated).

We all love him to bits.

Sgtmajormummy · 20/12/2021 14:50

And don’t forget the mini Schnauzer bum!
Ours is a great addition to the family, calm, loving and sociable, but for some reason he has a personal dislike of small children. Nothing aggressive, he just thinks they’re dogs walking on their hind legs!

Sgtmajormummy · 20/12/2021 14:52

Schnauzer bum!

Best small breed for a family
pastypirate · 20/12/2021 15:05

Border terrier they are delightful little dogs. Need a groom now and then but otherwise very hardy, playful and intelligent little characters. Excellent with children and will tolerate being cuddled constantly by small people.

GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal · 20/12/2021 15:12

Thank you @ToastandJamandTea (your username has made me hungry btw!)

I suppose my main questions are:

  • are they very barky? We live in a terrace
  • do they tend to bond to one person or the whole family? We already have a cat that regards me as the only acceptable human in the house, so we'd like a dog to be a family pet!
  • do they tend to get on with other animals? As mentioned we have a cat (who's a big, confident boy and shows little fear around my mum's French bulldog), and we'd like to do things with mum and her dog and SIL and theirs.
  • what are their main pros and cons?

Thanks!

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 20/12/2021 15:16

Another vote for Cairn Terriers. Hardy little dogs, loveable and loyal.

Lovethedogg · 20/12/2021 15:45

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

Thank you *@ToastandJamandTea* (your username has made me hungry btw!)

I suppose my main questions are:

  • are they very barky? We live in a terrace
  • do they tend to bond to one person or the whole family? We already have a cat that regards me as the only acceptable human in the house, so we'd like a dog to be a family pet!
  • do they tend to get on with other animals? As mentioned we have a cat (who's a big, confident boy and shows little fear around my mum's French bulldog), and we'd like to do things with mum and her dog and SIL and theirs.
  • what are their main pros and cons?

Thanks!

My experience is
  • bit barky but not too bad. Doesn’t bark at all in the house except at window cleaner. Does bark in garden but so food orientated easy to train so much improved. Next door neighbour who we haven’t seen for a while asked if we still had him when I ran into her yesterday so obviously not disturbing them
-bonds with whole family but come to me or DH if he’s scared -fine with our cat, cat quite scared and timid and was a bit wtf when we brought the dog home but happily curl up together now. We were careful to never let the dog chase
mewkins · 20/12/2021 15:55

@IdrisElbow

I'm not necessarily recommending it, but can tell you my experience of having a miniature dachshund. Ours has just turned one. She is a short haired miniature and is genuinely quite small!

The pros: she is extremely good natured, excellent with our young children (including new baby who she rolls around on the floor with), she is v small so doesn't eat much, likewise poos are small, she doesn't take a huge amount of walking but conversely will walk surprisingly long distances. She is very cuddly. She is small enough that she can't jump up on sofas, worktops etc so can't steal food. She takes no grooming as she is short haired and minimal malting. Very intelligent.

Cons: Classic dachshund, quite stubborn, governed by her nose and develops selective deafness if she finds a smell she wants to follow, likewise selective recall. Took a little while to house train though was mainly done by 6 months and now we hardly ever have accidents in the house. Doesn't like rain so has to be put out side for the toilet or will do a sneaky wee on the mat inside. Very vocal, likes to bark at any delivery men, though will be on her back for tummy tickles the second I open the door. Dachshunds can be prone to back issues and therefore good breeding and extensive insurance is a must which I guess can get expensive.

Overall, we love her, she has been a fantastic addition to our family. Happy to answer any questions you may have (if I can).

I would echo this! Mine is nearly 3 and is a great family dog. She is low maintenance in what she needs but will walk for miles if required. She has tons of character.
Dizzywizz · 20/12/2021 16:00

My suggestion would be shih tzu! ❤️

Sloelydoesit · 20/12/2021 16:58

My Miniature Schnauzer doesn't bark in the house either. Just at the foxes at the end of the garden when they go past.

The non shedding is definitely a pro. Plus they don't smell very doggy.

As previous posters mentioned. Happy with long or shorter walks.

The kind, gentle and loving nature is the best part.

Also have found ours to be good for leaving for short periods. Just has a nap whilst we're gone.

Also have a long line of people queuing up to dog sit if we need it. He's that nice :-)

He doesn't like wet weather and does need a good brush every day. Plus the cost of grooming. Only cons I can think of which is pretty good!

Sloelydoesit · 20/12/2021 16:58

And he drags stuff all around the house and is obsessed with anything made out of plastic

Best small breed for a family
ToastandJamandTea · 20/12/2021 17:46

@GreeboIsMySpiritAnimal

Thank you *@ToastandJamandTea* (your username has made me hungry btw!)

I suppose my main questions are:

  • are they very barky? We live in a terrace
  • do they tend to bond to one person or the whole family? We already have a cat that regards me as the only acceptable human in the house, so we'd like a dog to be a family pet!
  • do they tend to get on with other animals? As mentioned we have a cat (who's a big, confident boy and shows little fear around my mum's French bulldog), and we'd like to do things with mum and her dog and SIL and theirs.
  • what are their main pros and cons?

Thanks!

I agree with the previous posters descriptions. He doesn't bark at all at home and only on walks if he is startled but he's easily distracted. Mine adores each of us equally. In the morning he will make sure he gets everyone for a cuddle - it's adorable!Grin He loves the neighbours cats and dogs, he is definitely more wary of cats than they are of him. I love that there is no dog hair over my house and he doesn't really smell unless he is very wet. He doesn't like the rain so will happily accept shorter walks in bad weather. He will spend some of the evening snuggled up with us but will then retreat to his huge cushion by our feet, so not too overbearing. We spent the summer on various campsites by the beach and he just rolled with it. Nothing seems to phase him as long as he is fed. Points to consider - mine has a sensitive tummy and was a bit farty while we got his food swapped to what suited him. No issues for months now though. Also grooming costs me about £40 every 10 weeks. We all love him so much and have no regrets at all Smile
Newuser82 · 20/12/2021 18:21

Wire haired daschund, pug, cavalier, border terrier

islaviolent · 20/12/2021 18:31

Another border terrier fan here . Our first family dog . She's 9 months old .

She's such a friendly dog with humans and other dogs . She is brilliant with my kids 8 & 9.

She toilet trained in 4 days, and sleeps 10pm til whenever we get up .

She's just had her first hand strip which they recommend twice a year and only costs £35 .

She doesn't bark .. well only when she's telling you to throw the ball .

She's the best thing that's ever happened to us and I'm pleased she picked us .

I went through a kennel club breeder and was on a wait list for a year . The KC breeder who has been breeding for 30 odd years , didn't charge a stupid amount of money for her. She's kennel club registered .

I'm pleased I waited for her , I could have spent ££££ and got a dog immediately but I waited patiently and I'm so pleased I did .

nancybotwinbloom · 20/12/2021 21:10

I have a chihuahua cross Jack Russell so a mongrel. He's perfect for us.

Small poo. I walk him and I clean up the back garden so that was my condition small dog small poo.

I think it's luck with any dog whether they will fit with you.

He is very needy. Wants to be involved in everything. If we get on the hot tub he cries to get on so he has a boat he goes in when we get in.

He's good alone for a few hours.

My neighbours have had mastiffs or staffs forever. They have all been adorable with all the kids.

I think it's more about socialising them and training the dog properly.