Calling all experienced dog owners for advice- first time dog owners after small family dog

[intothedoghouse]

I'm after some advice from experienced dog owners.
We are thinking of getting our first dog. The children have been really keen for some time and we are now in a position to seriously consider it. The children are between 10 and older teens.
Overall, we prefer a smaller dog (possibly small-medium) that would fit in well to family life. There would usually be someone at home most of the day but we would pay for a dog sitter/ walker when we can't be at home. Children also keen to be involved in walking, care, training when not at school. I would like a breed which tends to have a good temperament, not too barky, aggressive, clingy or difficult to train.
My oldest is currently very keen on a Jack Russell-Cocker Spaniel cross. I like the look of Border Terriers (not just the physical appearance, obviously).

Please can someone give me some advice for first time dog owners:
Where and what to research
Suggestions re breeds that might suit
How to research a good breeder
Things we need to know re training, equipment, etc
Anything else we need to know.

Many thanks

I would never get a Jack Russell. I have never met a friendly one. I'm sure they exist, but all the Jack Russell's I have ever met have been devilish 😈 bitey and unfriendly.

I heard good things about Border Terriers, but have never owned one.

We have a pug and he is the easiest dog in the world. The most loving, snuggly little creature. He loves everyone, is super easy to train and is just one furry bundle of love 💕

Please research the health issues with brachycephalic breeds carefully if you are considering one, and check that you can afford the likely vets bills

If you like the look of a border terrier, look as well at Norfolk, Norwich and Cairn terriers

Ha, as the owner of a JRT cross - don't do it. I love DDog with all my heart but he is barky, a twat, and prone to a bark-first-ask-questions-later approach to life. In his younger years he was never one to back down from a fight either (he seems to have learned some conflict resolution skills now...). Chronic reactivity issues and resource guarding around other dogs which will never be fully resolved (we've seen an APBC behaviourist).

So far this week he's had a crack at a slightly obnoxious adolescent lab, turned around to his dog walking friend and guarding his home (they were playing 5 mins earlier), resource guarded me, and nipped my feet because they were a foot away and he didn't like that. It's only Wednesday, and this is quite a good week after 4 years of training, and I headed more incidents off at the pass than I care to count.

On the plus side, he's not clingy. He buggered off to the other end of the house 3 hours ago and I haven't seen him since.

As for a JRT x cocker... why?!

I always come on small dog threads to say Miniature Schnauzer (because I am totally biased).

Only box they don’t tick for you is potential barkiness. Ours does that when he sees someone walking past our house- mainly because he wants to be let out to lick them to death. We can live with it though.

They’re good natured, intelligent and our boy is so lovable, playful, but always gentle with the DC (they are 5 & 8). Obviously socialising when a puppy is key to all of the above.

They’re nice and sturdy for a small dog too and as non-shed as you’ll get in a dog.

Dog training advice and support on Facebook is a great group to join to get loads of info on training.

If you are first time dog owners I would recommend miniature schnauzer - so friendly, portable, no shedding and curious, or any x whippet variety. Our old man dog (my first) is a whippet cross beddlington terrier. Brilliant first dog, mostly a cat! Sleeps 18-20 hours a day. So laid back is horizontal. Great with actual cats, cars, kids, people. Not great with unneutered dogs as has been beaten up quite badly over the years, he’s been easy to train. Good for long walks. He’s made of strong stuff so can feed him anything ( not like my golden retriever who has a g sensitive tum).

For a first time dog I wouldn't go for a Jack Russell (or any JR mix) - they might be small but they are hunting/working dogs and have a high prey drive. They can also be nippy and reactive unless very well socialised. I've met some lovely ones but they do need experienced hands.

I would look at breeds like border terriers, cairn terriers, mini schnauzers (though they can be badly), Bedlington terriers or whippets.

We have a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. She is perfect and has all the traits you expect of her breed: never barks, was easy to train, very friendly and cuddly, likes a walk but doesn’t need much exercise.

Schazuers are nice as are border terriers.
Show cocker

Jack Russells are high energy dogs. I used to have one and she was very friendly but she was bonkers.

Not sure I’d recommend cavaliers due to potential health problems. I have a cavachon so a cavalier crossed with a bichon and she’s lovely but not sure I’d have got her knowing what I know now about cavalier.m saying that she is healthy. 🤷‍♀️

Once you get a breed in mind find a U.K. based fb group for that breed. People will recommend breeders. Decent breeders may well be on there as long standing members.

We have a Llasa x Yorkie and she is the perfect dog. Mild temperament, the perfect lap dog, although can be a bit grumpy if she doesn't want to go for a walk. No shedding, walks everywhere without a lead.

My rescue jack russell and another one I know are the easiest and most affectionate/loyal dogs you could ever meet. In my experience the rough coated ones have a gentler nature but that's just anecdotal. Border terriers I know are also nice family dogs. But dogs of any breed can be so variable in temperament.

Borders are lovely, never owned one but my friends have one and he is excellent. Bit of a knob around cats, but nothing unmanageable.

A whippet or lurcher might be something to look into. Gorgeous dogs, clever and easy to train on the most part. Very friendly and are happy with a good run and then to laze about on the sofa. Their zoomies are mad when they’re younger though! Entertaining but you do feel like they might snap their legs.

Whatever you consider, do look into the health of the breed. Any breed with extreme conformation (squashed face, long back, very small size) is likely to have problems linked to that.

Also look into how your potential puppy has been bred and where it has come from. As many stories on here and elsewhere testify, it's easy to be duped into thinking that your puppy is coming from much-loved family pets, when the mother is being bred in every season, or the puppies have come from a puppy farm and the family home is just a front. Joining a breed group on FB can give you pointers towards good breeders. The breed club can be also help. And if you go through a website, Champdogs insists on health tests (but even that is no guarantee that everything has been done properly). Small crossbreeds seem to be the likeliest puppies to have come from dodgy beginnings.

As for breed... We had a JRT and she was brilliant with the DC, but she was afraid of nothing and barked a lot given any opportunity - and her brother, who we knew very well, was an absolute little shit. A proper JRT is prey driven, independent, stubborn and stroppy, and a lot of them are very pugnacious and will snap first and ask questions later. I'd have another, but I like high-drive dogs who need loads of exercise and input.

As for equipment, you don't need a lot to start with. One thing I would check is that you would be able to sign up with a vet as there is a lot of pressure on them at the moment.

Not all Jack Russells are bitey!

But they can be twats, agree.

That's why I love mine, she makes me laugh so much.
She was so pretty I got swayed😂

In your position I would go for something with less twat, prey instinct. It's like living with a 2 yr old child whose eaten too much popping candy.

On the plus side, she's loving, loyal intelligent and very cuddly.

I have a Border. In the past we have owned Jack Russels, spaniels and a border collie. She is the easiest dog I have ever had - easy to train, socialable and so loving

Beagles are friendly, happy go lucky dogs who really like being part of the family. They can be noisy. They're not generally clingy, although they're always up for being involved in what you're doing. They bond to the family as a group, rather than to one individual as some dogs can. They generally love kids and aggression is not typical at all.

They're notoriously difficult to train, but that depends a bit what you want to train them for. Mine are all off lead, and I do agility with one, so if you approach them in the right way it's doable, although you'll probably never win prizes. But, for a nice natured family dog, there's not actually a huge amount of training to be done, and house training and living happily within the family routine should be no issue.

They are something of a marmite dog (I'm bracing myself for the 'never get a beagle!' posts) so, if you're considering it, I'd definitely do some serious research. There's breed information on the Beagle Welfare site, active facebook groups, and lots of local breed meet ups.

And that last would be my advice regardless. Pretty much every breed will have a welfare group, or a breed club, which will have pages on 'information about the breed' and 'common health issues'. Pretty much every one will have a FB group. Joining it will give you an idea of typical behaviour. And they will probably organise meet ups, where you can actually get out and meet your chosen breed and chat with owners. It's a great way of researching options.

Miniature poodle (not a toy poodle and not a cross). Great little dogs, full of fun, intelligent and beautiful natures. I have had other breeds, but this would always be my favourite and the one to recommend for families and children.

I second the mini poodle. It is the easiest dog I have ever owned. Good family pet, non allergic, non shedding, good fun, easy going. They do like company but mine can be left
Immature I would say. Mine is 10 now and I'm still waiting for her to mature

We have a small lurcher (whippet/terrier cross) and she is perfect. Loves people, great with kids, a bit lazy so happy to sleep for hours but also loves to play and run.

Borders and Norfolk's are great little dogs.
JRT's can go either way. They can be a bit nippy.
There's a 'jug' near me - JRT/pug cross and she's a grand little dog. The pug cross gives a much healthier breathing set up.
Don't get a Patterdale however cute they are.
Poodle crosses are popular for a reason, poodles are lovely dogs in the main.
I think it's really easy to get it wrong with finding a breeder - there's a lot of unscrupulous people out there.

Whippets or small lurchers. Fantastic.

Nice temperament, easy on the lead, can do long or short walks, very cuddly, sleep a lot - don't even bother with 'not on the sofa' though, they live for soft things.

My User Name may give a slight clue to my recommendation.

I have had Shelties since being 6 years old (first one was my Christmas present) and they are so easy to train, very loyal and just gorgeous dogs. They can be yappy but easy to get them out of that habit with a little work. They love being with you but are fine to leave alone. They do shed their coats but easy to groom as long as you do it regularly.

Don't get a Jack Russell, we've had two, the first one was aggressive but calmed with age, the second never successfully toilet trained.

Miniature schnauzers are far easier and nicer, they can be jappy when first meeting someone, I have three and all three together are easier than one jack Russell.

We have a JRT x Springer and he's the best thing since sliced bread!

However he has high prey drive, regularly goes after squirrels and rabbits so recall training is important

He's the friendliest dog ever with humans, although as he gets older is less tolerant of younger dogs bouncing up and getting in his face.

Goes for hours on walks, great stamina, and sleeps rest of the day

We have a JRT x cocker spaniel and she is such a lovely dog. Friendly, bouncy and very affectionate. She doesn’t bark much, is very calm and small enough to be portable. We love her!