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

Jack Russell possibly crossed with a Yorkshire terrier. Our first family dog. A rescue. We couldn’t have been luckier. Slightly resource guards. I put that down to him being an abandoned stray. Also scared of sticks and feet… What does that tell you? 😔 However he is a breeze to live with. Snoozes as much as me. Loves a good run. Very sociable with other dogs and people.

Our whippet puppy is fab but VERY full on, literally constant all day.. we have to enforce naps or she wouldn't have them. She is very bouncy and incredibly mouthy but there is not an ounce of malice in it and I can see the fantastic dog she will become once out the puppy idiocy. She is so friendly with other dogs. I would say she would be a good first dog if you have a lot of time and patience to devote to the first 6 months and are fairly resilient. She is utterly brilliant with kids.

If you are in the Midlands, could you visit Crufts this weekend? You can visit the Discover Dogs area and chat with owners and breeders of all the different breeds. I’ve only ever had one non-rescue/pedigree dog (the rest have been rescues) and that’s how we chose which breed to have.

We chose a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier - lovely dogs, but you need to be prepared for a lot of coat care or to pay for regular professional grooming. My girl was a dream to train, had her good citizen gold award by 18 months old and also did some obedience and all sorts of fun dog-sports like agility and heelwork to music. She loved and was loved by everyone and coped admirably and remained an absolute sweetheart when three dc were born over the years. My PIL’s used to beg us to let them take her caravanning with them as she was so popular with people on the sites they went to. She was fantastic with other dogs as well, but that may have been because we had a very active dog-related social life at the time, so she was really well socialised to dogs of all sizes from a young age. She was sociable and friendly with other dogs, but preferred being with us, so would happily ignore other dogs in the park.

The Soft Coated Wheaten Club were really helpful when we were planning to get ours. Not sure if they still do, but at the time they maintained a list of people interested in getting a pup and approved breeders made contact through the club.

We have a spaniel cross and a whippet, the whippet is comparatively very low maintenance. Walks nicely, hardly any shedding, not destructive. He can be yappy though but that was my own fault for letting older dog be a bad influence!

He's also a total snuggle bug and loves to cuddle up on the evenings lovely.

@RedLemon

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.

Yes agree ! They aren't all barky 🤣

Best personalities and can go for schauzer cut or more puppy cut !

My faabourite smaller dog is the Sheltie. Wonderful in every way. Like all collies, though, they shed like buggery!

Beware of the financial impact of any dog that needs regular grooming. Unfortunately the prices are going up there too.

Norfolk terriers, non-working line spaniels, etc can be great - good energy levels and like to play but equally happy to chill out on the sofa.

I would consider the healthiness of the breed - dog with squashed in noses and flat, wrinkly faces are more likely to suffer a variety of problems (including skin infections - you have to clean the wrinkles!). I would always go for a crossbreed as you are less likely to get genetic issues like elbow dysplasia and blindness.

When you’re looking for a dog online, my non-negotiable’s from an advert are:
-must be seen with at least the mother (preferably able to view father as well)
-mother mustn’t have had more than 2 litters including that one
-puppies must be raised in a house with the breeder starting socialisation early (to noises - not other dogs until they’ve had both vaccines at 12-14weeks)
-the breeder is happy for you to view them at 6 or 7 weeks but doesn’t send them home with you until 8 to 12weeks with a blanket with mother and litter mates scent on it and the food they have been weaned on to.
I’d recommend watching some of the dog programs on tv or try Graeme Hall’s books or tv show.

Shitzu or lahsa or a mix. Very loving cuddly friendly and can walk any distance you feel up to. Seems to be a good first dog amongst people I know.

I have a miniature dachshund and she is amazing. They can be yappy but i taught quiet very early on and she never barks.

She is happiest sitting on someones knee, and during the day alternates between sleeping on rhe sofa or looking out the window, but doesn't bark at anything going past she just likes to watch.

She is happy with one walk around 40 mins and a few runs around the garden, sleeps all night for ages in the living room in her pen quite happily, and is very low maintenance- no grooming and as she doesnt like mud she doesnt really get dirty either.

They can be slower to train, but she was house trained completely by 5 months old, and knew sit by the third day of her arriving.

I absolutely love her!

We have a miniature schnauzer and she is wonderful. So placid and friendly. Such a good dog.

I’ve always had Jack russells. They are wonderful, the best family dogs, excellent companions and friendly, fun and cheerful.

Mine have always loved kids and everyone really, apart from other dogs, particularly big ones.

They are easy to train, lovely to walk, fantastic guard dogs but stubborn, willful and can yap, if not trained.

If you train them, they are amazing family pets. And they’re generally healthy, robust creatures that don’t have joint issues as in labradors etc.

Would also recommend (agree with pp) shih tzus (sp?) and am hoping to rescue one next year. Dogs are awesome!

Going against the grain here to say consider a Jack Russell! We’ve always had Jack Russells in the family, never had any problems at all and our current one is just the most delightful laid-back boy you could meet! He’s very friendly to every other dog, and every person he meets. I think a lot with any dog is about you making sure that you socialise them and train them properly. Plus make sure they have plenty of exercise, I would say Jack Russells need a decent amount of exercise and brain stimulation each day

Our friends have a terrier x cocker. She is adorable. A tad aloof but lovely with children and coped with being pulled around by my class of little ones.

We had a JRT. She was lovely but very prey driven and very loyal to us. She was an excellent guard dog.

On my 5th mini schnauzer-since I was a small child. Brilliant breed.

My girl is just fantastic-clever, loving, fun and very sociable. So snuggly and loves being part of family life.
feel like I am writing on online dating profile for her

wouldn't be without her.

And agree-we have a fab groomer who does a puppy cut-no fancy grooming for us!

Can I gently suggest a greyhound?
Gentle, calm, sensitive. Not barky, don't really shed, dont smell, some are super lazy, some like a little more exercise, but they are generally like lazy cats, love their sofa time!
The girls are much smaller than the boys, they are medium sized!
Our boy has 3x30 mins walks a day, but is fine with only 2, however he will do 2-3 hours easily if we want to as a family.
You'd be rescuing an ex-racer (there are so many greys desperate for homes) who'd come pretty much house trained, but just has to acclimatise to home life.
Had ours a year. A wonderful, gentle, soul, not a trick-doer or ball-catcher and has to remain on lead, but a fabulous first family dog.
I looked at smaller dogs first, but am so glad I stumbled on greys, they're (unfortunately) like a well kept secret!

We have a cocker spaniel and he is the easiest dog ive ever owned, easily trained, well behaved, great with the kids, not yappy, happy to amuse himself if we are busy or if hes home alone. He is happy with 1 long decent run and a couple of road walks a day. He was the hardest dog ive ever had to house train but my mum has his brother and he has never gone to the toilet in the house so i think mine was just lazy.

Ive owned collies and beagles which i adore but both breeds are quite high maintenance in their own ways and i wouldnt say they are good first time owner dogs (collies are absolutely not for novice owners) that said if you got a decent trainer and invested the time training a Beagle they are great family pets.

@smilingthroughgrittedteeth I had a cocker (working) and she was fucking nightmare!! She was trained as a peg dog as I shoot, and on peg she was perfection - at home though a different story. Cheeky little minx!

I wouldn’t suggest a spaniel for a first time owner with young kids tbh. Widget (the bloody cocker) was 100x harder than Dd

Ours is an ASD assistance dog for our son and he is honestly the easiest dog ive ever had. His brother (my mums) is a little less laid back but only in that he needs 2 decent runs a day as well as a couple of road walks whereas mine has had a 1.5hr run through woods this morning and a 10minute walk after lunch and has been curled up asleep by my feet for the last hour

Also i have a 6yr old, 5yr old and 4yr old who are all much worse behaved than the dog..... if you ask them who my favourite child is they will tell you its the dog

@m00rfarm

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 would agree with this. The border terrier we know is very friendly but zero recall. I don't know whether that is a breed trait, though.

@smilingthroughgrittedteeth I’m in love!!!! He is completely gorgeous!

I’m so envious, I seem to have got the worst spaniel in the world. I loved her endlessly but my god, she was a tiny terror!

We have a beagle and she is a wonderful family dog. She loves the kids and is very gentle.

I’ve got a show cocker and wouldn’t say they are for the inexperienced. I love him dearly but he’s clingy, stubborn and always looking for mischief. Even at 11 years old I’m still very suspicious when he’s quiet!