Hardest work small to medium breeds

[Doggieconfused]

Please tell me what they are so I can avoid them when choosing a breed! (I know all puppies are hard work but I’ve heard some are worse than others...)

See compared to my mini dachshund my sprocker is so well trained and easy going. She just does what you ask her to, every time, no answering back. But that said, she hates other dogs, other kids and barks, barks, barks all day long. So I would agree, not an ideal pet!!

Mine is 9m so we are in the adolescent phase, I’m riding it out and praying he will mature in a few months!

Chihuahuas.
I’d also avoid anything I couldn’t groom myself. No way could I be arsed with trying to maintain a cockerpoo coat

Brilliant advice. Take a real hard look at breed traits and think about how that works for you and the positives and negatives of the traits.

Its seems cuddly to get a dog selectively bred for companionship, but thats likely dog be a dog that doesnt like being left, and may be a bit "overwhelming" in terms of affection. Aloofness might mean you dont get many cuddles but the independence may work better for busy lives and a dog that doesnt follow you around, whine for you etc.

Dogs built for chasing are likely to struggle to lose that so might not be able to be let off lead, or get on with cats. Some breeds are designed with unshakeable hyper focus to concentrate on getting prey, following the smell etc, that hyper focus doesnt stop when your beagles ears stop working when it smells another families picnic half a mile across the park, or when your terriors prey drive means they stare at your cat all day, or run half a mile across a road for a squirrel whilst you yell aimlessly

Dogs bred for endurance may have relentless energy (some dogs have high energy in short bursts some are built with low energy, some relentless high energy for all day working). What energy level is right for you?

Intelligence might mean trainable but also might mean bores easily and will make own fun in undesirable ways if let to own devices

Dogs designed to dig will dig up your flowerbeds, dogs designed for water will love mud.
Dogs with a protective instinct will tend to be barky, and possible one person dogs so not suited to families. Some of the toy dogs are designed for barking at people that sit next to their mum, and will do this to every family member that you live with and possible be very possesive and even a risk in a family situation

Theres rarely good or bad dogs just ill suited dogs
My neighbour for example has a collie that suit's them well, they want a dog who they can do sport with, who can keep up with relentless energy. That dog would eat our house hold alive, equally ive got a dog thats independent, fairly boring but is bred for guarding. The barking is okay because i live in an area without passers by

Oh also remember any mix is pure luck on what traits they get in what quantities

If you are considering a cockerpoo for example you should be confident that you'd choose a full poodle or a full cocker. Thats for both look, and temprement

They may get all the worst of both breeds, get the intelligence of a poodle (that bores easily) combined with a cocker energy level, the fierceness and barking of a poodle combined with the stubbornness of a cocker

Theres often people caught out when their mix turns out to have a traits combo they werent expecting

@papastypirate you're not wrong! I have two and they try and sneak upstairs all the time we have a baby gate on now.i love them obsessively but they test your patience for sure

Tibetan terriers. Can't believe how hard it's been! They're not actually terriers, they were guard dogs for the Tibetan monks.

They are nightmare puppies but apparently incredible adults.

Jack Russells and cockerpoos

I have a Jack Russell and a working Lakeland terrier - love them but they can be trouble 😂 luckily I embrace their instincts.

In contrast my dearly departed Dobie was a breeze to own.

I've only had one dog and he was a Parsons Jack Russell. How the hell we ended up with one of these as a starter dog God only knows. He lived to 15 years old and I loved the bones of him but what a little arsehole he was. We do BorrowMyDoggy now and have a Cockerpoo once a week. I love him to bits and he's a million times easier than a Jack Russell. Still a bit devious and naughty though.

My Maltese x shihtzu is the perfect dog. Loves company but can be left alone. Sleeps a lot and loves a nice sunny spot but is also great for walks. He's well trained too and smart.

I think you have to consider your lifestyle first then choose a breed that can most easily fit your situation .
I have a patterdale who could be a nitemare if I lived in a built up area (barking)or had a beautiful garden full of plants (digging).
His prey instinct is strong so I haven't seen any mice around since he arrived and he is very happy pottering about ,lying in the sun/by the fire while I work .
Am very careful where I let him off the lead though as he will bolt if he sees something he wants to chase !
Brilliant little dog in the right situation.

Just choose a miniature poodle, job done. Smart, highly trainable, good with children and animals, very keen to please and get things right. Love a long country walk but will settle for round the block if I'm busy. Good about being left and good in the car. I have two and they are the easiest dogs I have ever owned.

We have friends who have a miniature poodle - their experience is…different 😂 He’s a gorgeous dog but very ‘spirited’! They’ve owned several breeds over the years and say they are a doddle in comparison. I suppose it’s like any breed - you can never say for very you’ll get the traits you hope for/expect.

I second @ClaireandTed Opinion on Tibetan Terriers.
If you can survive the first 18 months and are persistent with training, you'll have a perfect dog. As long as you are always available to serve them.
And don't forget some have that attitude all their lives!

🤣🤣. We were actually recommended TTs as a therapy dog for my son with cerebral palsy!!! They neglected to tell us how hard they were as puppies!

Even her dog trainer says she's intense 🤣. Let's just say I've had horrendous puppy blues.

However she's eight months and definitely getting easier, and is very snuggly, so things are much better. She's just started the puppy blow - matts keep appearing every day.

Anything whose origins are ‘working’ require more exercise and mental
stimulation than others - so if that puts you off then no terriers or spaniels.

If you want a small, friendly, companionable dog then you could do worse than a Bichon Frise.

I think the “perfect dog” thing might be in comparison to puppy life with them! They stay stubborn little buggers for their whole lives - we’ve had 4 so far. They are lovely dogs but I wouldn’t have another one!

My DF has a Patterdale and I have an English Bull terrier puppy. We must be mad....

I have a Cavapoo who is still at puppy stage but he's been very easily trainable so far. He is a bit of a velcro dog in that he likes company, but he can also be left for a couple of hours. Friendly with people, children and other dogs. He needs grooming though, obviously.

Never met a chihuahua that wasn't highly reactive to other dogs or strangers (they are essentially Mexican guard dogs, after all).

Miniature Schnauzers have a sweet nature but NEVER STOP barking.

All spaniels I've encountered have been quite mad (particularly cockers and springers) - apart from cavaliers - lovely but the heath issues too concerning.

Patterdales and jack russells definitely.

i have a chihuahua, he is house trained and doesn’t mark in the house at all (entire) but I would agree with PPs that they aren’t as easy as other breeds to housetrain.

I can’t ever recall coming across a genuinely confident and friendly chihuahua to strange people/dogs, they are always nervous.
Even the friendlier ones that do approach you to say hello seem to do so quite tentatively.

Mine was very well socialised but he also now mature is still a wary boy around unknown people/dogs and unfortunately everyone I speak to says their chihuahua was the same; super affectionate and lovely with family, completely distrustful of anyone else.

So i probably would discount them too.

I had a mini schnauzer who looked & acted like a patterdale.

I have 2 Affenpinschers, small but sturdy little dogs but they do rather like the sound of their own voices.

@ClaireandTed oh noo! There are actually easier dogs to have.
But I currently have 3 - I do take in the odd tearaway TT. I love their quirks. But they are hard work.

Just always remember, your Tibetan will ask you: " if I do this for you, WHAT is in it for me????"

I also have a mad cookerpoo, well, let's just say give me a Tibetan any time!

@MintyGreenDreams
Do you have any tips with toilet training? We have got a chihuahua cross puppy and she just goes anywhere ! I’ve never had this problem with other dogs . She uses puppy pads And Goes everywhere else too ☹️