We are ready, help us out :)

[Whatalife88]

We are finally ready for a dog. Our youngest is 3, others are 8 and 13(we don't want to be told she is too young as we are aware of the hard work), however, we would like help to decide what breed.
-We have a 3 bed semi with a medium size garden but only 5ft fences.

• Husband works from home and I only work 2 hours a day.
• We have time to walk a dog for at least an hour a day.
• because of our youngest and size of our house, we don't want something huge that's going to knock her over.
• We don't want something that has a tendency to be nervy as we do have children.
• we have time to groom and can afford professional groomers.
• we can afford upkeep of a dog and vet bills.

We want to rescue but probably won't be able to due to youngest child's age. So...any ideas? Any questions? Thanks

Cairn terrier

One of the small terrier breeds? Or a Miniature Poodle?
Shih Tzu?
I wouldn’t opt for one of the very small toy breeds while you children are so young
Just a personal opinion, neither would I go for one of the fashionable poodle crossbreeds, but than I admit to being biased having loved, shown & bred for over forty years one of the smaller rarer native breeds that are constantly near or at the top of the At Risk Native British Breeds list & am sad to see how popular these crossbreeds have become to the detriment of established, bred for purpose, breeds whose numbers are falling. And am appalled at the prices people are being asked to pay for them!

Are shih tzus not nervy?

Papillon. All the ones I have met have been big dog personality in a small dog body. None of them yapped. They are really a miniature spaniel so bright and easy to train.

I also came to say Cairn terrier or one of the smaller terrier breeds - Scottie? Westie?

I used to have a Cairn and she was fab with children - they're small enough that they won't knock a 3 year old over, but not so tiny and fragile that they'll break if the 3 year old falls over them. They're great, busy little dogs - mine was an ace potterer. She loved a long walk, but was equally happy coming with me to run errands/go to the post office. They're not in the least bit nervy.

I've got a 3 year old DS now and a JRT and JRTxBeagle. Do not recommend, they're all an unholy combination of feral, contrary and mad as a box of frogs and the three of them regularly gang up on me.

I second Cairn Terrier.

Friendly, good with other dogs, can go all day or are happy with shorter walks. They do bark at the door/post but generally love people and other dogs. Recall is generally good though they are bred to chase small furry things!

They need grooming every 6-8 weeks but nothing major.

Lhasa apso, wonderful breed!

Border terrier. Best dogs ever.

Miniature schnauzer! Small but not fragile. Non-shed. Friendly, loving, smart but eager to please, full of personality. I bring ours to the groomer for a puppy cut every 6 weeks or so- no need to brush him in between (he’s not a fan of brushing anyway). I had a 4 year old and a 6 year old when we got him.

Shih tzu, mine LOVES my little boy, they are best buddies

Border terrier or schnauzer. Both will need grooming, but are just lovely. Borders yap less.
get a bitch 😂

corgi?

My llasa is a bit snappy with GC, daughter has just got a vizla which seems to cope really well with a busy household and is very loving and affectionate.

I grew up with cavaliers and their personality and attitude with children is second to none. Sadly they are blighted by awful health problems but my last one lived till 15 in fantastic health.

Not the most easy to train beyond the basics due to them not being super motivated but in my experience really easy dogs to be around

I have a cavalier cross (not a 'poo) and she's just the most delightful little dog. Wonderful with children, an enthusiastic walker (but will accept a shorter walk if necessary), can be left alone for a few hours if required, and just a lovely, easy-going addition to the family.

PM me if you want details of her breeder, OP - she was bred by somebody who is trying to improve the health of the cavalier by bringing in new blood from certain other breeds.

Breeds to consider (just the random first three that sprang to mind):

If you can find one, then a Norfolk or a Norwich terrier, otherwise Cairns or Border terrier

If the prospect of a terrier is just too much, and you would prefer something more biddable, try a duck tolling retriever (a lot like a labrador, but a bit smaller)

Minature poodle - clever dogs, can be nervy but should be fine if you put the effort in to socialising early on (that's socialising in the proper broad sense, not just meeting other dogs)

If you can get to London in October, go to

www.discoverdogs.org.uk/ where you can meet dogs and breed enthusiasts, and find out more about your target breeds - and probably a fair few that hadn't occurred to you before

What about a Bedlington Whippet? Nice temperament, good around children - I think, no direct experience.

A wiggy (whippet Cross Italian greyhound) lovely family dogs.
A Bedlington
A Glen of imaal

Staffordshire bull terrier, total reliability with children. But a strong willed dog so only get if you are prepared to do lots of training early one.

We have a schnoodle (Schnauzer/poodle cross) and a Miniture Schanuzer. Both do not shed a single hair which was a must for us.

The Schnoodle is twice the physical ability of the Schanuzer (Poodles must be very athletic) and is amazingly capable. He will happily outrun a spaniel chasing a ball, jump from big heights etc. But he is also an amazingly calm lad who is just as happy sat on a lap or curled on the bed beside us. Be careful though, a schnoodle is only first gen dog. Anything second generation is diluted and just a heinz 57.

The Schnauzer is a miniature but we think because he has tried so hard to keep up with his brother he has grown to be at the top end of a miniature schnauzer size. Easily capable of playing football, running and wrestling with his brother. Now here is the big difference. He is SO vocal. You can sit and have a conversation with him and he will happily chat away. He will also chat to everyone and every dog on a walk. Its not aggressive but it takes a bit of getting used to him wagging his tail, nose to nose with a GS and ours will be barking/chatting away.

We had a son who was very nervous of dogs and a daughter who was desperate for dogs. Both have been turned into dog mad peeps who will happily roll around with other dogs now.

I know there are hundreds of breeds to consider but we feel blessed to have our two.

Yes get a shi tzu, ours is so loving and gentle.

We own a cardigan corgi we've owned a huge variety of dogs over the years from gun dogs to lap dogs and we always come back to the cardigans. They are big dogs on short legs, heaps of personality, they are clowns of the dog world, super easy to train, love their families to bits, super tolerant, will happily walk miles but don't care if they don't, not neurotic and really handsome as well everyone you meet will comment on them and ask you what sort of dog it is. Their only downside is that they have double coat and God to they shed. They are a rare breed only about 120 born each year but the breeders of them are totally dedicated to the breed no danger of puppy farmers breeding these.

Maybe a bit bigger than your looking for but I couldn’t imagine a better dog than mine l he’s a lab. Quiet and gentle with kids and has never shown any intolerance or aggression to anyone or anything. His only downside is greed.

Lakeland terrier? Ot tbh I think I’d get a Labrador and just keep them very separate for the first year or so whilst it is a dick head. After that best dog ever.

I’m stunned that no one has suggested a cocker spaniel. Honestly they are always happy, love to please and very trainable if you’re armed with a bit of cheese.