Help choosing a small/medium sized breed? Tibetan Terrier? Poodle?

[NellBeau]

Which small to medium sized breed would you choose?

We currently have a gorgeous 2.5 year old cocker spaniel, and I’d love to expand our family. I like larger dogs and my preference would actually be for a retriever type dog or a setter, which I think are stunning dogs.

But everyone else wants a smallish dog no bigger than our cocker spaniel. The children remember how mouthy our cocker spaniel was as a puppy and would like something not so mouthy.

Companionship is the main thing we are looking for. Ideally also intelligent and easy to train. Preferably not too barky. Tibetan Terrier's seem like a great choice, I’m just concerned about the level of grooming required.

Any suggestions?

Well, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever is a retriever, red setter, spaniel, collie cross - so 3 of your four breeds! They are the smallest retriever breed and girls smaller than boys.

They are very intelligent and like a job (mine does agility) but don't need the walking of the larger breeds - Kennel Club recommends an hour a day.

They also don't need to go for any grooming (brush once a week and cut nails yourself)

Aww yes, that’s the type of dog I like.

Teen son wants an Italian Greyhound or long haired dachshund but I just think they are way too fragile for our home.

Tibetan terriers are quite tough to train from what I've read - lovely dogs as adults but not that easy as youngsters.

How small are you willing to go?

What about a cockerpoo or poodle cross?

I love my lhasa apso. Small, affectionate, full of personality and not too barky whilst still an excellent guard dog. She needs grooming every 10 weeks which is fine.

We have an English Toy Terrier (Black and Tan). If your son likes Iggies and Dachshunds they are similar in terms of appearance (apparently Italian Greyhounds were bred into their lines a long time ago, so they have a similarly fine outline and that’s where they get their speed from) but a bit more robust..

They are fundamentally bred as companion dogs these days. They are very loving and affectionate with their family and love a good cuddle. In the UK they are shown in the toy breed group, but in the terrier group elsewhere. They’re full of personality, really clever and trainable and super fast - would be great little agility dogs. Some can be barky, but ours learned really quickly that barking isn’t acceptable in our home and they are intelligent enough to learn your rules around alerting/barking. Grooming is a breeze, a quick flick over with a brush or hound glove a couple of times a week and as long as they have a good diet their coats shine beautifully.

The only downside is that they’re a vulnerable native breed (actually Britain’s oldest native breed) so there can be a wait for puppies.

I think any puppy will be mouthy.

Tibetans are great dogs. And would tick your criteria for companionship perfectly!
However, they are hard work as puppies.

You should go and meet some before you make yp your mind.

Ooh I would have a Tibetan terrier in a heartbeat

I had a Tibetan terrier. He wasn't difficult to train, well behaved but also like a mischievous toddler the grooming was a massive headache though with the undercoat blowing every year and constant brushing to avoid matts. They're really intelligent and love to please, and he was best friends with the cat

I wouldn't personally choose anything that needed to go to a groomer as I know I would be the owner who always left it too late.
How about a Min Pin or a Manchester Terrier.

Love Tibetans but I believe they are quite renowned for being a bit barky.

Poodles are great but very smart and need a good amount of physical and mental stimulation, they are basically a working breed. But very characterful and great fun if you do dog sports such as agility!

It’s so hard as there are so many great breeds out there and I love all dogs. Agility is something I’d be interested in getting into.

I’m adding English Toy Terriers to the list. I think they would definitely appeal to my son.

I’m thinking of going to discover dogs in London in October. Has anyone been before? Then I can met the breeds. I’m happy to wait for the right puppy.

I probably wouldn’t go for a poodle cross, I don’t dislike them per se, more that so many are puppy farmed or from back yard breeders.

We have two Tibetans in the family, both are barky. My boyfriend refers to it as “The Hairy Gobshite”. They are also prone to diabetes - the aforementioned THG came down with it aged six and had a really tough time with it. Has to have special expensive food, insulin injections, and went blind. Would avoid, to be honest.

Would definitely recommend Discover Dogs, it's a great day out too! And you can ask the breeders/owners detailed questions about the pros and cons. But just remember that you'll probably see the more sociable and friendly representatives of all of the breeds as no one generally brings a more 'difficult' dog to an event like this, for health & safety as much as anything else. Enjoy!

What about a whippet? More robust than a iggy, minimal Fremont and pretty gentle mouth

Papillon. A large dog personality in a small body. As they are a type of spaniel they are easy to train. None of the ones I are at all yappy.

Whippet.Fantastic fun little dogs. Quiet, low coat maintenance, easy to train.

Oh I love Papillon!! Always wanted one when I was a teen. I was never allowed a dog growing up but I spent every lunchtime in the school library reading about dogs 😆

All puppies are mouthy!

Cairn terrier would get my vote

The Tibetan terrier I know is very stubborn. He is trained but chooses when to obey. It’s like having a teenager around who can run away from you at speed!

How about a Border terrier - can cope with rough and tumble. Very easy to train. My vet describes them as a "big dog in a small dogs body". But she was very mouthy as a puppy

As above great little dogs.

The Tibetan terrier I know is very stubborn. He is trained but chooses when to obey. It’s like having a teenager around who can run away from you at speed

I disagree! Tibetans are clever, humourous dogs. They aren't faced by much and I found with good basic training, you'll have a dig that you can take anywhere.
When training, your Tibetan will ask: Whats in it for me? Unlike most other dogs who will ask: What can I do for you?
Just make sure the rewards are varied and interesting! 😉

And yes, of course I am biased ...

@grannycake I would go for a border terrier too - so great with children My Uncle has two Tibetan terrier's - they are fine but not well trained . ( this may be his problem not theirs )