Small calm dog breeds

[RedSauceSpaghetti]

I am looking for some recommendations for small-ish dog breeds which are known to be generally calm and biddable. I have only really known terriers as small dogs and they don't tend to be that way!

We have 4 children, and my 5 year old has an acquired brain injury due to a brain tumour. She can find life difficult (she has acquired physical disabilities and some minor issues with maintaining attention and regulating her emotions), and I think she would benefit hugely from the companionship of a dog. It's something we were looking into before her diagnosis anyway, and she has recently got the all-clear so we feel now is as good a time as any to start looking. We do not plan to rush it, however.

The size stipulation is really that the dog would need to be able to travel in the car with us all, so take up no more than 1 seat's worth of space (we have a 7 seater).

I have been considering a Cavalier King Charles spaniel as they seem generally to tick most of these boxes. Are there any other breeds I should look into?

@Doopdoopdedo he’s gorgeous . My patterdale x is very happy to play dress up or anything else

This! My Mum's best friend has only ever had this breed and they are so lovely.

I have a Bichon x Havanese and she is the sweetest wee dog. Great with my children, very playful and fairly low exercise needs (sometimes needs lots of encouragement to even go on walks ).

They call Havanese Velcro dogs and it's an apt name, she likes nothing more than being curled up next to me and often sits on my lap whilst I'm working from home.
They were bred to be companion dogs so are fairly chilled compared to 'working' breeds.

Needs groomed every 6-8 weeks and regular brushing but nothing too taxing.

Don't think you would go wrong with a Bichon, Maltese, Havanese breed as they were all bred to be companion dogs and have similar natures.

We have a “large” Pomeranian (he weighs less than 8kg but is considered big for his breed). We got him as a rescue when my DC were 5 and 8, and and he’s been a lovely family dog. V. affectionate, cuddly and playful.

He’s my first dog so I have nothing to compare him to, but feel we’ve been lucky. My neighbor’s Daschund is a horror, he only likes one person and has bitten other family members!

Another vote for a Cairn.

also Yorkshire terriers. Great little lap dogs. Mine travels in a pet basket in the footwell so doesn’t even take up a seat :)

have you thought of a cat? Cats can have a calming influence, the purring is settling. Find an affectionate one, my kids always settled down with the cat on their bed.

@RedSauceSpaghetti My DS is autistic and has quite high needs. We wanted a dog that wouldn't be too highly strung and was small but not too fragile.

After lots of research we went for a Zuchon - a Bichon x Shih Tzu. Me and DM both got one puppy each from the same litter - hers looks like a Bichon and mine looks like a Shih Tzu!

They don't moult, they don't need loads of exercise, they adore their family and they're really relaxed and chilled. They're also "hypoallergenic" so if you're prone to allergies, the low dander on these means they don't cause allergies in most people. They were bred as companion dogs and are often called "teddy bear dogs".

Although of course DS was always supervised, he can be quite heavy handed so we were a bit worried about whether we were doing the right thing.

Ten years on and it's been the most beautiful of friendships. Our dog adores DS (and DD) and is a good size - not tiny but not a big dog either. Loves to play but also loves to snuggle up. He seeks out DS and DD for cuddles and playtime - and if he thinks they're late with his dinner, he will go and get them from their bedroom!

I would get the same breed again, no question. DM's Zuchon is lovely too. Both very affectionate sweet little dogs that really love their families.

Would you mind passing me breeder details please

I have a cardigan corgi he’s my second one. They are big dogs on short legs, he’s quite heavy to lift into the car and takes up a reasonable amount of room on the back seat he has a particularly beautiful tail. He has a big dog personality, a definite sense of humour, is very devoured to us, but can also be left. They will happily walk miles everyday or just flop around. They are easy going IMO not overly bright so few hang ups, they just get on with life.
I am aware that they can suffer from back problems (someone told me Pembrokes are more prone to back problems I don’t know how true that is) the breeder I got him from had been breeding cardigans for 40+ years and has never had one develop a back problem but I think there is always a risk. So I keep mine on the thin side of normal weight, I don’t let him jump in or out of the car, I keep him fit.
They are cattle herding dogs so do have a tendency to nip heels and ankles especially when excited having said this my children were 7 and 8 when we got the first one and he just loved all children and they loved him l (he lived to 14 never stepping a toe in the vet in 14 years). We didn’t have one for a few years but now I’ve got another one I’m totally converted they are just great dogs, we’ve had a wide variety of breeds over the years and I would definitely recommend one.

@superplumb I've pm'd you

I absolutely love corgis. My friend has a fluffy one and he is divine.

Hair length can vary mine is between very short and long, the only downside is that they shed like nothing on this earth, they have a double coat and hair falls off mine as he walks around this is despite regular attendance and the groomers.

Pembrokes are obviously more popular but in my admittedly very limited exercise we found the cardigans to be more robust and less neurotic. Others of course may disagree 😃

Would highly recommend Maltese. Intelligent, playful and very loyal. Ours weighs around 5kg so easy to maintain. We also have a gorgeous rescue from MTAR who looks like a Bichon x. He’s a bit bigger but similar characteristics.

Another vote for havanese. My mum has two and my mother in law has one. Very chilled and sweet natured. They keep them short in a puppy cut so not too bad for grooming. They don't shed either and don't need loads of exercise

We have a maltipoo. She's six months old and has just been spayed so snuggling up
To me in her onesie right now. I've never had a dog before. She's so affectionate and loving and quite clever! Loves her walks and playing. I would totally recommend. She's 4.5kg and won't get much bigger. She has her own wee car seat she sits in when in the car. Am amazed how much we all love her!

@DarkBlueEyes ahh how gorgeous is she, adorable

A retro-pug.

Healthier than a KC pug but just as small and as people friendly.

A whippet? They are sociable, little, calm and don’t need a lot of exercise. They sleep a lot.

Have you considered and Iggy, an Italian greyhound? they are like small whippets and very friendly natured, they dont need as much exercise as you would think and love nothing better than a snuggle on the sofa.

My son has 2 whippets, one is a lot bigger than the other, he would possibly take up more than 1 seat but Luna is small and fits easily on 1 seat, although both parents to the dogs are whippets, Wilbur has some Collie going way back which I believe is why he is more muscular than Luna. Both delightful. I think you can guess who is who

Just a thought. My neighbour has a young Skye terrier I know little about them but he says they are great dogs its his 4th and his is absolutely charming they like corgis are big dogs on short legs its got huge paws. It's such a friendly and happy dog.

How about a border terrier or big Yorkie? We have a terrier mix maybe JRT x yorkie but not sure as he is a rescue but he is so sweet, robust enough to deal with kids screaming and manhandling him (in a kind way didn't worry) but also so emotionally intelligent, sits with them when they are sad, sleeps with them when poorly. Don't write off terriers because they are excellent little dogs.

Bit of a curveball, Chinese Crested powderpuff!

They are wonderful dogs and should be allot more popular than they are.

Ours will be about 5 kilos fully grown and is wonderful with our little one who has additional needs.

They are one of the few smaller terrier type breeds which are known to be quiet. low exercise needs, minimal to no shedding, I adore ours, he has a very stable temperament.

Any questions please ask, I had never met one before we got ours.

They are like poodles in the sense that you can have them groomed in lots of different ways.