Good breeds for first time dog owners?

[Eastereggs1]

I’m thinking of getting my first dog having always had cats around.

Firstly, would I be a horrible dog owner to have a dog in a flat? There is a shared garden to the back and I see lots of dogs playing there during the day, plus several parks nearby. I know there are a few pups in my block but I am a bit worried!

What are some good breeds for a first time dog mum? I love westies and have also been looking at cavapoos, cavachons and maltipoos. I’m not so keen on pugs/bulldogs etc.

I mostly work from home but there is a doggy day care around the corner from me and another a 15 min drive away for the days I do have to go to the office.

I would like a rescue pup but don’t think anyone would accept me since I’ve never had a dog and don’t have a secure garden. I also have young children in my family.

Housetraining a puppy in a flat would be a bit of a challenge, but you wouldn't be the first. I know someone who has done it with a couple of terriers.

In terms of breed, I'm going to be a bit negative and say do NOT get anything working line as a first dog. It might work out, but it might not - dogs bred for work are enthusiastic, driven, need training and mental stimulation, and won't take no for an answer without some effort on your part.

Westies are nice dogs but they don't half BARK. And it's tricky to find well-bred cavapoos etc, but other people who know more than I do about small breeds can advise you there.

I’m also looking at breeds for our first dog. It’s overwhelming isn’t it?!

From my research some of the breeds you mention such as cavapoos need play so you may struggle without outside space.

I know you’ve said no to bulldogs but I’ve seen a lot of French Bulldogs in flats.

Whippet or greyhound would be great and some specialist breed specific rescues will rehome to a flat

I’ve got a dog and live in a flat. I won’t lie, it is tough, I probably take him out for either a walk or toilet break about 6 times a day. When it’s as cold as it has been lately, going out in sub zero temperatures, even quickly, is miserable. You have to think about the fact you can’t get up, let the dog in the garden for a quick wee while you have a cup of tea. It’s literally up and straight out the door. And the same at night. I had my dog long before I moved into my flat, I’m not sure I could do it again.

A puppy won’t be fully vaccinated so can’t be out where other dogs are. So that’s a huge issue.
Plus the poo mixes like that very much tend to be bred by puppy farmers. I would avoid

Golden retriever

Personally speaking, I wouldn't have a dog unless I had ground floor access to my own secure garden. It makes toilet training difficult and is a real pain in bad weather as you have to go out and walk the dog multiple times a day so it can go to the toilet.

If you're sure that won't be problematic for you, I would avoid cross breeds as they're a puppy farmers dream, and look at breeds like Maltese, Bichon Frisé or Toy Poodles.

Our whippet is amazing and would probably be quite happy in a flat with plenty of exercise,.but they can be AWFUL puppies.... gorgeous but they not referred to as little land sharks or baby velociraptors for nothing... they play hard and rough and it really hurts... it didn't last as long as other puppies I have had but my god she crammed it all in ! And they can really struggle with separation anxiety..

Same here plus I always wear skirts

OP why are you looking at getting a designer cross breed? BYB

Totally unsuitable for a flat

To be clear, cavapoos, maltipoos, pokeychins, pooflaps etc etc Are. Not. Breeds. They are crossbreds and a current fad. You can only guess at what you will be getting with a crossbreed which could be positive or negative but they are not breeds of dog.

The crossbreeds you have mentioned tend to only be bred by puppy farmers or back yard breeders so you should steer well clear of them. I would look at toy/miniature poodles instead of crosses but bear in mind they are very intelligent dogs and still need a lot of mental and physical stimulation. Cavalier King Charles are great first time dogs but they can have a lot of health problems. A Westie wouldn’t be a bad option either but they can have bad skin problems and being a terrier breed, they need a lot of training and aren’t just cute little dogs. Whippets and greyhounds are great dogs, especially for living in a flat. Any puppy you get will be hard work for a while regardless of breed, it’s a massive commitment, it’s almost like having a baby (although I’m sure you already know that).

There’s nothing wrong with having a dog in a flat as long as you are willing to put the time and effort in to keep them mentally and physically fulfilled. Toilet training can be more draining for you but as long as you’re consistent the puppy will pick it up quickly. I toilet trained a puppy in a flat and that meant taking the puppy down the stairs after every drink, every meal, every play time, every time they woke up and every half an hour or so in between 🤣. It wasn’t a problem for me as I love being outside anyway and puppy picked it up within about 2 weeks. Now as an adult dog, we go out about 5-6 times a day. 3/4 of those will be quick toilet breaks and 2/3 will be walks that are usually at least an hour long. I think you need to really enjoy the outdoors if you want to have a dog in a flat unless it’s a total couch potato that hates the UK weather (like a greyhound). I’d also recommend waiting until Spring/Summer because it’s much nicer to toilet train when the weather isn’t completely awful!

If you are an inexperienced dog owner with no garden it’s impossible to adopt from a rescue (which makes me think I shouldn’t get a dog!).. if you know if any rescues in Scotland that will allow it then please let me know.

I don’t particularly care about the dogs looks, just as long as it’s wee.

Thanks all for the reality checks! My development is safe but I’m still wary about going out in early morning/late at night on my own in the dark. I’m obviously willing to put the work in but it is a lot for just one person.

I’d love a wee pal (and a reason to go outside lol) but maybe it’s just not meant to be!

You could try borrow my doggy :)
that is what my husband and I are doing to give it a go!

I've got a whippet. I don't think they're great first dogs. They're also very nervous dogs so I'd go for something more robust.

There are reputable rescues who would rehome with you. It’s about them working with you to find the right dog. But it would be a lot of hard work initially. We have two dogs, one is a rescue. Our eldest would be quite a happy flat dog I think. She goes for her walks and then likes to snooze. The other would be a bloody nightmare.
If you are genuinely interested in rescuing do PM me but I think you really have to be all in for it to work out.

All the whippets I’ve known would be prefect for this kind of lifestyle as long as you get one that isn’t anxious (ime most aren’t). A small lurcher would also suit - mines sleeps all day and takes up very little space.

Please don’t get a golden retriever in a flat! That is a ridiculous suggestion.

Woz beef

I was answering the original question regarding good breeds for first time owners

but yeah in a flat, I’d go for a poodle OP as
long as you’re willing to feed their brain (2nd most intelligent dog breed in the world after the border collie)

defo not a “cockerpoo” type mongrel

Cairn :)

unpopular and overlooked breed.

don’t get a doodlydoo whatever. As pp have said backyard breeder/puppyfarm plus you have no idea which breed traits it will inherit.

I live in a flat with two dogs and I walk them around 6am every morning, and the last walk around the block is around 9pm, so if you are not willing to go out when it’s dark and a bit eerie outside it probably won’t work. One of my dogs also got a tummy bug not long ago and I had to take him out every other hour throughout the night for two nights in a row. Walking him at 2am and 4am wasn’t lovely, but it’s something you have to be prepared to do unfortunately.

I’ve owned dogs in a flat, but never a puppy... I’m not even sure how you could make that work with a shared garden tbh, because you’re going to have at least 4 weeks (possibly more depending on which vaccinations are used) where you’ve got nowhere to take it out to the toilet.

Rescue greyhound would be ideal and they will rehome to a flat. They are lazy dogs.

Definitely not anything like spaniel , Lab, collie etc. (apart from King Charles)

These are working dogs and need experienced home where they have a job.