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The doghouse

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Original poster

What dog breed do I need??

79 replies

CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 20:08

I'm looking to September next year when my youngest starts school, would love to finally get a dog but I am looking for one that will fit my lifestyle. I should probably preface this by saying that I know my criteria won't just come down to breed, and that individual personality and training will factor in too. But can you help me find this dog?! They need to be:

Good with children
Low prey drive - very important, I have a house rabbit, but we have the space make her a separate area if needed
Small to medium size
Not a brachycephalic breed
Active and capable of walking frequently, or small enough for me to carry

I'm having a hard time googling as a lot of the breeds suggested seem to be brachycephalic (French Bulldog etc)

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 26/02/2023 20:13

Avoid any working breed ie spaniel as they all have high prey drives. How much time can you dedicate to training every day? The first 12 months are vital to lay down solid foundations.
How about poodle? Not the cross breeds but a pure one?

GlitteryFarts · 26/02/2023 20:15

Poodle or bishon frise? Or even a mix of the two? Both quite high maintenance coats but a short cut keeps them easy enough to maintain

maxelly · 26/02/2023 20:17

How active do you need? I think the non flat faced lapdogs are your best bets with living happily with the rabbit, so perhaps a Maltese, Pom, Papillon? None of those would be super active dogs but should cope with a long-ish walk if kept fit and used to it, and are easily portable if not? Some poodle strains are lower prey drive too, esp the minis?

GoodChat · 26/02/2023 20:18

We have a Pomeranian. He'd walk for miles or shorter walks multiple times a day, is a fantastic lap dog and loves our very young children. He's also been super easy to train.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 20:18

Oh a poodle would be lovely :)

Both me and my partner are home based and my mum got a spaniel a few months ago so we were researching puppy trainers in our area and there are a few good options, so training shouldn't be a problem.

Would a small poodle be happy with 3 walks or so a day? I get out quite frequently and would really like a dog that can keep up - sorry if this is obvious but we've only ever had lab/shepherd sized breeds growing up!

OP posts:
Soxford1 · 26/02/2023 20:22

Toy poodle

PPop · 26/02/2023 20:32

I wouldn't discount a spaniel, my family has had them my whole life still has them now and I have my own. From puppies they are easy to train to be around other animals, and would fit all other criteria.

Lynca · 26/02/2023 20:39

I have two show type cocker spaniels and they fit all your criteria.
I have also two young children, cats, rabbits and chickens and they all roam freely in the garden together. With careful introductions and desensitisation they are perfectly capable of living harmoniously alongside other animals.

Babyroobs · 26/02/2023 20:42

PPop · 26/02/2023 20:32

I wouldn't discount a spaniel, my family has had them my whole life still has them now and I have my own. From puppies they are easy to train to be around other animals, and would fit all other criteria.

I would second a spaniel. Lovely dogs although do need a lot of exercise and stimulation. Agree that they can have a high prey drive - mine loves to chase squirrels although thankfully never catches them.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 20:54

Ah interesting, thank you for your experiences with spaniels!

My mum has a 7 month old "sprocker" and he has been SO high energy but, he is settling down in to an incredibly loving and harmless dog, he's also suddenly become really good with the kids.

OP posts:
OllytheCollie · 26/02/2023 21:14

Mini poodles can be very active, as can many toys. Don't underestimate small dogs! Also smart and fun to train. But smart means training takes effort.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 21:54

Good point re intelligence and training :)

I'm leaning toward a Bichon Frise and taking the advice of keeping the hair cut quite short (not least because they look cuter IMO Grin )

OP posts:
PPop · 26/02/2023 21:58

CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 20:54

Ah interesting, thank you for your experiences with spaniels!

My mum has a 7 month old "sprocker" and he has been SO high energy but, he is settling down in to an incredibly loving and harmless dog, he's also suddenly become really good with the kids.

I have found more recently working springer types are a tad more chill then the working cockers I've been coming across. I have a working springer she's great, very chill when required but loves to be as active as I am! She's excellent with children, the best of our dogs in the respect (she's the only spaniel the other 2 are sighthounds as that is DH choice when we got the pups wouldn't be without either type now) and is the least of all of ours to take chase of anything. She does have a penchant for birds when we walk up hills but yet doesn't bother my parents chickens who don't fly away as she's been told no!
We do various dog activities and he behaviours is excellent, patient between her turns and then does her thing and loves being sociable with all people. She isn't bothered by other dogs outwith the household, but that's no bad thing imo.

Tygertiger · 26/02/2023 22:00

I have an 18mo sprocker spaniel from working parents. He is the most loving dog imaginable and is brilliant with children. However he has a huge prey drive and categorically could not be trusted around a house rabbit. I could possibly have trained this out of him if necessary but imo it would be far easier to get a dog less prey-focussed to start with. I would second a pedigree poodle! Fabulous dogs.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 22:07

Tygertiger · 26/02/2023 22:00

I have an 18mo sprocker spaniel from working parents. He is the most loving dog imaginable and is brilliant with children. However he has a huge prey drive and categorically could not be trusted around a house rabbit. I could possibly have trained this out of him if necessary but imo it would be far easier to get a dog less prey-focussed to start with. I would second a pedigree poodle! Fabulous dogs.

I love my mum's sprocker very much but I'm inclined to agree with this. I also wouldn't trust myself to be competent enough to train a spaniel that's anything like my mum's not to ever chase a rabbit - he has an instinct to go after moving things for sure.

OP posts:
CrapBucket · 26/02/2023 22:25

They had rough collies on bbc breakfast show today, they seem great.

BUT if you have grown up with labs, its hard to find a different breed, they just won't feel like a 'proper' dog ime. I do think labs are just the ultimate family dog.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 22:32

CrapBucket · 26/02/2023 22:25

They had rough collies on bbc breakfast show today, they seem great.

BUT if you have grown up with labs, its hard to find a different breed, they just won't feel like a 'proper' dog ime. I do think labs are just the ultimate family dog.

I'd absolutely lab even though they're bigger than my current idea of what would suit out home and lifestyle.

However I've read contradictory things on their prey drive, some articles say retrievers are a high prey drive breed, and others say low!

OP posts:
IndiganDop · 26/02/2023 22:38

Cavalier? My mum's cavvie was totally uninterested in chasing anything - ball, squirrel, rabbit, none of it interested her. My cavapoo would definitely not be safe with a rabbit however. Weren't poodles originally water dogs for hunting?

CrapBucket · 26/02/2023 22:38

Can you look after one for a weekend and see if it 'fits'? My lab doesn't chase anything. I think a retrieving dog is very different to a hunter. They have no drive to catch and kill, just to go and get stuff when they are commanded.

TippledPink · 26/02/2023 22:42

I recently got a cocker spaniel, she is almost 5 and is so lovely, not crazy and well behaved! She is happy to walk once or 5 times a day, she really is versatile. I also got a pug cross Jack Russell recently too who is 18 months. She again loves her walks, and doesn't have the flat nose as she inherited a jack Russell longer snout but with all other pug features.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 22:44

I think you guys are right in that it also comes down to the individual dog.

It makes sense to me how a herding breed like a collie would not be inclined to hunt as much, part of me is trying to err on the safest side possible and part of me is wanting to get my "dream breed" as this would be my first dog raised myself from a puppy.

Writing that down that sounds bad, I'd always prioritise the safety of my wonderful house bun, but I could perhaps enquire about individual parents etc.

OP posts:
ilovesushi · 26/02/2023 22:44

Labs have got a low prey drive. Our lab/golden retriever x lives very peacefully with out two cats. Not sure if a rabbit would be able to put a dog in its place in the same way though. Ours exert their authority with the occasional hiss or swipe, but mainly they all chill out on the sofa together.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 22:52

ilovesushi · 26/02/2023 22:44

Labs have got a low prey drive. Our lab/golden retriever x lives very peacefully with out two cats. Not sure if a rabbit would be able to put a dog in its place in the same way though. Ours exert their authority with the occasional hiss or swipe, but mainly they all chill out on the sofa together.

Hmm, that definitely depends on the lab Grin

I walk a working labrador who once tried to scale a 6ft wall after a cat - if I hadn't had him on the lead he'd have been off. He also hugely fixates on sheep and lunges at birds.

His prey drive is crazy - he's worse than my beagle and there's no way on this planet he could be trusted near a rabbit!

ilovesushi · 26/02/2023 22:56

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts yikes! Maybe we got lucky with ours!

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 26/02/2023 23:06

ilovesushi · 26/02/2023 22:56

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts yikes! Maybe we got lucky with ours!

TBF I think he's the exception rather than the rule as the other labs I walk I much more placid and not really interested in prey.

But it just shows that it's more down to the individual than the breed!

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