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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:
currantbee · 27/02/2023 11:37

I've seen a lab on Instagram that lives with a house rabbit but I wouldn't trust my lab anywhere near one. It really does come down to the individual dog, and I suspect in part their upbringing.

Original poster
CandlelightGlow · 27/02/2023 11:40

currantbee · 27/02/2023 11:37

I've seen a lab on Instagram that lives with a house rabbit but I wouldn't trust my lab anywhere near one. It really does come down to the individual dog, and I suspect in part their upbringing.

That's what I'm hoping, I'm hoping because we already have a rabbit, the pup would be around them from very young. I imagine there being a transition period during the mad puppy months where the rabbit would need to be kept enclosed.

To be honest, my bun is quite a lazy one, she spends a lot of the day lounging in her litter enclosure with her hay, her life wouldn't change much if we needed to secure her a bit more, but I can't have her being terrified in her own home by a prey drive dog. They'd need to at least not be obsessed with the rabbit and be actively stressing her

OP posts:
ProbablyDogNappersHunX · 27/02/2023 11:46

Pomeranians... We've had one of them too. They're opinionated little dogs, and often a bit snappy. Larger, fluffier chihuahuas in many ways, or a jack russell with more fluff, more health problems and less prey drive. Ours used to get a certain distance around on the walk, sit down and point blank refused to move - she had to be carried instead. I always got the impression she thought she should be in a coffee shop, not being dragged around the park like some common mutt.

Any dog can snap, but poms do seem to have a lower tolerance threshold for things they find distasteful.

I'm not saying don't get one, but your child will have to be slightly more savvy with dogs and you will have to be happy with a dog that has firm opinions on a variety of topics.

Papillons are rather more happy-go-lucky!

Hellopello · 27/02/2023 11:54

Would you consider waiting while you still have a house rabbit ?
You wouldn’t be able to leave the dog and house rabbit together unattended even if dog had very low prey drive.

OohMrDarcy · 27/02/2023 11:55

miniature poodle! Mine is on the smaller side but happy with as much or as little exercise as he gets (as long as a day off is swapped for training / brain games)
If I have to go out without him, he loves getting his puzzle toys and then just naps. I've yet to see him too tired to complete a walk and he's done up to 4 hrs, but is more than happy with 45 mins too!

GoodChat · 27/02/2023 11:56

ProbablyDogNappersHunX · 27/02/2023 11:46

Pomeranians... We've had one of them too. They're opinionated little dogs, and often a bit snappy. Larger, fluffier chihuahuas in many ways, or a jack russell with more fluff, more health problems and less prey drive. Ours used to get a certain distance around on the walk, sit down and point blank refused to move - she had to be carried instead. I always got the impression she thought she should be in a coffee shop, not being dragged around the park like some common mutt.

Any dog can snap, but poms do seem to have a lower tolerance threshold for things they find distasteful.

I'm not saying don't get one, but your child will have to be slightly more savvy with dogs and you will have to be happy with a dog that has firm opinions on a variety of topics.

Papillons are rather more happy-go-lucky!

My experience is the opposite of this - apart from a knee problem which has been fixed with surgery.

All the poms I know are super soft and sensitive.

Although I agree about the children - don't get a pom if they don't know how to be really gentle or if they'll want to pick them up a lot.

lobeliasb · 27/02/2023 12:00

We have a Pomeranian as well as a Papillon, and the pom is much more of a lap dog. She is a lot more wary of strangers and is a one-person dog, and the pom I had prior to our current one was the same. She loves me and follows me everywhere, but is not that fussed with DH and doesn't really like kids and can be very jealous. Poms require a lot of grooming as well. I wouldn't really recommend a Pomeranian if you have small kids - she isn't as agile and able to leap out of the way as our Papillon is. She is happy to go on walks, but doesn't need much exercise to be content, and is not as easy to train as the pap. Pomeranians aren't really eager to please and are funny little things with a lot of attitude. I love them but don't think they are for everyone.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 27/02/2023 12:03

They'd need to at least not be obsessed with the rabbit and be actively stressing her

Most prey animals would find living in sight of a predator incredibly stressful.

You really need to plan to keep the rabbit totally out of sight of the dog or wait until he's passed away.

It's not fair on the rabbit to expect him to suddenly cope with a predator in his house and it would only take a second for the dog to catch and kill him.

My dog has caught and eaten rabbits on walks before - one in the house would be child's play in comparison.

MaggieMagpie357 · 27/02/2023 12:08

We have a Yorkie Apso (Yorkshire terrier x Lhasa apso) they are bred for their calm temperament and easy going nature. Ours is great with our cat, doesn't chase and would rather be friends if the cat was agreeable!! Small enough to carry but is able to walk quite a long way. Although can be stubborn and sniffy!! Only ever barks at the door and loves cuddles.

poddlefan · 27/02/2023 14:57

My 11 yr old partially sighted but very fit mini poodle I have always said has a very low prey drive but he was walking with his lurcher friend, the other week and he started to chase a rabbit and my poodle quickly joined in and they caught it well the lurcher caught it first. Now every time we go back to that spot he goes off looking for more rabbits IMO and in the opinion of all where I live rabbits are pests so I'm not bothered but perhaps his prey drive isn't as low as I think it is. He also accidentally caught and killed a blackbird last year it flew up in front of his nose he snapped at it and caught it he spat it out and looked totally surprised that he'd done this. He wont chase cows/sheep/horses etc in fact he wont even look at them and is petrified of stroppy cats. Im not sure you can 100% trust any dog around a rabbit.

ildaogden · 27/02/2023 15:15

I have a bichon, she is 11 and definitely would love 3 walks a day! When she was younger she would walk for over an hour and never complain.
She does very much chase squirrels and pigeons though, would not trust her with a rabbit but I suppose they could be trained from young.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 27/02/2023 15:39

Chihuahua.They melt your heart

GoodChat · 27/02/2023 15:52

PrincessHoneysuckle · 27/02/2023 15:39

Chihuahua.They melt your heart

They're bitey little bastards

HappyBirthdayLydia · 27/02/2023 15:59

Miniature Schnauzer fits your bill. Very intelligent, happy to be lazy or go on treks, would need training around the house rabbit but low to no shedding, extremely loyal and sociable with kids and adults

MissVantaBlack · 27/02/2023 16:11

Ive heard this said before about cavaliers so perhaps ours is unusual but she will chase anything that moves!

Mine too! Although she is a cross-breed, but more cavvie than anything else. She's a lovely little dog, great with the kids - but I definitely wouldn't trust her with a house rabbit, as she has a high prey drive.

Fredoraly · 27/02/2023 16:13

Miniature poodles have nicer temperaments than toys.

dazzlingdeborahrose · 27/02/2023 16:16

We've got two cavaliers. One has an incredibly high prey drive. The other not so much but would chase something if it piqued his interest enough (he's nearly 14 now so less interested). There's a certain myth about cavs that they're easy going lap dogs. They are spaniels, they're ruled by their nose and they love exercise. They're also entitled little shits 🤣. All that said, they are fabulous little dogs.

Snoopystick · 27/02/2023 16:17

HappyBirthdayLydia · 27/02/2023 15:59

Miniature Schnauzer fits your bill. Very intelligent, happy to be lazy or go on treks, would need training around the house rabbit but low to no shedding, extremely loyal and sociable with kids and adults

Was just going to say this. My friend has one and he is the most laid back dog, he’s also the perfect size for a cuddle.

sillysmiles · 27/02/2023 16:23

How old is your rabbit and how long do they typically live?

LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 27/02/2023 16:24

CandlelightGlow · 26/02/2023 22:32

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!

Show quote history

I think that as a rule Labradors/retrivers tend to have 'soft' mouths - for collecting rather than killing.

(I doubted this but when young and untrained, ours caught a large frog, ran about with it, and let it go unharmed. He also picked up a wild baby rabbit - as if it was a puppy - and again let it go unharmed.)

They do like to chase moving things -and can kill - but are not killers-born!
Ours drops anything that squeaks.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 27/02/2023 16:27

@GoodChat well yes that aswell i supposeGrin
Not all are though my girl isn't.

momager1 · 27/02/2023 16:43

I have two standard poodles. I would not have another breed myself ever. these are my 3rd and her son my 4th from the same breeder. they cannot be carried lmao..but they think they are lap dogs. they are happy with a couple walks a day.. they like to play, but like to sleep more lol. they are bed hogs...couch hogs..they love next doors cat that often gets in our garden, and once in a while sneaks in house when i have door propped for groceries!!! Meet Gracie and her dipshit son Oliver

What dog breed do I need??
ProbablyDogNappersHunX · 27/02/2023 17:30

lobeliasb · 27/02/2023 12:00

We have a Pomeranian as well as a Papillon, and the pom is much more of a lap dog. She is a lot more wary of strangers and is a one-person dog, and the pom I had prior to our current one was the same. She loves me and follows me everywhere, but is not that fussed with DH and doesn't really like kids and can be very jealous. Poms require a lot of grooming as well. I wouldn't really recommend a Pomeranian if you have small kids - she isn't as agile and able to leap out of the way as our Papillon is. She is happy to go on walks, but doesn't need much exercise to be content, and is not as easy to train as the pap. Pomeranians aren't really eager to please and are funny little things with a lot of attitude. I love them but don't think they are for everyone.

Funny to meet someone who has had the same unusual pairing. It brought back a good few memories (ours died 15 years ago or so) but I agree with everything you've said!

pilates · 27/02/2023 19:08

Miniature schnauzer