Recommend your breed to me

[HouseOfEssex]

I'm in the very early stages of thinking about a new dog. Backstory is after waiting years for my first dog we bought an aggressive, resource guarding, anxiety riddled groodle pup. For his safety and ours heartbreakingly we had to rehome to an experienced adult only home last year.

I'm in zero rush but we'd love another dog some time next year. I was criticised roundly on here for having bought a "mongrel" when I posted about the issues we were having. How I should have bought a "pure breed" So, requirements are

• as non shedding as possible (allergies)
• temperament second to none with children
• small to medium sized
• good for a "novice" owner

Any suggestions for breeds I should look at? So far I have minature Schnauzer and Lakeland terriers on my list and would love any advice?

😍

@AdamRyan Thank you for taking the time to read. We had serious issues before the castration but having read and learnt since in hindsight there is no way I would have gone ahead with the castration when I did. I still don't think we could have kept him but it was certainly a mistake

Maybe a schnoodle? I have had poodles and a schnauzer and one cross. The schnauzer was slightly more highly strung and needed more firm boundaries as she could get a bit territorial. The schnoodle was just pure soft and soppiness literally the perfect dog. Poodle was soft and lovely and great with children but was a standard (so bigger) and apparently the smaller ones are more highly strung

The schnoodle look is adorable too :)

And even though I did have a bit of a highly strung schnauzer she was very trainable and lovely with time and some sessions. She just wanted to push her luck and needed a little more bribery where to be honest the schnoodle was just easy! But it can be pot luck!

good luck!

My mini schnauzer is the kindest, most loving,clever, playful, beautiful creature I have ever come across. He's fabulous with our son and always has been and no, he's not nippy or bitey.

He also LOVES long walks and gets the face on if you just nip him out for a quick one!

@Rockingcloggs Thank you for your reply. All the mini schnauzers I know are lovely dogs. I'm just so petrified of getting it wrong again I'm paralysed.

I am also allergic to ddogs op!! We have a very hairy breed too . Unless she is shedding I wash may hands post stroking.. Hair loss does =equal antihistamines daily but small price to pay for me personally.. The Lurchers never affect me at all.
Another pic to help sway
They are also a robust ddog despite their small size. Apart from jabs they never have seen a vet. They are dramatic if they bang a toe or something equally trivial!!
..

You could perhaps scout around for a wirehaired lurcher? We had one that was just like a small scruffy greyhound, she was just as sweet natured but didn't shed half as much and tend not to be as bad for allergies! And quite a bit smaller. But obviously that's very dependent on what's in your local shelters and rescues.

@HAF1119 Thanks for your reply. I wouldn't go for any cross breed again as I feel that I ended up with the worst traits of the poodle and golden retriever with our last dog. I'd hope with a pedigree I could be more confident about temperament

I would say mini / medium poodle ticks most of your boxes.

@Bunnyishotandcross They are gorgeous!! Sound perfect. Sadly I can't see any registered breeders here in Western Australia

A poodle without a daft haircut??

@WinterMusings I have been having a serious think about that this evening. I was thoroughly scolded on my last post for having underestimated the intelligence and demands of the poodle breed which has put me off a bit tbh

@BethDuttonsTwin - this really made me laugh. We're in the same position - both of ours (different breads) are a real pain in the derriere but we all love them to bits. Can't recommend them in the circumstances though.

@HouseOfEssex - good on you for trying again. Ignore the posters giving you a tough time - it's really clear from this, and previous threads, how heartbreaking the decision to give up your previous dog was. For what it's worth, I think you did the right thing. And you're doing the right thing here - lots of research to find the find the right breed and fit. Wishing you the best of luck.

@Sistanotcista I appreciate your post more than you can know, thank you. Even thinking about another dog is terrifying tbh but I have such an ache in me for one I know I'll have to be brave at some point and try again

Have you spent any time with greyhounds? Completely anecdotal of course, but I’ve known a couple of people with dog allergies to be fine with greyhounds.

How about a Tibetan Terrier?

They tick all of your boxes- maybe not the novice owner. But I'd say that depends on your level of commitment!

The puppy stage is hard. They need consistent & gentle training for at least the first 12 months- good citizen dog scheme is great for this!

But once you have put in the time and hard work, you'll end up with a dog that comes with you on long solidarity walks or the local fair ...

They have unique personalities and can be cheeky as they are very clever. They have a low prey drive and dote on their family and despite the name they are not a terrier. Someone described them to me as a dog with a sense of humour- that's what sold them to me!! 😁

The only real downside is, it's not easy to find a well bread puppy. You really need to have your wits about.

@tabulahrasa I haven't, bar the occasional stroke but it would be easy to arrange, I'll look into it, thank you! I hear a lot about how little exercise greyhounds actually need, are they happy with long walks over the countryside? (Although it's bush where I am!)

@Ylvamoon Thanks for the suggestion, no breeders here in Western Australia sadly and I'd want to meet parents ideally

I’ve never owned one, but I’ve had them stay with me and walked other people’s.

But as long as it wasn’t raining they were totally up for normal length walks, just weren’t bored and restless if you could only fit in a short one with a ten minute run around.

They we’re almost fairly unanimous that walking in the rain was not fun though 😂 even with coats on they were reluctant.

We have a basset/spaniel cross and he's the biggest softy going. He's been a dream of a puppy - we have toddler DS's stuff out (as toddlers do) and he never, ever touches any of it. He has his own toy box and goes to that to get something out.
He has the fun of a spaniel with the chilled nature of the basset and couldn't be more loved.
Adored his walks but I'd just as happy with a quick round the block as he is with a nice little trek in the woods.

Nearly two now and we couldn't have chosen a better dog for our family.

Not a Lakeland - they are high prey drive and quite tricky (full gamut of terrier obstinate traits)

If the terrier character however appeals to you, then try a Border, Cairns, Norfolk or Norwich. They are the friendliest and most good-natured terrier breeds, and are low-shedding. Despite being small, they're quite tough (ancestors' job was farmyard ratter) and can go all day.

I started with a rescue Havanese mix and fell in love with the breed. Now I have the mix and two more purebred. They are non shedding but as such need to be groomed or they get lots of tangles. They are called velcro dogs and want to go everywhere you go. They cannot be left home alone very often for long periods of time because they get so anxious being apart from the family. Size is about 11-13 lbs. I take my younger two hiking occasionally, and they can easily do 5 miles but are also fine with a 20 minute neighborhood walk. They are comical little dogs and such good company.

@Carnivore Thank you, another breed I hadn't considered to look at, they sound like wonderful little dogs

@wetotter Thank you for your reply. Family friends always had