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?

@wetotter They always had border terriers and I remember them as having wonderful characters, stubborn though!

As long as you are willing to brush and can afford a groomer, I would say
Shih Tzu
Pomeranian
Schnauzers - when they are good they are very, very good but when they are bad they are banned from the groomers (my daughter's dog is this kind)
Credentials -
I have had personal dogs for 66 years (started with a collie at age 4 and Cairns and Shelties and Poodles - finally Shih Tzu and Poms) also I was a Small Dog Rescue Foster Home for 15 years and fostered every breed from Chihuahuas to Pomskys.

A whippet
We have a gorgeous cavapoochon but he's very anxious (although he's definitely getting better), he's quite barky too. He's also an amazing family dog for us but I think if we we got another I'd love a whippet. So chilled out.

I have a border terrier and I love her

Pros:
Brilliant with kids
Loves people
Hardy dog
Will walk for miles and miles over mountains
Or will happily sleep all day on the sofa
Not too much shedding if you get them stripped twice a year
Easy to train
Intelligent dog
Isn't a chewer (except Amazon cardboard)
Loves to play

Cons:
Can have shit recall
Can be reactive towards other dogs (or small furry animals) so socialisation as a puppy is a must
Can be an escape artist
They need a leader

I have a border terrier and she is brilliant. She is my first dog so I was a complete novice although I did loads of research before I got her.

She loves her walks and could walk for ever but she is also very lazy and chilled in the house and perfectly happy to just snooze and potter about.

She was a dreadful shark when she was tiny but grew out of that stage by the time she was about 20 weeks old

She can be feisty and stubborn and is a total knob at times but no more than other dogs I'm sure. She has a wonderful nature and everyone who meets her falls in love with her.

Re grooming she's low maintenance, get her stripped twice a year and she doesn't really need much in-between. She does shed but not loads.

Borders are pretty easy to train as they are wanting to please, my only criticism of her would be that she does have a prey drive so if she sees a squirrel she will ignore me calling her. Other than that she's pretty good.

It’s not often shedding that determines how allergic you will be. It’s often dander rather than hair people are allergic to.

@Wolfiefan of course, I should have been more specific and mentioned allergies.

@Wolfiefan Do you have any breed suggestions or just here to pick apart my OP?

I came on to say MS. They are very affectionate and loving. I wouldn’t say more bitey than any other puppy.

@Milkand2sugarsplease

Bassett & Spaniel?! My mind is bent!!

any chance of photos??

@HouseOfEssex I think after everything, you're brave trying again.

personally I think you should get a Koala!!

Ah, you really do want a little whippet. Will tick all your boxes.

(However I have to say my whippet's best buddy is a mini schnauzer and he is a cracking little dog, and soooooo soft.)

That being said, I also met a mini schnauzer puppy the other day and blimey was it barky. (My whippet is silent, so it was quite the earful).

@WinterMusings he's got short little basset legs and a long body but then the body of a spaniel really.

Lhasa apso. He is all of your list. We got ours when the kids were 7 and 9. He's now 8 and he's absolutely brilliant.
He loves children, especially toddlers (I assume similar size). He absolutely rules this house but he is brilliant. Lazy, loving, sulky, fussy, happy, quiet, clean and cat like 😂

I would recommend a small to medium lurcher. They are lovely natures dogs who love to snooze and also love a walk but don't need masses of exercise There are so many In kennels because they fall into the wrong hands and end up on the street very sad. Best thing we ever did was rescue ours and it's the only breed I'd ever have now.

I am interested in a havanese but really struggling to find much info in the UK are there any websites or groups you recommend?

Op with regard to the border terriers they often come up on good for allergies but I haven't found that for me, poodles, westies, bichon frise all fine but borders do set me off.

why do people keep suggesting crosses?

a) crossing a poodle makes it more likely to shed/trigger allergies
b) crosses could be any combination of breed traits. You can get a cavapoo which sheds, triggers allergies, high grooming needs, has high anxiety but intelligent so constantly thinking up ways to get itself in trouble.

for example some recommended a schnoodle. My neighbour has one- serious separation anxiety, no recall (and has years of professional training), and has numerous health issues as it seems to have inherited every poodle and schnauzer issue.

o/p wants something reasonably reliable to have the breed traits she wants.

I have a yorkie which would cope with 5k walks (or none) easily. Non shedding, “hair” rather than fur so don’t trigger allergies. Most are clipped short these days so apart from the regular clips not much maintenance.

I would also recommend a cairn. Underrated wee dogs. The one I had didn’t shed much but you’d have to try them out to see if you react.

@HouseOfEssex well you won’t want my breed as it doesn’t fit your brief! But as someone who suffers with allergies I do think it’s helpful to know it’s not as simple as no shedding equals no allergies.
And knowing how much exercise etc you can give is extremely important.

@Milkand2sugarsplease thank you for indulging me! He's gorgeous!! You can definitely see both in him.

I'm a spaniel girl, but love Bassets too. He looks very cuddly 😊

I'm a Spaniel girl too but they don't fit your needs OP.

Wire haired lurchers are awesome though.

Dachshund- I have two and they are wonderful!

(But barky, we're in a detached house - would stress me out in a terrace)

I have a miniature poodle, I know lots of people go on about how they need mind games and God knows what else well mine doesn't. I treat him like a dog not a "fur baby" he's walked twice a day, he'll easily walk 5 km or not if its pissing with rain or 10 km or more if you want, he can be left, he's never chewed anything he shouldn't in his whole life, he's an easy going, super easy to train, non barking (unlike schnauzers from everything I've seen and read) just a happy well adjusted easy little dog who just wants to please. We were told that some breeders consider the black ones to be the easiest and least neurotic mine is black.

Someone has already suggested Havanese and would add to that, I have never been a huge fan of dogs, but we now have the most beautiful funny loving little Havanese - they are so comical and gentle and just generally adorable. Need a lot of brushing though, even if kept short and definitely are Velcro but she has added so much to my life, I am now a convert to the wider world of dogs!

I've got a working cocker spaniel. Probably not right for you but he's the love of my life.

Have you thought about cavalier King Charles spaniel - I haven't had one personally but know people who do and I am told that are easily trainable and good little dogs generally. Not sure about the shedding though.

Border terriers also??

Ignore criticisms re: rehoming your last dog. I've been there and it was absolutely the saddest experience of my life. You have to do what is right for your family and your children's safety.

I have a shi tzu - did lots of research as wanted a breed which was good with kids and ours totally is, friendly with people and other dogs, silly, sweet and snuggly, but pretty sturdy too, he's had hardly any health problems compared to neighbours dogs.