Puppy recommendations

[Daisrose]

Hello all, I’ve name changed as this is incredibly outing. We got a little schnauzer after failed ivf threw up a host of medical conditions for me that I’ve been living with since. She was sassy, sweet, funny, playful and so loving. Basically my little sidekick as I’m also self employed. At 13 months, we went away leaving her with a dog sitter that she adored and very sadly and suddenly, she passed away. It’s been incredibly traumatic and I’m still in the midst of grief. I am finding myself looking at puppies and know we will get another one at some point. I’m looking for recs, a pup that’s playful, loving, has personality, can be left alone for a few hours, happy to go places with me, NO guard dog personalities 🙈 - we were training her out of it but would be lovely not to have that, friendly and happy to be around kids even though we don’t have any. Not massively energetic, happy with a 45min walk plus a couple of walks throughout the day plus some longer ones at the weekend. We are flat living city people with a small garden. I don’t think I want the same breed as I just loved her face so much and know I will compare another to her. My current list is … and yes please don’t give me grief over designer breeds, I’m just looking for a nice dog and I’m sad. And yes, I’m looking at rescue dogs too

Cavapoo
Cavapoochon
Mini golden doodle
Schnoodle
Border terrier
Mini poodle
Bedlington terrier
Mini labradoodle
Lurcher
Australian labradoodle

Lachon, Bichon Lhasa cross
Whippet
Miniature Schnauzer
Havanese
Brussels Griffon

Thank you dog lovers ❤️

Posing

The other breed I would have considered is a min poodle but my OH doesn't like them. They are a lovely temperament but finding a good breeder is just as difficult and also the coat care would worry me. That said they are much more straightforward than the crosses. But Scampit up there is wipe and go. It's bogging here and I am bringing more mud home than she is.

@Newpeep wow, gorgeous! And I see the sassy!! How barky is barky? Our mini was barky 😬 Could I ask you who the breeder was? 🙏

Not as barky as a mini schnautzer 😂I teach one and crikey she has a gob on her. Fab little dog though.

She barks when we get to a walk, or home, and also when someone comes to the door. Normal dog stuff really and she soon quietens down. We are doing some desensitisation to it and she is improving. She is a VERY smart cookie so learns quickly which can be a blessing and a curse. Our last dog was similar in bark levels. She 'chats' when she is excited or tired but that's quite funny. Nothing you'd not expect from a young dog but our last dog was 17 when she died and had been deaf for years so it was a bit of a shock when she first found her voice!

I had a Border Terrier for 13 years until he died last year. He was the best dog. He would bark but he also knew the command "quiet" which worked. I can say much like @Newpeep he was very like her description.

My MIL has a mini schnauzer and he barks far more than our Border did. Honestly, if you loved the Schnauzer for its terrier like traits then you'd love a Border Terrier. Having seen a mini and a BT together they are absolutely different dogs but they were the best of pals and you'd not go wrong with a BT!

A well trained border is a delight, but they do need training esp in recall and canine manners. We've had a few round here who barrel up to other dogs, get right in their faces - and then, when the other dogs tells them off, they get shitty and snap rather than backing down. Recipe for a dog fight.

Again that's due to understanding what they were bred for. They are lone workers so need to act before taking commands as such. Like all terriers although BTs originally were bred to run with the hounds and flush rather than kill.

You can help them a lot with learning self control by using simple games with food and toys and teaching waits and stays which all helps to get them to think before they act. That then carries over to everyday life. Ours still has her puppy licence so dogs tolerate her if she has a moment but she is becoming more think before she does and also we call her on if we feel she is going to push her luck. That does take time and effort though. I do find males much harder to teach these things to and their focus generally which is why we went for a bitch.

Oh I am sorry OP and I would be the same. I can highly recommend mini poodles (not that mini, that's teacups and toys) if you need a curly companion to light up your life. Only aspect to be aware of is costly groom needed every 6+ weeks (mine lasts 8 weeks) but the upside is zero shedding. Hope you find a match soon. (FWIW I think no to cavaliers on health grounds) 🐕😊

@Offleyhoo thanks, we’re heartbroken. And it’s daunting to start again. Will definitely look at mini poodles, I just worry they’re a bit mental?! I remembered this afternoon that my vet warned me off cavaliers for their heart issues

@Newpeep very interesting, re the male v girl aspect. I’m more drawn to having a girl so glad to be backed up! Have to admit that sounds like a lot of training @Newpeep - or is it the normal
amount that’s generally required?

@PieonaBarm sorry about your loss. Yours sounded like a delight. I’m not sure what the terrier aspects in our mini were tbh! I just loved her so much

Interesting that no one has said lurcher

Border terrier. I don't know a single owner with one who wouldn't recommend them.

Sturdy, cheerful little characters. Happy to run, happy to snuggle. I've yet to come across one I didn't like

i have a lurcher and she is the easiest dog ever. so chilled, amazing with my kids, happy with a run around the local field three times a day and then straight back onto the sofa. we can easily leave her alone for a few hours because all she does is sleep! and you can literally count on one hand the number of times she barks in a month, and even then it’s just one or two quick barks. i also have a whippet who is basically the same. they really are the most laid back easy going dogs ever.

We have a Border Terrier and we got her for exactly the same reason, I knew if we got another Labrador we’d always be comparing. She’s a fab dog, very easy, well socialised so good with other dogs, quite independent but comes for a cuddle. She does bark but normally when our DC are winding her up, otherwise we don’t find it an issue. We hand strip ours a couple of times a year, it’s pretty easy, there’s a Facebook group which is very informative and will give you the confidence to do yourself. She’s always come back on a whistle and a treat - as very food driven!

Lurchers are crosses so you the variety is huge. You get the chilled out greyhound-esque ones and you get some batshit ones.
my friend has one that is an absolute whirlwind. We meet them for walks sometimes and im very glad I don’t live with that dog… it would drive me demented

He needed a firm hand but once we'd trained him he was brilliant. But you have to be consistent with them, they react well to it and they need it!

Lurchers are fabulous but have massive variation. It depends on their make up breed wise as to temperament.

Training they’ll take as much or as little as you want. Being a trainer I enjoy it but I know others who just do the basics (recall) and they are fine too.

Cairns would be one to add too if you’re thinking terrier. Westies used to be nice but again health problems.

So sad to lose a pet Lhasa Apso sounds a perfect fit to me. Delightful little characters, if I ever got another dog (or could persuade DH 😂) I would choose a Lhasa Apso. Good luck OP.

Get a Bichon Frise, i've had 2 over many years and they are everything your looking for, sweet, playful, friendly, they love everyone, happy with 3 walks a day and love going in the garden, they get on well with cats and other dogs, the only expense is the grooming, i now have a labrador i adore but she's totally food obsessed and needs lots of exercise unlike my bichons, they were happy with a walk around the block and our garden

I love my old border terrier and they are sweet little dogs especially with socialisation and a bit of training. It's a shame about the potential health issues with a cavalier as they do have the sweetest nature's and are really laid back, friendly little dogs - I wouldn't rule them out I'd just look into breeders carefully.
I've found with lurchers and whippets they can be fairly challenging as puppies (although most breeds are to a point they aren't quite as motivated as some breeds) but are often ideal dogs as adults - happy to go for a walk, happy to lounge, laid back and affectionate.

@Rainbowstripes so many people enjoying border terriers! thank you. Cavaliers are very sweet, I'll have a think. Interesting re whippets & lurchers as puppies. As lurchers are so variable, probably best to get an older rescue one

@decadance they are so sweet. I used to see two on my morning walks. The only thing that puts me off is keeping them white!

@Roselilly36 thank you, it's been horrible. Lhasa Apso seem really interesting! I don't know any, so I need to find one to meet

@Newpeep seems to be quite a few lurcher rescues so that may be a route... our mini loved training and it made me laugh so hard when she'd be like - I know this one! Yes, don't know any Cairns but could be interesting. Had a Westie, adored it - not sure I could do it again for the comparison