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 ❤️

Why not go to a breed rescue instead of getting a puppy.
so many dogs have been dumped since the puppy boom during lockdown.
I know people are recommending Cavalier King Charles but they are often so overbred their brains are too big for their heads. Same for many pedigrees especially pugs.

I would not touch any breeder like this with a bargepole, I’m afraid.

Can I ask why? Genuinely curious

@GreekDogRescue I’ve been on / am on loads of waiting lists and no luck!

Did you check how many dogs they were licensed for?

I have a Lhasa apso- he's the best and so loving. Happy to answer any questions.

I'm so sorry for your loss x

@twinklelight @Sarvanga38 really? Also curious as to why not? I thought it looked really nice

Well, this is the whole issue with marketing really … websites like that do LOOK appealing. However, I would want to be contacting the council to see how many dogs they are licensed for.

To me, they have lots of marketable crossbreeds, lots of litters, and a Google search suggests that they are licensed for 35 dogs. Not the kind of establishment I would buy from.

@Sarvanga38 ahh yes I agree, too many crossbreeds. I didn't know you could search for licensed dogs

i don’t mean some of the Tibetans are nicer than others, they’re charming little dogs and they are great characters to have around. One was a quiet little thing, one was very cocksure and entitled (spoilt!), one was daft as a brush and one used to “talk” at you until you figured out what he wanted.

by watchdog I meant they can be barky but it’s not a yap. They are friendly towards people as a rule even when people come into their homes they’re more likely to welcome them with a wagging tail. They ask “why” as in they can be stubborn and they don’t give immediate obedience like a say golden retriever might. They might stand in the garden refusing to come in unless you wave a biscuit at them.

they’re definitely a dog for someone with a sense of humour but you’ll get a strong bond as long as you’re willing to accept their funny little ways

Whippets are brilliant. Good dogs to have in a flat, can do short walks, don't shed much, curl up small, you can carry them, lovely personalities, not manic.

Or how about a rescue podenco? There are loads looking for homes. Many need to stay on lead but they are such characterful, sensitive dogs.

@Babamamananarama oh my goodness, I've just spent ages looking at rescue podencos. They are so beautiful, wow. I had never heard of them before!

@ZeroWorshipHere hah! The biscuit bit made me laugh! Sensible dog! I'd love a funny pal and I'd love a strong bond. How are they at being left alone for a few hours? I don't know how I'm going to narrow down my list! These all sound amazing

@Baxdream ah, thank you. Yes please, tell me more. Are they barky? Can they be left alone for a few hours? Do they have a personality? Cuddly? Anything really

I have a lurcher he’s really the easiest dog in the world. Loves a good run out but after 45 minutes in the field sleeps the rest of the day. He will go for a second walk in the summer but come winter he refuses to go out after dark!

You don’t need a big garden in my experience. Mine goes out for two minutes to do his business and then he’s straight back in. He has no inclination to be outdoors unless it’s on a proper walk.

I can leave him for a few hours and generally return to him still asleep in the same position (flat on his back legs akimbo on the sofa). A sofa is a lurchers birth right gave up on dog beds years ago!

They’re a sensitive breed mines very bonded to me, loves to snuggle up but still has moments of puppy like sillyness and loves to play. Not particularly bright but I think that’s what makes him so easy doesn’t seem to require huge amounts of mental stimulation.

my friend had a pondeco, lovely dogs albeit quite shall we say “self directed”!

@Daisrose I’m sorry rescues can make it so hard to adopt in this country.
Despite at one time owning the land on which a charity ran their rescue for free, donating huge amounts to various dog charities, when I moved to my current house with a big fenced garden and offered to foster, they turned me down.
Perhaps they thought I’d stop funding them (I did anyway).
So I worked directly with shelters in Greece who were only too happy for me to adopt.
I now have 7 very happy rescues but I understand not everyone will go to the trouble I did!!

@Daisrose he's so loving. He really is a huge part of our family. He only really barks at the doorbell so I wouldn't describe him as barky. He is great at home alone (he sleeps!). He can manage 5/6 hours albeit we rarely have to.
He's well behaved, clean, can't play fetch or catch though (useless!)