Small dog that's not a Terrier?

[Broodywuz]

Just that really
My DD is animal mad and wants her own dog (a family house dog really) We live on a farm and have working border collies which are mainly outside during the day and sleep in the utility at night. We have chickens and our door is wide open most of the time, especially in summer which is putting me off any terrier breed with a high prey drive. I've only ever had working breeds and not much experience with smaller dogs. Something that will sit and cuddle with DD but also happy to come for a decent walk with the other dog and not chase everything that moves! Top of the list at the moment is a King Charles spaniel, what do you think?

Assuming you mean a cavalier and not a King Charles (different breeds)
Ive had cavaliers my whole life and they have all had a bit of a prey drive and will
chase cats/squirrels/sheep/ birds etc if allowed.

All of the really low prey drive dogs I can think of are all quite lazy souls who wouldn’t want a big walk. However I have a few friends with Bichons who seem to have no prey drive at all, and will come along for a couple of hours (and are small enough to carry when they get tired)

My working terriers breeder had five adult terriers living with cats and free range chickens with no issues 😂

Shih-Tzu they are the best little things!

They are so loving and chilled out, happy just to be with you.

Poodle?

Shih-Tzu’s spring to mind, maybe a bischon as well? Although you never really know I suppose, I’ve a Jack Russell cross dachshund with zero prey drive.

Shih-Tzu. I know a few farming families who have them. Fit the bill perfectly. Cavalier King Charles spaniels come with significant health issues.

It really does depend on the individual dog even within a breed.

I've had two standard dachshunds. Both excellent lapdogs, both excellent walkers (Lake District hills no problem) but more than happy not to have a walk in bad weather.
The first wouldn't tolerate anything from blackbird sized up on his lawn. The second, otoh, CBA - the epitome of being so laid back he was horizontal. He'd ignore chickens (well ... once walking through a farmyard one approached him and they cautiously sniffed nose to beak before deciding they weren't very interested in each other.)
We got the second one at 10 months (kept for show, didn't make the grade) - he'd been raised with other dogs and a cat so maybe that inclined him to be less territorial but mainly he was just a lazier more chilled dog than the first.

Probably you'd be better finding an adult with a developed character than a pup of any breed.

What about a corgi? Super friendly, not too high energy, but also very similar to what you know since it's a herding dog.
Might not be small enough though. Mine was a mammoth, 20kg, but they're generally more around 13-16kg.

Cavalier Spaniels are banned in some countries due to.their significant pain issues. I personally think they should be banned here too.

I second a poodle. Or a miniature Schnauzer?

Bichon Frise? MIL has had one for about 10 years and he's a very quiet, sweet little dog. No prey drive that I've ever seen, although he was already middle-aged by the time MIL adopted him.

Thanks all for the replies.

*@EmmaGrundyForPM really, i didn't realise that.
Miniature Schnauzer has been talked about, for some reason I'm just not very keen on a Poodle.

Bichon Frise has been suggested a few times, I don't think I have ever actually met one! I will do some research on this breed.

*@FastFood ooo now that might be a good shout. Never thought about a Corgi

My DSis has a Standard with zero prey drive and will walk for miles. I think she got him through Dachshund Rescue UK.

I've met Bichon Frises, but not sure I've ever done so on a 'decent walk'.

Papillons are small, healthy, intelligent, obedient, social and active. Not known to be the most cuddly, but great little family dogs.

I don't think I ever have either now I think about it.

I wouldn't rule out terriers, they'd be great on a farm, robust and busy little dogs.

They also very soft and incredibly loyal, my terrier would swim through rapids to get to me!

Mine knows what's okay and what's not okay to chase, they're usually clever and easily trainable.

*@Girliefriendlikespuppies what breed of Terrier do you have?

"they're usually clever and easily trainable"

Yes, my JRT is super smart and can easily be trained to do quite complex things, but what we can't do with him, and I've seen it a lot with others of the same breed, is ever rely 100% on him doing what we want. He obeys commands most of the time, but always has a lurking "selective hearing" issue 😀

Mine a cross between a Jack Russell and Yorkshire terrier...

Another corgi vote here. Great fun, loyal, tough dogs. Much more energetic, robust and agile than most would think. Perfect size too

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I think I'm in love!

Just stick the puppy in with the chickens from a young age? 5 mins 8-10 weeks?
I think early exposure is the key? If not a terrier or sighthound?

can’t really comment as I had a Red Setter who was terrified of cows and goats, ignored chickens and roosting birds, would flush but not hunt geese, ignored horses but for some reason loved chasing sheep ( and we are talking scaling 2m walls 1km away.

New dog (cavalier) fully intend on plonking her in the way of a big flock of compliant sheep (farmers permission ) at 13 weeks. Never want a sheep chaser again! Not sure if it works. Maybe some has better knowledge.

Would a small cocker spaniel do? my border collies were quite happy hanging out with a family members cockers and none of them went for the chickens, you can get some smaller ones that like lap cuddles.

Dachshund! They are unbelievably cute and such characters.

I'm a terrier person, but if I was going to have a non-terrier small breed it would definitely be a papillon.

Cavs are lovely dogs but the health issues are horrible.