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?

Yes- that's exactly what I mean by health profile- proper genetic tests for both parents and grandparents, I don't mean just a check up at the vet!

A jagd terrier is a hunting breed though.

Never even heard of these, will look into them. Thanks

Barbra Streisand loved her coton de tulear so much she had it cloned!

I grew up with two corgis. Lovely loyal little dogs with great personalities. Funnily enough I was fondly reminiscing about them with my sister only yesterday.

Mini schnauzer every time. Gorgeous personalities, inquisitive, clever, fab companions.

We have four dogs and the one I would recommend for your set up is the miniature dachshund. Incredibly cuddly but keeps up on daily long walks. Perhaps he’s unusual but he has no interest in pursuing chickens or anything else and is the only dog ever I’ve seen actually being chased by sheep.

I had a show cocker. He’d happily walk for hours with me but also loved cuddles on the sofa. We had chickens and cats when we got him. He was fine with the chickens but a bit of a bugger with the cats. He was a bit of an idiot though and the cats were feisty!

I adore dachshunds of all types but there are so many around at the moment (especially minis) they can't possibly all be coming from good breeders so I'd be very careful.

Corgis will love to herd the sheep.

I know a yorkie is a terrier but IME their prey drive is almost exclusively limited to small rodents. We live rurally and he’s more use than the cat keeping us mouse free.

my yorkies have all been fine around sheep, chickens, horses etc. I had one the sheep loved- if I saw them stood in a circle I knew the dog would be in the middle and need rescuing 😂.

definitely fits the cuddly spec, can do reasonable walks, but is happiest either patrolling for mice or snuggled on a lap.

Tibetan Spaniel

Chihuahua

I see it's been mentioned but I'm here to cheer for the Tibetan Terrier too. Gorgeous dogs. Not actually a terrier, they're companion dogs. Ours was happy with a long walk or sleeping on the sofa. Lovely companion dogs. Really nice size. Ours used to try and guard us when we went for a walk as a family, constantly circling to make sure everyone was ok.

I love Chi's, but Chi has to be carried if it's a 'substantial walk'.

I'd always look for mongrels, mongrels must come in small sizes, too. Most dogs can be trained. Pug-dashund heavy mongrel might suit, one that looks like they did in Queen Vic's day (long legs).

What about a Tibetan Terrier? They're not actually terriers, and the farm environment and small animals will be more of a training thing. My dad and step brothers have Tibetans, very robust little things but lovely. Most pics of them have them with long coats, but these can just as easily be clipped short, both the Tibetans in the family have their coats kept short.

I have a Chihuahua cross who ticks the boxes for cuddles and low prey drive (she's great with my rabbits) but not for long walks, she's happy with 40mins - 1 hour a day. If we try longer walks she gets knee pain, they are prone to patellar luxation.

Miniature Pinschers are great, fun little dogs, so much character, and highly intelligent. They are classed as a toy breed, but I'd say they are more terrier really. They can have a high prey drive, but equally can be trained out of it, and are very food reward driven, so they're easily trainable, and very eager to please (if they think they're going to get a piece of cheese out of it!). Ours have lived with free range chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs, and cats, and and out of the four of them, only one needed a closer eye on, and more vigorous training to "leave" certain animals. Early introduction is absolutely key, and if introduced to small furries when young, constant supervision until you know what can trigger a chase response, and lots and lots of training and praise, you should be fine. They are little pocket rockets, can go for hours and hours on end with no signs of fatigue, two of ours did really well at agility, they can jump so high for tiny dogs, and are constantly going at full speed when given the opportunity, but are also the sweetest little lap dogs who love cuddles, and will happily curl up on the sofa all day. Low shedding, extremely easy to care for short coat, and very few genetic issues to worry about. My eldest dog will be 16 this year and has never had any health issues. None of them have.

I imagine training accounts for a lot. Plenty of recommendations for Shih-Tzu, but I've known a couple of nasty ones.

Border terrier fan here. But I have seen a daxie out at exercise with a bloke on a bike. Ears were being exercised and all. Not what I expected to see but they were obviously very used to the routine.

Another vote for a Bichon. We had ours with chickens, ducks and cats. No issues.

We have a miniature schnauzer and he is very very terrier like. Think in the US they are classed as terriers. He’s never actually caught anything but he’d definitely like to. He’s amazing but I wouldn’t get a miniature schnauzer if I didn’t want a terrier.

Well yes, I have one myself. But they were originally bred to hunt out rats and other small prey, mine has a very high prey drive!

They look a lot like Manchester terriers/toy terriers, or the Pražský Krysařík (Prague Ratter)

Re border terriers, someone I know in our neighbourhood who has a reputation for escaping and killing ducks and even geese!

Another vote for Tibetan terrier. They’re not terriers, they’re a utility dog which were used for herding, guarding and companionship in Tibet. They are beautiful, funny, clownish little dogs - they’re often called “the little people” in Tibet. They love their families, they don’t have a very high prey drive and my parent’s one will even ignore rats in the garden. They are good watchdogs and will definitely let you know when someone is coming. They’re agile, love climbing up high things and can be accomplished agility dogs. They get into everything and want to be involved in everything you do. They have beautiful long non shedding coats but you can just keep them in a puppy cut.

the downside of a people loving dog is that separation anxiety is practically a breed trait. They can be stubborn and when you tell them to do something their first question is “why”. They respond to firm but gentle handling and positive reinforcement and a good sense of humour from their owner. Clicker training is very effective. In my experience boys are more cuddly

just be careful of breeders and check the bloodlines carefully - some of the more prolific (ie they post a lot of puppies) breeders line breed so check pedigrees and don’t buy off gumtree or pets4homes

Do not get anything poodle/poodle cross if you live on a farm!

I have a poodle mix and wet weather really ruins my day 🤣 they are high enough maintenance grooming wise as it is, throw rain and mud in to the equation and I swear it would be easier to just throw the whole dog out!