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?

🤣 thanks for the heads up on that!

Our corgi used to love herding our pet ducks, and the ducks appeared to enjoy being herded.

Here’s my bichon out in the mountains….and yes she got up that rock face/scramble. I admit grooming could be an arse, the equafleeces help. I get her sheared like a sheep about every 6weeks, she comes out the groomers looking like a piglet as I want her as short as possible. I don’t brush inbetween grooming appts.

I came on here to suggest this; I had one as a child. Sturdy, active little things, often used in agility. Ours was very much a lapdog, and would make friends with anyone (including, memorably, a burglar, who he greeted like an old friend).

They're from the spaniel family so won't be as interested in the livestock as a terrier would, but obviously you might need to do some training.

We have a mini schnauzer in the family which occasionally will chase a pigeon but tbf he probably learned that from my Border Terrier. Although I have friends with BTs that don't chase a thing.

My neighbour's schnauzer chases anything that moves!

If you put the time in you could train a BT, they're lovely little dogs

A border terrier will go after your rats which may or may not suit you. Check youtube. But if brought up with chickens, would be unlikely to cause a problem there, I wouldn’t think.

Best dogs.

Papillon

They can be quite athletic but also cuddly lap dogs. Great family dogs

A Lhasa Apso or Maltese would work

A couple of times I saw a Papillon doing Agility at Crufts (one of my guilty pleasures watching the small breeds) and it was amazing!

Just in case no one has mentioned it Crufts has Discover Dogs where you can meet examples of all the different breeds and chat to their owners. Well worth a visit.

That's cool!

It’s brilliant! Chance to get actual RL advice from people living with these dogs. Just remember they all love them and will mostly tell you the good stuff. I generally ask what’s the worst/most difficult thing about the breed! Also a chance to find out about health issues.

My dad has a small terrier, supposedly a Patterdale cross, but looks like a Lakeland terrier only smaller, black and wiry, doesn't need or get groomed, and he used to own a chicken farm. The dog was introduced to chickens as a puppy and trained to leave them alone. He would accompany Dad to the farm and go ratting but ignored the chickens. He also grew up with cats and learned not to chase them either. He's 15 now and still loves cuddles. So terriers can work with chickens.

My tuppence-worth from growing up around farms - don't get anything too fussy with long hair or high grooming needs, because you'll spend the whole time washing them!

Poodles are good on farms and love cuddles and walks plus don't cast hair

One of my favourite articles of all time. Get a terrier. I dare you.
https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/gundogs/gundog-breeds/terrier-breeds-anarchists-85061/

Thank you so much for all the replies, so glad I created this thread, given me a lot to think about and look into.

Terriers are entirely trainable if you understand them 😉 Lots competing at the highest levels of the sports and activities but they’re not naturally compliant and you need to make it worth their while. Mine does ok 😉

I completely believe this is the case. I've always had border collies, I feel like they're totally misunderstood. The best dogs when you understand them and give them the environment they need. I'm quite sure Terriers are the same.

Yep. I’ve always had yorkies and don’t recognise the “yappy and snappy” description.

they work best if you treat them like dogs. Don’t carry them round, let them get filthy in the garden, recognise their hunting nature. They are very easy to train off lead as they stay close to the people they trust.

they have a definite sense of mischief but you can learn to bargain with them- mine constantly steals stuff he knows he shouldn’t have as he loves it when we chase him for it. So we offer him something of value to swap, or we have a pile of stuff he’s “not allowed” like cat toys or toilet roll tubes we keep for the pet mice. Lots of fun trying to get his prize off him.

so many people treat them like little toys and don’t allow them to think for themselves. Then you get the issues.

Papillon in agility

Ok so surely that dog is cheating and actually flying with its 'wings'?

(The next video was a basset hound much slower but it had never occurred to me they could even attempt it!).

That reminded me of one of my favourite YouTubes - dachshund flyball.

Miniature Schnauzers have an insane prey drive - they're ratters. I've got one and she's gorgeous and loving but will chase squirrels and birds all day long

Chorkie? Chihuahua x Yorkshire terrier. Mine is absolutely gorgeous. Loves to sit on your lap but equally loves a good walk.

Basenji?