Breed choice - Mini Schnauzer, Havanese, Norfolk Terrier

[OnceICaughtACold]

We are narrowing down puppy choices, does anyone have any views on:
Miniature schnauzer
Havanese
Norfolk/Norwich terriers

We have youngish kids (but this will be my dog!), someone at home all day every day, up to an hour’s solid exercise a day (plus gardening, school run, etc). Happy with grooming/groomer requirements. Would like a dog that’s fairly portable, we do lots of outdoor dog-friendly stuff, good at meeting new people and dogs, not excessively yappy, but those I think are at least as much about training and socialising as breeding.

Had dogs before, but of these breeds only a mini schnauzer (which is slightly putting me off getting another because she was my best friend for 13 years and it feels a bit too much like replacing her!).

Hoping to get a puppy this time next year so narrowing down our choices well in advance to find the right breeder.

I vote mini schnauzer purely because I have one and he is the absolute business😁

I have two DC who were 4 & 6 or so when we got him and he was fab. Small but sturdy, pretty much no shedding, he gets about an hour or off-lead exercise daily in our field.

Worked hard with socialisation during the golden window and as a result he is a little darling with every human and other dog he meets. So polite and calm, loves playing when he can see the other dog (or human) is happy to.

I luff him.

I love Mini S'. But my neighbour has two and they are the yappiest little turds I ever met. Day and night. Literally from dawn to dusk. Her previous three were all the same. And it's not her - she's a brilliant owner (ex breeder and used to be a KC judge so knows dogs). I asked her about it once, and she said if your Mini S wasn't vocal then it was defective. Apparently they really are known for being yappy.

That being said. They are lovely. her youngest is 9 months and utterly devoted to her, brilliant with her grandkids. It's a bit standoffish with other dogs though her others were all fine.

I'd go for a Mini S over the other two in a heart beat - but I just think they're feisty and fun and I don't mind yapping.

We have a Norfolk and she's great with the children. Like all puppies she was nippy and boisterous at the outset but after careful supervision and management, has been a lovely member of the family.

She does have a strong prey drive so recall isn't always great. Otherwise she's perfect.

I’d personally go miniature S as you have experience with the breed and while the other two breeds are lovely majority of havenese I have met unfortunately have some form of separation anxiety and with your lifestyle it seems that the dog will be majorly involved and someone is around everyday, while this is the perfect situation when a dog is known for separation anxiety when left on the occasions you do leave this could potentially be amplified.

Norfolks can make amazing pets but due to their breeding can have a decently high prey drive, and they can bark a lot if not taught from a puppy and are relatively independent sturdy little dogs who can be a bit stubborn🤣 really easy to train though as they thrive of of stimulating exercises and using their energy

However, with a year to go id look at local groups for the breed and KC registered breeders and get chatting to them they’re usually more than happy to allow you to meet the breed, join their waiting lists and share experiences of other litters on the ground as they’ve matured to see what you’re getting yourself into with their dogs and what sort of temperaments they’ve bred

Mini S can be barky and the one I knew was very stubborn. Our yorkie is lovely and not yappy but is a little diva!

Thanks all. I am a bit worried about separation anxiety with a havanese - we would cope but ideally would like to train the dog up to being left alone for a few hours.

I definitely need to look at mini schnauzers again I think. I do think they’re a great mix of loving, fun and feisty!

I have a Miniature Schnauzer now and she never yaps, hardly ever barks at all but her mum didn’t either so I wonder if that’s why because they do have a reputation for being noisy (although I know lots that aren’t).

Have you thought of a Cairn Terrier? I had one while DC was growing up and she was the perfect family dog - cheerful, friendly, tough, loved rough and tumble and all the comings and goings that a young family’s home brings.

I considered a Norfolk/Norwich this time round but good breeders are few and far between.

Just going to throw a border terrier in the mix. I’ve known them and mini S and I think they’re quite similar personalities, but borders less yappy and just a bit nicer imo.

Have you thought about a miniature poodle? We have one and she’s just fabulous. I never thought I would own a poodle, as I had completely the wrong idea about them. This stems in part from the stupid haircuts but it turns out that they are actually really great dogs. We clip our dog ourselves, just once all over.