Dachshund or Cavalier King Charles

[middleagedandinarage]

Tell me about these guys, especially Dachshunds, I know they come in different sizes and coats, do the breed variants have different personality traits too?
Looking for a family dog but would mainly be for DD age 7 who is very gentle and animal mad.

Please don't get a KC Cavalier. Most of them are in pain all the time. The reason they look so cute is that they have been bred so that their skulls are too small, many of them have headaches or worse. Norway has banned the breeding of them, and quite rightly so.

Neither.
The risk of health conditions, pain and expensive vet bills is high for both.

https://www.bva.co.uk/news-and-blog/news-article/wiener-get-a-sausage-dog-worried-vets-lay-out-the-long-and-low-of-dachshund-health-issues-after-crufts-win/

Have a read of this:

https://www.peta.org.uk/blog/cavalier-king-charles-spaniels-health/

Neither of those breeds for the reasons already mentioned.

Aww that's awful, I didn't realise. Thanks, back to the drawing board

Unfortunately quite true about these two breeds. Both our sausage dogs had to be put to sleep quite young due to becoming paralysed when I was a child, it was so distressing for me. I would never have one again.
Everyone that I know with a Cav has had health problems going on, I think it's probably better to find a more hardly breed.
Have you met any Shih Tzus? They have a low prey drive, tend to be good with other dogs/people, they can have cute teddy bear haircuts and they are portable. If you find a good breeder then they have tested for health problems etc.

Do not get a cavalier they have terrible health issues

@middleagedandinarage that's OK, lots of people don't research. At least you've asked and now will make different choices.

These dogs are pretty different personality-wise. How did you land on these breeds, that might help other people suggest breeds for you?

I have only really asked about these because I know nothing about them (clearly 🙈) and haven't met either in real life.
Live rural so looking for something that's happy to go for a decent walk but also happy to snuggle on the sofa. Small/medium size, have always have larger breeds but DD wants a small dog

*@Idolikeanicepieceofcake Shih Tzu's have come up a few times actually, I remember a friend having one and he wasn't very nice which kind of put me off but maybe need to look into them a bit more and try to meet a nice one.

It might be worth starting a new thread asking for suggestions of a breed that meets your criteria.

How about a miniature schnauzer?

Brilliant that you are rethinking, I am sure people here will have good ideas for you.

Something like a bichon frise would be healthier and small. Happy to walk and happy to snooze. Only issue is grooming I guess.

or look at some of the “calmer” terriers. I’m no terrier expert but I believe there’s a scale of energy levels. Maybe a border terrier or Norfolk terrier?

I'd look for a border terrier or a show type cocker spaniel.

A border terrier would be a good choice maybe? Small but energetic, clever, healthy breed, nicest terrier breed imo.

They do need good basic training or can be a handful I think - but that’s true of any energetic working dog.

A show cocker might fit the bill once past the nutty puppy stage. Or as recommended above, a bichon -- we've met a couple of those happily trotting up a fell.

Poodle, if you have a low-stress but active life? They need occupying, and they pick up on arguments, so they aren't for everyone.

Any breed you consider research/google health, training and temperament issues so you go in fully informed.

Especially if the breed has been deformed “designed” for looks - flat face, big eyes, wrinkly skin, hypoallergenic coats, cartoonish characteristics like corkscrew tails, short legs or long backs etc.

Good luck in your search.

We’ve had Bichon Frise, Jack russels, poodles and sausage dogs in my family The poodle and Jack were rubbish with toddlers but great with anyone older. Loyal, playful, cuddly dogs. The Bichon is by far the most laid back and tolerant dog but the grooming is a pain, it has to be frequent or it gets knotty. The Jack is low maintenance but shed quite a lot. The sausage is the most loving, sweet dog, great with everyone but she has sooooo much energy and will trash the house if she’s left alone or not stimulated.
Fluffy dogs need regular grooming but wire haired shed so you need to decide which you can tolerate best. Good luck OP, well done for doing your research.

Our neighbour has a field spaniel who is much calmer than our cocker, and not much bigger. I don't know whether that's typical of the breed.

We've also met a very lovely pair of Havanese -- small, cheery and portable, but more inclined to a half hour walk than all day, and apparently long waiting lists.

I'm going to be that poster and say, apply to your local rescue. It might take a long time to find your perfect dog this way but it's so worth it.

CKCs make lovely family pets. Sweet natured. We had one who lived very happily until almost 15 with no health problems until she was really old. That said, I knew someone else with a CKC who had to be on heart medication for life and the monthly cost was £££, not to mention the suffering for the dog.

Personally I would always avoid cockers. I had quite a few growing up and I know several people with them now. Without exception the dozens I've known seem to be wired in some way (even show types) - either with jumping, constant zoomies, inability to settle, attachment issues or chewing problems far past puppyhood - and recall issues are especially prominent in many cases.

I have a springer and am part of a walking group of spaniels. They're MUCH more obedient and far calmer than most cockers ime and have superb recall with very little effort. Springers get a bad rep as being 'nutty' which always astounds me as it's not my experience at all. As long as you give them an hour offlead a day they're golden and far calmer/lower maintenance than cockers ime.

I posted on a post about a week about about this, but my friends dachshund has cost her £14K because of its back issues. I’ve also yet to meet a daschund that wasn’t (being frank) a vicious, yappy bastard.

Have you considered Bichon or SZ or mini S?