What breed would you recommend for me, small, not too bonkers, wire haired

[CormorantStrikesBack]

So adult only household, I wfh 3 days a week, have a dog walker the other days. On days when I wfh and at weekends dog would get a minimum of an hour off lead walk.

i have previously had a greyhound (can’t cope with being the unofficial hare courser of the village again), a Portuguese podengo Pequano and currently have a cavachon.

My cavachon is lovely though not the most athletic. She kept up with hill walking to about the age of 6yo and then refused to come hill walking anymore. Though now she’s 10yo she still happily runs around in the fields for an hour. To be honest the main thing which puts me off another cavachon is the grooming.

i am torn between getting another dog of a similar temperament to her (but what) or getting something slightly more energetic but is that a good idea if I’m out at work two days a week? Occasionally three days a week.

dogs I’ve considered

wire haired daschund, am worried about back issues
jack Russell, border terrier, welsh terriers…..are they too bonkers?

is there a terrier league table of bonkers levels?

I like Norfolk and Norwich terriers but read about hip problems and heart problems.

i might consider another podengo pequano. The last one was a “rescue” and a horrible temperament and savaged people left tight and centre……but i do know a good breeder who I’ve spoken to in the past so would be more confident of a puppy from her. Dh still has ptsd from that dog though and might shoot me! 😆🙈

A border from a really good breeder.

Thank you. I certainly can’t risk the cats.

i agree if you start as a puppy a terrier should be ok, the cat will rule the house!

So on the two days you get a dog walker, who is going to be with the dog the rest of the day if you’re not there? Surely you won’t leave a puppy alone for several hours?

Edit - to say this is actually not a dig but an important question, not only for the dogs well being but for OP. Some dogs simply cannot be left that long - even as adults.

It would be six hours I’d be out the house with a dog walker coming in the middle and another dog for company. Might not be ideal but my previous dogs seemed ok with it.

Tbh, I wouldn’t get a puppy. Your house will be covered in shit over that six hour period and god knows the chaos a puppy would get up to without supervision…

You’d be better off getting a rescue!

Basset fauve might fit the bill, hound not terrier so potentially better with cats. Smallish, wire haired, personality in bucket loads.

It would be six hours I’d be out the house with a dog walker coming in the middle and another dog for company. Might not be ideal but my previous dogs seemed ok with it.

You can't leave a puppy on its own for six hours with just a walker coming in halfway through - it's not fair. You're going to need to come up with another plan for the days you're out of the house.

I'm a dog walker and I can't tell you how many times people asked me for puppy visits only to turn around two weeks later and cancel because they've had to book daycare instead!

BORDER!!!!!

There is a doggy daycare recently opened near me so that’s a possibility, i hadn’t thought about that. Thanks.

They look lovely too, thank you.

I have two cats and my border is fine with them. She was a bit of a pest when she was a baby as she would chase them and bark at them but if they're introduced to each other properly all will be fine.

To be fair I would not trust my girl with a cat she doesn't live with but she's four now and her and my cats are fine. Well her and one of the cats are fine and get along great and my other cat, well she's scared of her lol. Honestly, the cats will soon show pup who is boss.

Make sure you book things like daycare well in advance and check they have the space to accommodate what you'll need.

I have so many potential clients who get dogs and wait until the last minute to arrange care, then get all stressed because nobody can accommodate them.

I've been pretty much fully booked up for months now with a considerable waiting list. I wouldn't be able to take on any new dogs unless they could go with other dogs at specific times on specific days.

Basically think of it like nursery - you have to get their name down well in advance, but even then there's no guarantee your puppy will settle unfortunately!

I know a very nice Irish terrier, very mellow.

I lost my Norfolk Terrier two years ago and still miss him every day. He was the best dog I’ve ever had. If I could afford to buy a Norfolk puppy I’d go buy one in a heartbeat (they are difficult to find though).

I agree 6h is too long for a puppy even with a walker coming over. You might have to make an alternative plan for the first 6 months at least, some sort of daycare or some walkers around ours do daycare in their homes.

Border terrier would suit you. Or a bichon frise? My friend has 2 (one is a cavalier x bichon frise) they are both lovely and don't moult.

The OP has cats and you are recommending Border Terriers.

Be ready for the madness to begin

I suspect a lot of people have missed it as it's not in the original post.

It's really not a good idea though IMO, especially if the puppy is going to be left home alone for considerable amounts of time.

We have a Patterdale terrier and she's amazing. Wouldn't hesitate in getting another. No prey drive (didn't come from working stock), can be slightly bonkers when we allow (loves to play hide & seek) and energetic/lazy in equal measure.
We also have a cat and they've got along fabulously since day 1. We did exchange blankets with each other scent on to familiarise them before collecting pup.

We had a working line JRT with a cat. The cat was there first, and the cat ruled. MIL likewise - she had a posse of JRTs, and a cat.

I currently have two hard-hunting, prey-driven gundogs. They lived with a cat until he died of old age.

Our dogs and cats have always slept in the kitchen overnight.

My parents have a Border terrier and a cat and it’s never been an issue. Cat was adult when the dog was a puppy. She’s a fab little dog, affectionate, can take her anywhere, touch of feisty terrier to keep you on your toes.

Border terrier, they are the type of dog that will hike up mountains with you or sit on the sofa. Mine is currently snoring her head off in a chair in my office. She's as happy having a walk around the block as she is hiking all day. The most loveable and happy dog I've ever owned.

Cons are they can be reactive, need a secure garden and depending on the dogs personality can be prey driven. Thankfully mine isn't and can be left off the lead with great recall.

She does shed hair but we have her stripped every three months which keeps her coat on good condition and means less hair in the house.

I've had four carins. Brilliant dogs, all of them. Terrier stubborn streak though. Mine were all fine with cats. Wouldn't have trusted them around small furries though!

I'm not saying not to get a terrier because of the cats, but it just means you need to do that extra research and have a plan to keep then completely separated if needed.

We have a dog with three cats but when the dog was younger we did have to keep them separated at times as he just got too overexcited and it wasn't fair on them.

I have a border. He is so laid back, he’s largely horizontal 😂

as for the cat thing, he was 1year 3 months when I got a cat. The cat was 8 months old, and they got on very well from the get go.the cat is in charge but they play (90% of the time instigated by the cat). We also have another cat who came when he was 2, and the cat was 3, the is very timid. And straight away my border knew not to play or chase etc, is if this cat is there he stands still and her go about her business. So borders and cats can be absolutely fine.