Does this breed exist?!

[Renovationhell]

Just for a bit of fun before all of the rescue obsessed jump on. My rescue is currently sat at my feet. We also have many years training, socialising and owning dogs between us but also know genetics trump most things!

My sister has always had Newfoundland’s. She loves everything about them except that they just aren’t very portable and don’t fit easily in caravans or holiday lets. Ideally she would shrink a newf for her next dog but as that’s not a thing she’s been wondering if there was anything else that she may like.

What she’s looking for:
KC reg breed only. No crosses. Bonus points for rare breeds. She does show.
Medium exercise requirements. No mad collies or needing hours of running to be able to sit still.
Cuddly affectionate personality. Personality is most important.
Friendly to everyone, kids and strangers included.
Something happy to go anywhere the family goes so pretty robust and not easily spooked.
Small/medium.
Don’t mind fluffy, grooming isn’t an issue. Prefer no curly coats that need to go to the groomer.
Doesn't need to be a genius but biddable.

What she doesn’t want:
Nothing that barks all the time.
No brachys, staffies or bull breeds.
No sighthounds (own chickens and rabbits!)
Nothing that can’t be left for 2mins without howling the place down (sorry poodles that’s you!)
Nothing bred to fight or guard.
No spaniels/ pointers etc (sorry spaniel lovers but they are just too busy and I’ve met so many nervy ones!)

The dog would want for nothing, live on a small holding and would be included in every aspect of family life so although the threads lighthearted it’s important to get the right fit.

Having probably offended most of the doghouse is there anything left?

I’ve owned a lovely rough collie. I found her to be very biddable and great round my then young dc; 4 of and I childminded so a busy household.
I’ve met a few lovely ones recently but literally a few. One owner told me there are fewer around and their breeder has stopped because they were struggling with a limited gene pool in the UK and didn’t want to import from the US.
I quite fancy a Sheltie but not many of those around.

OP this thread has made me want all the dogs! I’m genuinely not in a position to have a third but still

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/out-and-about/fox-red-labradors-red-new-black-gorgeous-colour-takes-country-sporting-world-storm-193244

fox red lab-gorgeous dogs. Not sure how good they are with chickens etc though.

I quite fancy a Sheltie but not many of those around.

It's funny the perception of scarcity some breeds have. I do agree that you don't seem to see many of them out and about, but Shelties are very strong in numbers - certainly far stronger than the Rough Collie, which you do see more of.

Presumably they are the dog of choice for people who either have their own land or aren't so able (certainly the dog showing fraternity in Shelties is on the older side) and so you don't see that many in public?

Not sure if suggested but Airedales are lovely.

I've got a bichon and he sounds similar to what you describe except he likes to bark at the window. Obv he is curly but we groom him ourselves snd it's not excessive

Our Pembroke has a lovely big bushy tail. It's illegal to dock them in the UK now, as far as I know.

My friend has 3 Shelties, had 4 but one sadly succumbed to cancer.

I'd have one in a heartbeat if my circumstances were different, they are wonderful dogs.

Whoever managed to rebrand plain old slightly darker yellow labs as ‘fox red’ is a marketing genius. I do think the term is used in such a daft way though, almost no-one says ‘my chocolate’ or ‘my black’ but will refer to ‘my fox red’ as if it’s a different breed altogether.

I’ve never yet known a snappy schipperke but they are usually aloof with strangers, although happily in the sense of ignoring them rather than wanting to eat them. They’re well supported at shows, it’s a nice crowd.

I have no useful suggestions (I have a Cavalier KCS who we adore, but I doubt he’s what your sister is after), I’m just here for the dogs.

And now I want a Dandie Dinmont!

Dandies are fantastic little dogs great companions a bit wacky as they fall asleep in the most unusual places, have massive Eyelashes and webbed feet!
The best place to see Dandies is the Dandie Derby held every year in Scotland you don't need one to attend
https://www.dandiederby.com

@Renovationhell the Pembrokes are generally less bidable than the Cardigans. They're also ridiculously intelligent. I suspect they'd be ranked higher than 11 on the dog intelligence breed list if they were more obedient.

That said, our Pembroke is one in a million. She is basically the perfect dog, sunshine in canine form. We didn't make her like that, she came this way. Our traumatized rescue used to bark directly in her face quite aggressively and she would simply turn her face away. She has a small growth on her bladder - thankfully, benign and not changing - and her temperament is so absolutely rock solid that the vet doesn't sedate or restrain her to shave and scan. Just give her a bit of fuss and ask her to keep still, and she lets you shave her belly and put the scanner on her. The vet called her "an absolute gem of a dog". But she's not really typical. Every other Pem we've had has been more of a challenge (in a good way).

Miniature Schnauzer. Such lovely intelligent dogs.

Mine (pembroke as well) really was perfect. He very rarely barked, he was content with a lot of exercise or with very little exercise, toilet training was so easy I don't even remember it, super loving but not velcro, great recall, never pulled on the lead, fantastic health throughout his life, never ever shown agression...
I was travelling quite a lot for work at the time and my friends were desperate to be chosen to look after him whilst I was away.

Now I have a terrier, because apparently I was under the impression that life had been too easy on me 😶
5 kilos of chaos.

Okay so corgis…where do I start to look? Any recommendations?

How is the ringside generally? My breed is very chatty and welcoming but some are not 😬

Also how approachable are breeders when looking for show line/potential foundation dogs? I know some breeds are very closed off to new people.

I know you said no spaniels, but Clumber Spaniels are less busy than a cocker/springer, not known for barking and are on the vulnerable native breed list.

Generally a friendly bunch for sure, and plenty of people who are very keen to welcome newbies. If buying a Rough to show, it is as well to evaluate breeders on the basis of whether they have sold dogs that are successful for others - it's frustrating to see keen newbies who have been sold dogs to show which are patently not suitable.

@WinWhenTheyreSinging do you have any breeder recommendations?

Aaah, well that might depend a bit on your type preference - there is a bit of a split towards an older and a more modern type. You'd need to have a look and see what floated your boat.

Parson Russell Terrier - on their way out unfortunately but cracking little dogs

Agreed! Was going to suggest flatties - had them for decades. Lovely family dogs and they do adore the water - as @WillYouShutUp says they were bred from Newfies. Plus not a separation between show and working strains like the goldens.

They do range a bit in size as well IME. I've currently got two fairly big ones but their mother was much smaller.

I have my eye on an Irish Water Spaniel which is an endangered breedand quite big for a spaniel but they do have curly coats so not what you are looking for!

There’s one near us. Lovely little dog.

What a gorgeous dog! 😍

Realistically, the Kennel club/Champdogs. Pems are much easier to find than Cardigans. At a minimum they should be screening for IVDD and hip dysplasia, as they are dwarf dogs. There is also a rare inherited disease called immune mediated haemolytic anaemia which we sadly lost a young and expensively pedigreed corgi to once. Unfortunately once it shows up its often fatal very quickly. Vet told us to contact the breeder and say don't pair those parents again. In future I would want to know if a breeder had ever had a case in any of their dogs.

When I was a child, we got them from farms (including a non-pedigreed Pem/Cardi cross who lived for 16 years in the rudest health known to dog or man) but nowadays its really via a breeder.