Help Me Choose the Perfect Second Dog

[Ashesof2046]

Okay, so I'm thinking about getting a second dog and I could use some help choosing the right breed.

I currently have one female Bedlington terrier, aged 2.5. She's great with people and gets on well with other dogs, although she can be shy to start with.

I've owned terriers all my life, but I'm thinking of trying out a different breed. I love whippets, schnauzers, and poodles, but I'm open to literally any breed, as long as it's smallish (in a dream world I'd love and Irish wolfound, but I'm only 5 feet tall myself, and I don't know if I'd cope very well with a big dog). Any ideas?

I rarely advocate for cockers because I think a lot of people fail to give them what they need, but if you’ve owned terriers I imagine your used to sensitive, high intelligence and high energy dogs! So what about a show-line cocker?

I often think in the right hands they’re basically a mini-Golden retriever! 😊

A Whiggy. Whippet x Italian greyhound. Smaller than a whippet but not as fragile as an IG.

I was considering a cocker, but I feel a bit nervous about them for some reason! I suppose they really can't be any harder than a terrier, can they?

Do you know if they're easier to house train than Italian whippets? I've heard horror stories about Italians that have taken literally years to toilet train! I've never had a terrier that took more than a week. My latest was toilet-trained when she came to me at 8 weeks!

Yes, they’re supposed to be easier.

Oh, interesting. I'm nervous about considering designer crossbreeds, though, because it's impossible to vet the breeders. I'm not sure you would even be able to find a reputable one for a breed like that?

Agility trainer of many years - they are WAY harder than a terrier 🤣 I’ve got a terrier. Active, easy to train but has a great off switch. Happy to snooze or amuse herself when not walking or training.

Oh no. To be fair, I'm very active and willing to put the work in. I'm also self-employed and work from home, so I have a very flexible schedule (read: I don't have to work too hard), so I could put the work if I did go for one. It just might be nice to have an easier dog for a change!

I have a schnauzer, if you're used to terriers then you will be fine with one of these. Mine is super friendly, playful, can walk for as long or short as you want. She will happily chill on the sofa - especially if it's raining! We got her at 8 weeks old, house trained her in 5 days.

This is not meant to sound snarky, it's just genuine advice. You need to find something that is compatible with your dog, as well as something that you fancy owning.

I fell foul of this with my second ever dog, decades ago, buying something that made the original dog's life entirely miserable, until I gave in and found her a new home - she was far too exuberant and strong, despite both having great temperaments for their breeds.

Are you on any breed forums for Bedlingtons? You could ask there what breeds work well with them.

You could get a bedlington x whippet. The first cross often looks like a mini Irish wolfhound. And being half whippet, they do a lot of sleeping.

That's what I was asking for!

Yep, the Bedlington people suggest a whippet might work.

My neighbour has one and he's lovely, but he's also quite big and strong. I don't know if I'd be able to cope with one of my own!

Edit: Actually, he's maybe a Bedlington lurcher, will ask next time I see him!

If he's a whippet cross he shouldn't be bigger than whippet sized. They often have some greyhound in though, or are straight crosses with greyhounds.

Choose a virtual dog. One dog is enough for anybody.,

I've always had two. This is the first time since I was a child that I've only had one.