Looking for a gentle companion dog

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Looking for a companion dog to join my quiet household. Dh and I are semi retired and regularly go away for weekends ,and would like a companion dog to come camping with us and join us for sunday lunches , walks and the like.
We are aware that due to the nature of camping - we do not need a hi alert breed ( barking) .
We have narrowed it down to two litters.

1. Pure Bichon. Mum very affectionate calm. Dad unknown.But kennel club show type dog/ stud . Breeder - at home- providing lots of cuddles- have dc . Say will socialise- but unsure - how much. Household feels calm. Puppies mostly in large playpen . Feel that the family wont have a great deal of time to start potty training— and that pups will be in the pen quite a lot. Seem to care for pups .. slight communication issues as English second language . (Eastern Europe) .Seem v keen on breeding lines . 2 nd litter - first litter -2 years ago . Health checks done.
2. Cavapooshon.Mum - gentle cavashon. Dad gentle toy poodle. Family home. Mum works. They have the grandma, the pups mums mum and they have the pups mum , and have kept a sibling of the last litter ( a year ago) 3rd litter. Health checks done.

Both pups seem good options. Human focused.
We do not want a high alert dog prone to barking. We are looking for a dod that would enjoy a family focused life and enjoy the ride ! It is important that it is a human focused companion type dog as we are in out 60 s. ( family around should ill health strike) .

Which would you choose for us - and why ? Please do not talk about other breeds as It really is between the two. We do not carr what a dog looks like- temperament is paramount. - easy going .

Many thanks.

You sound like perfect candidates to rescue a dog - any reason you’re not considering that?

We have tried to do that.

One rescue will not consider us due to were we live in comparison to the location.

Another has always said a second dog to show the ropes . The third - simply never got back to us .

We also looked at a rescue that brings dogs over from abroad- but you do not get to meet the dog other than videos and that i s not for us .

I have greyhounds from The Greyhound Trust, they are calm, gentle and don’t bark. They laze about all day until it’s walk time. Most adopters are retired as it’s nice for them to have company during the day. Adopters meet up for walks and the GT events so it’s a nice community. There is even a camping & caravan with sighthound groups on Facebook where campsites events are held and everyone with their dogs gets together. I plan to go on one at some point.
Any of the Greyhound Trust branches would welcome you walking one to see how you feel about them. But there are lots of greyhound rehoming charities, not just GT.

Thank you - but we are looking at the two litters I described.

I was going to recommend a greyhound or lurcher! Should be ideal for you.

From the two choices I liked the sound of the second best, because of the set up. I don't know those breeds though. The first sounds more like money making.

Thank you but we want a small breed. We have a small downsized home - a small tent and a camper car .

Can anyone comment on the teo breeds we have decided to choose from? Thanks .

We have a Cavapoochon!!!

The most gentle dog ever. Loving, playful but also calm.

Intelligent and easy to train.

Now 3 years old and a perfect little addition to our family.

Mum was a bichon, Dad Cavapoo to get our little pup!

Ah. Thank you . Mum is cava shon and dad poodle .

Neither. Health 'checks' are not health tests. There is never an excuse to buy a dog that doesn't have fully health tested parents - it's not expensive to test a dog prior to breeding it so anyone not testing their dog is doing it because they know that the health tests will show issues.

If I had to pick one, I'd do the former. You don't mention if their dogs are health tested either though - but I bet the offspring are probably healthier than the others. And I bet they're cheaper as well!

We have a cavapooshon and he's lovely and gentle with kids but a nightmare with barking, and he also hates being anywhere on his own. But that might just be us and him.

Bichons are drama queens.
Any cross breed with 'poo' in its label can't be reliable as you don't know what traits it's brought with it's heinz breeding.

Anyone crossing a poodle with other breeds is just making money. That's a designer mongrel which probably costs more than a poodle. Which "health tests" have the dogs had?

Test

I always go for pure bred so option 1. You never know exactly what you’ll get with a crossbreed puppy unfortunately. I love Bichon Frisée dogs and had one from a puppy, they’re natural companions, compact but still not yappy, super cute too - find a lovely groomer that will love and cuddle and groom gently. It’s worth trying a few and seeing how your dog reacts, their body language etc on coming and going. Not all groomers are kind and gentle but for a Bichon puppy who will need lifelong grooming it’s essential to find one. If you’re near Bristol/North Somerset I can recommend someone great 😊

Good luck, I hope your Bichon makes you really happy 😊 🐶 😊

These both sound like backyard breeders tbh. Can you put the time effort and patience into getting a properly kc tested proven litter with the right health tests (tests, not checks)? I'm a bit confused that you say they're very keen on breeding lines but dad unknown? Answer to that may change my answer.

Unfortunately I agree. A crossbreed is basically a mongrel, you don’t know what you’re getting!

A dog bred for good bloodlines should be reliable. Option 1.

All the Bichons I've known were yappy things, I'd go with option 2 if youre dead set against a whippet or GH.

bigwhitedog

the Bichon s dad is a champion with the kennel club
both parents are kennel club
and meet the health requirements of kennel club .
I did ring the kennel club about them to check the interbreeding lines -which I was told are good by a member of the kennel club . ( the ad has gone now but I know that the kennel club had the ad as I spoke to them directly.)

My cavapoochon is an absolute sweetheart, total dream dog and exactly what you've described as wanting. The only downsides are she doesn't like being left alone for very long (eg more than 2 hours).

But as others have said, you never know what traits will be dominant when you get a cross breed so always look closely at the puppies temperament.

Ignore everyone judging you for wanting a puppy. Everyone's circumstances are different.

I'd get the bichon then! perfect little dogs, and I say that as the owner of a large and VERY energetic pointer myself. I plan to downsize to a bichon in retirement too.

I can't comment on the dog breeds OP as I have no experience of them.
I just wanted to say that you sound like you'll be able to give a dog a very loving home and a the perfect life for a dog.

We were retired when we got our little dog (a Jack Russell so not what you're looking for) she was the ideal size for a downsized house and camping but could walk all day and loved a Sunday roast at the pub. I'm excited for you and the lucky dog who comes your way.

Also, Cavapoochons are essentially mongrels, so their health tends to be better than pure breeds and your pet insurance will be considerably cheaper as a result...

Neither. Keep looking for a pure bichon.

Your pure bichon you have found is "dad unknown"... that is such a dangerous gamble. You have no idea what temperament s/he has inherited amongst god knows what else.

Keep looking for a pure bichon that has had both parents' eyes tested under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme which is the testing that the KC recommend for this breed.

Avoid the doo-chon crosses.

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