Which dog do you think would be best?

[doggylife2]

Last year we lost our gorgeous 13 year old cocker spaniel. He was my soulmate. My DC was 2 at the time. She’s 3 now and still speaks about him often. I miss him like crazy. He was very intelligent and the most mischievous dog you could ever imagine. He was a lot to handle really.

I thought I’d never ever want another dog because the pain of losing him was unbearable. But lately I’ve been seeing little dogs and feel like I would like to have one again.

I recently moved into a very tiny cottage. So if we get a dog, they’ll have to be a very small one. I mentioned to a friend that I quite like dachshunds, especially the long haired ones. My friends said not to get one of those as they’re prone to illness and bark a lot.

I work from home and have regular meetings, so ideally I don’t want one barking all day. I suppose you never really know until you actually have the dog. I’ve been looking on rehoming sites But many of the dogs are quite big and my house really is tiny

I don’t know a great deal about dog types

Because I have a three year old, I would want a dog with a calm temperament really. Do you have any ideas or suggestions?

I wouldn't get a dachshund with a 3 year old. I find them nippy little buggers.

@Makemineacosmo
Oh really? They always look adorable but yes.. wouldn’t be great if they are nippy

Definitely not a dachshund. Great personalities, but yappy, highly strung and very prone to back issues. Also no puppy is going to be calm with a three year old, and I'd be very cautious about rehoming an older dog into a house with a child that young, especially a small house where it will be hard to manage interactions and set up the necessary room dividers and baby gates. In all honesty, I don't think you're at the right point in life for a dog.

What about something like a King Charles Cavalier spaniel? Small, very gentle and friendly - not as high energy as cockers and springers.

Definitely not a dachshund.

You probably need to look more at companion breeds - toy poodle, Maltese etc.

A whippet? Lovely dogs and happy to curl up like a cat when home. Less health issues than many breeds.

Have a look at the Bichon Frise. Small, patient and friendly, but intelligent and trainable which you might like if you’ve had spaniels previously.

A Norfolk Terrier

Daushaunds are quite yappy my neighbour has a pair and they come out in the morning looking for a scrap 😀

My neice has a cairn terrier and he is a lovely dog a bit aloof but a great little dog.

Personally I love cocker spaniels would you not consider another?

Havanese. They are such loving little dogs, and not big barkers. They tend to be pretty healthy too.
I'd probably go for a puppy so they grow up around your child. Would normally say rescue is best, but you never 100% know how much experience the dog has had with a young child

Same as the previous, puppy is better to learn to grow with a child. Like other posters no dachshund. Cute but very barky and nippy. A friend of mine had to rehome hers as he would bite children. In my opinion, my parents having had about 10 cavaliers, they are the best with children and very lazy but they are all so inbred. Their latest one is deaf (we think from birth) and has just been diagnosed with arthritis aged 5. In your position; I would get a small poodle. No to a whippet, I had one. There are good with their own human children but they don’t like anyone outside of their pack. They also need training and regular exercise.

Check out companion breeds rather than working dogs. Plenty to choose from...

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Very loving. Great with kids. Greedy buggers. Have a reputation for being lap dogs but are very active and can take as much exercise as you care to give them. You can go on a hike and they love it. If you only feel like a five minute walk they’re good with that too. They are spaniels so led by the nose and love sniffing and wandering. Highly recommend. Not to be confused with the King Charles Spaniel- different dog altogether

Also what I was going to say. Lovely little dogs.

plus ….. they don’t shed!

Thank you so much for these comments. I am looking at the ones suggested. I am looking on the dogs trust around adopting a dog and looking at the profiles of the ones mentioned on this thread

Boston terrier. Small, intelligent and much like a spaniel a little bit mischievous. They are playful and curious but small and very manageable. Short haired and don't require grooming or clipping.

@dazzlingdeborahrose Just to derail for a bit, I didn't know they were different types thought a king charles spaniel was a king charles spaniel. Every day is a school day 😀

I have a working cocker he is bonkers but a delight of a dog and will also go with you anywhere.

We had a phalene for almost 18 years, cousin of the cavalier,he was a great all rounder. We have friends with their second border terrier,he was a bit yappy at first, but small and doesn't need much exercise. Good luck with a rescue. When my little boy went, I tried England, Ireland Scotland Wales. There were a few breeds I wouldn't consider, brachial face,long term expensive health issues. I've had dogs since I was a kid, mostly border collies,got 2 now. The rescues: reactive to: other dogs,must be only pet,cars,bikes, people,must be walked in private space. No visiting children. 200 foot garden, not big enough, edge of a village,2 roads away from farmland, not rural enough. This was on filling in forms. We ended up buying a puppy again.

Definitely not a daschund - they were bred to fight badgers, they’re fierce! I know only one who’s a chilled dude.
Rescue places won’t let you have a dog with a child under 10, I originally wanted to rescue, no chance. Ended up getting a puppy.

Friend has a show cocker, she’s a lot less bonkers than a working cocker, she’s great, might work for you?

In a way you are right. You have King Charles Spaniels (shorter nose and rounder head) and Cavalier King Charles. The cavalier is the one most people thing of

I had a Google and you can see the slight differences between i suppose it is a bit like the show and working cocker ?

Not really because they are both toy breeds. I would say it’s more like the American cocker vs the English show one. The Cavalier were knighted by King Charles. It’s rather cool.

My family has these. They're dead cute but very high energy sometimes and barky. Maybe that's just my family's bad influence!

I have a friend who has 2 of them - they are beautiful but they are quite loud and bark a fair bit!

I know a couple of shih-tzu's - very calm and chilled but affectionate and happy to be petted. I hope to have one someday!