Recommend me a small dog please!

Snowy Celandine

Snowy Celandine

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I'm abroad at the moment but am busy thinking about getting a small dog on my return. I will be living in a flat I think so big dogs are a no-no. I was thinking of either a Papillon or a Pomeranian. There is a HHOer on here who has told me something about the former but more info is still welcome and I know nothing about Pomeranians so any info wold be most welcome. Thank you :)
 
If you don't mind grooming what about havanese. The ones I know are great little dogs and as far as I am aware no health issues as a breed
 
Hmm I'm a 'big dog' person so am not into toy breeds however if I were to have any small breed dog it would be a Border Terrier, hands down! They are such 'big dogs' in little bodies :smile3:
 
I have a Border Terrier bitch and she has the best personality i could ask for. She enjoys being out all day at the yard but then she is more than happy to cuddle up for hours. I would def get another!
 
Depends, are you looking for a small dog for indoors purposes (but that will enjoy long walks in all weathers), or a small dog all round (i.e. one that needs little exercise and perhaps needs a slightly more sheltered life?) - if that makes sense? :)
 
Pomeranian is a Spitz breed, originally a fair bit bigger than it is now and used for herding. Then Queen Victoria took a liking to them and decided they should be smaller. Issues with their hearts and patellas are common. Said to be clever and bold.

Papillion was originally a type of spaniel, and there are similar issues health wise. Husband grew up with one, and recalls it was incredibly energetic, very clever, and had absolutely no recall. A much loved pet, that died suddenly of a heart attack.

So one is a herding/guarding type and the other is technically a gundog. Utterly different mentalities, imo. Both likely to be very energetic and highly strung. And ridiculously fluffy.

I prefer herding/guarding dogs to gundogs, so if I had to pick one of these two, I would go for the Pomeranian. Or else a Lhasa Apso. They are wonderful grumpy little things, very clever and will walk for miles.
 
Another vote for Border Terrier. Plucky little things that love cuddles and scratches, have a big dog mentality in a small body.
 
Why not go to your local dog rescue kennels and see what they've got? That's how I always get my dogs, all of them crossbreeds, all of them healthy and fabulous little dogs. :)

Why pay into the dog breeding industry when there are so many lovely dogs desperate for a home?
 
Spring Feather said:
Hmm I'm a 'big dog' person so am not into toy breeds however if I were to have any small breed dog it would be a Border Terrier, hands down! They are such 'big dogs' in little bodies :smile3:
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Yup, I have a Border Terrier. We've ended up living in a flat and he is perfectly happy with flat life, he is happy to run around at the yard all day (and when he's at the yard he doesn't stop moving) and then he comes home and sleeps. Totally un-terrier like and ignores chickens and cats at the yard. He's really easy to live with, never had any health issues, he was easy to train, recall isn't too bad.

He adapts to what is going on, some days he is a lap dog and other days he's a yard dog. No limitations.

Plus he is the most friendly dog I have ever ever met and greets EVERYONE with a lick and a wag!
 
We've had a few Borders at training, and they have all been cool little dogs. I'd have one if I was in the market for a wee dog. Although I think a rescue centre would be my first port of call too :)
 
Dizzle said:
Yup, I have a Border Terrier. We've ended up living in a flat and he is perfectly happy with flat life, he is happy to run around at the yard all day (and when he's at the yard he doesn't stop moving) and then he comes home and sleeps. Totally un-terrier like and ignores chickens and cats at the yard. He's really easy to live with, never had any health issues, he was easy to train, recall isn't too bad.

He adapts to what is going on, some days he is a lap dog and other days he's a yard dog. No limitations.

Plus he is the most friendly dog I have ever ever met and greets EVERYONE with a lick and a wag!
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Our BT loves small furry and feathery creatures too. He'll lick them rather than bite them. Taking him out for the day is like going out with a celebrity. Everyone wants to say hello to him, but Borders are such a non-threatening looking breed. More akin to a scruffy teddy bear.
 
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Plenty to Google there :) I'd forgotten about Border Terriers but have always liked the look of them. Haven't actually researched Havanese but will do so and daughter loves Pugs and Boston Terriers so is trying to convince me to get either breed but I'm not sure.

I've always had whippets and love them dearly but my current whippet (for whom my daughter is caring whilst I am away) would not enjoy life in a flat with limited exercise opportunities, hence the quest to find a smaller dog that would enjoy being with me all day long, cuddling up in my lap and going for reasonable walks on the lead. My whippet girl has fantastic recall and is fine on the lead but needs to run for a few miles every day off lead.

As for rescue dogs... my daughter works in a welfare centre and I don't feel, from her accounts of many rescue dogs, that I have the experience to meet the needs of a rescue dog. Like I say, I've always owned whippets from pups and have no knowledge of dealing with ill-treated, excessively nervous or aggressive dogs. I also want a dog from a pup because i wouldn't have a clue how to eradicate unwanted and ingrained behaviours. Just being honest really. I love my dogs and they have all been trained, by me, to have good recall and nice manners but whippets are simple souls and my current girl simply took her cues from my older bitch and more or less trained herself!
 
Ah TFF, the Norfolk Terrier is a breed that I really love the look of. Are they happy little souls? They certainly look it. Would they be too busy to cuddle up with me for a few hours though? My whippet is a real lap dog and, in my absence, has apparently taken to climbing into the kitchen table so she can get closer to my daughter, ha ha :)
 
Have you thought about a French Bulldog ? Daughter has one, and a Pomeranian (who's also a great, loveable dog) The French Bulldog is called Napolean and he is the most comical, gentle soul ever. Very bright, ultra quick to toilet train and a thoroughly easy dog to have around. He just wants to sleep on her lap. Forever.
 
Depends on the dog SC, some 'rescues' will be there for reasons like their owners having to go into rented housing, or similar, and have few issues at all. A decent rescue centre will take your experience into account and find the right dog for you.

Up to you of course, but if that was the main thing putting you off I wouldn't like to think that you were missing out because of it :)

ETA Don't know how well this fits with your timing - but perhaps a day out in November might be helpful...? http://www.discoverdogs.org.uk/
 
I feel I should just add that my house and garden are chock a block with other rescues - chickens, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs - because both my daughter and I have the experience to care for those. Our vet refers to our house as 'the sanctuary' but we definitely don't have the right credentials to care for rescue dogs.
 
It does depend on the rescue dog, they aren't all from dire circumstances. Apart from my Border, my other dogs have been from the RSPCA and they were great with the free range rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and cats. :)
 
I'd say you've done your bit for waifs and strays already, OP. Do some research, pick a breed, find a decent breeder who genuinely loves their dogs, and book a puppy with them for when they next plan a litter. The right dog is worth waiting for.
 
You might also find that you experience problems getting a rescue dog because you live in a flat, also agree with you that if you don't have the time to dedicate to a rescue dog (knowledge can be easily obtained from local dog training classes but the amount of time and effort sometimes required can be more than people can commit to).
I would go between a Border Terrorist or a French Bulldog, you could also look at the breed rescue clubs as they would probably have some dogs that are being rehomed due to changes in circumstances and probably wouldn't come with as much baggage (they all come with some baggage as their worlds have been turned upside down), worth a think.
 
How about a traditional staffie? They can be very small. I've got one and she is the same height as my patterdale. Flat life would be her dream situation. She hates mud and doesn't really like long walks. Cuddles on the sofa and a stroll around the block suits her to a t.
 
Papillons are wonderful dogs. My papillon is plucky, alert, very very bright and trainable, clingy (she would never leave my side if she had her way) and has a big personality, they are energetic little things, but one 40 minute walk a day plus playing and scampering around is enough for her. She's 10 months now and is a lot calmer in the house, she will happily sleep by my feet. They don't take much grooming, once a week will do. Only things I would say are that they are very sociable and need company, can be a bit barky with suspicious noises and being small you need to be careful with other dogs as my pap is far too brave for her own good! They are quite busy dogs, they generally like to follow you around everywhere :p. I have a cat who is bigger than my dog, and she's always been pretty good with him, and all other animals she has met including ducks and pigs.
 
Snowy Celandine said:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Plenty to Google there :) I'd forgotten about Border Terriers but have always liked the look of them. Haven't actually researched Havanese but will do so and daughter loves Pugs and Boston Terriers so is trying to convince me to get either breed but I'm not sure.

I've always had whippets and love them dearly but my current whippet (for whom my daughter is caring whilst I am away) would not enjoy life in a flat with limited exercise opportunities, hence the quest to find a smaller dog that would enjoy being with me all day long, cuddling up in my lap and going for reasonable walks on the lead. My whippet girl has fantastic recall and is fine on the lead but needs to run for a few miles every day off lead.
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l've found long dogs to be the best house dogs. Give them 2O minutes off lead running and they sleep for hours! They are very undemanding dogs... There are a lot of small dogs that may require less 'walking' but will need more entertaining at home and can have issues when left. Whippets, lurchers etc just tend to sleep... Truly lazy dogs!
 
Make a short list of yes & no characteristics & then go along to a Champ show.
Italian greyhound, Griffon bruxellois and japanese chin haven't been mentioned yet.
 
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