Small dog breed best for us

[Londonkatt]

Sorry I know you didn’t want more suggestions but can I just mention Australian terriers? I have one as our first family dog, they are lovely healthy jolly little dogs, around 7-8kg but sturdy with long hair that doesn’t shed or need special grooming…ours is friendly to other dogs and people.

 

[I'm Dun]

Personality wise a westie is going to be miles and miles away from a golden. Opposite end of the scale. Not sure they will be up for all day walks either, but maybe I'm wrong. I'm biased against them as the ones I've met have been horrid barky, snappy things. I am sure that most arent like that though!

 

[splashgirl45]

My brothers dog had to walk for hours when he stayed with me and was fine , he wasn’t barky or snappy , just a lovely easy little dog

 

[splashgirl45]

Me????

West coast of Wales
View attachment 136094

Yes you, I envy your lack of mud when walking. Today is the first time in ages that I’ve been able to walk without wellies. My friend and I got so fed up with muddy walks and muddy dogs we had a long weekend in Norfolk and it was bliss . Must be good to have that option daily

 

[Moobli]

Also thinking of a showline Cocker spaniel still small bit bigger than a cavalier or westie but still a size moms comfortable with and we want a very active dog like a golden as we both enjoy hikes at the weekends exploring different parts of the countryside not all cockers I've know have been vocal either

That was what I was going to recommend. Definitely choose a showline as the workers are very busy little dogs indeed but a showline would suit your wish list.

 

[Moobli]

Shetland sheepdog. You can get some real petite ones and they will have that eager to please, handler focus.

Plenty of hair.

But noisy!

 

[Moobli]

Good luck finding the perfect Westie.

 

[Clodagh]

OP seems to have vanished since the similarities to all The other goldie but not a goldie posts we’ve had before… … were pointed out.

 

[AmyMay]

Yes you, I envy your lack of mud when walking. Today is the first time in ages that I’ve been able to walk without wellies. My friend and I got so fed up with muddy walks and muddy dogs we had a long weekend in Norfolk and it was bliss . Must be good to have that option daily

Oh, we have plenty of mud, I’ve just been avoiding it

 

[Jenko109]

But noisy!

Are they really that terrible?

I have never had one but had considered one for the future.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Are they really that terrible?

I have never had one but had considered one for the future.

There are a lot of noisy ones round the agility rings

 

[P3LH]

Are they really that terrible?

I have never had one but had considered one for the future.

I’m a rough collie and Pembroke corgi man, both famed for their volume of noise and quantity along with their ability to pierce calm silence with rapturous barking for no reason and giving minor heart attacks, and even I find Shelties too noisy.

 

[Jenko109]

Oh you guys

I'm going to end up with a poodle aren't I.

 

[AmyMay]

Oh you guys

I'm going to end up with a poodle aren't I.

And why not. Fabulous dogs.

 

[GoldenLife]

OP seems to have vanished since the similarities to all The other goldie but not a goldie posts we’ve had before… … were pointed out.

Actually I was too busy today talking to the Westie club UK and they put us in touch with a lovely lady who lives near to us who is always happy to talk Westie's and she said if we had time we could go down this afternoon and we did.

Her 2 Westie's were gorgeous we loved every minute , learned a lot and we're getting a westie she's helping put us in touch with some experienced people in the community who will steer us in the right direction of good breeders.

 

[GoldenLife]

Forgot to say thank you to @AmyMay who suggested the Westie and to @DabDab and @JennBags who took the time to tell me there experiences of living with the breed.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Oh you guys

I'm going to end up with a poodle aren't I.

Love poodles my friend has a lovely stud dog his the loveliest dog and has produced lots of lovely offspring.

 

[P3LH]

Oh you guys

I'm going to end up with a poodle aren't I.

Don’t worry, I’m going to end up with a Papillon or German Spitz - these things happen and we have to accept it, buy the dog, and simply move on.

 

[Jenko109]

Oh yes. Wasn't a dig.

I love Poodles and they are certainly up there on the list.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Oh, we have plenty of mud, I’ve just been avoiding it

I shall try and take a photo of the dogs after one of my "avoiding the mud" walks....

My only really non muddy place is my favorite walk ever but it makes their paws itch like mad so i cant go anymore Seriously I'm able to keep smiling about winter usually but having a young labrador who loves mud is getting tiring

 

[Annette4]

Don’t worry, I’m going to end up with a Papillon or German Spitz - these things happen and we have to accept it, buy the dog, and simply move on.

You know you need a Vallhund for a full full stumpy leg takeover

 

[I'm Dun]

Oh yes. Wasn't a dig.

I love Poodles and they are certainly up there on the list.

Nooooo! once you go whippet you cant go back

 

[P3LH]

You know you need a Vallhund for a full full stumpy leg takeover

I would love to - but I don’t think I can have another super bright herding breed, and remain alive/sane, until mini Mugabe is in her dotage/gone on to herd Satans various minions through the flames. It’s the same reason I won’t add a third Pem for the foreseeable, thing 2 is so good I would love to clone him but I know I was very fortunate!

 

[Jenko109]

Nooooo! once you go whippet you cant go back

Well, of course!

I will always have a whippet. It is impossible to be without one.

We are a multi dog household though

 

[Smitty]

And why not. Fabulous dogs.

I grew up being bitten by one.

 

[misst]

The Australian Terrier - we "think" Moti is mainly an AT now. My australian vet and a local lady who used to breed them years ago are sure he is one. I looked at the breed specification last week and I think he is likely at least mostly AT. He is very vocal. He is not for the faint hearted. I adore him but he is not for everyone. He was a stray and very young to be on the streets so some of his issues are likely down to poor start, but he is a true terrier. He is also a walking vet bill due to "extreme terrier conformation of his legs" - Noel Fitzpatricks words not mine. He also has stomach issues which the breed are prone to. I probably wouldn't choose one as my first thought! I wouldn't change him for the world though.

 

[GoldenLife]

Wanted to give you all an update because I appreciate every single one of you taking time out of your day to help me and my mom find a breed for both of us to enjoy.

After my mom was honest with me last weekend that she really wanted a cavalier that's what her heart was set on we met with and spoke with a member of the Facebook group mom was on at the begining of this week and she has owned the breed for decades has show and bred them but no longer breeds them and we went to see her and her current cavalier's and she told us a lot about them but she told us that even though she recommends only buying from a breeder who does all the health tests including syringomyelia she said that the tests don't unfortunately guarantee a pup free from it as one of her current dogs both parents were clear on their test for syringomyelia but her dog still developed it so she recommends understanding these conditions and doing everything in your favour still to lower your pup's chances but if you cant live with it you need to think very carefully. She also said all hers currently have MVD but none are series yet and the parents were heart tested.

She said in a study 50% of cavaliers will develop MVD by the age 5 it's believed.

Mom saw how syringomyelia affected her cavalier and learning more about the health of the breed and seeing it she knew she couldn't deal with that and a health breed would be more suited.

Then on Wednesday while we were in town mom fell in love with a dog we saw waiting with one of his owners outside a shop and we got talking she told us he's a cavapoo and he's fabulous but she wouldn't recommend because she said when they brought him they were not very glued up on good breeders and they got him from a place called Rosedale doodles but she later found out by her groomer that they are a puppy farm and she would never go back and since trying to find a good breeder as she'd like another she's not found one good cavapoo breeder who does all revelant health tests so their picking up a miniature poodle puppy in a month's time from a breeder who does all the tests and socialisation. Her advice was definitely find a pedigree breed.

I would actually like a mini poodle but mom likes the wavy coat the cavapoo had so after looking online at different breeds we have found one we'd both like and now are researching the havanese as they have a lovely cost similar to a cavapoo when it's in a puppy trim.


I'll keep you all posted

 

[SkylarkAscending]

I can almost guarantee the name of the person your mum spoke to from the cavalier Facebook page….

MRI scans do not test for syringomyelia, they show a potential disposition towards it which has proved to be inconclusive overall.

 

[Indy]

There’s one comes in the pub where I work.
It barks. All. Of. The. Time.

My friend's got one of these. It's got the eyes of a murderer

 

[GoldenLife]

I'm happy to report me and mom have settled on a breed that we both are smitten with.

I was looking more into the havanese ( I hadn't contacted anyone just reading online mainly) when mom told me she still would really like a cavalier it's just a shame about the health so I contacted the trainer who helped me raise Bobby who became a very good friend to me and she had an idea if what breed would suit us both as she was shocked I agreed to a small dog as I'd always been a big dog person.

She didn't tell either of us what breed just asked if we'd meet up with her and with a friend of hers who owns them but warned their not as small as mom wants but she said they would be great for both of you.

She contacted me over the weekend to ask if we could me up yesterday and we agreed and we met my friend and her friend with her 4 Welsh Springer Spaniel's mom instantly liked their colouring as they reminded her of her favourite colour of cavalier blenheim.

We spoke to there owner for ages and my friend and mom didn't care they were medium rather than small and we walked with her and she gave one of the leads to mom so she can get a feel and mom was fine.

My friend told me I chose them for you because I knew you mom might see them visually as large cavalier's and their active enough to keep up with you on your hikes like Bobby did but still can chill in the house with you and there not as boisterous as there English cousins and their not too big for your mom.

We got to stay with them all afternoon and asked lots of questions and their owner was very honest with us and asked us loads of questions to be certain we are right for them and she agreed we were she said the only thing is they can like the sound of their voices though so you'll have to be careful with your breeder and nip any barking in the bud early on.

After this meeting we both had a chat when we got home and have decided finally on the Welsh Springer Spaniel does anyone here own one and if you could tell us your experience's we'd be very appreciative