Thoughts pictures and experience please on Tibetan Terriers

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Mega

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Hi
As title really. We sadly lost our beautiful 15year old springer spaniel a few months ago. She has left a huge hole (although I do have to admit that the house is a lot cleaner! ;-) )
She has been mine and DHs best friend through our marriage to date and our three children's big sister. Nothing could replace her but I am starting to think that we would like to inject the fun and love of another dog into our lives.
We live on 22 acre small holding with 4 horses, 2 rabbits and 2 cats. Our children are 11,8&6 years old. I would have another springer but for two counts, Milly was so amazing and I don't want to compare and also I think a young springer needs more miles than our children could do!
Therefore I am thinking of a Tibetan terrier as from what I have heard they have many of the good attributes of the springer but slightly less crazy. I also heard that they were low/non shedding which is also a bonus although I'm aware that we would need it clipping too.
Other thoughts are either a cocker spaniel (can't decide working or show type) or a lady at school has a lovely (middle sized) miniature poodle which tempts me.
Your thoughts/experiences/pictures would be very much appreciated.
Thank you.
 
I should add that we would be happy for a rescue but I don't want to take the children to see anything until we (the grownups) have thought it through as if we take them I can't see us leaving empty handed and we could end up with the wrong dog for us which would be no good.
 
Sorry to hear about your springer.
I would pop in to your local rescue centre (sans kids) and see what they have available/ask what kinds of dog they get in regularly - there are regional differences. Then you would have a better idea of whether that would be a viable route.

I have no experience of Tibetan terriers, I'm afraid, so can't help there!
 
I can't help on the breed specific questions as I've mainly had mongrels, however thinking along the rescue lines maybe try a rescue that uses foster carers rather than kennels? That way if you were interested in a dog it would be possible to see it in a home environment and they usually test with kids / cats / small furries etc. Not that there's anything wrong with kennel-based rescues, I just thought it might help to eliminate some of your concern over getting the 'wrong' dog. If you do decide on a breed then don't forget to try breed-specific rescue too. Good luck!
 
That's a good tip. I will give the rescues a call. But still very interested in people's views on Tibetan Terriers or cockers/poodles
 
IF your not sure but basically want a nice medium sized dog I'd go to the rescue -with kids personally I would always take a pup rather than an adult rescue but that's me - I think you will get just as nice a dog, meet it a few times and make sure its attitude to training is one you like before you take it home
 
Another vote for mongrels/rescues :-D
However, I'll happily share my experiences of the breeds you mention. I've never kept any of them, just met a few in my 12 years vet nursing so can't claim to be an expert!
Tibetan Terriers - Love these guys! Bright little dogs, generally friendly and engaging, not as exercise demanding as say, a poodle. Can be a bit 'terriery', despite not actually being a terrier! A bit stubborn to train, prone to yappiness. Coat looks like quite hard work! Would want shaving to within an inch of its life if it lived on a farm I would think!
Cockers - Seem to vary a lot depending on working/showing lines and colour. Although less true than it used to be, solids are definitely more prone to snappiness than roans/mixed colours. I've met a couple of really nasty ones, even put one to sleep for aggression once that was only a few months old and hadn't been in a home that was that bad. However, most are really lovely and make great family pets I would say. They are one of the most popular breeds we see. A working breed so obviously do need to be doing something, but not as hard work as springers/collies. Prone to the usual spaniel ear problems.
Poodles - Vary according to size, and I'm told colour although I have mostly only met black ones. I love poodles, perhaps because they remind me a bit of collies. Very bright, sharp and active. Easily trained and need to do a lot of training and be kept busy. The smallest ones can have 'small dog issues'. I've been bitten by a few, but usually ones that have been kept as 'handbag' dogs which they most definitely aren't! Again, would need a fair bit of clipping on a farm I would think.
All breeds I really like, so sorry if I've offended anyone. Just my observations which may be partly affected by the area I'm in (Herts.) and the fact that I generally only meet them when they are at the vets!
 
I love tibbies - they are such fun characters. However, I will admit that I do love poodles more ;) but I do have two miniatures for that reason and broody for another! They are equally hard to maintain coat wise, but then if you got a show type cocker and kept it's feathers, I daresay it's just as much work. And I'm a groomer ;) However any of these looks good in short hair which is easy to manage.

Of these breeds, I would say that poodles are perhaps the most trainable - they are so versatile and do so many things really well. But their cleverness can work against you and they learn quickly how to train you. THe best poodle/human relationships come when the owner is smarter than the poodle and well, that doesn't happen with just anyone hence the nippy bitey reputations.
 
I would like to tentively pop my head above the paraphet and say 'Cockapoo'!

And then quickly dive for cover.

But I absolutely adore my Cockapoo, loving, playful, intelligent, bouncy, cuddly, makes me laugh every day, loves his walks, people, children, other dogs.
 
I know all have the grooming issues.
If anyone could point me in the direction of the TT rescue that would be fab.
At this rate I could end up with one of all 3!
My friend has a cockapoo who is adorable but my slight reservation is that as a cross you can't really be sure which it'll take after more mum or dad!
 
I have very limited experience of Tibetan Terriers, only knowing one, but she is a very lovely dog. However - she is bone idle. You can almost hear her groaning when you get the lead out for a walk! I have never in my life known such a lazy dog, but she is very sweet indeed.

We have a show cocker - he is gorgeous. Very trainable, loyal, playful and cuddly. However he is a tad nervy and doesn't like strangers touching him straight away. He also barks a lot. I think working cockers are a tad less neurotic but they do need a job if that makes sense - having had a springer though I am sure you would be very used to their energy.
 
OH used to have one and he apparently had a lovely nature, although the coat needs a bit of work. He says he was pretty dim, and this coming from someone who now has a saluki...!
We have a friend with 2, who has young kids, and they are great with them. Exciteable but gentle and kind.
 
Mega said:
I know all have the grooming issues.
If anyone could point me in the direction of the TT rescue that would be fab.
At this rate I could end up with one of all 3!
My friend has a cockapoo who is adorable but my slight reservation is that as a cross you can't really be sure which it'll take after more mum or dad!
Click to expand...


In my area we have a problem with cockerpoos an aggression issues. But then most of these come from one breeder, who as I've mentioned in another post has them neutered at six weeks old so don't know if there is a link there or if just happens they breed ones with bad temperaments AND they're neutered early.
 
Not mine but a friend has had 2 from the same litter. Both were great with people but the male was not good with other male dogs and was territorial in the home with visiting dogs. Both were very terrier like in nature and killed any small furries they could get their paws on including pets.... They also killed squirrels hedgehogs and birds. So maybe not a good choice with a small holding. This may just be my experience. For the record they were well behaved most of the time and the owner was an experienced dog owner. They had good recall when not in killing mode! and were gentle and kind with children.
 
Oh not sure I like the idea of killing mode although I have to say our springer of would had the rabbits if she had been younger!
 
My breed is st. Poodles ..I'm on my third..id definitely say not to get one for your set up..nor would I think the Tibetan is the rt.match...the coat care alone would be off putting in your situation..
What about a border terrier? A mini schnauzer? A Manchester terrier...all dogs bred for exactly your scenario,...low coat care and great versatility.
 
We have a Tibetan in the family and she is a lovely dog. Too yappy though for me but if you don't mind that... I don't think its an easy coat to look after, but that might just be because they aren't very diligent about it.

She ends up getting shorn very, very regularly.
 
dare I say look at a Staffy ( and run away quickly)....honestly though I always had lurchers and then was asked to rehome a 7yr old Staff and he is the most fun. kind with my cats horses, chickens, children. rarely barks though does "sing" easy coat to look after, though doesn't much like mud or rain! I like him enough to be looking for another and there are loads in rescue. I would also say go to a foster re-homer.
 
Tibetan's coat is long and I should think a trauma being on a small holding.

Don't know if you've seen my threads, I have three springers, two are the easiest dogs ever, one is awful with other dogs, but his naughtiness was clear when we saw the litter.

I've just been to a friend's house to see her new working type cocker puppy. She was very cuddly, it's clear she's going to be a calm, well-behaved girl. Her littermate was also there, little boy. He struggled, wouldn't be cuddled, wanted to be down, chewed my fingers, yowled. The grown up cocker and springers they have (6 dogs in total!!) are also calm and easy dogs.

I honestly believe you can choose wisely from a litter and not have an issue, so don't dismiss spaniels due to energy issues. My naughty one went and hid in long grass today after 15 minutes' training. He'd had enough in the heat. All 3 have been happy to wander the garden most of the day.
 
Friendly dogs but find them too OTT! But I'm sure you're used to that having had a springer:) As they do have long coats my friend just keeps them clipped short-ish which helps a lot
 
I have a cocker spaniel and he is slightly less mad than a springer, but only just! That being said he's a year old and if he get s a decent walk (about an hour and a half) and a few playtimes a day he's good as gold! I got a Show type, working types are potentially a bit less wilful and easier to train but need a lot more exercise!
 
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