Which breed...

[bex1984]

A JRT would love the kind of home/lifestyle you mention op. Mine think they are people and want to go everywhere, do everything with us. They'd prefer never to go on actual walks (although will happily walk with us for miles) - they like to be busy at home.
Mine are JRT crossed with a bit of border terrier and one has a bit of plummer terrier in him too. So they have longer legs. One is super clever but quite anxious, the other is just a loveable idiot. Both adore people and are great fun, they'll play all day but curl up on the sofa when needed. One has done agility, they are ball obsessed.
Terriers are awesome but they absolutely need to be busy.

 

[CrazyMare]

My dad has a Parsons Russell. He is a little bouncing ball of energy. He wants to play continually, loves walks, loves running, helps dad with everything, thinks going in the truck is just the best, socialises in the pub well and always steals treats!! At night he snuggles down to sleep under the duvet!

 

[sam-b]

JRT are awesome. I was adamant they were never a breed I would have, then the other half got one, now we have 2 , and a spaniel x jrt (wouldn't recommend that!!)

the jacks are cracking, lovely dogs, who ill have cuddles all day long, awesome at agility and great fun on walks - and they are very trainable.

 

[Crosshill Pacers]

Beagles are not trainable and will not do comps or trick training.

I must own a dog masquerading as a Beagle then! Considering my training skills only stretch as far as sit/lie/leave it/heel my Beagle has not only mastered the basic skills of any other dog but also numerous 'tricks' which mirror agility-style obstacles etc.

Beagles are as trainable as any other breed of dog provided you are able to start with them early. I have two rehomed Beagles who came to me later in their lives and they aren't great with commands but I am fortunately in a position where they are able to roam a securely-enclosed area every day. My youngest I got when she was 8 weeks (now nearly 2 years) and I can walk her off a lead on a common area knowing she won't disappear and will always come back to me if we come across another dog (or indeed, as we've established, rabbits). If a master of a pack can train 30+, then one person can train one.

Another vote for a Beagle here if you have the time to train them and don't mind walking plenty!

 

[ponyparty]

Get a Manchester Terrier!

They excel at agility if you're into that sort of thing, they are one of the more trainable/biddable of the terrier breeds, they have a lovely short coat which wipes clean like Teflon after a muddy walk, they love cuddles but equally love a good hooley around, they're very clever little dogs, they're robust, more like big dogs in a small dog's body... I've had mine since he was 8 weeks old and he's just turned 1, wouldn't change him for the world.

They can sometimes be prone to being nervous (as someone mentioned above in this thread) so SOCIALISATION is very important. This means socialising with all the things they may possibly encounter in life with you, before they are 12 weeks old preferably, as 12 weeks is the initial socialisation cut-off point. This means things like... people with hats on, walking sticks, brollies, cars, buses, lorries, farm machinery, farm animals, horses, wheelchairs, pushchairs, suitcases, men with beards, the vacuum cleaner/lawnmower... and of course, other, older, well behaved, well socialised dogs. This does apply to all puppies but particular emphasis was put on this by the breeder we used, and her advice has held us in good stead, as our MT is a well rounded and confident individual.

More information can be found at http://www.british-manchester-terrier-club.co.uk/ and they also have a group on Facebook, request to join it and you will be able to access lots of photos and videos of MTs doing what they do best, and can get lots of friendly advice from owners and breeders alike (and find out about upcoming litters). You could even find a MT owner in your area to meet up with so you can meet the breed yourself and see if you like them! I'm in the West Midlands area (for now), if you're anywhere near

 

[ldlp111]

I do like the look of the manchester terrier, but don't think OH will. Out of interest what do kc reg ones cost?
I have actually seen advert for kc registered staffordshires not sure if over-priced at £650 but they are the blue coloured ones which seem to be pretty ridiculous prices. Doesn't state in ad if health checked, would they have to be, to be kc reg'd?
Thanks for help so far

 

[CorvusCorax]

The KC does not insist on any mandatory minimum health test results. They make recommendations, but they will register pups bred from dogs, for example, with hip scores of the maximum/worst score, or, from dogs with no health tests at all.
If you're interested in a specific breed your best bet is to go to a breed club for advice and recommendations.
Any good breeder will be happy to show you the health test results and paperwork for their dogs, in fact they should be tripping over themselves to prove their dogs are healthy and fit for purpose.
Many breeds now have online databases where you can also cross check these.

Try going to a show or competition or trial or country fair to see what floats your boat and see good example of your shortlisted breeds or crosses doing their thing?

 

[satinbaze]

If you are not in a rush then "Discover Dogs" is on at the end of the year and every breed is represented. You have a chance to meet dogs and talk to those involved with the breeds. I'm not sure where it will be held this year as it used to be at Earl's Court in London but that has been demolished

 

[ponyparty]

Manchesters don't really have any health problems to speak of, apart from the parents having to be screened for von Willebrand's disease (a blood disorder), results of which are available online somewhere... It's one of the things that drew me to the breed even more.

I absolutely adore Staffies, but cannot stand the way that, if you have one on a lead or running about at the park, people will actually visibly shrink away from it or give you a wide berth, as if your dog is some sort of vicious brute. They get such a bad rep, it makes me really cross. I am actually considering getting a rescue bitch Staff as a companion for my MT - eventually, anyway. Not sure I'd have the time to go through raising a puppy, toilet training etc again being potentially on my own. So that's an option I've got in the back of my mind. There are plenty of them out there needing homes

You would have to contact a breeder to ask how much they'd want for a MT puppy, as it can vary. They aren't "cheap" but they're not nearly as expensive as say, French Bulldogs or any of the current "fashionable" breeds. They're a rare native breed (another reason I wanted one, to help protect the breed. As he's an entire male there was the possibility of using him as a stud dog, but he hasn't don'e as well as I'd hoped in the show ring due to his ridiculous ears haha bless him, I still love him though).

I'd much rather pay a couple of hundred more for a puppy whose parents have had all the relevant health checks (the breeder should be willing and able to show you the paperwork to support this), and is a breed that isn't prone to any particular certain health issues, thus potentially saving hundreds (or even thousands!) in vets bills later down the line.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

They're not smooth coated, but have a very easy coat care, they shed twice a year and between that there is basically nothing to do, and otherwise, I think it sounds like a Norwegian Buhund could perhaps be suitable http://norwegianbuhund.co.uk/

Since Corgi have been mentioned, how about a Swedish Vallhund http://www.swedishvallhunds.co.uk/

Basenjis is smooth coated, and about the same height as Staffies https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basenji

I don't know if you have any Danish Swedish Farmdogs in the UK, but if you do, maybe that could be a breed to consider https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_Swedish_Farmdog

Portuguese Podengo small or medium http://podengos.org/id23.html

 

[ldlp111]

I do like the look of danish swedish farmdog, but don't think theres any in this country. They actually look alot like a jack russell

 

[galaxy]

There are 2 Manchester terriers that train at my agility club (same owner). The older is grade 6, so pretty good! The younger is just starting out at grade 3. They are big personalities but seem lovely enthusiastic dogs and (hers anyway) don't seem as stubborn and strong willed as some terriers I've seen!

I wouldn't say £650 is a lot of money for a well bred pedigree. My breed is more than that nowadays with the required health test! Lol

 

[epemberton94]

I've got a cocker spaniel, very smart and easy to train (a bit too smart!). Needs plenty of exercise but with enough of that he's a wonderful dog. He can do plenty of tricks and currently going through sundog training so fingers crossed we'll get to a couple of field trials.

 

[Teaselmeg]

How about one of these staffy x's at Many Tears. They are being fostered by a friend and she says they are lovely:

http://manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=16460

 

[ldlp111]

How about one of these staffy x's at Many Tears. They are being fostered by a friend and she says they are lovely:

http://manytearsrescue.org/display_mtar_dog.php?id=16460

He looks nice. Sorry using phone is there any female pups. Also would they regime to us being so far away.☺

 

[ldlp111]

Lol whoops phones auto correct should say rehome

 

[Teaselmeg]

Many Tears rehome all over the country, I believe there are girls and boys in the litter. If you go on their website, they are all listed individually.

 

[ldlp111]

I wouldn't say £650 is a lot of money for a well bred pedigree. My breed is more than that nowadays with the required health test! Lol

I more meant expensive if they haven't had the health checks, I don't need a kc registered dog and tbh seems abit silly to allow non tested pups to be allowed to be registered.

But then i've not bought a dog myself before so this is all new territory for me

Don't think Many tears rescue would allow us to adopt given the current layout of our garden, but we would consider adopting a puppy from a rescue, OH just worries about the unknown history of an older dog. Although most rescues don't know actual breeding of the pups which is akward as we don't want anything bigger than a staffie