[la di dah]

DH is pretty sure we should go papillon or chihuahua when we get a little-y because we're not looking for a rat-killer and are averse to barking or trying to eat the cats. And I do like those, but I'm a little worried about it wanting to go for long walks, which I enjoy, or being very fragile and having a softspot in its head just perfect for the cat to fall off a table onto, iykwim. I thought maybe the small terriers might be more durable.

BUUUUT I am not such a twunt that'd I'd get a fiery little terrier just on the basis of cuteness and then get mad at it for acting like a terrier. I would rather not have one than be a sh*tty owner to it.

Looks wise, the Min-Pins, Manchester Terriers, English Toy Terriers (which all look alike to me) are INCREDIBLY GORGEOUS to me. But... I've heard lots of things about temperment. Some websites say Min-Pins are boundlessly affectionate, don't need much exercise, and are trainable and "born lap-dogs" that bond closely - and other places say they are not recommended with cats, love to bark and dig and terrorize villages or whatever. Anyone had any of these?

Norwich/folk Terriers and Westies are adorable but kind of in the "could be a huge handful" way.

I have known calm mini-schnauzers that were lovely, is that atypical?

I don't know anything about mini-foxies I can't even seem to get clear on whether they're a recognized breed here or not.

Had dogs before, but I am a terrier-noob. I'd appreciate the good and bad of any terrier breed under about 11 kgs. including any horror stories, wonderful stories, or breeds of that size I haven't mentioned, doesn't Oriental Lily have Cairns?

This post has been edited by la di dah: 14/11/2012, 04:46 PM

[CharliMarley]

My cousin has a Maltese/Poodle cross little white fluffy dog and he is just the most cuddly thing and not at all "terrier mad".

[la di dah]

My cousin has a Maltese/Poodle cross little white fluffy dog and he is just the most cuddly thing and not at all "terrier mad".

Toy/Mini poodles are on our possibility list but I keep getting turned around about breed health issues and I'm not sure if they're any sturdier than Chihuahuas or Papillons. I'd be tempted to say maybe just because they're a little chunkier, if nothing else?

They don't have huge ridiculous ears, though! (Just kidding; not an actual criteria)

[jameses mum]

LDD, my next door neighbour has a mini fox terrier x chihuahua with a dash of pug. She is cute, very fox-terrier like ( if terriers are your thing), and has short dog syndrome to the max.

Mind you, she doesn't get enough exercise and her owner has been lax in the training department. I've taken her on 3 km runs when I've (reluctantly) dog-sat, and she keeps up fine. But she is a yappy annoying mutt. My mother had a fox terrier for 18 years, she was yappy too. I don't like small yappy dogs.
However, I once shared a house with a Jack Russell who looked like a miniature staffy, he was an awesome little ball of muscle and one of the happiest dogs I've known. But again, he was small and yappy.

[YellowKittyGlenn]

I want a Yorkshire terrier they aren't yappy and not rat killers very gentle.
All the chihuahuas I've met are yappy and nippy and very intolerant not a breed I would have around little kids.
It really depends on what your after, not all terriers are rat killers or chasers

This post has been edited by YellowKittyGlenn: 14/11/2012, 05:11 PM

[froglett]

OP, I can only comment on Westies (never had another terrier, except for a Jack Russell growing up, and she was not your standard JR!)

We brought our girl home when she was 10 weeks old, and for the first two days she was a placid, timid little thing (both of us wondering if she was going to stay like that), then bam, she was satan in cotton wool (I mean that in a good way)!

She was easy to train and very intelligent, although did have a tendency to be a little bit stubborn. She was an outside dog until she was around 18 months old, and we mentioned at adult dog training school that she was a bit of a handful. They suggested bringing her inside, which we did (she ended up sleeping on our bed ), and instantly she bonded more deeply with us, became incredibly loyal, and she calmed down.

By around 2 I could walk her off lead, she'd come back in the dog park (that took a while training wise!!), she'd sit at our feet all day (we work from home) and then of a night time she'd sit on the lounge with us. She still had her quirky personality, but was quite calm. I put that down to her growing out of the puppy stage, training (from everything I've read about Westie's they need quite firm positive training and she certainly needed it), me being an exercise junkie (I walked her 5kms ish each day), and moving her inside to sleep with us.

Unfortunately just a month ago, at almost 3, she died from a paralysis tick. To say we are gutted is an understatement. We'll never be able to replace her, but DH and I miss having a dog in the house so so much! We have got our name down with the same breeder, and will be getting another Westie (I wouldn't have any other breed now!). I am a little bit daunted by the work required to train the next one, but the payoff is a great little loyal dog by around age 2.

So I suppose to summarise, Westie's can be calm, but it does take work to get them there! A friend also has a Westie (male), he is around 8, and would be the calmest most relaxed dog in the world!

Hope this helps

[steppy]

I have a westie - don't recommend it. HIGH maintenance on top of being a feisty beast.

[la di dah]

I am not really a yappy dog person. But I always wondered how much of it was boredom/lack of exercise, as I like to walk a lot and maybe 5+ km a day would settle them a little or at least give them something to do? I could be kidding myself. Might still be best to get a Chihuahua or Poodle that might actually go ahead and go to sleep afterwards.

EDIT: Ooh more replies came in while I was replying! Thanks!

Since many of the local rescues seem to have a range of little dogs - Chi's, Poms, Foxys, etc. I was thinking maybe fostering first would be the go when we are finally ready, but since DH seems to think he wants a puppy I keep looking at researching breeds/breeders.

This post has been edited by la di dah: 14/11/2012, 05:14 PM

[steppy]

We can walk our Westie many kilometres and will still bark at birds, winds moving a branch, people next door rocking up. Gets tiring. As he is getting older it's not so bad, but awful for years. And they dig. And they need professional grooming to look good. And they are prone to skin diseases and allergies that cause skin reactions. EXPENSIVE.

That said ... still a nice wee beastie.

This post has been edited by steppy: 14/11/2012, 05:15 PM

[froglett]

Oh - and just to add to my last response, Westie's don't malt (because of their coarse coat). They will lose a little bit of hair, but they definitely don't drop clumps of fur.

Also, our girl was quite happy to do our 5km loop at a run, and would sprint alongside DH when he was riding his bike. Once exercised for the day, she'd layout on the balcony in the sun and snooze, or jump on her pillow under DH's feet and go to sleep.

This post has been edited by froglett: 14/11/2012, 05:16 PM