[Closed] Best friendly medium sized non-too-hairy and undemanding dog ?

Have you thought about one of these. Seems to fit your spec:
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I think Whippets are awesome and would consider one if we were getting another (B(order)T owner) - not sure how they'd be on an all-dayer.

Spinone - they're a bit big aren't they?

Boston Terrier - know a few of them, all great dogs but I'm not keen on anything bred with that kind of face.

Greyhound - certainly not a jog-along by the bike dog...I don't think so anyway, but could be wrong.

Miniature Bull Terrier - no idea...didn't even know they existed. 😀

Sounds like a cockapoo might be the closest match. They don't have to have hair over their eyes and they do have expressive faces.

My sprocker basically meets all of your criteria but he does shed a bit.

Schnauzers are grumpy, not happy.

Poodle, in medium, don't shed, friendly and nuts..
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Just get a cat

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Meet Louis the Fell Terrier.
Can take as much exercise as you can throw at him, but a quick 20 mins will do him at a push. Doesn't moult or steal kids' sarnies. The gentlest dog I've ever had!

Get a greyhound.
The laziest animal ever invented.
Will lie and sleep the whole day through if allowed.
Will run for miles if encouraged.

Also.... Tiny bumholes 😯

CAT!

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Aren't Whippet's sight hounds - thus a tendency to want to chase rabbits is part of their DNA?
Did meet a lovely Irish Terrier at the weekend and my son's gf has a couple of soft coated Wheaten Terriers.

Disclaimer - I've never owned one but my wife is keen to replace our Cat with a Whippet and so I've had to learn, in theory, about dogs...

French bull terrier's are popular in Brighton and may tick your boxes too...

Spinone is a lovely dog, and I miss mine, he passed away about a year ago. Happy to run, happy to be left alone, happy to be played with.
But, he was a slobbery dog, and he would shake his head and throw dribble all over the house, usually mixed with mud, I don't miss constantly cleaning that up.
He could be trusted completely, I felt he was a bit aloof and indifferent.
They don't live for very long, and he hated being carried.
I would maybe look at a segugio next time.

Brazilian Labrador?

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Guaranteed to frighten the bejeebus out of burglarists 😈

Our two dogs are pretty low maintenance and can be left for hours on their own. Plus they both fit in a small box.

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8442356038_4718bed60c_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8442356038_4718bed60c_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dS2hjJ ]Jeff and George[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

West Highland Terrier?

Awwwww. Look at his big slobbery face. Wuff!

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They do need exercising but boxers are the best dogs. Especially if you get a dim one. Friend of mine has a very stupid white boxer and I always want to just steal him, he's awesome. 90% drool, though.

French bull terrier's are popular in Brighton and may tick your boxes too...

Please don't encourage the "breeders" by getting one of these. Read up on them.
They have all sorts of health problems, breathing, dry eyes, etc, and often can't be born naturally due to the size of their head.
They're not alone in being bred for their freakiness, but sadly they're becoming too popular for their own good.

kelpie

Hers mine as a trail dog

We've a lurcher, which is cool but the non running dog (whippet) part of Barney is a collie, and he's a bit collie-ish, too damn smart for his own good.

In terms of the dogs you listed I encounter a lovely Spinone, he's just so great, super friendly, super smart looking, can apparently go all day in their comedic trotting manner. I totally love this dog but every time I see him he's absolutely covered in mud, I think they love rivers/marshes/big puddles even more than springers.

Edit Oh yeah, Spinone is definitely a big rather than medium dog.

Super popular in my Herts locale are Cockapoos, they just seem like such perfect dogs, just happy and scatty.

Friend has a French bulldog - incredibly cute and characterful, hates trains, cost £2k

How about dogs in tights? You don't see their bum holes and the tights would help with the minimal shedding.

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😆 @ Brazilian labrador!

Brazilian labrador!

NOT to be confused with a Labrador with a Brazilian.
That would only make the bumhole problem much worse. 😯

A Staffy would meet all your requirements, shame they have a much maligned, much undeserved, reputation.

The correct answer is, of course, to go to a rescue centre and see what they have.

Pop down your local dog sanctuary and see what they got. Way cheaper than going down the pedigree pup route and if you get a good cross breed far less likely to have issues common to a lot of pedigree breeds. Look for a dog that has a good dollop of terrier as they're bred to jog all day. Avoid collies as they need a lot of stimulation. As said above whippets/greyhounds etc are sight hounds, they'll go after the rabbits like you won't believe (also applies to spaniels, pointers and the like). Also they aren't bred for long rides, more explosive bursts of energy. I used to have a ridgeback/greyhound cross (ridgehound?) that was superb. Current dog is a lab/shepherd cross, also superb. Maybe something with Beagle in it? Maybe you want to have a pedigree, but still worth checking out the local dogs home..

Loads of great responses, thanks so much. These will really help narrow our focus down a little more.

Alas, Mrs Slim has a cat alergy so that rules out cat dogs.

Yes, I wouldn't go for a Frenchie any longer after learning of the c-section nature of most litters, that just completely wrong.
Hence liking Boston's, similar look, a bit more sprightly with (potentially) fewer of the health issues.

I think a tenadancy to chase critters is perhaps less of a concern for me, forever cleaning drool and muddy coats more so. Spinone's sound great characters but Mrs Slim would have to commit to clean up duty - that would drive me nuts.

small bummed whippets sound cool. That Fell Terrier looks brill too, Mrs Slim would adore him. And the Kelpie! Great vid!

IHN - i've previously owned Staffies and know the breed well. Am seriously tempted to go down that path again but I know deep down the other half prefers a furrier 'Sprocket' type breed. She's open minded though.

We've been to several rehoming centres and are not ruling that out as an option.

If getting a whippet, go for a rescue one.

This is both for the dog's and your house's benefit. They can be mental as puppies.

Kenyan Poodle? Loves kids.

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You need a Charley:

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(he's the one on the left).

Chilled all night, run all day or snoozes if you stay in. Hardly ever needs to go on the lead. Short hair, well behaved, immensely intelligent, great with kids, fine with other dogs.

Good luck finding one. (he's a rescue)

Alternatively get a springer and embrace the mental:

[url= https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/20658534593_13545fa461_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5617/20658534593_13545fa461_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/xtwoAV ]Courtesy of Mrs t.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/evilgoat/ ]Evil Goat[/url], on Flickr

Our whippet is nearly 3 - had her from a pup.

Will take as much or as little exercise as you can provide.

Lazy around the house - sleeps a lot - similar to a cat!

Does like to chase rabbits/hares/squirrels.

Doesn't really smell of very much unless she's been rolling where foxes have been. Never needs a bath.

Good at stealing food. Doesn't really shed hair.

But this my first dog so can't compare to anything else.

supersessions - Carley is just about my minds-eyes ideal dog!

Eddie Fiola - can I ask for a little more of your Kelpie experience? Is it a particularly energetic breed requiring constant stimulation? Or happy to chill?
Great looking dog, i've looked at Aussie cattle dogs before but shy'd away from the amount of exercise required to keep them fit and stimulated

The mongrel I've adopted has a fair bit of (Spanish) greyhound in him, at least according to the experts. Despite being a puppy he's not that bad - doesn't destroy too much, will steal food from your hand if you're not careful, and likes sleeping. On the sofa, particularly.

Northwind - Member

They do need exercising but boxers are the best dogs.

Boxer +1, although they are probably at the upper end of medium-sized.

Or a rescue mongrel that will cover all your requirement & probably have less tendency for the expensive vet bills that pedigree dogs tend to end up with; like supersessions fine looking mutt.

Bengal retriever?

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I've never known a bigger cuddle monkey than our staffie cross.

Due to their misrepresentation in the media, your local rescue centre will have plenty to choose from.

However, the more a dog loves company, the less well suited they are to long periods along. Also, if you're out all day, a rescue centre might not rehome to you unless you get a dog walker to break up the time.

If rabbit chasing is a concern, I'd avoid anything with terrier in the name.

African sprint hound,much faster than a Whippet

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If rabbit chasing is a concern, I'd avoid anything with terrier in the name.

or the Fuddhound.
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Although, they are vewwy, vewwy, quiet.

repetition, but I thought staffie when I read the "specs"

A Staffy would meet all your requirements, shame they have a much maligned, much undeserved, reputation.

The correct answer is, of course, to go to a rescue centre and see what they have.

Usually, lots of staffs! bzzt. repetition again.

Louisiana Terrier? Loves the woods...

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Taking this opportunity to post another photo of Ted 🙂

He is proving to be remarkably easy to train and he will stay close to us if we want while out walking off the lead as we've been on top of training and consistent.

So I'd say terriers can be trained to not chase rabbits etc, indeed Borders were bred to run with the horses and hounds and to flush out foxes not go chasing things. Your description fits them well as it's what we were after when we spent ages choosing the breed.

Anyway - here is Ted again

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The Floridian Bloodhound. Very loving.

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, it wont seek to destroy rabbits and other critters

Surely rules out greyhound & whippet sound like you want a terrier but not a terrier so I would suggest a Staffy.

@DaveRambo Ted looks ace here Jake totally untrainable when it comes any sort of critter hunting 🙂

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I have had dogs pretty much all my life from bull terriers through to gun dogs, the easiest dogs to train are gun dogs or HPR's hunter pointer retriever types, they tend to be quiet and are pretty docile when needed to be.
They do tend to be bigger, but really size is not that important.
All terriers are clowns, and although they are incredibly loyal, they are always a bit naughty, and get bored quickly. Ignore them at your peril!
Have you looked at a vizsla?

Spanish Bull Terrier? Loves charging about the trails....

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@carbonfiend

This forum needs a like button - they look very similar.

We thought Ted was untrainable as he kept ignoring us to run after other dogs to play with. We tried a few things before finding that he loves a ball and cheese so these are only ever available on walks where he is off the lead.

To start with we kept him on a very long (20m) lead and whenever he started to run away we called him back. When he came back he got a bit of cheese and a play with the ball. It didn't take long for him to work out that coming back when we call meant he got them.
While it's not 100% at the moment when off the lead (he's only 16 weeks) we can stop him almost all the time. The secret is he never ever gets them at any other time.

Time will tell if it works reliably but the breeder we got him from did this and her dogs will not run off / chase when off the lead.

Has Ted seen a squirrel yet 😀

We've even trained our dogs to operate basic machinery

[url= https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/7979920559_fc8de94d56_z.jp g" target="_blank">https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8316/7979920559_fc8de94d56_z.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/daabne ]George the digger cat[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr

You need a cat not a dog.

Dogs don't respond well to being left alone for long periods. Especially the whippet you mention.

He has seen a squirrel - I saw it first and was ready but I made out that a tiny piece of cheese and running after a ball was way more interesting.

I'm aware that it may not last ...

African Daschund?

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I have no idea, but you win the prize for most amusing thread title of the week.

If you even mention not being there for your dog most of the day you'll never get anything from the dog homes. It's almost as if they don't wanna give dogs away. Dogs are individuals. Despite certain breeds having certain characteristics nothings guaranteed. I currently am owned by an 8st malamute x

Cocker?

My Shar Pei seems to tick all though boxes.

Cocker?

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munrobiker - Member
Schnauzers are grumpy, not happy.

Yup, my Mum had one up until about 2.5 years ago.. Lovely, really lovely dog but yes, grumpy.

Airedale terrier? Lovely dogs, clever, friendly, basically hypoallergenic (we had one as a family dog when both me and my mum were allergic to cats). Does need a reasonable among of excersise though

Took a trek over to Battersea dogs home this weekend, didn't know whether to rejoice or cry.. There were only around 8 10 dogs on display! Obviously this is a good thing for the pooches, but for the punters it narrows the voice down somewhat.

The Cat section was worse, think there were 3 cats available!

Took a trek over to Battersea dogs home this weekend, didn't know whether to rejoice or cry.. There were only around 8 10 dogs on display! Obviously this is a good thing for the pooches, but for the punters it narrows the voice down somewhat.

The Cat section was worse, think there were 3 cats available!

Running down their stock levels to make way for the Christmas rush?
Retailers eh? 😳

We had neighbours who had 2 whippets. Whenever they were left alone they would whine nonstop. (The dogs, not the neighbours, just to be clear).

I have two spaniels that are awesome but do shed a bit and eat vile things on occasion. They are, however, awesome with kids (because kids are a source of food) and are great to take on walks.

A friend had ex-racing greyhounds and said they are the laziest dogs in the world. Al they did _all_ day was sleep on their sofa. They had something like 20 minutes exercise a day (it was all they wanted) and then just slept.

Very soppy too.

Me'd I'd take the Spaniel insanity every time. I love Spaniels.

Retailers eh?

Are they to fix dogs who have been docked?

The Cat section was worse, think there were 3 cats available!

Try the RSPCA? I worked one day at the one in... Doncaster I think it was, the phone rang every 10-15 minutes and I'd hazard 90% of the calls were "can you take a cat?" I've no idea whether that office was typical or whether Doncaster is just full of cat-disposers but it's probably worth checking your local branch.

Lurcher.. ok they will chase rabbits but they wont catch unless you go out with a lamp. As soon as the rabbit goes down the hole or the squirrel goes up the tree they come back. Not like other dogs which will spent ages hunting along scent trails. Also they are much cheaper than pedigree dogs, healthier and just as much fun.

Lurchers et Greyhounds are growing on me - trouble is, aren't you supposed to look a bit like the dog you own? ie, long and lithe in the case of a greyhound.

not short'n'fat

French Bulldog or Pug for you then miladdo.

New handbag with that too?

oops wrong thread again!!

As the owner of 2 greyhounds I feel I should second the comments on how lazy they are. They're fantastic lap dogs, great around people and children (our litle girl has beaten the **** out of ours with no repercussions from the dogs).

But they're not what you're after unfortunately.

As mentioned earlier, minimal exercise required.....they're sprinters not distance runners. Watching them run is magical though. Ours have 15 mins on a morning, a dog walker takes them out 30 mins while we're at work, they get 30-40 mins walk on a night. You can apparently build their stamina for longer walks but from what I've seen over the past 3 years they prefer the couch.

You mentioned being in the park etc and not chasing squirrels. They'd chase squirrels. They'd chase rabbits, cats, deer, carrier bags, shadows.....they're bred to chase, it's what they do. They tend to be seen on leads for a reason lol. Also, they struggle with stiles, they're too long. They're large dogs that are lumped in the category medium because of weight (still a bugger to lift 2 of them over a stile in a muddy field, trust me on that).

Oh, and recall isn't something greyhounds excel at, it can be trained, but they're happy to ignore it when it suits. mine are at about 50/50 unless i'm in the kitchen. Shouting from the kitchen gets an instant response.

All that said, I love mine, they truly are the perfect lazy mans dog and have wonderful personalities.

If you like the 'look' of them then I'd suggest finding a lurcher that was greyhound crossed with something trainable like collie perhaps. My other thought was poodle, not the girly looking ones though lol.

Good luck finding your new friend 🙂

thanks!

I once met a Greyhound lazing by a fire in a pub, he was fantastic, responded to a pat but otherwise just lay there prone.

Are they required to have a muzzle on during walks? I've heard they can have a tendancy to tear whatever they eventually catch to shreds.

The lifting over styles is a good point.

Greyhound muzzles tend to be used as the dogs nip each other when racing, we have muzzles for ours but the only time they've had them on is when first entering a dog pen and there've been other dogs. TBH then only because people have this perception of the dogs due to seeing them on TV muzzled.

As for the tearing to shreds thing......they're hunting dogs bred for centuries to kill, the racing thing is only a recent chapter in their history. That said, in the 3 years we've had ours they've each killed 1 bird in the garden. Billy's gone after deer a few times though and only fences prevented him from catching them. Many rabbits and squirrels have been saved by their leads too.

They should be on the lead though, only off the lead in a fenced off area unless you are 100% certain they will come back, even then you're probably wrong lol

I'm not trying to put you off greys here btw, they really are wonderful dogs. But the are what they are. Why not find your local Retired Greyhound Trust kennels, pop down and meet a few. our local one run a monthly walk where you can take the dogs out and spend some time with them.

http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/adopt-a-greyhound/

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Yes, I donated to a Greyhound charity that were doing a High St collection with their dogs whilst on a Down's Link ride last year, I have it on my list to visit a centre and meet a few.
I can possibly commit a couple of Squirrels to the sacrificial god's if it means a dog gets a good home.

As of this Fridays i'll be located on the South Down's with miles of rolling National Park to walk in right from the doorstep.

I REALLY like the idea of a lazy dog.
How do yours fair if left alone for periods?

I've heard they can have a tendancy to tear whatever they eventually catch to shreds.

A friends Greyhound caught a squirrel, the dog got torn to shreds!!

My lurcher is 6. She's never caught anything, despite chasing foxes, deer, rabbits, squirrels and cats. Greyhounds only have to be on leads because they missed recall training when young and I see plenty off lead who are fine. They will chase things and then come back, once its out of sight its out of mind, not like a terrier which could be gone for an hour.

A good friend has a greyhound cross that she rescued a about 5-6 years ago. We think it has doberman or shepherd and retriever in him as well. He's completely ball obsessed can run and play for hours and retrieves like a machine. However, he doesn't like being away from her for more than a few hours at a time. I think thats the shepherd in him, or the fact that he was a rescue and has separation/abandonment anxieties.
He has excellent recall and won't ever stray more than 10-15 meters from her on a walk! Unless he's chasing a ball...

They do need exercising but boxers are the best dogs.

Our friend's one was big and aggressive, had to be put down because he kept biting people. And aren't they prone to heart defects?

ours are left for 7 hours 3 days a week but that's punctuated by a dog walker taking them out for 30 mins in the middle. They could manage without the walk but tbh I wouldn't feel happy about that.

@anagallis_arvensis - They're all different but recall training isn't a priority for their track trainers. We got our boy at 5 years old and tried relentlessly to work on recall. He knows what I want, you can see the cogs turning, then he decides to do the thing he wanted to do in the first place. The girl is a lot better, I reckon we could get her pretty much perfect if she was our only dog but she follows his lead.