We are thinking of getting a 2nd dog in a year to 18 months time. We already have a Goldie of 18 months who is growing up to be a very calm and well mannered girl who loves everyone. We are hoping for a smaller dog that our daughter could do agility with. We all are really attracted to the border terrier and have a couple near us who are fab, but have also met a few who are aggressive and snappy, just after other opions on suitable breeds.

Many thanks.

Terriers are a slightly different kettle of fish to the biddable temperament of a Goldie. Have you considered a smaller dog from the gundog group? Maybe a Cocker or Sussex Spaniel? I know it wouldn't be smaller but how about another Goldie, you can never have enough Goldies IMO!

Shelties can make good obedience and agility dogs.

Well, I am biased but a cavalier would probably be a good match for your existing dog as both are gentle souls by nature :-)

Would love another goldie, just feel we wouldn't have enough space plus feel our daughter could do with something a bit smaller. Love the idea of a Cavalier, what health teat would we be looking out for?

I think a cocker would be good, am also biased tho, my cockers best friend is a goldie and they get on so well,
good luck with what ever you choose. x

Cavaliers are greatbut caution needs to be taken with the size difference. I once had a golden who picked my then cavalier up by the neck and shook him, he hated the cavalier and we had to keep them apart for 11 years. My current male golden weighs 35 kgs and my male cavalier 6. They get on fine but I wouldn't leave them unsupervised together.

parents and ideally also grandparents of any cavalier pup should have been MRI scanned and parents should be no less than 2 and a half and have current clear hearts plus grandparents be at least 5 and heart clear.

papillion ? lovely little dogs I have seriously considered one in the future and great at agility, although you would have to supervise with your goldi. Not to difficult my gsd and pomx get on fine.  If she has the usual goldie temperment they should be good together.
How old is your daughter ?

> Cavaliers are great but caution needs to be taken with the size difference.

I agree, a vast size difference isn't a good idea IMO. Although a Sussex is smaller, it is fairly substantial. My Winnie, weighs in at around 17-18 kgs. She would have been ideal for a child to learn agility with, she's not really fast, but is accurate and has had placings in competition when faster dogs have not been. Health-wise they are pretty healthy. Have a look here: http://www.sussexspaniels.org.uk/

The Sussex spaniel looks like a lovely breed, I guess even though our goldie is fantastic and gentle with something too small accidents could easily happen. By the time we are ready our daughter will be comming up to 10 and the youngest will be 5 although it will be the eldest who does the agility. There our so many lovely breeds it's just a case of finding the right one, hence whilst we are starting to look into now.

Papillons only weigh between 1 and 5 kg max so huge sizee difference.

Definitely think that they would be to small. What are people's experiences with the Tibetan terrier, do they have the typical terrier temperament?

Have you thought about a Toller? They make great agility dogs and are quite a bit smaller than a Goldie, especially the bitches, but not so small that they would get hurt. I know quite a few people who have both breeds.

Sussex are not always the easiest dogs to live with.  if you are tempted have a long chat with a good breeder.  they can be a bit of a handful!

> Have you thought about a Toller?

Was just going to suggest that - I don't know any Tollers intimately but they've always struck me as a lovely dog, full of fun and energy. I would imagine they go very well with Goldies.

I have a Golden Retriever and compete in agility with him and he loves it. We also have a terrier who is very fast in agility but the hustle and bustle is too much for him and he goes completely over the top so have had to stop running him as it stresses him out far too much. Although most GR's aren't as fast as the collies they do tend to be very consistent and I have had some good placings with my dog so don't rule them out completely if your daughter wants to do agility with your new dog :-)

I know lots of people that have a gundog and a Border Terrier.

they make excellent second dogs, but sadly s their popularity has increased there are many nto well bred with typical Border temperaments which should make them easier with other dogs than many terrier breeds, as they are originally supposed to run with hounds.

As long as you go to a reputable breeder breeding to the standard fro temperametn preferably through one of the breed clubs you should nto go far wrong.

Have to admit they are my favourite Terrier breed possibly followed by the Bedlington.

Just what I was going to suggest, a Toller! I imagine they're quite hard to find mind you. I don't think I've ever seen a nasty Border T though, I've always considered them one of the most laid back and trainable of the terriers. I have a friend in rally O who extols the virtue of the smooth fox terrier too, she says apart from her current one who is very nervous, hers have always been easy and trainable. Or the cocker is another possible as people have said. You could go to Discover Dogs in November and have a look at some of your possible breeds?

What about a miniature poodle ?
They do well in agility and are a loving breed for children.

We have the same breed together Golden Retriever's.

If I was to change then I would get a king charles with a GR.

Have to second, or third a Toller!!

We decided on one for my son who was nine at the time as we felt that a Munster (our first breed) would be too much for him.  He has done all of the work with her and has competed in obedience, junior handling and agility with her.  She is the most easy going dog that you could meet, although she is a little laid back for agility!  Many others are quite succesful in agility as they can be quite fast when they want to be.