We have decided to get another dog.  We already have a 10 year old male GSD, a 5 year old GSD bitch and a 2 year old Rotty bitch.  All wonderful, gentle temperments, all trained to a high standard.  I would love another Rotty but the additional food bill is a factor. So we have decided to get a little dog and I really love Pugs.  I am concerned that the level of exercise we do with our adults would be too much for one, I have contacted a breeder who has confirmed that over 30 minutes a day would be too much for an adult Pug.  Without question, any puppy we have had or would get would have its exercise strictly restricted for the first 12 months of its life but we do a lot of brisk long walks on a daily basis with the adult dogs.
I do not want a JRT type or a medium sized dog it must be small.  We would take a rescue if it was the right dog.  Any idea's?
We have two children 12 & 8 and lots of space, we also have 8 chickens.  First and foremost it must be a friendly family dog, just wish you could get miniture Rottweilers!

How about a Lancashire Heeler, same colour a Rott or is that too JRish, Know someone with both and the Heelers seem to keep up ok.

I think they are JRT like in temperment so not sure about them.

>I have contacted a breeder who has confirmed that over 30 minutes a day would be too much for an adult Pug.

No expert in Pugs but I would very much question the health of this breeder's Pugs if they can't handle more than 30 minutes exercise daily!

Hopefully Gwen will see this (and if not, please do PM her) as I think she does agility with her Pugs and could therefore give you an insight into their exercise capabilities.

My friend has pugs and border collies, she competes in agility with them all and the pugs join the collies on 2 hours of exercise per day, she even goes on rambling day walks through the peak district with them and they cope absolutely fine. The only thing she has to be careful with is them overheating on a hot day, so she does what most of us do with our dogs on a hot day...walks them first thing in the morning and last thing in the evening when its cooler.

I too would be seriously questioning the health of the pugs from the breeder you contacted if they cannot do more than 30 minutes exercise.

There are plenty of smaller terriers that aren't like the JR's but fit your requirements for size and exercise.  Might need to watch the chickens, although I suspect there are some terriers that would be less interested than others - how about Norfolk or Norwich...

Have you thought about the hound group?  It may depend on whether you have 100% snap-to recall on your wish list!!  I have a Basset Fauve De Bretagne on my 'one day' list, and the PBGV are very appealing too - these dogs will be robust enough to cope with your bigger breeds, take as much exercise as you can give them when adult,  and shouldn't eat you out of house and home either.

I have definite preferences for ears, tail and coat - all of which influence my decisions - in addition to temperament, biddability etc.  Perhaps this would enable you to narrow things down a bit too - we have so much choice in the pedigree world of dogs don't we?  Have fun choosing  :)

What about a Pin or a min pin?  Or even a daxie? Just thinking active min rottie colouring.  A well-bred Daxie will go all day being that they are fundamentally working dogs.  And I know a breeder of min pins and they are big personalities in a little package and very active too.

No expert in Pugs but I would very much question the health of this breeder's Pugs if they can't handle more than 30 minutes exercise daily!

This is also stated on the fact file on the KC website Pug profile - its says.. 'Up to 30 minutes per day'.

Just thinking active min rottie colouring.


The colour is not important, I just love the steadyness and trustworthness of Rottweilers especially with children.

Any dog can be like that so long as it's well bred and socialised properly.

Any dog can be like that so long as it's well bred and socialised properly.

I'm not sure you could describe some terriers or spaniels for example as steady however well bred or well reared they have been.  Some dogs are naturally more exuberant than others, nothing wrong with that its just not what we want.

I always think border terriers are the nicest terrier, I know lots of they're all lovely dogs, friendly and not yappy like some terriers and they can take as much exercise as you want to give them (once adult of course) :-)

I've a friend who has now got a Boston Terrier to do agility with.  He is full of bounce and energy!

What about a cocker spaniel? or a cavalier king charles?

How about a podengo? Mine keep up with the collie and aussie and would go all day given half a chance!

+1 for rottweiler

German Pinscher
Schnauzer

I always think border terriers are the nicest terrier I have yet to meet a nice one - it may be that the ones around here are PF bred but they are always snappy, bad tempered, nervous or nasty when we have met them :( (ringcraft & puppy classes included)

So......
Waiting for someone else to say Pug..that's what I really wan't (other than another Rotty). 
Any Pug experts out there who can confirm the exercise levels??
No to cockers just not my type. Cockers and Cavi's I would class as medium sized anyway and we want a small dog.

I know a fair few Rottie people have Pugs with no issues of long walks. What about a Frenchie? A Cavalier? My friends Border gets on well with her Rotts and Pug, very good with the kids but she is a bossy dog! Lol
I'm not a fan of terriers but borders are ok with me ;-)

Bostons have already been mentioned and I'd have a look at those too, lovely little dogs...

It's small but not tiny, what about a Spanish Water Dog? Very active and lovely characters, not met a grumpy one yet :-)

Just seen you pug post again, in that case go for it, the right breeder and you'll be fine. They have regular Pugs in the park meets around here for good walks. My friend had hers on a 2hr walk the other day, she's not had any problems with hers at all..
As for agility Gwen I think does a lot or knows many groups which do, I think they are far more active than many people give them credit for!!

>Cavi's I would class as medium sized

Really?! The cavs I know are small, around the same weight as a pug.

It does seem like you really want a pug though...I hope someone with personal experience of the breed comes along shortly to put your mind at ease of the exercise levels :) (perhaps contact some more breeders if not?)

How about a frenchie? go to good breeder and they are very athletic plus have all the attitude of the larger breeds that you clearly already love. And so very funny :)

It was nice to see that someone knows of Pugs that do agility and do long walks.  After reading about them on the Kennel Clubs website and the breeder I contacted both saying that they should only have up to 30 mins a day, I thought they were maybe not for us but it's looking more promising now.
If there are any Pug experts out there, how would you sum them up?  I've done a fair bit of reading on them but there is nothing better than hearing from people who have first hand experience.

> It was nice to see that someone knows of Pugs that do agility and do long walks. 

If you look on the agilitynet website there is an article on there about a pug agility team http://agilitynet.co.uk/features/nikothepug_karenwhite.html

>and the PBGV are very appealing too

Oh please yes.  Me want one too!  :-)

Ditto here too.. They fill my eye each time I see them, apparently not an easy breed, very stubborn and hard to train? Have no intention of looking for one now, just when I need to downsize, lol

i have a rottie and pug and the pug runs rings around the rottie, they both do agility they both walk for miles and miles, the pug gives as much or as little exercise i can give her , she is quite happy to curl up on the sofa with me having a lazy day, or she can come with a walk and a run along side the bike, she is fit as a fiddle and she has a tshirt with FIT NOT FAT  on it,
there is a grade 5 agility dog who is a pug, and he would not of made it that far if he had been unfit, in about two years time another mad pug will be joining our family and hopefully will be an absolute nutter, so if i was you find a breeder that has active pugs there are plenty around

What about a Boston Terrier, quite active dogs compared to Pugs and French Bulldogs.

I sourced one from a reputable breeder for friends of mine, and he lived a happy 13 plus years with them.  At that time he did not cost much more than most average breeds.

If you're looking for a rescue dog that's great with the family and enjoys exercise (and a lot of relaxing!!) and won't eat you out of house and home you should really consider a lurcher or greyhound :)

If you're looking for a rescue dog that's great with the family and enjoys exercise (and a lot of relaxing!!) and won't eat you out of house and home you should really consider a lurcher or greyhound

I would consider a rescue for sure, but I want a small dog.  If I could have a larger dog I would only have another Rotty. 

What about a Boston Terrier, quite active dogs compared to Pugs and French Bulldogs.

Now this is a breed I have thought about, I need to read more about them as they definately do appeal.  What are like (in a nutshell?)

How about a whippet?

I was going to say Whippet or Manchester Terrier, both on my wish list

What about a toy poodle or papillon as both can walk for miles and they are definitely small!

Would have added Affenpinscher  but they are quite terrier like in attitude even though they belong to the toy group

A good friend of mine has hers living with her Dobe's no problem. Very lively little dog-the Boston!

Another dog is the Griffon Bruxellouis(sp) and they come in black and tan too :-). I was taken with the bob at Crufts this year!

They have a bit more zip to them than Frenchies 9the terrier blood), smart active fun dogs, but I have really only got the ones seen at shows to go on and the Pet one of my friends.

In the USA they divide them into weight classes, but here the various sizes are accomodated together, so there is a variety in size, so some can be quite small and some a bit larger.

They can be a bit stubborn and need boundaries, with other dogs I would say same as bull breeds or terriers need socialising as do seem to have a bit of Swagger and self importance about them.

Be warned, Boston Terriers can jump, it's incredibly hard to keep them in (at least the one i know - she's always the wrong side of the gate :(  )

Pugs are active, fun dogs - if you want one, don't be put off, just go to a good breeder.

I would consider a rescue for sure, but I want a small dog.

Why not contact the rescue centres in your area and describe your requirement to them? There are plenty small dogs in rescue and there may be some that fit your requirement, perhaps breeds/crossbreeds that you didn't even think of... or even unusual temperaments of breeds that you would not have considered. You could also contact the breed rescue for pugs who may be able to tell you whether they have any that would be able to keep up with your current dogs.

Why not contact the rescue centres in your area and describe your requirement to them? There are plenty small dogs in rescue and there may be some that fit your requirement, perhaps breeds/crossbreeds that you didn't even think of... or even unusual temperaments of breeds that you would not have considered. You could also contact the breed rescue for pugs who may be able to tell you whether they have any that would be able to keep up with your current dogs.

I have done so already. The pug rescues have a waiting list (which is great news for the Pugs!)

Sorry if this has been suggested already or if you've already decided (I haven't read all the way through).
We had Swedish Vallhunds who were very capable of keeping up with my Weims, great with my daughter and full of personality. They're small(ish) in height but quite sturdy which was a good thing with the mad big dogs around...

> Another dog is the Griffon Bruxellouis(sp) and they come in black and tan too :-). I was taken with the bob at Crufts this year!

He's a lovely dog! Great temperament too. Griffon Bruxellois come in red, black & black & tan. They can be rough or smooth coated.
But they are not very easy to get hold of. Pugs are definitely thicker on the ground.

I have Vallhunds. They really are a super breed but we only have around 30 pups born in a year and hardly any turn up in rescue. We have always had ours with Elkhounds but I know that many live with bigger breeds like Gsds and Rotties. They are a big dog in a small body, with very few health problems and live around 12 years or more.

Big dog in small body is a perfect description for the Vallhunds that we had! And our last one lived until almost 17 years old, sturdy right up until the last 6 months or so.

My favourite low leg breed.