Advice required please, open to all.

Hiya all Hope you are all well....

I am after a little advice/suggestions actually.

I am a through and through Stafford person... My Sal (Stafford) is my darling and I would not change breed if I didn't have to. But due to my bout of breast cancer a few years ago I have not the greatest strength in my right arm, (its good enough though to continue working/gardening/dog walking and not worth complaining about) but as Sal was 8 this year, and I actually held a 14 month old barely contained Stafford youngster the other day I am thinking in another 5-6 years I am not sure a Stafford would be the ideal choice for me especialy a pup/youngster.....so here I am considering other breeds. Shock horror.

I know its a long way off ie hopefuly another 6-8 years but I other breeds are almost a foreign language to me. Show me a Staff I can tell you if I would own it and choose from a litter etc. No problem. But other breeds...Aghhh

And another question is what breed would I suit?
Secure garden, only adults in home, walks of approx 30 minute duration each; supplied morning, lunchtime, evening, bedtime and off lead runs at least 4 times a week for up to 3 hours. Holidays taken to suit the dog....ie cottage....sad eh?
I like to train with common sense from the start and a reasonably ordered lifestyle. I expect my dogs to do as they are told, but happy for them to be dogs and play etc. But I also expect them to be no trouble to anyone inside or outside and in this regard I make sure they are well socialised as pups and adults. Sal also does PAT dog and agility, and has had a brush with flyball. So all possibilities.
So what breed would I suit?

I am not a groomer so anything requiring lengthy home grooming out. But not adverse to taking dog to groomer, and daily/weekly brush through at home.
Not struck on loads of shedding hair.
Do not want a long haired dog.
Do not want a large breed...I am going smaller than a Stafford here. I do not want a greyhound...I know they fit my criteria in all but size.
On my list so far to consider are...French Bulldogs, Bostons, Pugs (health issues put me off but I like the character) Min Schnauzers, Min Poodles, Border Terriers.....so advice on theose mentioned by people who own them and suggetsions of anything I may have overlooked welcomed.


Karen

You know where I live Kazz, youre welcome.

would you not consider a rescue Karen?? Staffie first choice but just an older dog in need of a home??

Can I come back as your next dog - it sounds like a wonderful life with you

Seriously, I think you could have any breed you wanted.

Having seen Anne-Marie's Lola photos, how about a frenchie - they seem to have such character - I'm really taken with them (or with Lola anyway)!

As Dani says, a rescue might be worth considering...that way you could stick to your beloved breed and with so many in rescue (though hopefully the numbers will have reduced by the time you are ready for your next dog), you should be able to find one to meet all your requirements, including being able to pass the PAT tests.

Why not just have a Staff from a pup and make sure from day one it doesn't pull on lead and all the things you want it to do, to train them to do it?

i think thats a good idea, an oldie would be lovely

I agree re the oldie, but really out of the smaller breeds, I'd love a border terrier, westie or a cocker spaniel Borders are full of character and so cute, so are westies, and a cocker spaniel...oh my goodness what I wouldn't give for a cocker spaniel, I love them to bits.

Well, okay any and all of the above if I had the room!

Kazz....hello mate...

Border terrier hun........defo xxxxxxxx would suit you down to the ground, clever intelligent and spunky characters. You'd love um xxx

So you sound like a dedicated dog person so no reason why above suggestion would not work wonderfully....

but just think of the time and happiness that you could give to a dog in need- i.e a rescue! i would never have anything else!!

definitely a rescue. in which case the dog will choose you and you will have no say in the matter!