Mutt, almost always well tempered and not neurotic. Someone mentioned spaniels; every spaniel I've encountered was a mental mess.

my family used to have an ausiedoodle. great dog and very smart also hypoalergenic....not sure if I spelt that right

Try looking into or researching the Boston Terriers.

Best companion dogs I ever have.

Great personality's, loyal, and very smart.

We got a little dog from one of the wife's coworkers who couldn't keep it after a divorce.
Its a cavalier king charles and poodle cross. 18 pounds of pure attention hound. Not high energy, loves to play and get scratches. Can't stand to let mom out of her sight.
Gets a little feisty if he doesn't get to meet a dog he sees right away, but I believe that's from lack of socialization as a pup. We got him at 1 year old.
Never thought I'd be a little dog guy.

Bulley or pit seem popular here

Jack Russell Terrier or Scottie :-)

Anyone remember Asta the terrier on the series "The Thin Man" ? . . .Cool Dog . . . and they lived in an apartment!

stay away from Golden Retrievers, unless you want to spend every waking minute "adoring" them.

yes, they're friendly. yes, they are great dogs (for some folks).

seriously attention-demanding, though.

if you 'aint petting them, they're not gonna be happy.

Need a lot of space for a border collie as well. Used to run mine with my German shepherd on my side by side around the farm. The shepherd would poop out on the 2nd lap the border dolly would go tell I stoped sh shredded would.not run herself to death. She is old now but the dominant dog on the farm. Instead of a 3.5 mile run full tilt wanting more now a slow mile walk or two walk and she is ready for a nap.

Sadly she can still out walk my range.

I have a Heeler and he’s amazing.After we got him neutered he is even better. Those little Heelers are no joke he holds his own against dogs twice his size including pits. They do shed but he’s an outside dog.

Beagle.

Trailer park?

Heelers nip if you let them , some are high speed maintenance some would rather live on the couch.
Raised and sold them before akc recognition.
One person dogs

Sounds to me like you've been around insecure Goldens.

Get a pup at 7 weeks, raise it right, and you'll have a close friend the rest of its life.

That being said . . the OP is looking for a smaller dog and most goldens get a wee bit bigger than that.

When the little guy came home . .



. . . and then he grew

I will second Boston Terrier....Best companion, not a chewer, barker and some of the mellowest dogs I have ever owned. Super smart and easy to train...IMHO

X2

I have had several beagles in my days, a very good dog in many ways. Good hunters and house dog.

Have to agree. Sweet, sweet dogs. And they only shed twice a year. Once e in January for six months and once in July for six months.

Ours is 13 and slowed down a lot but when she was younger, she could cover some ground bird hunting.