Novice puppy buyer needs help - anyone heard of Castellan House Kennels and/or a cross breed of a Yorkshire terrier and a toy poodle?

[Carriemumsnet]

Dd1 has been asking for a dog since she could talk. I know exactly how she feels, because I was the same at her age. She's pretty much talked us in to it now as youngest child is 4 and a half and think we could manage. Need a dog that can manage a big walk if we can manage one but could also get by on a day or two of no big walk.

She does nothing but look up dogs on the internet and has fallen for a cross between a yorkshire terrier and a toy poodle - being sold by castellan house kennels see here. They seem to have lots of dogs for sale which worries me a bit as have read bad things about puppy farms - but are some mass breeders OK?

Any tips on how to find out, or other suggestions of where to start? Sorry, bit clueless but know you lot can probably help!

Oh and if you do see dd1, don't tell her as want it to be a surprise

[Vallhala]

Never heard of them mentioned in animal rights circles myself but I personally wouldn't touch any of mass breeder with a bargepole, for all the reasons I've stated in various threads in the past.

The person who knows as much, if not more than anyone on the subject of puppy farms, including names and addresses, is Mo Davie of "A Dog's Life", a Wales-based rescue/campaign organisation. I'd recommend you mail her before making any decision on purchasing from any breeder you're unsure of, especially mass breeders/potential puppy farmers. Tell her that a member of Poplar Farm Rescue Kennel's team recommended that you consult her if she asks.

[email protected]

HTH
Val

[Slubberdegullion]

Carrie, as Val says, and as you have already picked up on, buying from mass breeders is pretty much to be avoided when puppy buying.

I'm a complete novice puppy owner (had my puppy now for 3 weeks) but I did spend months and months researching puppy buying and everything I read (books and on line) said to avoid at all costs.

There is the moral issue of puppy farms but also I think if the breeder has LOTS of litters on the go that means less time for human socialisation with the pups (v important) and also you tend to find breeders of a specific breed will know everything about that breed and can advice (and vet you as a good owner) accordingly.

The sign of a good breeder is that they will ask you lots of questions before the sell to you. I gor a good grilling (a nice one) from my breeder which was a HUGE tick in her box. If they ask you no questions then walk away.

The other thing I read lots is that good breeders do it for the love of the breed and their dogs and not for profit.

Have you checked out the kennel club's website? They have quite a good 'find the right breed for you' questionnaire doohickey where there is deffo a question about how much exercise you can provide.

[MmeLindt]

No idea, but the Yorkies I have known have been very yappy.

Go for a Maltalier instead.

Fantastic dogs. Our Daphne (pics on profile) is just the lovliest most docile and loving dog I have ever come across.

She is, as we say in Scotland, Right Couthy.

[MmeLindt]

Bet your DD goes Awwwwwww when you show her these pups.

[Slubberdegullion]

LOL @ Mme

and indeed awww

I'm afraid my Puppy IS way lovlier (hehehe) but I'm afraid does not fit Carrie's criteria

[Merrylegs]

Carrie - had to reply as your DD sounds just like mine. Hours spent poring over t'interweb pulling up pics of cute pups.

It was when I found her google search entry: 'how to persuade your mum to let you have a dog' that I realised things were getting desperate and this wasn't just a passing phase.

However I was absolutely military in planning this whole dog thing. I knew I was the one who was going to be left picking up the poo, basically, so no matter how cute the miniature daschunds or the tea-cup yorkies she had fallen in love with, I had to be sure the dog we had was going to be right for me.

After a LOT of research I decided a whippet would best fit with our lifestyle - happy with a mad walk, but also a couch potato, not yappy, nice size (not too small to be stepped on by kids, not too big and bouncy), non sheddy.... etc.

I went for a puppy so I could be absolutely sure of background and found a local woman who had both mum and dad dogs and just had one litter.

I took DD to see the pups when they were about 4 weeks old. I told her we were going to visit a friend of mine. She had no idea what was going on. We got to the house and there was a photo of a puppy on the door and DD said 'ooh, puppies.' The lady answered the door and asked DD if she would like to see the puppies. Of course she said yes please. So we went into the kitchen and there was a basket of little pups and one of them came right and snuffled his way up to DD and the lady said:

"And this one's yours."

Well. You can imagine.

Not a dry eye in the house.

Three years later and that pup is now a dog, snoozing on the sofa, waiting for DD (his best friend) to come home.

My point is that if your DD is absolutely dead set on a puppy, don't be swayed by pics of cute fluffy bundles.

Really think about the dog that would be right for YOUR family because a puppy is blimmin' hard work and if you haven't chosen the right breed with all that you expect from that, it is going to be even harder. And your DD will love it whatever it looks like because it will be your very own.

[MmeLindt]

Merrylegs
Damn you. You made me cry. And lol at her google search.

Very good point though. It is easy to get carried away with the fluffy puppy pics.

[Slubberdegullion]

Great post Merrylegs.

Carrie make sure you have asked all the questions (health tests of parents, puppy socialisation, worming etc - there are check lists) on the phone BEFORE you go and see the puppies. It is relatively easy to say "thank you for your time but no thank you" on the telephone, it's an altogether harder thing when you have an adorable puppy in your arms.

[Slubberdegullion]

And mentally prepare and steel yourself to say no thank you even when you do have an adorable puppy in your arms.

I walked away from two litters [heart of coal] because despite having a full set of ticks from my phone checklist things were still not 'right' when I visited the litters

[Slubberdegullion]

sorry, keep repeating myself, am trying to eat a veg pot whilst being distracted by a puppy with an empty kong.

[Merrylegs]

It was a magical moment.

But yes, good point. Do not take DD until you are sure of the puppy you are going to chose. I had already chosen the biggest and boldest pup because I wanted a confident, friendly dog, whereas I am sure had it been DD's choice she would have gone for the little shy one. As it was, she was told which was 'her' pup - and the two of them have never looked back!

[Slubberdegullion]

awww

that is such a great story Merrylegs. I bet your dd will never forget that moment when she was introduced to her puppy

[Carriemumsnet]

Thanks all for your really good and useful advice. I/we have indeed fallen in love with a puppy pic on t'interweb which is a bit but am confident we could manage some sort of small dog so maybe need to go back to drawing board/ make more enquiries. Am LOVING the maltalier. Basically want a dog that looks like a collie puppie all its life and that seems to fit the bill (as does the yoodle if you look at pic)

Please keep advice coming and thanks so much for getting back to me, you are awesome

[Vallhala]

If you want a mini collie look-alike have you considered a Sheltie?

[Hammy1234]

To Carrie - It was a while ago but having 'googled' a question about Castellan house Kennels, I came to this page.....
did you get you puppy from Castellan house in the end?

[archiesnanny]

I've been looking at buying a puppy from Castellan House Kennels, did anyone get a puppy from here? I've rang up and asked lots of questions about health checks, vaccinations, socialisation. They're licensed and use a reputable veterinary health clinic. Anyone anything good/bad to say about these kennels?

[parisse]

Please no one buy a puppy from castellan kennels. After having an ex breeding dog from there and seeing the emotional problems she suffers from being shut in a barn 24 hours and having no human contact.

[1z4a]

I have used Castellan House kennels for 3 dogs over the years - all dogs have been brilliant, I have revisited kennels many times (unannounced) when I'm in the area, they are professional, dog loving kennels breeding family friendly dogs in good surroundings. The dogs are still going strong (PG) after more than a decade, and I will be going back to the kennels again when the time arises.#Good Luck.

[CanIBuffalo]

This thread has just come up when I Googled Castellan House.
A word for any non MNers - the previous poster has not made any other posts on MN.
There might be genuine reasons for this but it's highly unusual on this site.