We are a family of five with DC aged 11, 9 and 8 and have finally persuaded DH that we should get a dog.
However I hardly know where to start - I grew up with miniature dachshunds and Jack Russells in the country. I now live in a city but we have lots of space and a large enclosed garden. We have a rather long list - dachshund, Jack Russell, Parsons terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, cockapoo and I am leaning towards a Jackapoo. DH says he has allergies (I am not convinced!) hence the 'poo' cross. We are looking for a small/medium sized dog and as we live in Germany where the children finish school at 1pm each day we have lots of time for exercise and play. Someone is usually at home during the mornings although it might need to be left for max 2-3 hours once in a while. When we travel it would go and stay with friends.
I also have a question that might be overthinking - we are English speaking at home and the dog will be trained in English. Would it therefore be more sensible to bring a dog over from the UK who has been socialised in English or would I be fine finding a breeder in Germany and the language doesn't matter? Does anyone have experience of getting a dog in Germany?
Any thoughts and experience of the above breeds would be really helpful - no decisions made yet so I have a blank page in front of me!
If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.
The doghouse
Advice needed on getting a puppy
birgittestyle · 13/08/2018 14:21
I wouldn't worry about language. Get the dog from the country you are in rather than ask a young puppy to change countries.
A poo cross is not a hypoallergenic dog. It is a cross between two breeds, one of which releases less dander into the air.
Dander is the most common cause of allergies but may or may not be what your DH is allergic to and it is worth getting proper confirmation before guessing. You might find it is a particular fur type that's easily avoided.
Your puppy may or may not get the genes for less dander and this may or may not be enough not to trigger your DH's allergies (though allergies can be triggered by the tiniest presence of the allergen).
Getting a cross because you hope it won't trigger an allergy is likely to lead to disappointment, a life of discomfort (for your DH) and/or rehoming for the dog.
The breeds you have mentioned are diverse...
Cav: these can be energetic little dogs but unlikely to have the intense need for exercise that some breeds have. They tend to be friendly and playful. They have eyes that bulge out a little bit so can be vulnerable to eye damage during play. They also have the massive problem of syringomyelia and it is worth REALLY knowing all about this before deciding to get one. And being incredibly picky about who you get one from.
JRTs are high octane dogs (we have 2) and they are not for the faint hearted. They are bold, fearless, loyal and energetic. They are up for adventure all the time. Most tolerate children pretty well and will play for hours with a tennis ball. They bark, dig and can be territorial. They can be destructive when bored. You probably know this already as you had them when young. 
Dachhunds are playful, clever and brave. They love to burrow and dig. They can be difficult to leave alone and toilet train sometimes. They can be stubborn. Their backs are vulnerable points and so are not always the best playmates for children. Again, you probably know this.
Poodles (the poo bit of the crosses you mention) are highly intelligent and active and must have regular mental and physical stimulation, they are sensitive and loyal - often to the point of hating to be left alone. A cross could easily display these traits. Or not. It's just the luck of the (genetic) draw.
Honestly, when picking a breed, I really think you pick your poison as all breeds have 'bad' points and you are much more likely to get a happy match if you are realistic about what they are upfront. I would start with firm answers to the basic questions:
- not how much exercise can you give the dog but how much are you prepared to (and be happy). I COULD give a husky 5 hours a day. I'd be worn out and miserable so it's probably not the best choice for me.
- what behaviours could you not live with. I cannot stand barking so JRTs are not a good choice for me (ours come courtesy of a family member who moved in with me because they are not well; I love the dogs but would never choose this breed myself). Many people cannot stand chewing so gun breeds (e.g. the cocker from a cockerpoo) are not good choices.
- how friendly do you want the dog to be to other dogs, animals and people. 'Friendly to all' might seem like an obvious answer but a dog that loves other dogs is not for everyone because they are very easily distracted on walks - what many people want is a dog that tolerates other dogs but isn't that fussed by them.
- how much fur, dirt and drool can you live with and be happy.
Sorry that ended up being much more than I intended! I got carried away... 
The language question has brought a smile to my face
It's not the language, it's the association the dog has with specific sounds (words). I once knew an elderly white British woman who trained her dog entirely in Swahili, for instance. Similarly my dog doesn't know "out" but he does know "oot" in a bad Scottish accent (even I don't know why I taught him like that). For the same reason, you can also train a dog using sign language - which they tend to find easier to understand than words as it's not subject to variations in tone etc - I use a mixture of signing and words.
As someone with a Jack Russell X Dachshund (takes after the JRT side of the family), I can't say he would be the perfect dog for a family with kids. Anything less than two hours a day of exercise and you live to regret it, which is time consuming. I'm very lucky I live near 800 acres of city parkland - a small park just wouldn't cut it. He's had a variety of behaviour issues too, though some of that is down to his past experiences. He's also a complete one person dog (well, two person). He only values people who take him out for walkies and play never ending games of fetch with him, which means everyone from DGM (who is always feeding him under the table) to my flatmate (who he lives with, clearly) is considered an irrelevance at best and a daily burglar at worst. However, those he does bond to he has a really strong bond with - I even get strangers commenting on it.
I take it back, he’s a nightmare 4 different bras have had to be taken out of his mouth since I wrote that post.
It’s normal to have a love/hate relationship with a puppy right
Whippet! Great with kids and fab family dogs. Will run and play for as long as you want them to and will them sleep. Much prefer sofas and beds to floors though. Barely moult, so your DH should be ok and don't smell at all (except when they've rolled in something nasty 
). And are loving and loyal and beautiful. And not too big either. (Two recent pictures and one puppy one attached )
Don’t want to miss threads like this?
Weekly
Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!
Log in to update your newsletter preferences.
You've subscribed!
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.