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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Best Dog Carrier: In Shops? Cafes?

33 replies

FragileTitanium · 08/03/2013 19:16

We are just about to get a new puppy. I've noticed that a lot of websites selling "designer" dog carriers are selling the same thing (all of them seem to be made in China). Does anyone have any advice/experience on what is the best dog carrier that looks like a normal handbag?

I've also heard that with these types of bags, you can get away with going into shops etc so long as the puppy doesn't bark. Does anyone have any experience with this?

We are getting a bichon frise/shih tzu cross.

OP posts:
VivaLeBeaver · 08/03/2013 19:24

I really don't think you'd get away with it in a cafe. Even in our paper shop last week some bloke came in carrying his tiny dog in his arms, just wanted a paper. Shop assistant went crazy, screaming at him to get out. Obviously the dog might have infected all the wrapped chocolate with dog germs Hmm

She then marched outside and sold him a paper through the door!

BabyRoger · 08/03/2013 19:27

Why would you want to "get away" with taking the dog into cafe's and shops if they are not allowed in there?

I really don't get dog carriers. Dogs have legs and were designed to walk. Dogs actually love walking!

VivaLeBeaver · 08/03/2013 19:30

In fairness I've never seen a sign saying no dogs allowed in a non food shop such as topshop. So maybe they are allowed in Topshop? Grin

BabyRoger · 08/03/2013 19:52

Grin Viva

I think Top Shop would soon ban them if I took my weimaraner in for a bit of browsing!

SecondhandRose · 08/03/2013 22:15

We bought this for our puppy miniature dachshund. He isnt allowed on the pavement until the end of the month and in the meantime he has been out and about in his bag meeting lots of people. It is good value and we put a blanket in the bottom and our boy pokes his nose out the end,

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/260833650375?var=560044080620&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Original poster
FragileTitanium · 09/03/2013 13:24

Thanks very much for the advice.

Thanks BabyRoger for pulling me up on my use of the words "get away" with. My point, which I didn't really express properly, is that dogs are allowed even in public areas of cafes if they don't pose a risk to health and safety. Generally, this is interpreted as being safely stowed away in a crate or properly restrained in a carrier. Cafe and shop owners are allowed to make an official no dogs policy but unless there is one, they're allowed. So what I meant by "get away" with is, the kind of dog carrier that would qualify as safely stowing the dog away.

As far as dog carriers are concerned. The Kennel Club assured breeder from whom I'm buying the puppy told me that if we are planning to take our 8 week puppy out for the day, dog carriers are very useful because an 8 week old puppy cannot walk for as long as an adult dog may be able to and will need to be carried for much of the day. BabyRoger, if you have other advice, I'd be happy to hear it.

Thanks for everyone's response - especially the super useful one from Secondhand Rose!

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 09/03/2013 13:38

An 8 week old puppy shouldn't be walking at all - they shouldn't be walking anywhere another dog may have been until they're finished their vaccinations.

I'd have thought a puppy of that cross would just fit in your hand though, lol

tabulahrasa · 09/03/2013 13:40

Hang on, KC assured, selling a cross? Why?

Original poster
FragileTitanium · 09/03/2013 13:56

Mum is pure breed Bichon Frise and dad is pure breed Shih Tzu and both parents are KC registered. Puppies are not KC registered. Aren't KC breeders supposed to sell cross breeds?

I didn't know about the 8 week old puppy not walking anywhere outside....will need to take another list of questions to breeder....

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 09/03/2013 14:19

Not really, no - I mean there are no rules against it exactly, but these puppies can't be part of the KC assured breeding scheme because they're crosses. So any assurances about the conditions they're raised in or after sales support don't mean anything for this litter. They may well be KC assured breeders for either/or the two breeds, but it means nothing in relation to this litter.

The best scenario is that it was an accidental mating, but even then I'd be a bit dubious about it as they've been a bit irresponsible supervising their dogs and they'll now need to wait two years to breed from that bitch again - which if you're running a breeding programme matters a lot, most breeders would go for the mismatch injection in that scenario. But accidents do occasionally happen.

What I'd really be worried about us that they're breeding pedigrees and crosses from the same bitch on alternate seasons to get round the rules on how often a bitch can be bred from... I wouldn't want to buy a puppy from anyone who's using their bitch as a puppy factory to make more money and of course there are health implications for the puppies born to overbred bitches.

tabulahrasa · 09/03/2013 14:20

Mismate - not mismatch, I got autocorrected

Original poster
FragileTitanium · 09/03/2013 14:36

Oh dear...you think you're doing the right thing, and it turns out you're not!

Well I looked at the mum with her puppies, saw the dad (only the word of the breeder), saw the other dogs on the property. Everything looked super clean, neat, no smell at all - all the dogs looked clear eyed and healthy. This breeder also came from a personal recommendation and is also listed as an assured KC breeder. I've also spoken to people who've bought dogs from this breeder in the past - all positive. I looked around the whole farm and it all looked lovely. Have been given a fact sheet/after care sheet - a list of everything including diet, health, etc, etc. It also comes with 4 weeks petplan insurance and will have had all its vaccinations up till 8.5 weeks with vet cert.

If they are dodgy, then I'm really at a loss as to how to buy responsibly. Is there no way to buy a cross from a responsible breeder then?

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 09/03/2013 14:48

I'm not saying that they're definitely dodgy - I don't know who they are obviously. But being KC assured and having crosses is definitely odd and would make me wary and be asking why it's happening. If you've put a lot of time, effort and money into breeding a certain breed and made the effort to become a KC assured breeder - why would you be breeding crosses instead of the breed you've put all that into?

Finding a responsibly bred crossbreed puppy is very hard, I'm not saying they don't exist, but you don't come across many who do everything they should to breed healthy puppies.

I'm assuming the parents have the certificates for their health checks, so really what you need to worry about is how many litters the mother has had and how often she's being bred. It is unfortunately known practice to overbreed by breeding crosses in the time a bitch should rest between litters.

digerd · 09/03/2013 17:41

Your pup will be a very cute fur bundle. The coats of both adult dogs will need constant brushing/combing and trimming to a short manageable length.

The Bichon Frise is curly and Shitzu straight, but both abundant.
They do have similar ears and tails, but Bichons are much livlier and more active like poodles and Shitzus more laid back.
Their mouths/bites are different too, which could be a problem.

nightswimmer · 09/03/2013 18:02

How do you buy responsibly? You get a dog from a rescue centre, that's how! The amount of unwanted dogs in the country makes anyone buying from a breeder irresponsible in my book. And yes this is a hard line approach-but while dogs are being endlessly churned out by breeders at one end of the scale, at the other end rescue centres and pounds are overflowing and many end up being put to sleep because nobody wants them. Also nowadays (I'm in Ireland) you can find many smaller cute dogs if that's what you go for at such places.......

Original poster
FragileTitanium · 09/03/2013 18:05

Thanks for the eye opening posts - especially from Tabulahrasa! Very informative.

OP posts:
needastrongone · 09/03/2013 18:20

Our breeder is KC registered. She bred from her bitch once, to gain a puppy for herself. She owns mum and grandmother. We had an interview and there was a waiting list for the litter. All relevant health checks and hip scores are done, scores very low for the breed. The sire was chosen for temperament, conformity to breed standard and size. We had all the paperwork immediately.

The bitch is already spayed. Puppies brought up in a home environment so used to normal household noises, children etc. microchipped. Lifetime advice and agreement to take back at any point. Our pedigree springer, also kc registered will home board with the breeder if we go away. We got weekly updates via email, pictures, video etc when puppies were born, we still get 'letters' from Mum asking for updates. Our breeder has visited us to see how we are doing and coming next week as she's compiling a montage of the siblings.

It took us ages and lots of research to find this breeder but IMHO I would consider her responsible. Not saying yours isn't, just that's what I would look for in a breeder.

Hope that helps, good luck!!

Floralnomad · 09/03/2013 18:22

Please read what it says on the Battersea website re dogs in handbags before you go down this route .

Original poster
FragileTitanium · 09/03/2013 19:17

Many thanks for everyone's comments. This will be my last post as it's gone slightly off topic, though very informative.

To quell any worries. I've never had any intention of carrying a dog in a handbag. I wanted advice on whether anyone could recommend a good quality dog carrier (i.e.vents, flaps, lead clip, etc) that looks like a handbag. The Battersea website has no objection to dogs being carried in dog carriers and they don't object to it being pretty.

I'd just like to get one that's good quality, comfortable for the dog and looks nice. Thanks to the person who recommended theirs - it looks cosy for a puppy.

Have a good weekend!

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 09/03/2013 19:51

Not to argue but actually what Battersea say is there are carriers if your dog has a medical need to be carried but they are better off being treated like dogs and walking unless there is a medical issue . Your pup only needs to be carried prior to its vaccinations and TBH you could just carry it ,it doesn't need a carrier or bag . The reason to take them out prior to vaccinations is to let them see sights and get used to different noises and experiences if its in a carrier its less likely to gain this experience . The bag linked to earlier is not a carrier it is a bag a proper dog carrier is fully enclosed like a cat carry case .

BehindLockNumberNine · 09/03/2013 20:00

I agree with all that has been said on the subject of dog carriers...

Please carry your puppy in your arms - it needs to be socialised, to feel the wind on his / her fur, to be stroked by strangers, to see the world around it, to smell people. He / she will be limited when placed inside a carrier / bag type contraption.

That think linked to by secondhand is not what a proper dog should be placed inside. A hole for his head to come out?? Ridiculous, the whole dog should be out!! It is a dog, not a fashion accessory!

And yes, to all considering a puppy - adopt, don't buy from a breeder!

SecondhandRose · 09/03/2013 23:15

Number Nine - It is very cold, the dog is no bigger than a guinea pig and he has not had all his vaccinations and wont be allowed on the pavement until 22nd March. A long time to wait and he is quite happy with his nose poking out looking at the world for half an hour when we pop out. In fact if I get it out the cupboard he gets straight in and has started to know he is off out.

I will also use the bag until he gets used to long walks, he will be a pup for quite some time and wont be able to keep up sometimes. He is not a handbag dog, he is a hound.

We bought from a KC breeder as we wanted to know exactly the temperament of the dog we were buying. As first time dog owners this was important for us.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 09/03/2013 23:20

Random thing, but I accidentally caught part of Crufts. They were talking about crossbreeds and they interviewed the Kennel Club vet, and he said to get crossbreeds from KC assured breeders, so I don't know if that has changed?

digerd · 10/03/2013 09:15

I too found a Crufts website, and was concerned when the vet mentioned Lung Worm. It is caused by the dog drinking dirty water , which they love, containing slugs which carry the larvea. Or sniffing around and getting small ones stuck on their muzzle and them licking them and swallowing them.

I have a very furry muzzled dog and that worried me as she is always burying her muzzle in vegetation sniffing around.

tabulahrasa · 10/03/2013 10:21

The assured breeding scheme only recognises pedigrees, you have to apply for each breed, so you can apply for more than one breed...but not for crosses. On the plus side you know that any breeding stock from the breeds that they are on the assured breeding scheme for will be health tested, but if they're breeding crosses there's no checks at all on the number of litters and it is not something I'd expect from a breeder who has invested so much in a breed. The KC vet is not going to say that breeders bend the rules, lol, but that's usually what it's about.

Lung worm - most wormers on prescription from the vets treat lung worm as well.