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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

I'll admit to being scared to post here..puppies.

141 replies

harryhausen · 13/02/2015 15:07

Hello. I've been lurking here for a long time.

In about 12 weeks we will hopefully be bringing home our new family puppy.its not even born yet! Both dh and I have had dogs in our family before but weren't the primary carers. I think I will need a fair bit of advice.

I have to admit that I'm scared of posting here. I'm certain I will be told that everything I've done/choose will be wrong and I'm not an 'experienced' dog owner so am irresponsible. Call me paranoidGrin. Please tell me it's okay to post for puppy advice?

In RL, I have much conflicting advice from dog owner friends. I've been told to get a puppy/not to get a puppy etc. I get conflicting advice on best breeds etc.

I've been researching for a long time. Over 2 years. We're on a waiting list for a breeder who specialises in labradoodles and 'poo' dogs. We're on a waiting list for a Yorkiepoo. This is because we want a smallish dog with less shedding as possible.

I work from home in a garden office so the dog will be with me all day. We have a large garden and a huge green area opposite our house. My dcs are 10 and 7. Ds and I have an animal hair allergy but it is eased with antihistamines. My dh will brush the dog regularly.

I have a lot to learn. I'm excited but apprehensive. Please tell me my decisions so far are okay and it's okay to come backGrin.

OP posts:
SinclairSpectrum · 13/02/2015 15:15

Not everyone here is scary, promise!!
I have had loads of very supportive advice from very knowledgeable people so don't be afraid to ask.
Your set up sounds great, although how bad are your allergies? Not sure any poo cross is guaranteed to be non shedding?

Floralnomad · 13/02/2015 15:19

Why did you not just go for a non shedding pedigree .

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 15:19

It sounds like you've thought about it, you're buying from a reasonable source without rushing, and you know you're inexperienced and want advice. You domestic arrangements sound pretty ideal. Sounds ok to me so far.

Sure, there are people who have strong opinions on pups and esp some of the crosses around now and you might get some lectures - which you may find give you food for further thought or not - but there are plenty of people who like to be supportive.

needastrongone · 13/02/2015 15:23

Good luck. Sounds like your home set up is ideal Smile. FWIW DH has very bad asthma and it only took him 2 days to get used to both of our spaniel pups.

My only concern is your breeder. How can a breeder specialise in lots of types of dog? That kind of is a contradiction in terms as usually, a breeder would have a litter to add 'value' to an established breed, or (like ours), for working purposes.

Also, have the litter had all the relevant health checks for the two breeds, this might indeed be the case, you don't say.

Of course it's ok to come back, we are here to help Grin I am just not a massive fan of the designer breed thing. Not because of either the pups or the owners, more the 'market' behind it..

needastrongone · 13/02/2015 15:24

ps - don't mean to lecture btw!

tabulahrasa · 13/02/2015 15:29

People get a little bit het up about poodle crosses... Here's why.

There are no guarantees with a cross about which traits from each breed get passed on, including coat btw, so if only one parent is a non shedding breed, no one can tell you whether it will shed or not until it's an adult dog with its adult coat in.

Yorkies I think are classed as non shedding, so you should be not bad on that front.

Breeders that breed poodle crosses are more often than not doing it for money...which can lead to corner cutting on things like health tests and overbreeding - which is a welfare concern.

Specialising in poodle crosses would be ringing alarm bells for me straight away as you've made it sound like they do a few different breeds crossed with poodles.

Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 15:41

Thanks Sinclair. Well, the allergy is worse in me BUT we had a family beagle when I was a teenager and I developed a particular immunity to him and he shed quite a bit.

I've also been around a few poo crosses and felt ok even without antihistamines etc, so I'm hoping it will be okay. Our want of a family dog is greater IYSWIM.

Thanks for being friendlySmile

OP posts:
Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 15:44

I didn't go for a non-shedding pedigree as I couldn't find one I liked. However, I was really keen on a Norfolk terrier but couldn't find a breeder within 70 miles.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 15:50

I just had a quick look for non-shedding dogs and found a list here which has Yorkie first, and poodle 3rd - so while a yorkiepoo should be ok from that POV, if you do get cold feet about a cross or the breeder, then you could consider either of those. Or of course the second in the list, the dachshund, on account of them being best not that I'm biased. Grin

Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 15:54

It's these people www.wentwoodpuppies.co.uk/ (sorry if the link doesn't work but I'm on my phone and a techno idiot at the best of times).

They are top licensed specialists of poo-dogs in the uk and Europe (they say). I have spoken to them a few times and they seem very knowledgable. They have a widely used Facebook page with people posting who have had happy healthy dogs from them from years ago. I felt comfortable with them. I know I may be naive.

I contacted rescue centres but no-one would let be adopt as I have dc under 10yrs.

OP posts:
Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 15:55

Errol, I LOVE Dashunds but again (listening to too much advice from other people) I was told they shed a lot and have lots of health problems. I found conflicting advice on the web too.

OP posts:
Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 15:59

Errol, that list is great! Dashunds weren't listed on any of the lists I looked at. Feel silly now. Good to know though. The people who we are getting the puppy from says we can change our mind at any point.

OP posts:
ggirl · 13/02/2015 16:00

my non shedding dog isn't on that list !!!
tibetan terrier

I'll admit to being scared to post here..puppies.
Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 16:04

Thanks needsastringone and tabulah. That's reassuring to know about the asthma thing.

I get what you mean about the poo-dog thing. Some of them have ridiculous names. The place we've gone with talks a lot about particular genes and health checks but I'll have to find out more when we visit.

OP posts:
Original poster
harryhausen · 13/02/2015 16:06

ggirl, awww. Just looked up your dog. How gorgeous. Just the kind of scruffy, friendly looking dog I like. It never appeared on any list I looked at either.

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 16:07

Maybe the longhairs shed. Short don't much and wires probably don't at all. Not especially prone to health problems either (the old issue of back problems has largely been bred out).

needastrongone · 13/02/2015 16:10

harry I have just spent less than 5 minutes Googling Wentwood puppies. I suggest you do the same, then run a mile. Even their own website frightens me to death. But just Google them and research a little further.

toboldlygo · 13/02/2015 16:12

£1095!?

Buttholelane · 13/02/2015 16:15

No no NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your breeder breeds 13 different crosses.
THIRTEEN !!!!!!!!

I cannot possibly imagine how a breeder of 13 crosses manages to keep all their dogs in a loving family home environment and lavish equal attention on all of them, getting them used to household noises, handling etc.

Health tested or not I would run a mile and never look back!!

I would bet money these dogs are kept in outdoor kennels, probably viewable by appointment only and I bet only certain pens are open to inspection.

I also wouldn't be surprised if the puppies are noise phobic or poorly socialised nor if they are carrying things like kennel cough or distemper.

I suspect behind the scenes is very grizzly indeed.....

Lovemypuppy · 13/02/2015 16:17

I know two people who got their dogs from wentwood and they're all v v v happy. I know it shrieks puppy farm but they all got to meet the parents, view the litters etc etc. And the pups come vaccinated (with their certificates), with insurance etc etc. I was really skeptical but actually I've been pleasantly surprised - their dogs are all lovely. But others may have different views....

needastrongone · 13/02/2015 16:18

butt Google it, it's frightening......

Lovemypuppy · 13/02/2015 16:20

My boy (labradoodle) is from a family that breeds them and you couldn't tell him apart from the wentwood pups, either as a baby or now. I really do know what people mean about the website but it seems like they do look after their puppies.

reikizen · 13/02/2015 16:21

Puppy farm definitely! Also, I know this is not exactly scientific research but I was speaking to a dog groomer who said two of the most aggressive breeds of dogs she came across were Yorkshire terriers and poodles. Now, obviously it depends on the owners etc but just as an observation I think it is interesting.

Lovemypuppy · 13/02/2015 16:24

Hmmmm Google is a bit scaryConfused but the two dogs I know from there are just lovely - and very happy and healthy. Just luck perhaps?!

ErrolTheDragon · 13/02/2015 16:26

I'm sorry, but having spent a few minutes googling and on their site, Wentwood puppies is setting big alarm bells ringing. Sad I'm afraid it's a slick, upmarket puppy farm.

For instance if you read between the lines here - this is an 8 yo dog who has probably not been socialised with humans, he's spent his life in a kennel.

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