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

[harryhausen]

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 paranoid. 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 back.

ps - agree. Put the effort in and don't rule any breed out.

I have just put both of mine in a 'down stay' and danced round the kitchen to the whole of Uptown Funk (no wine involved..........no no none) and they just stayed there looking slightly confused

Tibetans are quite stubborn and aren't as easy to train as other dogs Ive had. They need to be able to see the reason you're asking them to do something.But once you've got their attention they do well with obedience and agility. Totally in love with the breed , they have hilarious personalities.

Oh dear, ggirl - I think you just described DS1.

I have a cockerpoo. We got him from a puppy. We looked at rescues & no one would regime to us as first time dog owners with 2 children & cats. He is wonderful & has been really hard work as a puppy. Feels like we are just coming out the other end. We had good advice on here.
I do agree that distance shouldn't be an issue for the right puppy & you should go & look before you commit.
He doesn't shed but does need grooming frequently which I enjoy & so does he. However you can't guarantee what coat a poo will have.

Rehome not regime!

Don't beat yourself up, Harry. We got our first dog in the autumn and it was such a minefield. I did loads of research and I still think we were probably lucky, partly because I found the dog world quite closed from "outsiders". Now we have a dog, we meet other owners, professionals etc and I've found far more information than I'd found doing research. We found our dog via champdogs but I cross-checked with KC site. I do think that getting a pedigree means you can get that extra level of information that might not be available for the crosses.

It was the breeder's first litter from her own dog and she said she wouldn't do it again because it had been too hard to let the puppies go. So Dpup was definitely raised in a loving, family environment and its really reflected in how well he has settled in with our family.

By the way, I'd second everything Needastrong one says about cockers. Dpup is our first dog and he's fab in every respect. At the moment he doesn't shed very much, but not sure how his coat might develop. But he's been fine as a first dog, although I suspect its because DH and I between us have devoted masses of time to training him. Same probably true of every breed. There is some kind of poodle cross in our obedience class and he is absolutely shocking, won't even sit after 6 weeks of classes. However, that is far more (i.e. exclusively) to do with his owner.

Oh, and can I just say the reduced puppy page sounds heartbreaking. I've not dared to look.

Phew, narrow escape!

We've just rescued a puppy from a rescue centre where she was dumped at 6 weeks by a broker. Yes, broker. He had that many puppies and they just go through them and get rid of the ones with any problems - heart murmurs, eye problems. Ours had fleas. Almost certainly from a puppy farm so who knows what awaits us but she is a gorgeous, happy, calm(ish) cockerpoo. I would never buy one.

We also have a miniature schnauzer and she's great - no shedding (very allergic DH is fine with her), affectionate, loyal and loves people more than anything.

Please look at rescues too, they seem to know they've been rescued!

Good luck, the perfect dog will find you

A few ideas to keep in mind when looking for breeders:

• a good breeder should know their breed inside out. They should know all the possible health problems, screening tests available and characteristics that tend to pop up in different lines.

• they should have a small number of dogs, with one or two litters a year, from a suitable bitch (not too young, not too old, not too many litters). They should be able to tell you what happened to puppies from previous litters.

• they should have a very clear idea of what they are trying to breed. Why this breed, why this bitch and why this dog.

• they should bring up the puppies in the home in an environment similar to yours. They should be open to visits, show you at least the mum and their other dogs, have a clean and safe environment for the dogs.

• they should be as picky about you as you are about them. They should ask you a lot of questions about your lifestyles and your expectations from dog ownership to make sure you will be a good match for the puppy.

Good breeders usually have long waiting lists.

I am very weary of cross breeds because they make claims they cannot possibly substantiate. I am not against someone developing a new breed, at least not in principle, but to do so correctly takes an entire lifetime and involves a lot of uncertainties. There is a huge fad for 'designer' cross breeds which is really nothing short of a con. No one can predict characteristics after so few matings, nor is mixing two breeds any sort of guarrantee that you will get the best of both. Unfortunately the allergy requirement is a good example where much is promised and very little is delivered.

Harry I'm ridiculously biased here but have you considered a Scottie if you like Norfolk's? Scotties are also a non shedding breed and lovely little characters (as I said, biased )

Can I also say without sounding condescending that credit to you for coming here, taking on board what everyone has said and rethinking things rather than stamping feet and shouting 'well I'm having that one anyway!!' Which is what a lot of posters who don't hear what they want to hear do.
You'll make a fabulous owner for some lucky pup.

Sorry, I can see in hindsight I worded it wrong. I meant for this new owner.

A lab would be far too big and they moult like crazy, collies shouldn't be pets in most homes (imo), and spaniels are enough to break the mood of even an expert dog handler. And they swim. And roll in mud. And shed!

A King Charles could work. I'm just going by the initial description of what the OP wanted, and I think those pups in Many Tears may match up.

I'm sure you'll do great whatever your decision though OP. Just expect it to be as hard as a newborn, and you're about there

And don't assume KC reg means it's not a puppy farm, they will still register a puppy farm dog! If they bloody well stopped then might help stamp out puppy farms, but oh no, they'll happily take Money from anyone and damn the ethics of It all

So, I mustn't buy a puppy from anywhere in the internet and I can't trust a KC assured breeder either?

Beginning to feel rather defeated

Think of it like internet dating, don't trust anyone is what they're making out they are until you've double checked things...

Online, the best places to look are the KC assured breeders list, champdogs and breed clubs (crosses have clubs too) but, some people will still need weeding out after that.

Oron't worry OP, you speak to breeders on the phone and it's easy to tell the rubbish ones apart.

I am looking for a GSD at the moment, conversations I have had include:

Me: 'What type of dogs do you breed?'
Breeder: 'Any type you want'
Bye bye

Me: 'What do you think of the new test for degenerative myelopathy?'
Breeder: 'My dogs are healthy they do not need tests'
Bye bye

Me: 'When is your next litter due?'
Breeder: 'You can pick a puppy now, or there is a litter in two weeks on time for Christmas and then there are the spring litters.'
Bye bye

The rubbish breeders really out themselves.

Harry there are truly wonderful breeders out there, just you gave to use more traditional methods to find them as they have no need to advertise. Breed clubs and meeting them at shows is an excellent start.
They will want to meet you and your family you should expect to spend several hours with them when they interview you before they choose you to have one of their puppies.
You will find the right breed and right puppy for you, but it will take time.

Champdogs is an excellent place to start in my opinion. It has lots of information about breeds, and has lists of breeders and any litters etc. Have a browse. Pets for homes and pre loved are less reputable. Check the KC website too. I don't know where you would get information about reputable 'doodle' breeders though.

Again I disagree with grace Although, not about Labs, as they really do shed. Spaniels might swim and roll in mud, but that's what a hose pipe is for, and they do all of these things in such a good natured and happy manner, their temperament suits any family, I don't find mine shed so much. Being so biddable makes them easy to train. Far more so than, say, a terrier, who in general are a lot more independent.

A dog is what you make it, I have friends with Vizla's, Spaniels (tons of them) Pointers. They are all fine.

As lonecat says, you will find the right breed for you anyway. Just keep an open mind. I am not trying to persuade you either way.

Chatting to people who have the breed helps, putting word out there you are looking.

That is how we found our dog, word of mouth, we would have never found her on the internet. She had been returned to breeder for looking "wrong" ( as can happen with crossbreeds), as a first time dog owner I was not ready to get a rescue dog (rightly or wrongly I was worried about "inheriting" issues due to not having been socialised, having been removed from mum too young etc. and not knowing how to remedie these ussues as a novice).

Now an "experienced" dog owner I would be happy to take on a rescue for our next dog. (Makes sense as we love lurchers and there are so many in rescues!)

You have to do what is right for you. good luck!, getting a dog is the best thing ever, they bring somuch joy in to your life :)

Thanks again everyone. It's really helpful.

I've found a list of assured breeders for Norfolk terriers on the KC website so will start ploughing through them.

Also, I'm really fond of Boarder Terriers. Spaniels are lovely but I've been very allergic to friends spaniels in the past. We had a Beagle/basset hound cross growing up (back in the day when a mutt was just a mutt!). DH had a Cairn terrier crossed with something! All good experiences.

I'm just a little taunted by all the breeder stuff. I think it was Mrs DeVere that said earlier, it all feels a bit 'closed'. But I will persist.

I have a very soft spot for yorkies.

Surprisingly very easy to train, get on with other animals, very loyal. Can go for long walks, or be left a day or two (if you're ill, for example). Coat non-shedding, and they love being groomed. Downside is they can be easily frightened by strangers being too full on, and if you're not aware of that, that's when they can snap.

Off to look at the links posted earlier ...

Harry the breed club also has a list of breeders on their website. Whilst the assured breeder scheme is excellent there are also some really good small breeders who are not on this scheme, these tend to be the small family homes. Those on the assured breeder list tend to be the bigger 'kennels'.
So check out the club website, in my family's case it is their only ad and any puppies that are available are gone by 10 weeks, sadly there won't be another litter for at least 18 months now.

Thanks Micah. I like a Yorkie too, although my only real experience of one is a terribly behaved very snappy little madam owned by my Aunt. She treats her like an utter diva though who rules the home so I think the fault is all my Aunts

Thanks Lonecat. Will check it out. X

A Yorkie, a Westie or a German Spitz if you want something a bit bigger could be a good choice for you. They are lovely dogs as long as you treat them like dogs, e.g. train them and teach them which behaviours are acceptable.

don't get a westie - the neighbour has two and they never stop yapping at nothing. my dog has been here since before they were born and they still yap endlessly when she goes in the garden. sorry - i'm sure there are some well trained ones but every one i have known has been similar.

And on the flipside...

My Westie died last year aged 14. He barely yapped at all, in fact hearing him bark was a rarity and every one I know has been the same.

Every dog is different.

As well as the stand alone Discover Dogs event in November there's also one at Crufts next month.

It's definitely worth going to shows and trying to meet people with breeds you're interested in. I've found that people are usually more than happy to talk about their breed, I always get my borzoi fix at shows There are loads of websites for finding shows but Dog Show Central is a pretty good one to start with. Each of the shows listed will have a schedule which you can check to see if they have classes planned for breeds you're interested in. Smaller shows (called open or limit shows) don't have a class for every single breed whereas the big ones (championship shows) have classes for just about every breed going. Champ shows are a fabulous day out if you're doggy!!