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The doghouse

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Original poster

Cain Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer or Westie?

46 replies

CanIBuffalo · 18/07/2018 12:19

I'm undecided. I'm looking for the least amount of shedding/allergens and a good companion who will bark at night if someone's outside.
Only adult kids at home and someone's there all day. I have the school holidays to settle a puppy in.
Please can I have your views

OP posts:
AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 18/07/2018 12:22

Have to say that in my very unscientific study of the local park, I've never met a non-yappy mini schnauzer! Though I have thought that they must be driving the neighbours mad, and giving so many false positives that you'd ignore them if they did try to tell you about someone who was outside.

Is there someone in your household who is allergic, or are you just hoping to minimise shedding from a housework point of view?

Original poster
CanIBuffalo · 18/07/2018 12:24

I want to minimise housework and we have the whole gamut of allergies but haven't ever had furry pets so we'll need to go and give my sister's new lab a big hug to allergy test ourselves. I should be ok as I've had dogs and cats growing up.

OP posts:
adaline · 18/07/2018 12:35

You don't know what your dog will be like until you get it and it grows up unfortunately. Those three breeds are all great and supposedly low-shed, though I've met dogs from each breed type that cover you in hair - some that never shut up and others that never make a peep.

Dogs create a whole load of mess aside from shedding - puppies WILL have accidents - pee on the floor was common for the first month we had ours, and the other night he came in and peed on the bed even though we'd just taken him out to the toilet five minutes previously! He also chews furniture, sheds on the carpet, knocks things off the sides and onto the floor, leaves his toys everywhere and has a habit of eating his chews on the carpet so you end up treading in bits of pigs ear if you're not watching!

Please don't expect to have a tidy house with a puppy/young dog. They're full of energy and love to stick their noses into everything. Ours is a beagle so probably a bit worse than the smaller breeds but so far this week he's peed on the bed, knocked coffee all over our new carpet, scratched a hole in the living room wall, and chewed a hole in a pillow. And that all happened when we were in the room with him, not even a metre or so away!

Not wanting to put you off, ours is a great addition to our life and I love him to bits, but he's a LOT of work and even with constant supervision he destroys things and he bites - hard!

Wolfiefan · 18/07/2018 12:37

Not reacting to a lab doesn't mean you won't react to the others. Once you choose a breed try and meet as many as you can. Contact the breed club and get to some shows.
Schnauzer. Never met one without an attitude.
Westies lots of skin issues.
Don't know Cairns.

TheFaerieQueene · 18/07/2018 12:39

They are all super dogs but all are feisty by nature.

snowsun · 18/07/2018 12:41

My experience of Westies are that they are stubborn , escape artists but big fun personalities

MrsTerryPratchett · 18/07/2018 12:41

Aren't Westies just white Cairns?

tabulahrasa · 18/07/2018 12:42

Cairn terriers aren’t as popular as the other two, which would up your odds of finding a decent breeder.

Original poster
CanIBuffalo · 18/07/2018 12:45

Thanks for all your input. Useful to know that we'd need to meet each breed to test allergies.

OP posts:
MimpiDreams · 18/07/2018 12:49

Westies are the best. Stubborn little buggers but awesome with it. You do have to get them clipped regularly though as they are naturally long haired, not like the ones you see out and about. Their claws also grow much faster than normal so claw clipping is essential.

grasspigeons · 18/07/2018 12:50

ive met a mini schnauzer that doesn't yap

  • apparently you have to meet their mother and if she isn't yappy, they probably wont be
Original poster
CanIBuffalo · 18/07/2018 12:53

Lunchtimes over but I'll be back to read later. Thanks again.

OP posts:
tabulahrasa · 18/07/2018 13:10

“Aren't Westies just white Cairns?”

They used to be, now they’re separate and cairns are more like what westies used to be like before they were overbred and popular for puppy farmers.

Tinkobell · 18/07/2018 13:11

Westie owner here. Lovely companions. Barker or non barker depends on each individual. They are territorial though. V stubborn ......my way or the highway. Fox crazy......turn into little clockwork nutters when there's a fox about. Generally not water lovers. Need a groom every 6 weeks and close clipping in summer. Generally great with other dogs.

Cath2907 · 18/07/2018 13:17

I have a Bichon Frise. He doesn't shed and doesn't yap. He does woof at anyone who comes to the door for 30 seconds or so - he sounds vicious but he is a lovely pet! He doesn't like being left alone much though - he doesn't woof or howl but he looks very sad. I am home all day so it is rare he gets left alone at home for long (longest thus far is about 2.5hrs and that was a couple of weeks back on a very hot weekend when we couldn't take him out to the school fete).

MimpiDreams · 18/07/2018 14:01

Generally not water lovers.

That's a understatement. I have to pick mine up and carry them over puddles. Grin

KinkyAfro · 18/07/2018 14:12

Westies are nightmares, mum's had hers for 6 years and she's the most barky, anxious, stressy dog ever, despite trying everything includibg behaviourists, she just gets worse.

She is incredibly loving though

ragged · 18/07/2018 14:17

Cairn... I knew a lovely one & the Westies I've known were more nervous.

Allycumpooster · 18/07/2018 14:21

Unfortunately I don’t think there is anyway to guarantee their likelihood to yapping - I have litter mate terriers, one barks at everything and anything, she is a menace. They other is totally silent until he is a little over excited 😆. On the plus side neither shed and I could at least tell that this was likely (though not guaranteed) by looking at the parents.
I think that if you are planning on a puppy for this summer holiday you may have left it a bit late. Well bred and reared puppies are usually a waiting list only affair and often several months to years. Please don’t be tempted by one who is “unexpectedly “ available on Pet4homes.

BestIsWest · 18/07/2018 14:21

We have two mini schnauzers. One is very noisy and the other never barks. He’s a dream of a dog.

adaline · 18/07/2018 14:24

Only adult kids at home and someone's there all day. I have the school holidays to settle a puppy in.

Wait a minute, are you talking about this summer? You won't get a puppy in a week from any kind of reputable breeder - any dog you get at this late stage will be either from a puppy farm or a BYB.

Decent breeders have long waiting lists that are full before the pups are even conceived. We were in touch and on a waiting list with our breeder for six months before his bitch even conceived.

Wolfiefan · 18/07/2018 14:27

Adaline good point. I had assumed a future summer! Decent breeders breed VERY rarely. The chance of one having a puppy exactly at the start of the summer holidays is minuscule.
And decent breeders will likely have a waiting list.
Always find a breeder through the breed club.
Could you visit Discover Dogs to meet different breeds?

ToftheB · 18/07/2018 14:34

Have you considered a border terrier? Cracking little dogs!

geekone · 18/07/2018 14:34

There are lots of Schnauzers that don’t yap. I have a giant Schnauzer he likes to tell me what he needs but isn’t yappy. Minis are funny wee things and supe loyal. Have a look at the standard much calmer and not that much taller.
I love me a Schnauzer Wink

CarlsRightEye · 18/07/2018 14:46

I had a non happy mini schnauzer! She was a beaut! Well she did yap if she was looking out of the window at people walking past haha!