Advice needed on getting a puppy

[birgittestyle]

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!

Cockapoo, all the way although I’m biased

Our grown up cockapoo is a wonderful family dog, although can be needy as PP’s have mentioned ( a common poodle trait) but great around children, very intelligent, easy to train etc She doesn’t shed, groomed every 8 weeks and needs brushing every ther day but she does have an exceptionally curly coat.

Littlest one? Time will tell! He’s only 4 weeks at the moment

Brigitte I would look at Greek/Cyprus rescues as they have a lot of poodle cross types and Kokonis. Both would make good family dogs. I certainly wouldn't go for a JRT (far too energetic) or dachunds (back issues and need careful handling esp when puppies).

hundeliebe-grenzenlos.de/

Pound Dogs for Adoption (see pic)

m.facebook.com/groups/610459159031098

m.facebook.com/groups/903554942996932

Also this www.facebook.com/helenmcgarryrehomingcyprusdogs/

We are looking for something reasonably small but not toy
I can give it a good 1 to 1.5 hour walk in the morning and the children again around an hour in the afternoon. We have a large enclosed garden in a suburb and I would like to be able to walk a dog off the lead as much as possible where it is permitted in the many parks around us.
I am very happy to train the dog but not really to continue once it is an adult.
My husband might be/is allergic but tbh he has been around lots of dogs and not suffered so it is not a priority. We are happy to do whatever grooming necessary although don’t want the house covered in hair - I would definately veer towards short or smooth haired.
I know the cockapoo seems like a good fit - I think it really would be a case of dog looking like their owner with my hair!
I am looking through all those rescue dog sites and will contact one or two to see if it is the thing for us. Thank you for all those links, v v helpful

Dachshunds and JRTs are two of the few breeds I would never have. I've met several of both and they overwhelmingly seem to suffer from small dog syndrome, are temperamental and snappy, and I wouldn't want to risk that around kids. Not saying there aren't nice ones, there are, but there's no guarantees.

The other thing to consider is that several of your suggestions have been 'poo' crossbreeds. The issue with this is that if you get one that is first generation, ie the mother is a cavalier and the father is a poodle for example, you have no guarantee what the puppy will come out like. I've seen a litter of labradoodles and within the one litter, there were dogs that were indistinguishable from labs, and others that looked pure poodle, and a mix in between. So you may not get the coat or size you're looking for, because they all looked the same as pups, it was only later they showed their differences, by which time people had chosen their pup. This is less of an issue if your breeder breeds doodle to doodle as you know which traits have been passed on, but there can always be a throwback unexpectedly.

I adopted a poodle beagle cross. She was gorgeous, small and scruffy, and the worst possible dog for a new owner. I'm experienced and nearly lost my rag a few times. She was high strung, whined constantly, climbed, stole things and carried them around or hid them in her stash which is a beagle trait, had separation anxiety. All this after full socialisation and training classes from when I got her. She just got the worst traits from both breeds. I still loved her though.

Labs will always be my favourite dogs, but of the small breeds, schnauzers or corgis win for me. Obedient, fairly easy going, trainable. Shnauzers have the benefit of low shedding, and they look cute all scruffy. Just trim around their eyes and you are good, no need for fancy cuts unless you want to.

“I can give it a good 1 to 1.5 hour walk in the morning and the children again around an hour in the afternoon.”

“I am very happy to train the dog but not really to continue once it is an adult.”

If you’re happy to do that much walking, you’d IMO be absolutely fine with a jack Russell or a border terrier... you will need to do something with them as adults once the basics are trained, some form of training or games that keep them mentally stimulated, but I don’t mean formal training or anything onerous. Just active dogs tend to like to be busy, but there’s no reason that can’t be playing with them instead of part of a walk.

Shorter haired breeds tend to shed more, but, they’re brushed in 5 minutes, where longer coated ones tend to not shed, but you have to actually brush out tangles and take them to be clipped/shredded - if that sways you either way.

Poodles are one I’d add into your list btw if you were thinking of a poodle cross. All the things people are looking for from a cross are there... and yes, there’s a lot of fluff, but only if that’s how you keep them, you can keep them short too.

The charity I adopted mine through is Animal Angels Global - they are on Facebook, and also have a website. They definitely rehome to mainland Europe as well as the UK.

Honestly, my dog is not issue-free (I whinge on about him on here quite extensively...) but all of his ishoos are things I knew about in advance, there's been nothing unexpected since he arrived.

Don’t give up on the Schnauzer they are ace and the minis can walk for miles or stay and sleep. I have a giant Schnauzer he awesome

I'm on my second Cairn. Lovely dogs, big enough to have a personality but not so big they're a pain to exercise. Mine have both had great personalities and love people. They have to be stripped, they don't shed much. Toto was a Cairn. 'Nuff said.

Hi birgittestyle I am also in Germany and I also have a miniature dachshund, we have looked around at popular breeds here. My Uncle only rescues dogs and could come up with some charities for you to look at.

To be completely honest, I would not recommend a dachshund, alone they can be very destructive, can be difficult to train and aren't ideal for children. I also have a Westie, and would totally suggest looking at one. They are more well rounded, easier to train, and very friendly with children.

My top suggestions that I have seen as breeds popular here, Westie, Beagle, French bulldog, Pug.

In general here I have found that finding a breeder or a charity who speak English shouldn't be too difficult. The allergy problem (my son has allergies) I'm not entirely sure how that would work, we have had a referral for him to see the specialist and were quite specific about our concerns, however they were only open to diagnosing general allergies, so whether he was allergic to cats instead of our cats.

So with your help I am narrowing it down bit now but my god it is difficult. I think my peculiar shortlist is Border terrier, schnauzer or rescue dog.

I am still a bit worried about the fancy beard and eyebrow combo of the schnauzer as I can barely deal with my own (more eyebrow than beard),

I am very swayed by so many of the suggestions above but for one reason or other we have ruled them out. I was then thrown all over again by reading the beautiful dog thread.... just too much choice.

I have ruled out dachshunds!

Any pros-cons and words of advice on the short list would be very welcome. I think here in Germany I would only go to a 'kennel club' checked breeder or a rescue home.

Sugarplumfairy - I would be very grateful for any rescue charity info from your uncle. We are in the north of Germany but would happily travel, also to Holland and Denmark. Are all the revue homes authorised and checked? On the VDH (German kennel club) website I can find the breeder list for pure breeds - do you happen to know where I can find reputable breeders for cross breeds other than word of mouth. Around us the most popular seem to be small white and fluffy, cockatoos and labs.

First off, well done for doing your research properly, really really wish everyone was as conscientious! Considering you could have this dog 15 years of so, it's important to get it right!

Border terrier or schnauzer both sound a good match for you, good luck!

If he is genuinely allergic poodles won't necessarily help, it's the skin particles that cause allergies usually.

As to breed, get one that's trainable - working spaniel is a good option, though I have found cockerpoos a bit stupid to be honest (well the neighbours one especially). A trained dog mean your parents can cope! Small dogs can be very yappy, JR can be. I urge you to dogsit for a friend before you commit, it's a 12-18 year commitment!

Sounds like your parents dogs aren't trained, we've never got up at night to our dog - oh and my daughter has taught him French commands as well as the English we use, he responds well! Training is key

birgittestyle Tierschutzverein is my Uncles's recommendation, they have several branches and are very good and matching you with a dog that suits your family. To my knowledge the laws regarding shelters are strict and must be led by someone certified in handling animals and are regulated by the state they are in. Like with anything though I would check because there may be people under the radar trying to help without the proper certificates.

Approved breeders for cross breeds isn't really a thing. The whole point of an approved breeder to ensure you know exactly what you are getting, it isn't until a cross breed is recognised as a breed in its own right like the labradoodle that you will find any type of cross from an approved breeder. As far as crosses go, if both the parents are registered say for example mum is a cocker spaniel and dad is a poodle, thats about as good as you can get. There are some people who will say both parents are crosses and therefore the puppies are too, but there are no documents to support what they are telling you that way.

You can look on ebay-kleinanzeigen.de many centres use this, and there are approved breeders who advertise there, but try and stick to those as there are also people who just have puppies from their pets and you have no real idea if they are truthful.

I am still looking at all the Tiershutzverein in north germany and so far haven't found anything but I think visiting one might help.

....in the meantime have been recommended a Lucas terrier . I spoke to a border terrier breeder here yesterday and she told me it is unlikely you could walk a border terrier off lead in a park here (lots of wooded areas and undergrowth) and I think this might be something that is important for us.

Does anyone have experience of a Lucas terrier?
Are schnauzers very barky?
I so appreciate the help and am sure something is crystallising somewhere!

Did you have a look at go.mumsnet.com/?xs=1&id=470X1554755&url=hundeliebe-grenzenlos.de/ ?

Hi OP, reading your thread with interest as I'm going through similar decision-making and have a thread going Schnauzer v Poodle v Havanese. Some really helpful advice, not many people seem to have experienced Havanese, but mini Poodles and Schnauzers both getting loads of thumbs up. My last main concern now is barking/yapping and it seems both could potentially be a problem, but meeting breeders with parent dog and bringing puppy up training it in best possible way is the only way to try and get over this. Let us know what you decide!

The grenzenlos rescue centre is still one of the front runners although the current dogs don't fit our profile.

I agree the Schnauzer v poodle v Havanese thread has some very useful advice. There are many schnauzers around here who are a little bit yappy and the person who will look after our dig when we are away is not so keen. Strangely I have never met a poodle but there is a fantastic Havanese belonging to a friend of DD but for me almost too low maintenance.

I spoke to a border terrier breeder this morning who is also a vet and has a young family and she recommended them whole heartedly for us, giving good advice about training and exercising off the lead. She describes them as 'bomb-proof"! I have been looking for a breeder here in Germany but they seem few and far between. The alternative would be finding a puppy in the UK but the rabies vaccination timeline would mean I couldn't bring a puppy home until they were more than 15 weeks old which is rather late for early terrier socialisation. So I might have a little wait.....

Lucas terriers look gorgeous but it seems the list for a puppy is very long (years) and I'm not sure how long the children will wait before they explode with excitement.

Latest update - after ringing around and visiting locally we have decided to go with a border terrier puppy. On Wednesday I visit a breeder who has a little 4-5 week old boy earmarked for us. I am ludicrously excited - like a christmas countdown! If all goes well then I just have to contain myself a little longer........
Many thanks for all the input above, it really was valuable in forming my decision.
So next question I suppose is any advice on Border terriers?