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Original poster

What’s a good starter breed?

95 replies

ChiChaNaYubi · 08/04/2023 20:12

I’m a few months time our circumstances are changing and we would have time for a dog. I’m not really a huge fan of them but my kids really want one and I do absolutely love Pomeranians! Are these a good starter breed?

OP posts:
Username917778 · 09/04/2023 19:33

How have you managed to find puppies to meet so soon? Massive red flag!

Original poster
ChiChaNaYubi · 09/04/2023 19:35

It’s a family friends dog who got caught at a park, luckily by another Pomeranian! So they’re pure, theirs 2 puppies. An all white one and a red merle? Both boys.

I have always loved poms. I love how smiley they are and all the ones I’ve met have been so friendly. And this might sound horrible but I would want a dog I could overpower if it were to ever go for my kids. My friends child was mauled by a rescue dog and it’s terrifying. I know a couple of adults mauled by their dogs too, all large breeds and the thought of being that powerless frightens me.

OP posts:
GoodChat · 09/04/2023 19:40

In that case, get them both Grin

Did they manage to get any info on the dog?

Original poster
ChiChaNaYubi · 09/04/2023 19:42

GoodChat · 09/04/2023 19:40

In that case, get them both Grin

Did they manage to get any info on the dog?

I would love to 🤣

The dad is a black Pom called Sterling! They want one of the puppies so they’ve kept in touch.

OP posts:
GoodChat · 09/04/2023 19:43

Oh lovely!
I'm guessing he's a healthy dog? It sounds promising.

Honestly getting a pom is the best thing I ever did.

Original poster
ChiChaNaYubi · 09/04/2023 19:47

Yeah I should have put in the Op that I already had puppies in mind, which is why I started the thread to see if they are good for a first timer. I’ve never had a dog before.

He’s a healthy dog and so is mum. Mum is quite young though but she’s doing well. Puppies were born a few days ago so won’t be ready for a while but I’m going to give them a little visit.

OP posts:
bamboonights · 09/04/2023 19:48

LapinR0se · 08/04/2023 20:14

Also don’t only get a dog because your kids want one. You’ll do 90% of the work

Totally agree.

Lesina · 09/04/2023 19:54

You won’t want to hear this because nobody does but a Staffordshire Bull Terrier, aka a staffy is an excellent family dog. Exceptionally people focused, love I mean absolutely adore,children, want to please, minimal grooming and don’t really shed. One of the most misunderstood breeds. There is a reason they were known as nanny dogs. Absolutely excellent dogs :) ( I’m a big fan, can you tell?)

Catwithbigfeet · 09/04/2023 19:57

@Lastnamedidntstick
I have a yorkie and he’s been a great first dog.

I’ve had 3 Yorkies, all were super active and exercise junkies.
They are essentially working terrier dogs bred for hunting rats.
Tread with caution here. A breed rescue I fostered for told me many are given up because people think they’re an easy option due to their size.
They're quite feisty too and they don’t think they’re small !

KirstenBlest · 09/04/2023 19:57

@Lesina , I agree with you. The thing is though they're not cute and small and fluffy.
Cats are cute and small and fluffy and ideal as a starter pet.

Eviebeans · 09/04/2023 19:59

We’ve got a Pom cross jack russell. We love him dearly but do believe he has all the worst traits of each breed. We have had dogs before tho so knew what we could be letting ourselves in for. I’ve had jack Russell before and love them.
he prefers people to most other dogs. Makes enough noise that people believe he’s a much larger dog until they see him lol.
be prepared for the mess - for a relatively small dog ours can make a little mud go a long way 🤦‍♀️
one thing to bear in mind if one of you is working from home (we do) make sure the dog has times when they are left alone so that it isn’t a big surprise to them when they do have to be left.

BeansOnToast32 · 09/04/2023 20:05

Is this real? 🤦🏼‍♀️

The owner walked her in season bitch, presumably under the age of 2 and she just happened to get caught by another Pom? I wouldn't go anywhere near this litter nor would I pay someone for being so irresponsible.

bamboonights · 09/04/2023 20:08

BeansOnToast32 · 09/04/2023 20:05

Is this real? 🤦🏼‍♀️

The owner walked her in season bitch, presumably under the age of 2 and she just happened to get caught by another Pom? I wouldn't go anywhere near this litter nor would I pay someone for being so irresponsible.

Neither would I. Wouldn't pay a penny unless both parents were health tested. KC registered is not enough of a guarantee for health. Champdogs is the only decent website other than breed clubs for that sort of info. I wish Pets4Homes was banned.

Corgiowner · 10/04/2023 07:13

Merle is not an accepted colour in Pomeranian’s although dodgy breeders charge more for it. As far as I understand it’s achieved by at sometime in the past outcrossing to a breed that does carry the merle gene there are serious health issues around the merle gene. So as I’m aware anyone claiming to breed them in breeds where Merle I’m not permitted is dodgy as fuck. Ypuve found someone who claims their apparently healthy but too young to breed but pure bred Pomeranian, so I believe the puppies can’t be KC registered, was taken to the local park in season and by pure luck happened to meet another pure bred healthy Pomeranian they mated and the neither owner did anything to intervene to stop this and it doesn’t take seconds and and the bitches owner wasn’t worried enough about her dogs age and the health implications to stop the pregnancy and now one of the two puppies is a colour not recognised in pure bred Pomeranians in the uk but one which dodgy breeders can charge more for!!

OP you’re being taken for a fool. I know little about Pomeranians but I’m pretty sure they’ll be a breed club in the UK whose members will be dedicated to the breed and will produce KC registered healthy puppies who have been properly screened for any health issues in the breeds and are excellent examples in both looks and temperament. Contact them they will know of up coming/current litters or reputable breeders because you may have to go on a waiting list but that’s ok because you’ll get a lovely dog and support from the breeder for the life time of your dog which you might need. This way you will alap ensure that not only will you’ll get a happy healthy puppy but also not feed dodgy back yard/puppy farms breeders exploiting dogs purely for financial gain and stringing you along by telling you a highly unlikely to be true sob story. And generally you won’t pay any more for the privilege of buying a well bred puppy.
Writing this has reminded me a women I worked with years ago she had pomeranians she admitted she was naive when she bought her first one; it came from a dodgy breeder, of course it was super cute when she saw it as a puppy but it grew into a dog riddled with health problems she spent a large fortune in the vet and it required numerous operations, once grown up she said it wasn’t even a poor example of the breed it was barely recognisable as a Pomeranian and she also said it had a pretty unpleasant temperament as well.

Registration of dogs of merle colouring | Kennel Club

We will no longer register merle-coloured dogs where there is no documented evidence of the colour being well established over a sustained period.

https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/media-centre/2020/january/registration-of-dogs-of-merle-colouring/

Corgiowner · 10/04/2023 07:23

One more point we’ve always bought pedigree dogs from reputable breeders none did an extensive socialisation program with new puppies but none have allowed us to see the puppies till they were at least 4 weeks old because they said there is a risk that we bring an infection in and also causing unnecessary stress to the bitch. Obviously photos videos progress reports were provided. I’m not sure if this approach is necessary but it makes sense to me.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 10/04/2023 07:39

BeansOnToast32 · 09/04/2023 20:05

Is this real? 🤦🏼‍♀️

The owner walked her in season bitch, presumably under the age of 2 and she just happened to get caught by another Pom? I wouldn't go anywhere near this litter nor would I pay someone for being so irresponsible.

Yes I absolutely smell a rat. This is how bad breeders take advantage of novice owners who know no better. It’s a very convenient story

Softoprider · 10/04/2023 10:41

OP You just told us a shaggy dog story ! What a load of old tosh !

Stressyfab · 10/04/2023 10:58

I have a pomchi!
going against the grain here- she’s completely the opposite of what I was told to expect. I have only heard her bark on two occasions over a year and a half. No yapping at all. Happy to be left on her own while I work. She’s the soggiest thing and wonderful with children! Also she’s so completely entertaining 😂

  • so teeny which worries me around kids but I suppose a full Pom will be bigger!
Luckycat1 · 10/04/2023 11:14

The chances that a pom dog just happened to be accidentally knocked up by another pom is just so ridiculous, I can't believe anyone would fall for it. Fwiw I met a backyard breeder the other week, horrible experience, overweight little barky pom early stages pregnant, a different toy breed had just had puppies. They weren't happy or healthy dogs, just cash cows. Buying one of those puppies just fuels a truly gross neglectful 'industry'.

Cileymyrus · 10/04/2023 11:30

Stressyfab · 10/04/2023 10:58

I have a pomchi!
going against the grain here- she’s completely the opposite of what I was told to expect. I have only heard her bark on two occasions over a year and a half. No yapping at all. Happy to be left on her own while I work. She’s the soggiest thing and wonderful with children! Also she’s so completely entertaining 😂

  • so teeny which worries me around kids but I suppose a full Pom will be bigger!

Where did you get your pomchi, out of interest?

Stressyfab · 10/04/2023 11:35

A local family, not sure if they count as breeders but the litter was from their two family dogs, so got to see mum & dad too ☺️

Newpeep · 10/04/2023 13:08

It’s a family friends dog who got caught at a park, luckily by another Pomeranian! So they’re pure, theirs 2 puppies. An all white one and a red merle? Both boys.

Convenient…almost like it was planned…

Lordofmyflies · 10/04/2023 15:48

Sorry OP, my alarm bells are ringing. Best case scenario, your friend is telling the truth - In which case have you seen the KC certificates of both parents? Both parents would NOT have had the recommended eye testing, patella testing if it 'was an accident'. Do not buy a pup without the necessary health testing.

Worse case scenario - you are being lied to. This is a puppy farmed pup. Will not be socialised. Will not be health tested. You are supporting a unregulated business and have a whole load of trouble coming your way.

whatsyourpoison12 · 10/04/2023 15:50

rottweiler