Advice/Info on Small dogs.........wanting to get a puppy

katielou said:
Ugh please don't support back yard breeders or puppy mills.

Make sure the parents are at least all hip, elbow eye tested.

And i am sorry but any decent breeder will want to home check you too.
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not all cross breeds are from back yard breeders- I know of one that breeds labradoodles- the bitch she has used twice is fully tested and is a working lab, the dog they used has done well in classes, they have bred two litters in 5 years and all the pups are still in 'forever homes' - she gets regular emails/christmas cards etc. She does ask for a ref from a vet or trainer before she accepts a deposit.

On the other hand the mal pup that we are on the list for (litter due in 4 weeks!!! :) ) is from a very good breederand they didnt come and do a home check- we just drove to them (2 hours away) and they met us and Tassy and we chatted over tea. They were happy and we liked the bitch so we are going to pick our pup when its 2 weeks old. They didnt come and visit our home.
 
shadowboy said:
not all cross breeds are from back yard breeders- I know of one that breeds labradoodles- the bitch she has used twice is fully tested and is a working lab, the dog they used has done well in classes, they have bred two litters in 5 years and all the pups are still in 'forever homes' - she gets regular emails/christmas cards etc. She does ask for a ref from a vet or trainer before she accepts a deposit.

On the other hand the mal pup that we are on the list for (litter due in 4 weeks!!! :) ) is from a very good breederand they didnt come and do a home check- we just drove to them (2 hours away) and they met us and Tassy and we chatted over tea. They were happy and we liked the bitch so we are going to pick our pup when its 2 weeks old. They didnt come and visit our home.
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2 weeks old?????
 
Suffolkangel said:
Brownmare said:
T

As to your choice of breed - I'd steer clear of chihuahua crosses as they tend to be snappy and possessive (ditto JRTs for that matter). /QUOTE]

My dog (in my siggy) is a Chihuahua cross JRT and he's the most loving dog in the world and not at all snappy!!!

He thrives on going out for walks, I take him out with the ponies and he keeps up all the way round, but he's also happy to cuddle up on the sofa for a cuddle.

I believe its more to do with the dogs upbringing as to whether its snappy or not!
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No offence intended :) maybe Ive just been unlucky with the ones Ive met and I agree upbringing has a huge influence on every dog
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Shadowboy - I think people may miss - read your original post as you are picking up your puppy at 2 weeks, rather than choosing which one you want!

I know I did!!
 
Shadowboy said pick, not pick up galaxy.:p I used to like people to come when pups were about 3 weeks old and meet them, and then come and see them as often as possible in the next few weeks before collecting. I haven't always done homechecks, mainly because pups have gone all over the Uk, I like to think I can get a good idea from talking to people, seeing pictures of their existing/previous dogs etc, and always asked for a vets reference. Quite often they were recommended by people who already had a dog from me so that was also a good reference.
 
Ah well for my 2 penneth.

Im not sure why u would pay a small fortune for a x breed (lets not to the whole embarrasing made up name thing) basically a bandy legged, under/over shot dog from majority un healt tested parent dog which in turn can give u both health issues from both breeds in one little package.
So if u are dead against rescues then by a smart little mini poodle (could not ask for a cooler small breed dog) and pay the money instead to go to a reputable breeder and get a health tested dog, more responsible and sensible.

Im also going to say the "minute" minority of people crossing breeds may not be money greedy BSB's as a small few serve a purpose e.g some working breeds, but the majority do, esp when talking about crossing dogs that are not even compatible in shape, build, structure and create a monstrosity.
 
Oooo Claire you should get a JRT!! My lil Coco is adorable and snuggly. Not at all snappy or aggressive. Only problem with little dogs is that they disappear so easily! Coco likes rabbit holes. She always comes back eventually though lol.

Heres a couple puppy pics to tempt you (she is bigger than this now but still such a cutie).

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I would recommend just sticking to Minature Poodle, I am in a similar situation to you and even though I've only had my boy just four weeks he loves it here, will run and run outside but a real lapdog in the flat, he is currently curled up on the sofa with me, until he gets too hot and will go to the kitchen! Incidently the only dog that can keep up with him in full flight is a Border Collie (apart from a Greyhound obviously).
 
in defence of JRTs, they are fantastic little dogs. my lot are neither snappy nor possessive. none of them have ever snapped at or growled at anyone in their entire lives. they've got fabulous temperaments.
they love that kind of life. mine will run all day around the place, or spend the day on the sofa beside me. in fact, that's where 5 of them are now... ;) ;)
they aren't ridiculously expensive either, if you have your heart set on a puppy.
if not though, please please please consider a rescue dog. they are so rewarding, and imho devoted in a way that dogs who have always had a secure home, sometimes aren't. it's as if they realise you've saved them, and are determined to repay you 100x over...
 
My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does the horses with me and then is happy to have a 'duvet day' for the rest of day. He is 10 and still looks like a puppy, so I suspect that (like all my animals) he is going to live to a ripe old age. He is very low maintenance. So it may be worth looking into a cav.
 
Hi, I have not read all the replies, but have noticed a few that say DO NOT GET A CHI cross! well I have a JRT x Chi and he is fantastic, just to balance it out!

He will happily run around a yard all day (although does need a jacket when its cold) but will equally sleep inside all day without even stirring. He is not snappy, or yappy. He barks when someone comes to the door and then shuts up. He has never bitten anyone in his life and doesnt have a bad bone in his body. It is the best of both worlds - when hes inside he turns into Mr Lap Dog and when hes outside he turns into a JRT.
Granted he is abit of a wimp in really cold weather and his recall is abit dodgy if there is something more interesting, but he is a fab happy little chap!

A wag for everyone, and loves kids!

Here is Louis Pop!

In the snow

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In the stable

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As a pup!

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I love him!
 
Patterdale (love them!), Welsh terrier, Fox Terrier or a leggy JRT!! Ok, I have no personal experience of any really as such, as in never owned them but i like the look of them, although isn't a JRT just a sort of cross breed anyway (ie not recognised as a breed as such? Am I wrong?)
 
s4sugar said:
But crossing two working dogs of known & similar types is not quite the same as random crossing to flog puppies with cutsie names.

I have no problem with responsible lurcher & terrier breeders, I'm not sure why someone would want to do a cocker springer mix when the breeds meet in the middle anyway - at least the working strains do. Can't be bothered to travel to find a stud?

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Cant be bothered to travel to stud??? did you not read my post or are you intentionally being ignorant?

Our Cocker dog goes out to stud quite often, he seems to pick up fans wherever he goes who want a litter with his qualities.

And aside from why that comment is blatantly daft, why exactly would anyone bother to travel unecesarily when they have an outstanding stud dog living in the kennel next door to the dog you want to put into pup exactly.

From my experience of growing up with working cockers/springers and sprockers, training and working them myself, i find there is ALOT of difference between a cocker and a springer. Springers are known as 'keepers dogs' because they have higher stamina levels and will work continuously throughout the changing seasons, from spending 12+ hours a day running like lunatics after stray pheasants to being used on a shoot day. The problem with springers is once they are allowed to loose their heads it is difficult to get them back whereas cockers will not go 'wild' as easily and do quickly come back from it. from what i have noticed throughout the many dogs i have met, is that sprockers seem to be able to turn into nuerotic pheasant chasers one minute and perfectly behaved peg dogs the next, or ours and ones that have stayed with us for holidays always have.

I had both the cocker pup and the sprocker pup out today watching a drive and once it had finished let them have a dart about and the sprocker is definitely more instinctive than the slightly older cocker. He is also far more independant in working further away from me.

Springers are comfortable working greater distances from their man, cockers are more inclined to stay nearer. cockers also burn themselves out faster, they dont pace themselves the way a springer does.

When you rely on a dog to do a job day in day out you do notice the differences within the breeds and can then find ways to work towards a more all round type dog. There are big differences between the two breeds in a working environment.

All i will say is that when the pack is out, i have more enquiries as to what the sprocker is, and will i be putting another litter out next year. and this is within a working environment with very knowledgable and experienced people in the field of working dogs.
 
Is that the sort of thing you'd be after?

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Like you, I actively looked for a small crossbreed puppy - because I like crossbreeds & because having had rescues before, I felt I wanted the oportunity to train from day dot... especially useful with a terrier!!!

Funnily enough, I went to see several litters and none of them were puppy farms - just nice people breeding one litter from their beloved crossbreed (mostly terrier) pet bitch - there were several crosses to poodles because of the non/low moulting coats. Max sale price £150... (I gave the rescue £60 12 years ago for my lurcher...)

Skye is the best dog I could ever hope for - she's the filthy result :eek: of the totally irresponsible mating :rolleyes: of 2 sisters' pet JRT and Yorkshire Terrier :rolleyes:.

She's gorgeous in every way, friendly, affectionate, tough when needed, sensible around the horses, great fun for my daughter and at 7 months old has 90% immediate recall, I am completely smitten...

ETA - sorry pics are so big... my enormous head in the middle of the computer screen is a bit scary....
 
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CaveCanem said:
Just get a JRT or mini poodle :) I'm rather growing to like Scrappy Doo :o :o :o
Never seen one that colour before JoJo!
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I hadnt either! Her mum is the same colour but shorter coat. Three girls in the litter to choose from, one was black/white/brown and the other was an all over lighter brown than Coco. Dad is tri-coloured. I know JRT breed standard says they should be predominantly white. People always ask what breed she is. But she did win prettiest bitch at a dog show the other month. I was proud! And came 2nd in dog judge would most like to take home in a class of 20ish.
 
blackcob said:
*hands you a flameproof suit*

Get a mini poodle or a JRT. :)

Jackachooshitcockadoodles are bred by numpties, for numpties.
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blackcob you crack me up! As well as being helpful and usually right!

Don't over-baby JRT's though. They usually like a job to do and if you don't give them something to occupy their busy minds, they'll invent something. Keep 'em worn out and then they're safe to pamper for a few seconds - before they need more jobs.

And get one from a rescue run by sensible people. My rescue JRT bitch has proved to be a total gem. Lovely temperament and not a biter - unless you are a tennis ball or a gardening glove.
 
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