Thanks for that, I'm not going to follow it up as I know I couldn't resist!!  My husband and I need to sit down and have a proper conversation about when and what breed etc; he appreciates I need a dog I can walk as Pip is really at the short and often stage for now (and yes I know I can't go straight into long walks with a puppy!!) but isn't sure about 2 dogs in the house.  We have time on our side but I know I can be impulsive and if I went and saw that little Spaniel puppy I'd come home with her so best to keep clear.  There's too many bought impulsively and I want to make sure we get the right dog for the whole family.  My book about the different breeds should arrive today so that should keep me quiet for a bit lol :o)

> www.pets4homes.co.uk

That is one of the dodgy sites for looking for dogs. I would never look on there in a month of sundays!!!

Look on Champdogs, KC site & look/contact breed clubs..much better places to start your search :)

> Despite them being the most popular hound breed at shows, along with Beagles, why do you see so few being walked by the man in the street.
>
>

It must be a slight area thing, as I see lots out walking where I am, even when I'm in the car..perhaps my eye is so tuned into them???

> Same with Afghans, do they never go for walks???

Their popularity really has gone down, very few are ever kept in 'pet homes'. Only 138 pups were registered through the whole of 2013.

Thank you Lexy, will do!  I'm new to this but learning a LOT!

I'd suggest you may not see Whippets (or Bassets) out much is because many people have multiples, and tend to take them out across the fields.  There are quite a number of Whippets here in the N.Cornish coastal town we live in however.

As for letting my puppy Whippet run free when just a baby - she was a tad nervous from the get go and before she was bonded with me, could well have taken off big time.    Frankly right or wrong, for me it wasn't worth the risk.   I know she'll stick by me (I had her on a 30ft lunge line early days - with a whistle) USUALLY, but if she were to be spooked, she'd be gone.

As for Afghans I'd suggest there are not many people dedicated enough to cope with that coat!!?

If you do think about a whippet and I must say they are on my list of possibilities have a look at the rescue scruples they have some beautiful whippets usually Adult but have an idea about behaviour .
If you don't have cats and would be prepared to train recall and possibly use a muzzle if required. some have higher prey drive than others I would say they have a lot going for them 

I have to say I wouldnt recommend Scruples!! I do however highly recommend the first registered Whippet rescue, it's called JR Whippet Rescue.

What about looking into Papillons?

They are very athletic dogs and are generally friendly (although can be noisy when out and about). Mine will walk and play all day happily but are just as happy with playing fetch in the garden. They switch off in the house and basically sleep when there's nothing else to do. Coat does need daily grooming but it's only 5 mins or so and other then trimming hairy feet (for neatness and to stop them bringing muck inside) there's no other grooming requirements. They are SO dainty though especially as puppies so they are not for everyone.

Thanks for the suggestions of adult rescue dogs.  Pip, our JRT is a rescue and after having her we wouldn't have another one as she came with a whole load of problems.  We'd much rather have a puppy that we have from the start as then you can start with a clean slate.

Haven't looked into Papillons - another one to check in my book!  Thanks very much.

>>> www.pets4homes.co.uk
>That is one of the dodgy sites for looking for dogs. I would never look on there in a month of sundays!!!

Surprisingly that's the site that got me the best 'quality' of potential owners for my last litter.

Not all bad breeders on there I agree but sometimes it's hard to find decent litters amongst the crap if you know what I mean.
I know some very good breeders on there however compared to the byb's and goodness what else they are few and far between :-)

>I have to say I wouldnt recommend Scruples!!

Can I ask why not Lexy? I am genuinely curious as a friend got a lovely rescue from them and someone else I know rehomed 2 whippets through them in sad circumstances. I often recommend them to people looking for a whippet, would like to know if there is a reason I shouldn't be doing this.

Despite them being the most popular hound breed at shows, along with Beagles, why do you see so few being walked by the man in the street.

Probably depends on were you live. Out here in the countryside we see very few Staffies, but loads of Labradors, Springers, Whippets and the odd Beagle, Dalmatian and Westie. We never ever see toydogs other than mine. Go into the nearest town and it changes, then you see lots of Staffies and various toydogs.

Haven't looked into Papillons - another one to check in my book!

The great thing about them is they can take pretty much as much or as little exercise as you want. My daughter walks her two for miles every day, my own (I have 7 of them) mainly run in the garden (big garden for their size, so they can REALLY run) with the odd walk thrown in. They are very trainable, extremely intelligent but yes noisy. Tend to hate wet weather though!!

Despite them being the most popular hound breed at shows, along with Beagles, why do you see so few being walked by the man in the street.
You are so right, I hardly ever come across a whippet while I'm walking but go to a show and they come out of the "woodwork"!

Labs. That's why they're so popular . I know they're not exotic but there's a good reason that they're so common . :-)

>I know some very good breeders on there however compared to the byb's and goodness what else they are few and far between :-)

I know that we as a bred tend to have breeder listings with most of the sites hoping that people will be able to find decent breeders, rather than just be left with the others as these are the places people looking for a pup are likely to look.

I rarely actually advertise litters these days, but if no good litters are advertised then people won't know there is better out there than the BYB and commercially bred litters.

The cocker advert for example was worded much more like a proper breeder.

>then you see lots of Staffies and various toydogs.

Pretty much what we see here nearly every new puppy is a staffie (or supposed to be).

Funny isn't it the more rural you are the less likely you meet certain breeds of dogs, I don't come across Staffs or similar bull breeds or even you breeds my way. It's the larger dogs, esp gundogs around here. Saying that I have a Bernese and a Rott and you don't see many of those anywhere in this area

We have several whippets in the village, and most of them are called Murphy! We have the ubiquitous staffy-types, numerous 'oodles' large and small and swarms of gundogs.

25 years ago when I move to Bristol the most ubiquitous breeds were Jack Russell Terrier types, English Springer Spaniels of the working type, GSD's, and Collies.

Now it's all Staffy and bull breed types and in the last couple of years 'wolfalike' crosses, and sled dog crosses coming to the fore.

Yes I agree and where I live, Lutterworth it seems to be the land of the unusual dog! Off the top of my head we have a Gordon Setter, a Pointer, a Irish Red and White Setter, a German Wirehaired Pointer, a Norwegian Elkhound, 3 (!) purebred Standard Poodles, a Pharoah Hound, a Viszla, a delightful Basset Hound, 2 Flatcoated Retrievers and a miniature wirehaired dachshund! I know of three designer crossbreeds and only one staffie!

Oh wonder who the Elkies belong to, usually more than two are going to be exhibitors/former exhibitors, rather than straight pet owner.

> Oh wonder who the Elkies belong to, usually more than two are going to be exhibitors/former exhibitors, rather than straight pet owner.

I went for a walk in Uphill near WSM earlier in the year, and saw two chaps - one with an American Bulldog and one with an Elkie. The latter almost fell over in shock that I knew what breed it was :)

>a Irish Red and White Setter,

I wonder who owns/bred that? We have one, and they're not common at all - and everyone assumes they're a spaniel!

>I went for a walk in Uphill near WSM earlier in the year, and saw two chaps - one with an American Bulldog and one with an Elkie. The latter almost fell over in shock that I knew what breed it was :-)

That's one of mine, my Inka's son. :)  He also has a lovely cat it's the breed crossed originally with an Asian wild species and the name escapes me.

When we were staying at a campsite at St Neots Cambs, the wardens there had two Spanish Water Dogs. I'd never seen one before, but guessed they weren't poodle crosses which they get mistaken for. They were 6 months old and recently clipped so not like the pictures I had seen of them. Nice little dogs.

I'm not sure who he belongs to, all I know is his name is Harry and he is walked with a Golden Retriever bitch. Oh and he loves me because I constantly have treats in my pockets and boy oh boy does he love his food. A proper moody merchant who can butter anyone up!

The Irish Red and White I've only seen in the village, he wear a halt and seems to be a real gentlemen.

www.pets4homes.co.uk
That is one of the dodgy sites for looking for dogs

I don't think one can generalise about these sites at all--at the end of it there is no substitute for doing your homework about the breed you want and the lines you prefer. Even if you can't find the information you need online, there are lots of CDers who are happy to share their knowledge and experience of the breed

I have to agree. I spent a year looking and visiting based on the site mentioned and another popular one. Came on here followed advice and met a breeder who had a litter 3 days previously. They were also way more pro than those i encountered via the other sites. We were let down and lied to on more than one occasion. ( just my experience ). I'd recommend you  look on here for a breeder once you have decided on your breed.

Spanish Water Dogs are wonderful but would never ever recommend someone having two at the same time and they need to be socialised correctly.

How often do they need to be clipped and any other grooming for the OP? I love Spanish, dear little dogs :-)

I only do mine once a year many pet owners prefer twice as it's easier for them to cope with.  Nope no other grooming except claw clipping and checking their ears :)

Well in that case a definite contender then... I think they are a great all round small dog, well to me they're small.
Love Jenny B's naughty Finn ;-)

>Spanish Water Dogs are wonderful but would never ever recommend someone having two at the same time and they need to be socialised correctly.

I agree and I think they were regretting it too, they were only six months old. I don't know the people so don't know the circumstances why they have the two and didn't like to inquire.

> That's one of mine, my Inka's son. :-)  He also has a lovely cat it's the breed crossed originally with an Asian wild species and the name escapes me.

Wondered if it was one of yours! :) I didn't get close enough to really have a good look at his dog as one of mine was going nuts at it, but my comment (to my dog) of "Whoah, calm down madam; what's that Elkie ever done to you?" got me a smile.

I think the cat you mean is a Bengal.

Re 'Harry' do they live in Gt. Yarmouth. 

If so that is one of Jozi's last litter coming up 8 years old. 

His litter sister is the dam of our breeds current top winning bitch who has just gone and won another group and RBIS at East of England.

Sadly his owners never kept in touch past the first months.

>I think the cat you mean is a Bengal.

Yep :)

Haven't read through this whole thread but in my head Inwsd thinking toy/mini poodle?? Coat care is a lot but generally friendly good family dogs that do at least have an off switch!

She said that she doesn't want to go to a groomer.
And if poodles have on off switch I have yet to find it !!!

Thanks for all the suggestions; it really is much appreciated.  

As for the groomers it's not that I don't want to go, just that I don't want to have to go every couple of weeks!

'Grooming' means different things to different people. For some it means doing bog-all to your dog inbetween the 6-weekly visits to the grooming parlour for an emergency shave. For other people those visits are the icing on the cake, and they make sure their dog is combed down to the skin several times a week between those tidy-up visits.

> 'Grooming' means different things to different people.

For some it means a weekly once-over with a brush, comb and/or undercoat rake - many thickly-furred breeds don't need to go to a groomers.

>For some it means a weekly once-over with a brush, comb and/or undercoat rake - many thickly-furred breeds don't need to go to a groomers.

That's us, though when moulting it needs to be most days, otherwise you suddenly will find you have extra dog in the house from the hair collecting in corners.  ;)

I remember my breeder, one of the doyennes of the breed, when asked about grooming, saying: "You can groom them if you like"

Don't think she'd pass the ABS on paperwork.

Contracts, no such thing, let alone a  stud dog contract (no-one in our breed has used one to my knowledge).

I got a puppy, some puppy food including frozen goats milk, and an a sheet detailing pups current feeding regime and how to adjust to adulthood, and a hand completed 5 generation pedigree.  This was 1992. 

From then on we spoke regularly by phone, ditto the stud dog owner. 

Once I started showing there wasn't a week didn't go by when I did not speak to these 'now' dear friends, and I miss them both, both died suddenly, just after we won our first CC in 2001, and the other in 2006.

Thanks for advice re grooming etc; I'm happy to brush the puppy and find it very therapeutic - must come from having had a horse for 15 years!!

My eyes are very much being opened by what I'm seeing on adverts.  I looked on one website and found a very detailed advert all about Cocker Spaniels, very wordy but no mention made of health tests being done (I wouldn't buy a Cocker without the relevant tests - think it's DN and PRA or something off the top of my head but I'd check before obviously!).  Looked at the next .. and the next ... and the next - they were basically all adverts for different variants of Cocker Spaniels, all very much loved, all home reared blah blah blah from the same person!  No thanks.

Can I recommend a visit to discover dogs I know there is one later in the year meet the dogs and breeders in person and get to more information and health care from them a notebook and pen might be an idea

I've never heard of Discover Dogs - think a visit will be in order definitely!  I'll find out more about it, thanks for drawing it to my attention.

Information about Discover Dogs!

Cockers do need regular brushing, every couple of days for a show cocker, and trips to the groomer for stripping or clipping every 8-10 weeks on average. Border terriers are best handstripped, but though show people 'roll' the coat ie remove a little here and there constantly, pet ones usually come in every 4-5 months for a complete strip. You can learn to trim or strip either breed yourself of course. :-)

Thanks - looks great!