Hi All
My 8 year old daughter would like her own dog for showing.Something on the small side and not too much grooming.We have a lab that i show and a crossbreed at home.So looking for a fun breed likes kids and other dogs.She has her heart set on a mini dachshund.I had a suggestion from a lady i phone today for advice on dachshounds and she thought border terrier would be a good companion for a child,i like the idea too,but would like aimee to make the choice of her breed.We are not looking to get one now as i want to research as much as poss and look round the shows at other breeds.Any ideas or thoughts would be a help.
many thanks Linda.

One of my first choices for a small family dog would be the endearing Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

They are not too hairy, are attractive, have a very good nature, and love to get involved in all sorts, agility, flyball, and so on, so definitely a fun breed, but they are happy just to "be with" a person too.

We have a little boy of probably your daughter's age at agility, he has a CKCS and they are a great little team.

Anyway that would be my suggestion :)

Best wishes
Lindsay

Hello,
When I was 12 me and my agility friend both desperately wanted a dog. I got a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (from an agility/show line though, so she wasn't as heavy built as some show ckcs's are now) and she had a great time doing agility after 2 years reaching senior level. She was the most brilliant dog to show and do junior handling with, she got many BOB's and I won many Best Junior Handlers. Now my friend got a Border Terrier. I have always liked these dogs but it put me right off having one. It was incredibly disobedient (running off as soon as it got a whiff of something) and although did well at agility was always quite snappy around us and other people. I have seen several other borders behave like this, it must be there terrier nature??? Some Borders are friendly and gentle but I don't think they're very easy to train.
I'd say go for something like a CKCS or maybe a Sheltie although some lines are more nervy than others (don't get one of those).
Have fun choosing your next dog!
Charlotte

Don't know where your friend got her Border Terrier from, but that is totally against the nature of the breed. Yes they are independent and very very clever which they can use to their advantage, but because of the brains, if trained correctly are a very obedient dog.

They are wonderful with children, very good at agility, one that is related to my line has won the Mini Agility at Olympia on more than one occasion.

My Border took my daughter to the Junior Handler of the Year in 1998, but I would never say they are the easiest breed in the world but what you sow you reap, and they will repay you a thousandfold if trained correctly.

I regularly run my pack loose on the beach and have never had one turn a deaf one on me.

I would also say watch out for heart problems having been tested for in the CKCS.

I have found well bred borders to genearlly have an excellent temperament around people and dogs, though I would agree, that they are a sporting breed, not a toy dog, but the poster is used to sporting dogs.

Hi

I've been having the same thoughts recently with my 8 year old daughter, and I have pretty much settled on either a Whippet or a BC. I like the sound of the Whippet though - very relaxed and easy going, and quite tough to fit in with my lot (Dane, Staffie and 2 kids)

HTH
Chloe

Hi Chloe
Is your daughter looking at showing her new dog.
linda

Hi

Yes, I joined her up to the YKC - but haven't had the stuff through yet

She is up for either agility or normal open shows... probably more of the latter. So I am looking for something easily trainable really that she can take to classes... She will probably be 9 before we start.

Chloe

Hi Chloe,
My neice (sp?) has got a Border Collie and she had it when she was 10. The dog now has several 2nds and 3rds at novice level both in agility and obedience. Last year she won the intermediate or advanced obedience at the ykc at crufts and came 2nd in the triathlon. However my neice has put one hell of a lot of work into the dog and the dog at 4 years old now is only just beginning to listen and respect her.
In my opinion... don't go for a BC unless you're prepared to put the work in... a Whippet probably won't be the easiest to get to enjoy agility although I have seen 3 that really enjoyed their work and 2 won out of starters. Have you looked at some of the smaller breeds in the pastoral group --> such as a Pembroke Welsh Corgi (lovely show dogs and several have won novices in obedience and are senior/advanced in agility) or a Sheltie (same applies)? They are probably easier for a smaller child to cope with than a bouncy collie!!!
Charlotte

Hi Charlotte

Oh don't worry - I have looked into the breeds a great deal. My daughter is no shrinking violet either, she rides horses, rides a motorbike and has no fear of anything. The dog will be primarily trained and worked by me and my partner anyway. It also has to be a dog that can keep up with the family exercise - up to an hour walk every day without fail, and something that can cope with an exhuberant Dane! :)

Thanks for the advice
Chloe

My whippet and whippet mix LOVE agility!! I don't compete with them because *I* don't put in the work, but they have sooo much fun! I would recommend it for any whippet owner.

Wendy

How about a Buffy, and i will throw in all her toys bed etc for free, No cant blame you :D

Hi Charlotte.
I would suggest your friends Border Terriers are better socialised and trained, as "snappy" and "incredibly disobedient" is totally alien to this breed, the last thing the breed needs (or any breed) is dogs that are poorly raised, typical of people that buy dogs for the wrong reasons, i.e just because they heard they were good at agility. Tell her/him to come and meet mine, and I am sure Lady Dazzles too, they will then see the "true" Border temperament.
Dawn.

Hi Dawn!
I have met some lovely Border Terriers especially around breed shows, I must admit when we were kids her dog probably didn't get the best of socialisation, but the parents of her litter were lovely, the bitch had 2 girls 2 boys, the 2 girls and 1 of the boys were all naughty and "feisty" and yet the 4th little boy was lovely.
I don't think they're the easiest to train for an 8 year old, but wouldn't rule them out. Not the breed for me though!
Char

Sorry Char but anyone who lets an 8 year old train a dog wants their head testing and that is any breed of dog.

Training a dog takes years of experience which an 8 year does not have.

I'm sure you didn't mean that quite the way it sounds?? Certainly no child should have the primary responsibility for training.

There are many young people very committed to their dogs, and supervised by parents make excellent trainers and competitors in many spheres.

You're right Barbara, having read it again thats not quite what I meant.

I did mean with supervision. :-)

Hi,
I haven't let an 8 year old train a dog?!?! I trained mine when I was 12 and I was only given a Cav after a year of persuading my parents. Even at 12 I was very inexperienced, it was lucky that the first training clubs (agility, obedience) were both excellent clubs as I learnt a lot.
A couple of years ago there were 2 sisters that came to our obedience club. One was 13 and had a 6 month Toy Poodle and the other was 9 and had a 4 month Cavalier X. The older girl rarely brushed the dog, parents fed the dog and she trained it a couple of times a week when it suited her. The younger girl did everything to the dog, played with it fed it brushed it, dressed it up, and loved it. I don't think I need to tell you which one then entered Pre-Beginners a year later and won it.
Charlotte

Well said Dawn.

If a Border is bought from a reputable breeder they should be exactly as you say.

Anyone is welcome to come and meet my lot and test their temperaments both at home and with strange dogs and children.

Hi Linda

Where abouts in the country are you?? I train Junior Handlers in Yorkshire and I also have had Cavaliers for over 20 years. My Cavaliers are true little teachers in that they almost train the handlers to move them correctly. It is quite fun to watch and I have many young people come to my classes from homes where the 'family' breed is much too large for young children and I am always happy to loan a Cavalier for training classes and also handling classes at shows.

Hi Everyone
Thank you all for your posts.Given us something to think about.As you know the pup is for Aimee,But will be 100percent supervised with myself and husband and of course any wee dog coming to our house will be one of the family at the end of the day.
I am looking into the Borders and Cavaliers so loads of research to do.It took me 9 months to find my lab pup so can see it taking the same time again.
Also want to find some breeds that she can play and mix with.She comes to the shows with me so will start looking at the diffrent dogs.
thanks again LINDA

PS.Alice we are in Kent.

Apologies!!!

I read the posts wrong I thought that the Border you were talking about Charlotte was trained by an 8 year old. I am getting so heartily sick of give a dog a bad name syndrome, and your remarks about the Border Terrier made both Dawn and myself react. No breed should be judged on one experience, and as you said yourself the dog had not had the proper socialisation, so not the best example to quote.

Sorry Linda, didn't mean to say that you would not supervise your daughter in her training of the dog. You sound exactly the right sort of parent to give both dog and child the right messages.

If you need any help in deciding on a breed please feel free to get in touch and I will give you some names of good breeders in your area.

Jayne

Hello Jayne
No apologies needed,Thankyou for your post.I will take you up on the offer when the time comes.Maybe we will meet up with you and Barbara at one of the shows.Would be nice to say hello and meet your dogs.
Best wishes linda

Bit more coat preperation, but Bedlingtons are a nice terrier that could be shown and do Agility too! Have seen a number of young folk training and showing these at shows.

Hi Barbara
It was nice to talk to you on the phone,even though at the time i didnt know who you were.You were very helpful.
thank you. Linda

I have an 8-year old friend (so what if I'm 30?) who owns, trains and shows her poodle with the best adults. An eight year old can definetly train her own dog if she's got a good base (a doggy family), brains and talent. I am a dog trainer and I always sigh with releif when working with kids because they seem 'closer' to the dog (they understand dogs need fun more than most adults) PLUS they listen to me better! I have met many children that have trained their dogs alone with great success. I would help her if I was you but don't think for a second that she can't do it. Cavaliers are very sweet dogs (but do shed alot) and can be 'crazy' until they mature. They are a great choice for a child, sweet, obedient, loyal and fun.
Poodles (when well bred) are very smart, clean, and naturally obedient. Your daughter will have alot of grooming to do with the "show" poodle (they are bathed often and brushed almost daily) but this is something she actually may enjoy (I can picture her picking bows already). Toys are great and miniatures too. Both are quite hardy and love agility altough the smaller ones may get teeth trouble (or get stepped on by the Dane!). If she doesn't like the 'funny' look of the poodle, she may prefer a french-bulldog (great temperaments and very hardy/healthy, very clean) or even a Mini Schnauzer (a bindle of fun that keeps up with any lifestyle).

The sky's the limit really but you will have to help her choose the breed -focus on each breed's BAD points and see if you/she can deal with them before deciding. Don't forget to meet the puppy's parents and explain to you daughter that no matter how much she likes a puppy, you WILL leave the breeder's if the parents aren't very sweet and sociable dogs. Even some top show dogs have nasty temperaments (completely unforgiveable) so look out for this and steer clear from breeders that don't strive for impeccable characters.