hi,  we're thinking about getting our first puppy, and have decided we want a small breed. we are thinking mini daschund unless we get a puppy from a rescue centre. i was just wondering what breed would be ideal for a first dog? we definatly want a puppy. thanks. lisa xxx

Hi Lisa,

It depends ....

Do you have small children?  Do you have a fenced garden?  How much time do you want to spend a day walking or exercising the dog?  How much time or money do you want to spend in grooming the dog?  Do you understand the potential health issues with the breeds you are interested in acquiring?  If you will get a rescue puppy, will you still be happy if the puppy grows into a much larger dog than you wanted?  Or, if it's coat needs a lot of grooming, instead of the "little grooming" that you preferred.  Do you want a breed that tends not to bark a lot? 

So, guess we need to know a little bit more about what you want in a dog.

Stacey

my sister is 13 and she is the youngest so no probs with little kids! the garden is quite big and fenced. we want one that is quite easy to groom and definatly need it to be small so will it be safer to get a pedigree? what do you know about mini daschunds- are they ok as first time pets? ive wanted a dog for years and i want everything to go well. lisa xxx

Something else to think about-pups are hard work!  Will someone be about during the day and how long will the pup be left for and how often?  Rather than with cross breeds, with a pedigree, you know the size of the adult you are going to end up with, so if you are definite on a small dog, I wouldn't recommend a cross unless you went for one a bit older which was more or less fully grown, so you could get an idea of its size! 

the longest the dog would be left for is 3 hours -3 days a week (when my dads not in) is that too long? it may be less (but not more!)depending on my timetable next term, but i'll find out for sure on friday. any ideas on where to put the dog at the times no one is in? ive seen people talk about kennels on here but im not sure if its ok? what is best for the dog? any ideas? lisa xxx

I would draw up a short list.Make a list of things you do or don't want...exercise requirement,trainability,reliability of lead,etc.Look on the net and find as much info as you can about the breeds you like the look of and then discount dogs that don't fullfill your requirements.
Then either go to a show and see some of the dogs you like and speak to breeders and owners or contact some breeders/breed clubs and ask if you can go and visit.All responsible breeders will help you as much as they can...if they won't..walk away.
Find out what health tests are required by your chosen breed...and make sure any breeeder you choose has his stock tested.
Would a pedigree be better?...well that depends.With a pedigree you can be more sure about certain things...eg collies will be trainable but energetic,shibas will be small and independat.With a mongrel you can guarantee NOTHING!
If you tell us what else you require apart from small size maybe someone can make a suggestion and some advice about what to look for.
Archer

Hi Lisa, there is a great book by Gwen Bailey called the Perfect Puppy which will give you an idea of what bringing up a pup is like and how you can reorganise your time, protect pup and house etc. Pups in rescues tend not to be very small, mainly 6 months or older and at the delightful teenage stage of dog hood called Kevins after Harry Enfiields teenage lad character, and in my experience this is pretty hairy if you have never lived with a dog before - worth every minute but hard work. You can get tiny pups but most rexcues will insist someone is home all day, especially at the start, and you may need to take time off or time pups arrival to coincide with a vacation NOT XMAS. Take plenty of time about this decision as youll live with the results for 10 - 15 years.

we were hoping to get the puppy at half term holiday so it can get settled in but that is on the 25th of october-pretty soon. the puppy would have to be born now-ish and i dont know how to find out about new-born mini daschund litters(smooth or long haired) in the midlands area. ive tried doing searches on the net but no luck-maybe im not looking in the right place. would a puppy be ok 3 hours alone in the house? where should it go during that time? i mean are crates a good idea or is it best to leave it in a small area of the house? also how long does it take to house train? thanks Lisa xxxx

Have you done a guided search for breeders from the homepage of this site? As for house-training times, all puppies vary. The quickest I've managed to train one took a fortnight of concentrated effort, not leaving the pup alone at all. Every 'accident' slows the training time, but they will all get there in the end, invariably by 6 months of age.
:)

:S ive just read that mini-daschunds can be really stubborn, very difficult to house train and tend to snap ( bite). is this true? maybe i should look at a different breed? any suggestions for small breeds with good tempraments that doesnt need too much exercise and grooming and are easy to train. would be alot of help. also can some1 please anwer my question about crates and where to put the dog while people are out? thanks luv Lisa xxx

Hi Lisa. We have a lhasa apso Barney and a shih tzu Molly. Lhasas are more stubborn and completely different than shih tzus. My shih tzu has a wonderful temperament and loves children, games, walks etc. They two complement one another perfectly. They both need careful grooming but if done regularly there is no problem

Gina

Hi Lisa,

For any breed I suggest you go to the Kennel Club web site.  If you go to the Discover Dogs section you will find profiles of each breed.  I believe at the bottom of each profile are contact names for that breed.  If you contact these people they can help you find the best way to obtain a puppy. 

In my own experience in searching the web for breed information I've found some good information - and some very bad and incorrect information about breeds I know well.   I think it is always best to talk to someone who has a lot of experience with a particular breed (the K.C. contact person should help) to sort out what is really correct.  

Have you thought about a Cavalier King Charles spaniel?  I've never owned one, but there are many where I live and all of them seem like lovely dogs. 

For a puppy a crate is the best place for a short period of time - your three hours is the maximum time.  I've almost always used a crate for house training and to keep a puppy safe and would never want to be without one.  (Including using one for the 1-1/2 year old Cairn I've just acquired - who in two weeks has managed to eat the foam out of a slipper, a large piece of nylon stocking and this morning part of the back cover of "Your Dog" magazine.  I am clearly not supervising him closely enough!)

Suggest you buy the puppy book recommended, it will give you lots of information.

Stacey

Stacey

thanks! ive just checked the kennel club website and its got loads of contact numbers-although the dont say how easily trained a dog is, or much on their temprament. ive got a list of breeds i liked the sound of but if anyone knows of any good/bad things about the breeds and their temprament and trainability can u plz let me kno. Havanese, Cocker spaniel, American cocker spaniel, mini long haired dachshund,Cavalier king charles spaniel.- abd thats just some of them!lol. lisa xxx

oo i did more research on the american cocker spaniel and it says they have a good temprament and are easily trained! does anyone know how much having its coat cut would cost? none of the groomers near me seem to have a website. :S also do you know if they jump? and can they easity be trained out of it? Lisa xxx ps- if anyone can tell me any of the bad things about the breed? coz i can only find good and i want to make sure this is the breed we want. still havnt decided yet! 

Hello!
The American cocker isnt my breed but I think (not that sure) that they are quite hard to find in the UK?? (Please correct me if Im wrong)
Ask at your pet parlours how much it would be to cut an American cocker spaniels coat Im sure they would be happy to tell you! :)
You can easily train a dog not to jump up but I think the most important thing is, from when its a puppy, is not to encourage it OR LET OTHER PEOPLE ENCOURAGE IT.
Every breed have their bad points about them but with the right training and love Im sure you will have the perfect pup no matter what you choose! :)  

I know around here it costs about £20 to groom and clip a Am cocker, depending on the state it is in when it gets there!!!!!
They need grooming EVERY day, and bathing about once every 3 weeks at the very least (Beano gets bathed every 1-2 weeks). They are alot of work. But Beanos temprement is exemplary, but that is because of the breeder I got him from, bred for temprement first and for most.
Someone else on here will be along in a bit with more info!!!!!!
But you can near enough count the same things for the English cocker, but they do have less of a coat.
I dont know about the training. They deffiantly like to please..........but Beano can be stubborn!!!!!
But as I say, the coat is ALOT of work!!!!!!!
HTH
Lea :)

ithink if you want a long haired dog then a shetland sheepdog is nice, if you want a short haired then a whippet they nice too but I like something larger like a rough collie.Thanks Kirsty

i would class greyhounds and shetland sheepdog as fairly big big dogs they certainley aren't small!!

Greyhounds are bog yes but Shetland sheepdogs can't be described as anything but small.
Archer

sorry i thought shetland sheepdogs were a little like lassie must have got mixed up

They do indeed look quite like Lassie - they are just much, much smaller!
:)

Don't say that to any Shetlie people JG ;) you will get lynched. :O Shelties compete in Mini agility & should be under 15" in size

LOL mind you I know one that has won at a limited show that is Rough Collie sized & the judge thought it was a rough too-even though he had a very sheltie head(Head and Skull Head refined; when viewed from top or side a long, blunt wedge, tapering from ear to nose. Width of skull in proportion to length of skull and muzzle.Whole to be considered in connection with size of dog. Skull flat, moderately wide between ears, with no prominence of occipital bone. Cheeks flat, merging smoothly into well rounded muzzle. Skull and muzzle of equal length, dividing point inner corner of eye. Topline of skull parallel to topline of muzzle, with slight but definite stop. Nose, lips and eye rims black. The characteristic expression is obtained by the perfect balance and combination of skull and foreface, shape, colour and placement of eyes, correct position and carriage of ears.

& not the Rough's(Head and Skull Head properties of great importance, must be considered in proportion to size of dog. Viewed from front or side, head resembles a well-blunted clean wedge, being smooth in outline. Skull flat. Sides taper gradually and smoothly from ears to end of black nose, without prominent cheek bones or pinched muzzle. Viewed in profile, top of skull and top of muzzle lie in two parallel straight lines of equal length divided by a slight, but perceptible stop or break. A mid-point between inside corner of eyes (which is centre of a correctly placed stop) is centre of balance in length of head. End of smooth, well rounded muzzle blunt, never square. Under jaw strong, clean cut. Depth of skull from brow to underpart of jaw never excessive (deep through). Nose always black.)

Good job it was only a limit show & the judge is Ch Show judge as well LOL

The dangers of being an 'outsider', Moonmaiden! :o Although, speaking as an 'outsider', in photographs giving no impression of size, the only differences appear to be that the Sheltie generally has more coat, and the Rough Collie has a longer, more pointed muzzle (in the pictures I've seen, at least). All the Shelties I've met have been nice little dogs, though.
:)

Trouble is aswell that there are quiet a few Rough Collies around that are heading towards Sheltie size and it makes it more difficult still :D

LOLOL that is very true The joke on the "expert" judge was that the handler(who bred the dog)obviously has shelties & the judge said to her afterwards "I didn't realize you also had roughs"exit me & the handlers mum to the ladies laughing our sox off :D

Shetland sheepdogs are most definitely small - they're only 14 inches high, no bigger than a miniature poodle!

Lisa,

If you call the contact people for the breed and tell them that you are researching different breeds I am sure they would be happy to talk 'til your ears hurt about the good and bad of their breed.  I suggest checking on the web for information about a breed, calling the KC contact person, and then having a discussion about what you have learned from your research.  They will help you decide if the breed is suitable for you and your family.

Stacey

http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/search.htm

http://dogs.about.com/od/beforeyougetadog/

There is a lot of info on the Internet. Some may be good and some not so good, but I'd suggest reading up on Dachunds and any other breed that may interest you. Find out about their temperament and health problems, trainability,what to look for in a breeder...how to find a reputable one etc. You can read about puppies care, training, socialization....all the things you should know about.  Above are a couple of links that may help you with the breed choosing.

Good luck....nothing more exciting than getting a new pup.

Carrie

Oh! Another great book, an absolute must is Culture Clash.

Hi lisa a large run or crate is nice when you leave a puppy alone.as long as you give it toys.thanks kirsty

Hey Lisa,
            Have you had a look at the AM cocker websites.

www.asc-cockerspaniel.org

www.cockers.com

http://acscgb.tripod.com/americancockerspanielclubofgreatbritain/index.html
You may have trouble with this website.

Good luck with you search :D

sarah xxxx