Hey champdoggers!

I really need your help. Ever since I went to discover dogs I have really wanted a Papillon. So i emailed breeders and i am now on waiting lists for next year. But now that times nearly here i keep thinking is the Papillon for me? So i have thought about all the dogs that i like and my mom and dad have said that i could have (they wouldn't let me have a deerhound!! :rolleyes: :D ) and have come up with these:
Border Terrier
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Norfolk Terrier
Affenpinscher
Bolognese
Coton du tulear
Lowchen
And of course still the Papillon.

The reason why i am asking about other dog is cause i didn't want to have a dog purely on looks. I wanted to find the best dog that would suit my lifestyle and i don't think i had a look at the other ones on my list properly before i chose the papillon. When i choose a dog breed it is not something that i chop and change my mind over, but this time i really not sure i have made the right choice. In my enthusiasm of the looks of a papillon i dont think really considered if it would be best for me. Please dont get me wrong i have changed my mined easly, i havent swiched from one breed to another just cause i felt like it. 
We have three wheaten terriers at the moment, a bitch that is seven, a bitch that is eight and a half weeks and a dog that is eight and a half weeks (we will of course wait till they are much older). There are three/four people that are at home during the day including me as im taught at home. It will be my dog and I would like to show or do agility. So can anyone recommend out of these breeds what one you think would be best for me or if there is anyone who owns one of the breeds and could tell me what they are like in the home i would greatly appreciate it 

Sarah xxxx

I see Border Terrier is top of your list and I can't disagree.  But my experience is - my Border is 5 yr old and a rescue, I have had him 1 year.  He's an un neutered male and he's gorgeous.  However, his bad points are:

Hates other dogs - I mean HATE
Tries to fight all other dogs in the street or on walks.  I need to keep him on the lead and I have to muzzle  him sometimes.
He's territorial.
He's posssessive of me.
He's greedy :D
I've tried all behaviour and training and even psychics - still hates dogs.

His good points are:

Very well behaved in the house - no chewing/barking/weeing/anything
Can be left alone for 4 hours or so - allowing me to go to work
Is a big sap/softie
Will tolerate some dogs in my own family (I don't know why)
He's intelligent
He does tricks
He's loyal
He's cute :D
He just wants to join in everything

I've seen other Borders out and about and some are more aggressive than Copper!!  I think you have to take into account that small dogs, maybe especially terriers, can be a bit nippy/snappy.

Mine has been and still is hard work, but I wouldn't swap him for anything.  Having a Border from pup might be different.  I'd consider one.

CG

Thank you for you reply copper girl. That is the sort of info i neaded to find out. You have really helped me there. :D

sarah xxxx

I know you have had Copper for over a year now but to be honest you have no idea of his history before you had him, so I don't personally think you can judge all Borders by him.  You would find it a very different kettle of fish if you had one from a puppy.

I am owned by 12 of them all who live in the house together, they are well socialised from puppies and all of them are fine with other dogs both on walks and at shows.  Mind thats not to say they wouldn't stand their ground if necessary.

Not all small terriers are nippy and snappy no more than all large dogs are aggressive, it all down to the individual and its owner and training that it is given.

I have one litter a year on average and have been breeding for 12 years plus, those puppies together with all the puppies that my dogs have sired to my knowledge have never been aggressive, except for one, who comes here to be stripped and he was spoilt completely as a puppy, allowed to rule the roost and it shows in his tmperament now.

For example, my daughter has just returned from a break in Shropshire, where she was looking after a friends Borders whilst they were on holiday, she too her 5 month old pup with her.  He intergrated with all the older and younger Borders in the house with no problem whatsoever.

Saying all that I don't think that a Border Terrier would be the dog for you in a house with three Soft Coated Wheatens who are also terriers, you may find that two types of terriers together might be bit much for you to deal with.  Certainly with two siblings of the same age, you might expect trouble introducing another terrier into the household even when they are older.

I honestly wasn't suggesting that all Borders are like mine Lady D, I know a few that are very lovely dogs with good tempers.  Had I had Copper from a pup he may have been very different, on the other hand he might have been just the same.

He's a great dog anyway, despite his foibles.  But he is the only dog in the house and I wouldn't consider getting another.

CG

Sorry cg I wasn't really getting at you in my post, just wanted to get the point across that a rescue dog that comes with already learnt problems is not the ideal as a pointer on the breed as a whole.

I think it is too easy for people to get the wrong impression from what they read and it may well have been that they had missed the fact that Copper was a rescue and thought that all Borders were like him.

Jayne
xx

I can help you with the second one on your list (thats good getting them in order :)) I have owned a Dandie and met a great deal more than most people will have.

First the minus points - there are now only about 60/70 bred a year, breeding is difficult with small litters and most are sold between breeders or at least club members, getting one would take a great deal of persistance, luck and a long wait.  The chances of obtaining a bitch must be similar to winning the lottery :rolleyes:
They are not renowned for their obedience and are probably not safe with small furries.

Plus points - probably the least 'sharp' of the terriers, getting on well with other dogs and loves children.  Not yappy (their ring is amazingly quiet at terrier shows :)) but will sound the alarm if necessary and any intruder hearing their bark will believe it is a GSD behind the door!  As I say not obedient but not particularly naughty either.  Great sense of humour, hugely intelligent and would be a great help with your home studies :D

PS they are not a kennel dog but I gather your dogs live in the home.

PPS I've just seen the agility bit!!!! No chance :D but showing should be fun, the Dandie crowd being about the nicest I have met around the show rings

The Border terriers I have met have been very friendly dogs.  A friend of mine has a amle Border Terrier and hes adorable.  He is very intelligent and energetic, loves his cuddles, is very good with children and cats.  The other good thing is he moults very little.  I can honestly say having met the breed and if I was to have a smaller breed this would be my choice.  Hope this helps.

Michelle :)

Thank you all for your help. The dogs getting on together and them all being happy is the most important thing to me. Thank you for telling me the bad points a well. And finally I have met a dandie owner!!:D I am hoping to go to breeders of each of the dogs on my list and talk to them I have found quite a few near me). And if I end up knowing that none of the dogs on the list would be suitably, then I would just have to be a secret admirer!! And please if you have anymore info please tell me or PM me.
Thank you

sarah xxxxx

Hi there,
what was/are your reasons for going for a Papillon then, if you now are thinking about other breeds as well?
Carolyne

Hi Sarah
When we lost our wheaten terrier we changed breeds and now have 2 lowchens.
I see that the breeds on your list are mainly smallish dogs and I think I would have some concerns about how they would cope with three boisterous wheatens.

I have a friend who also has 3 wheatens and, although they love our dogs, they can be a bit rough when playing.  A playful tap with one of their paws can easily knock a small dog off balance :)

Anyway, all the best, whatever your final decision :)

My reason for going for the Papillon was because i love what they looked like, i loved their personality and i just really fell for them. And im not saying that i don't think the Papillon is for me its just 1) i don't think that i looked at the other breeds as much as i did the Papillon so i might have found that there was on that suited my life better. And 2) since i made contact with the breeders my family have now had two puppies so the situation has changed. And i thought if then the Papillon wouldn't be happy to live with 3 dog then i shouldn't get one, but i thought i would ask about other breeds to see if and of the other ones I like would be suitable as I like them just as much.

Sarah xxxx

I can only speak for my own, but my Border Terrier bitch (2yrs) is the happiest little dog - she loves EVERYONE, to the point of embarrassment when she scratches at the window when one of our neighbours walks  past, and everything, she HAS to say hello to every dog in the park.  The only time she ever barks is if another dog snaps at her and then she'll give it a piece of her mind but otherwise shes fine with all other dogs.