Hi. After 13 long dog-less years since my Miniature Schnauzer passed away, I feel that it's now the right time for the pattering of tiny paws. The breed that has captured our hearts is the German Spitz Mittel. I've been looking around for prospective breeders and came to champ dogs after being a little disturbed by the ads I saw on another site (epupz), where the puppies available in one particular litter changed colour and sex day by day!
My husband and I both work, and so there are three days a week that we are out of the house during office hours. My parents live 2 minutes walk away and are retired but in great physical shape, and they are keen to sit the dog when we are not available in the day (my mum and dad would dearly love a dog, but walks in the dark put them off at their age, so this arrangement would suit them well). What I wanted to ask is as a breeder, would this arrangement seem suitable for a pups welfare? Would the little spitz accept my parents as part of its pack if it was well socialised from a young age, or would it need more continuity that we can provide? I suppose it's not much different from when I left my old girl while I went to school and she sat with mum, but I need to be sure that we are giving a pup a good life before I register interest with a breeder.
Thanks.

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Thanks for your quick response Anwen. Thought I'd join up so I can post replies.
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Having sold a pup to a family with just such an arrangement it can work very well.  Mine is also a sociable Spitz breed so it works brilliantly and the bitch is now nearly 6 years old.

The whole family came to see me to explain their dog sharing arrangement.  Parents having lost their GSD were not dogless anymore, and the couple and their kids had built in daycare for their dog.

I would imagine a breeder would want to meet everyone involved.

Have now PM'd you!

Thanks so much for the responses and PM's - I really appreciate the help.

Brainless - you are in the same neck of the woods as we are. We're in Bedminster, Bristol. 

Thanks for the vote of confidence re: the "dog-share". It's really important to me that whatever pup we end up is right for the entire family, so we will all want to visit the breeder and ask questions together. As much as we want a dog, we want to be sure that it wants the life we can give it too.

Small world, Staple Hill end of Fishponds here :D

Hi if you email me gwen.staff@ntlworld.com  I may be able to help you.
All the best Gwen