I'm currently trying to find a lowchen breeder and I just wondered what most breeders do for socialisation and raising the pups. I'm worried I might be a little bit too demanding!

I would want a puppy to have been socialised with other dogs, cats, people, children, household noises etc, used to being handled, used to spending small amounts of time away from the littermates, supervised while feeding to ensure no pup has to fight (not literally!) for the food or that no puppy learns to bully, already have the housetraining started (I'm not a fan of paper training but I think anything else in a litter might be impractical) for the puppies to be used to toys and encouraged to play with them, and preferably raised with a CD of noises on. With regards to the CD, if they didn't already do that I'd be happy to supply one if they were willing to play it every day.

Do you think I'm asking too much? Especially for a toy breed because in my experience people tend to be more relaxed about their training because they're only small :(

What's the best way to find out what breeders do? I'm worried if I found a dodgy breeder and said 'do you do x, y and z' they'd just say yes to shut me up!

While I would quite like to show for fun, I'd much rather go to a breeder who places more emphasis on temperament and rearing than conformation. Obviously it would be better if equal attention was given to both, but if I had to choose I know what I'd prefer.

I've only had rescue dogs before, so going to a breeder is in equal parts exciting and terrifying!

If anyone knows a breeder who fits all the criteria, let me know cos it'll save me a few months of work! ;) :D

Why don't you contact the breed club and find out who actually breeds puppies, and see if you can make contact with them with a view to popping out to see them and chat about the breed, their dogs, possible upcoming litters etc. Find out from the club what health tests the parents should have. It really makes no matter if you want a pet or a show dog, or something inbetween ;) you want a dog that is bred for the best of reasons and for the best of health. Go to shows, see the dogs in action and, at quiet times, talk to the owners. I have no idea if this is a numerically small breed, or how many puppies are in a litter, but it could well be you will have to go on a waiting list.

I raise my puppies doing all the things that you mention apart from cats but I don't have Lowchen! ;)  To me it's the only way to rear a litter but I honestly don't know many people who do.

I tell suitable enquirers how I raise a litter and why I think it's important to do so.  Rather than iffy breeders just saying "Yes" to you, perhaps you could ask them how they rear and raise a litter and why they chose the stud dog that they did? :)  We often read on these boards that "Their pedigree are suitable for each other".  Ask what they mean by that and if they think that it just means that the dog and bitch have no similar relatives - run! :)

Whilst I understand your concern about temperament and rearing, in depth knowledge about the breed in general and the ancestors in particular also gives a great influence on the temperament of the puppies produced and so I would definitely look for abreeder who is seriously involved with the breed and showing, (I don't know if Lowchen are used on obedience, the field or agility in any great numbers. ;) :D) rather than someone who just has a sweet bitch and has decided to have a litter by her friend's dog.  However those 'lovingly' pups are reared, the end result will not compare to a knowledgable and experienced breeder.

The breed club will definitely be a good place to start.

Enjoy your search and have fun. :D

one importan thing that i allow this the mum feds the puppies right up to the day they go she with when ever she likes too,i dont sep her at tall it up to her when she want to see my and still fed them up to 8 weeks

I would not say that I formerly house train a litter as a whole though.  Pups naturally want to be clean and I facilitate this need, and given the choice all the pups by the time they leave will at the very least want to do all their poos outside and actively avoid doing it indoors.  Wees can be more hit and miss and involve having eyes in the back of your head, so would not think this likely to have happened in a litter by the usual homing time.

While I would quite like to show for fun, I'd much rather go to a breeder who places more emphasis on temperament and rearing than conformation. Obviously it would be better if equal attention was given to both, but if I had to choose I know what I'd prefer.

Without breed specific temperament and good rearing you won't GET a show dog ;)  If I were you I'd contact the breed club and go to a few shows during the summer to see different dogs from different breeders.  Please remember that not every breed has a temperament which may suit your lifestyle.  For instance, if you want a laid back dog who'll be calm and quiet it's no good getting a Pharaoh Hound!  Until you've met a few Lowchens at shows (and then you can visit a few breeders to see them in the home as these will have the breed specific temperament) there's no telling if this breed is the right one for you.

Good luck with your search :)

Debs

Hi, thanks for your replies everyone. I've already contacted several breeders and am trying to arrange going to meet as many as I can. I know about getting a temperament to match my lifestyle, which is why I'm looking at lowchens in the first place. I wont bore you all with the breeds i've looked at in the last few years before settling on them!! Trust me, it's the temperament I'm attracted to just as much, if not more than the way they look.

It's difficult because they are not a numerically large brered, so meeting lots depends on the majority of breeders being willing to allow me to come and visit. Unfortunately I haven't had a huge response to my enquiries so far :(

wish me luck!

I too would not be taking my pups away from home to find cats which could hurt them.  Socialising with cats is fine if you have them yourself, after that it is up to the new owner if they have cats.  Also pups needs change as they grow, so some and I would expect to do things re socialisation with older pups that would not be appropriate when they are younger.  Lead and traffic training etc.

This becomes ever more demanding and fortunately by that time you are likely to have fewer pups, as some will have gone to their new homes, where the new owners will have to continue the socialisation process.

To be honest there is no way any owner or breeder can duplicate the lifestyle a dog will have with you, so can only generalise.

Any pup staying here beyond full vaccination will be very used to traffic and crowds and people, but will have had little opportunity to see much livestock, and the opposite may be the case with someone else.

Most of mine haven't seen livestock until the opportunity arises when quite a bit older, but are still able to be aclimatised and do not get upset or over excited by them as they ahve seen plenty of other thigns and learn to take new expereinces in their stride.

Sorry I was reply at the same time as you there Brainless.

I absolutely  wouldn't expect a breeder to and find cats! I know as much as my cat loves my dogs and copes with the foster dogs we've had here, I can't imagine her being happy being taken to a strange environment to meet a litter of puppies!

Ive successfully houstrained pups from the worst environments but I think it's much easier if they already have that desire to be clean.

I think I feel more pressure because this will be my first breeder bought dog, I just soooo want to get it right!

I feel confident about socialisation once I get the puppy home, I just want to have a good head start and have a pup with a genetically good temperament as well to make it easier.

My puppy is going to have quite a demanding life, lots of training, lots of travelling all over the country etc, so I'm just making extra sure she'll be able to cope.

>My puppy is going to have quite a demanding life, lots of training, lots of travelling all over the country etc, so I'm just making extra sure she'll be able to cope.

Then I expect your puppy will very soon adapt to whatever it meets.  Some people think it is all best done before 12 weeks although my own personal experience has not borne that out but I think everyone will agree it is perfectly possible to achieve good socialisation later on when plenty of opportunity occurs.
I reared my puppies with all the activities that go on in my house which included other dogs, visitors, visiting children but no cats and definately no CDs of noises.  I'm afraid if you gave me a CD of irritating noises I probably would not play it :)  One or two of my puppies went to homes with cats and experienced no problems and none have shown any excessive fear of trains or fireworkers etc but I am sure if it is something that greatly concerns you could start using the CD yourself as soon as you got the puppy and I am sure it would be just as effective after all people have successfully used them on adult dogs.

I would attend the club shows for the breed.  there you can meet the dogs themselves, see who the sires and dams are of the dogs whose characters you like the most, whether there is a pattern.  If a particular sire or kennel produce whet you want get on their waiting list for a puppy or fine out who has a litter by their dog and see if you like the bitch.  Even if their socialisation isn't as advanced as you like you will be in a position with a genetically good pup and your own experience to make a good job of it.

My friends and I imported a puppy from America at 9 1/2 weeks.  He spent 6 months in quarantine, yet his temperament was super,a nd 3 days after coming out of quarantine he was at his first show where he coped well.

The only thing was he wasn't house-trained, so accidents were lakes, but he soon learnt.  He didn't like car travel (but had done 1000's of miles since), and he can be barky if he has the space to let rip (when he has stayed with me, he could be got in quickly so soon worked out barking was not a good idea here :D)

So at 9 months he only had the socialisation he had in the litter, his genetics and the contact he had with kennel staff and visitors in quarantine.

I agree Brainless, the individuals genes and to an extend the breed is going to dictate its personality far more in my opinion.

I would expect to do things re socialisation with older pups that would not be appropriate when they are younger

From 6 weeks old I bring each puppy into the livingroom on its own for 15 minutes every evening so that it gets used to being a solo pup as well as a pack pup.  I also carry each puppy around the block from 6 weeks visiting a friendly Estate Agents office, music shop etc (basically dog free zones) so that they know there is a world outside my home and are not surprised by cars, people, strange noises etc by the time they go to their new homes. :)l

Hi Twirly :)
My first Löwchen was 4 months when I collected him and the second was 7 months. Even though both were from reputable breeders I don't think either dog had been been adequately socialised.  Fortunately this had very little effect on the first but it soon became obvious that the second one was unfamiliar with everyday objects. He's now 5 and, although he's better than he was, he's still very wary of things like vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, motorbikes etc.
Personally I think you're right to try and find a breeder who breeds for temperament rather than conformation but I suspect many Löwchen breeders would say that poor temperament has never been an issue in the breed (which is quite likely the case :) ).