Hello,

First of all hello all :)

I have read loads of posts recently with regard to choosing a puppy, and I am asking for some help please.

My sister and her husband and three kids 11, and twins of 10 have decided to welcome a dog to the family. Sister at home all day (works 6 hours Sunday only) husband works shifts. As some of you will know I have a Stafford pup Sal who is 8 months, (came in season today) Well my sister and her family love Staffords but have thought they would be too much....ie children not able to hold the dog alone..which is regardless of how well trained either the children or the dog becomes. So they are looking at others..and this is where they would like a little help and I don;t know enough about the chosen breeds to help much.

The shortlist so far is

Westie................Cavalier.....................Shitzu..............Bichon.....

They live in a normal sized semi and have a fully enclosed and secure (6ft+ frencing) The pup/dog would walk down to school about a mile each way twice daily, plus out and about with my sister during the day in the car or on foot. Plus evening walk and longer walks at weekends with the family.

The children are good Sal and animals in general brother-in-law may take the dog to work with him occasionally/semi regular basis. The pup would spend any holiday in the future they go abroad with Sal and I.

But they holiday in England at present so dog would go along.

Sister as myself brought up with Staffs mostly and is confident with dogs, brother in law has owned a Collie x, a lab, and two jack russells himself.

Could someone help and show me the right direction to point them. Any help readily recieved.
Oh yes the timescale is about a year or so, as a rough guide.

Karen

What level of grooming would they be happy with?

I have no experience of Shih Tzus, Westies are lovely, but all those i know are prone to ailments of some kind, either skin or digestion-related. The one Bichon I know is lovely, but regular visits to the groomer required (as with Westies).

Cavs also have health problems as a breed - heart and eye and patella problems (although the latter is common in most small breeds). Very good natured dogs though, ideal for young children. I find them a bit narrow for my tastes though, I'm used to broader backs!!!

Maybe they should go to a dog show or two, talk to a few breeders, get to know their breeds better and get their views on whether the dog would be suitable given their lifestyle. (From what you've said though, it sounds like the dog will have a pretty nice life!)

Have they considered a mini schnauzer...beautiful dogs (look like
cuddly teddy bears), they don't shed hair (good for any potential
allergy sufferers) and will play all day and night if you will let them!

My Mini S absolutley adores children and as they are small in size,
perfect for children.

They do take a fair bit of grooming, but thats not a bad thing
as children can take part in doing that too!

I am very biased - just a suggestion :-)

Louise

Hi Karen,

Cavaliers are wonderful but then I am biased. Make sure though that any potential pup has parents( and preferably grand-parents) with clear eye and heart tests. They have lovely temperaments and are generally easy to look after.
How about a border terrier, not that I know much about the breed but I saw one at a horse show the other day having a really good rough and tumble with some children. He seemed like a real fun little dog.

Good luck in your search.
Debbie

louise, ive tried my best, but still cant see a schnauzer looking anything like a teddie bear, unless they sell weird teddies round your way :D

Without doubt, a Cavalier. Go to a reputable breeder who has her stock heart and eye tested,and be prepared to wait

oooh, get a blue roan cocker...the most soppy of the cockers....they are excellent with children, a little bit bigger than the cavalier but still quite small.
I can recommend an excellent breeder ( actually, she is listed on CD).
They are top dogs....again..probably biased, but they are very beautiful..both physically and mentally.
:)

Must admit - from what's been described - I'd look at something a bit more substantial - nothing aginst the four highlighted - but I'd go for a Cocker too.:D

Pam n the boys

What about a poor wee mongrel from a dogs home just waiting and wanting to be loved and to go to a new home or a rescued greyhound ? Sorry I must be in one of my feel sorry for unwanted and abandoned dogs moods AGAIN!

Margaret

Margaret,

I'd agree and have owned mongrels crossbreeds etc in the past but have you tried to get one, I'm not sure who they are trying to rehome to but I don't think it's the general public.

Sorry I thinkl it's just been a bad day as most recues even trying to get through drives you insane and when you do are they helpful well from our experience NO.

Karen

Hello :)
I have never had any of those dogs...I have a Yorkshire Terrier and she is lovely. Anyway, when I was deciding what breed of dog to get, I was thinking about getting a Cavalier but there wee a few things that put me off the breed. They are only estimated to live for ten years, and alot of other breeds are estimated to live for more like fourteen years. It was also common for them to have problems with their faces because of the overlapping...

I went on holiday for a week with a friend who was looking after a Bichon and the dog was lovely. She had a realy good temper, she wasn't at all noisy or anything like my Yorkie is, and she ws just generally nice, however, she did need alot of grooming and that particular dog had something wrong with her skin, she was getting bald patches that she needed to take tablets for and the tablets made her forget her house training....anyway, I hope they get the right dog for them, you could suggest getting a dog book and looking uip all the different breeds and their traits and then narrow it down to two and buy two books all about that breed...just a suggestion, from Ciara and Milly.