Hello everyone! :)

I have been reading the forum, and so decided to join to ask a few questions... hope you don't mind.

Ok. I'm working as an apprentice at a dog grooming salon, I've been there for about a month and a half, I can bath the dogs & dry them etc, and I've been bitten by the bug, so I've decided to buy a dog of my own. Now the lady who I work for has suggested a Manchester Terrier, or a whippet, and she's lent us a book listing the various breeds, advantages of coat, usual temperment etc etc.

Does anyone have any suggestions about these types of dogs, and could anyone give me some advice on questions to ask breeders & names and addresses of them? I'd appreciate anything you could give me, thanks.

Thanks again...

:D

Welcome to the Forum Starlight :-) Glad that you have decided to join us !

I am sure that our members will be only to happy to answer your questions with reference to the different breeds :D

You could also take a look at our breeder, breed guide and breed club information which can be found by using the Guided Search facility on Champdogs Main Page. This can also help you when you are looking for a breeder or litters. I am sure that someone there can recommend puppies to you.

Leigh

Thanks Leigh ^_^ I didn't expect such a quick response :)

Starlight, some of the breeds listed on this site have not got breed club details listed. The Manchester Terrier is one such breed so, just in case here are the secretary's details:

British Manchester Terrier Club.
Mrs.Benton.
Tel: 01322 347112.

If you need any more that aren't listed just ask :-)

Leigh

That's excellent, thank you very much :)

Starlight

I think there was a feature on Manchester Terriers in Dog World a few weeks ago

Christine

The one thing I would say to you Starlight is, "Don’t be in too much of a rush!" The dog you select is going to be around for up to 15 years or more so it's something you really need to get right. No one can "Select" a breed for you, it's a too personal thing. Try going along to a show and have a look at the breeds there. Is there a chance you may get the show or working bug? This could very much affect both the breed and even the Kennel you buy from. I would have a good think, you see plenty of dogs at work anyway so you have ideas of the various breeds. Come up with a short list of breeds you like then try to incorporate a trip to a show where these breeds can be seen. Gradually I'll guarantee your thoughts will start to solidify around a particular breed. That then is the time to start thinking about acquiring one. Keep chatting to us, we are only too happy to answer any questions you have.

Regards, John

Kerioak - Was there? Is that a magazine? Can I get a backcopy or something?

John - Thanks for the advice :D I will wait a bit, to make sure I am totally positively sure of it all. :) I have been wanting to get a dog for a while though, so I'm going to keep my eyes open. Thanks again :)

-Starlight-

Agree with John there are around 250 or so in this country alone. Manchester Terriers and Whippets are totally different dogs! Although as a groomer I'm not surprised that a short coated breed is being suggested! None of my dogs have coats and I'm a groomer [:D]

if your trying to decide on a breed and are reasonable close to London why not take a trip to discover dogs in november, there will be over 180 different breeds there and people who can talk about each breed in detail, more details will be availible from the kennel club website

You might want to read our breed guides. There are currently guides for over 50 different breeds.

starlight it reall y also does depend on what size of dog youare loking for. Do you know what size you are looking for?

I'm looking for a small(ish) dog... not a big dog, just a medium/small size... I live in Manchester, so it's quite a long way to London. I think I can get to crufts in Birmingham this year though. And thanks to your advice (and friends too) I have decided to wait till after Christmas for a dog, to be totally positively sure I'm positive about the responsibility of an animal.

Hi Starlight, (love the handle :) ),

I got my 1st dog, Gem, 4 months ago.
Although I had looked after dogs for holidays and spent time with them, what I REALLY wish I had done before getting her, is go to a few training sessions and talked to people about training ME!! ;)

I knew about the vets fees; how long dogs live for; the need to devote time for training etc. and had handled other peoples' 'trained' dogs. I had chatted about owning a dog with several people and watched a couple of them training their dogs.

However, I now know I knew nothing at all about how to train a dog day to day! :(

I have received lots of very valuable help from the members of this board and from friends. We now attend a 'normal' training class twice a week and a gundog, 1 to 1, session once a week.

Gem has made enorous progress, almost as much as me ;), but Oh how I wish I'd done more before she came to me. It would have made life much less stressful for us both!

The trainers I have seen have all said that they would welcome visits from people prior to their getting a dog. I guess it would seem a bit weird, but I KNOW it would be worth it.
It also gives you a chance to see what the trainers are like, without the pressure of needing to get started!! So you can choose the one you like best from the very start.

I hope that essay is of some help, and please do let us know what breed you decide on and how you get along.

All the best,
AlanJ

Alan
Can you tell me about the 1-1 gundog training you do. How did you find out where to go - how much does it cost and what do you do that you don't do in your other classes?
Jane

Hi Jane,

The trainer was reccommended by a lady who comes beating on the shoot, she is 'the Spaniel Lady', (she's got the prettiest red spaniel I've ever seen)

Ordinary school is pretty much sit, stay, heel,etc. with a little scent and retreive work, KC Good citizen awards etc, and all aimed at any breed of dog.

The 1-1 training, although it reinforces the basics, is geared towards 'gun work'.
We do lots of heel across grass where there are rabbit etc scents; work off lead; hunt around a rabbit pen where there are chicken, goose and rabbits.
At the moment, we are just using the chickens and goose. The idea being that Gem works the ground to flush the birds, but does not chase them !! Once we progress, we will use rabbits as well.
The pen is kept with the sort of ground cover that needs a dog to work, eg clumps of reeds, etc.
My job is to let Gem work but keep her close and quartering in the direction I want to go. Up until now she was more interested in working a 5 acre field than within 20 foot or whatever!!

Best lesson so far is that I've learned to say NO and Good Girl within quarter of a second! !!! :)

It costs £15 per hour. I don't know how that compares, but I reckon it's money very well spent!

What I like best, is that he has no qualms about telling me when I'm wrong. His job is to train me to train a good gun dog, and if means telling some home truths, then so be it!

He has built my confidence and reckons I've been lucky to get Gem, ( such a nice change from the sympathy for our problems). In his view she comes from good stock and will make a cracking gundog, once I'm trained a bit more! ;)

I hope that answers your questions, but if not I'd be very happy to answer more and/or chat on the phone etc. If you'd prefer, feel free to email me.

Alan

Hi. Although I'm a bit late in replying thought I would anyway. Many years ago when working as a groom with horses, my employer had 3 Manchesters. They were delightful, a little aloof with me at first, but never threatening. Once they got to know me, they were my shadows, always near but never "silly" or "in the way". Very intelligent, they didn't suffer fools gladly, and did not automatically like everyone, retiring to their bed when unknown visitors arrived. They were wonderful guard dogs, setting up a noise if someone came, and "looked the part", but never getting out of hand. Non doggy people showed them great respect, thinking they were minauture Dobermanns!! They were tough physically, happy to go out in all weathers and a dream to keep looking clean and smart- compared to Westies, just the odd bath when they rolled in something indescribable!! Come to think of it - why haven't I got one!! The only whippet I knew was also a sweet dog, but very shivery and shaky, and seemed to need a lot of mollycoddling, coats in the cold weather and kept out of the sun in the summer, with a sensitive tummy. However this may just have been this individual and not representative of the breed. I would go for a Manchester personally, but Terriers are my group!!