Considering buying a puppy but need advice please

[Rachelr83]

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Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum.

Myself and my partner are considering buying a puppy to be a family dog. We have two daughters aged 6 and 4 hence a puppy so they can grow up together and become used to each others energy levels. We've never owned a dog before either.

We live in a 2nd floor maisonette with no garden but we back onto a big field that a lot of dog walkers use and have a large area of grass immediately surrounding us.

We think that we would probably be best with a small breed dog but are unsure what would be best. I'm currently a stay at home mum so going out for walks isn't a problem. We both don't want a staffy or a Chihuahua (definitely too small) or something that molts really badly or yappy. I know a staffy would probably suit us best but I'm not keen on the breed at all, even though they're softies. Has anyone got any recommendations for us to sit down and do our research on?

Thank you

 

[Biker John]

As a Whippet lover I can easily say they would fit in to your and indeed most lives.

 

[JoanneF]

If you want one that doesn't moult what about a Lhasa Apso / Shi Tzu type?

 

[Rachelr83]

Thank you for the replies. I've started to research about Shih Tzu's and it's on our list at the moment. But then would we like something a bit bigger and can throw balls for and it'll want to play like that. Not sure if Shih Tzu's like to play like that yet.

I've been looking through website ads to start researching breeds to see if they would be suitable to join our family. Not saying I'd buy from an advert but to learn about the crossbreeds and animals in general. Its a big decision as what you think on paper might be suitable might be different once we meet a breeder and see pups and parents and start asking questions.

 

[gypsysmum2]

Toy breeds tend to be easier to fit into family life if you have not had a dog before. Look at the Kennel Club website to see all the breeds in the toy group.

Poodles are very playful and do not moult. They do, however, have to have their coat trimmed regularly. They come in both toy and miniature sizes.

Hounds, like Whippets and Beagles, can also make good pets but can be determined to hunt! Avoid dogs bred to do a job like terriers, collies and gundogs as they need a lot of exercise and stimulation.

I assume you know about Puppy Farms? Do be very careful to find a breeder who breeds the puppies in their own house. Make sure you see the puppies with their mother and that they all seem to be the pet of the owner not just a breeding machine. Look into hereditary diseases of each breed. Make sure you get your puppy at no older than eight weeks and put in lots of work socialising to make sure it grows up to be outgoing and confident in all situations.

 

[JoanneF]

Have a look at this too - http://www.thepuppyplan.com/

 

[Rachelr83]

Thank you for the replies gypsiesmum2 and Joanne. I will definitely have read of that website. How do you spot a puppy farm? as I assume any 'breeder' could potentially be one and do a fantastic cover up job.

I would always ask to see mum and the litter and dad too if he was owned by the same family. I don't think a hound breed would be suitable for us, like a beagle have a friend who has 2 and she says at 6/7 years old they have started to calm down. I don't see her very often so unsure how much they're walked, stimulated etc.

My concern about owning a toy dog breed is that they're obviously small and been bred like that for a purpose and I can imagine my 4 year old accidentally hurting it my wanting to roll round on the floor with it, but I know they're also hardy little things. So I've started to look at Cocker spaniels as something a bit bigger and potentially ore robust and my girls can throw balls for and play like that with. I'd love to be able to eventually walk a dog off lead where suitable and know it will either stay close or come back when called.

I've got a few friends who also own dogs, so I would intend to meet up with them once injections are completed to help socialise and get out as much as possible, go for car rides. I don't mind regular coat trims to keep coats maintained.

I've quickly googled to find out about puppy training classes and been looking on the kennel club website to locate breeders for to potentially visit if we decide to go ahead and get a puppy.

There's so much to consider and research, definitely not something to rush into!