gtjell

I havent taken offence to anything written here - in fact I welcome all the info with open arms. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

The breed is a Shih Tzu. I feel like the real novice I am now... No I havent asked for references and I havent spoken to anyone IRL that has the same breed - only online. There are so many people who tell me to go to breeders :-/ of shih tzu x maltese around here but I am so not a fan of the maltese so I am not going there. I want a purebred, nice sociable little dog.

Thanks for the heads up. I've done some research on the breed and health issues - it was more the actual going and seeing the pups/breeder that freaks me out. Sad hey. The breeder is listed on DOL - is that to give me any peice of mind at all?? lol.

Just a pet

Thanks - another question for me to ask

I should correct myself. She has 2 puppies for sale - both on the main register. Is that bad?

Hi all. After my last disasterous attempt at what turned out to be a puppy farm (I feel ick), I'm just after some advice please. I've been talking to a breeder who has a litter of puppies that will be on the Main Register of the CCCQ, vaccinated, microchipped etc. We're going out to see the puppies but I want to know what I should look for. Should I be as judgemental as to judge the area the breeder lives in or the house or should I just look at the health of the animals around. People I know bought a dog from a lovely lady who kept her dogs inside and it was hell for them to toilet train the puppy as he was just used to going on the carpet...simple things like that stick in my head. I hope this makes sense. Thanks in advance

Thanks for your replies. The puppies are registered on the main with CCCQ and vaccinated and microchipped. I asked if I could go and meet them and am just awaiting a reply.....nail biting stuff

We've found some lovely 12 week old shih tzu puppies in our area to go and have a look at. Any suggestions on what to look for - or to be warey of??? Thanks

Thanks guys. Food for thought. My dh doesnt like the look of staffies and while I would love another Rottie (those pics didnt help - lol) I'm just imagining my kids friends parents stopping them from comming to play due to our choice of dog.. Maybe when they are all teenagers and I dont really have to stress about it So while I dont love the look of the cockers (dh does) they may be the first to investigate, followed by the shih tzu and pug at this point....still time though....and theres lots of great reading and pictures around this board. I will get this right this time or die trying. Does anyone know any good breeders of these breeds that I could contact at all please

Just wanted to add that our lab had basic obedience - he could sit, come, wait for his food. He was crate trained and was 90% hosue trained which was handy as he had to live predominantly inside due to our fencer doing an horrific job on our fence (new house). People were warey of him - if they went to pat him he would grab their hand (not bite just mouth) - I believe this is a lab thing from what I have read but not good when you have kids and they have friends. I love the look of the Rottis - my boy was unbelievable. The kind of Rotti who changes peoples minds on Rottis. We had him long before the kids came along and he never once batted an eyelid at them - they would climb on him, pull his ears etc. All supervised of course. The poor silky would run and hide behind him .lol

Hi all and wow thanks for all the replies ... I'll try to answer some of these questions and give some more info You guys are awesome.. I have 3 boys 10,7 and 4. Our dd is 2. They arent really rough and tumble - they would love something to snuggle up to them (our lab wouldnt sit still at all ever..lol) but also be up for a game of ball. We wouldnt run the dog beside bikes - its more like I push the toddler in the pram and walk the dog while the kids ride so not a great pace. Walks would mainly be the 1km or so to school - others of course by thats the main one When I say small I mean like smaller than a lab - he did a little bit of confidence damage while he was here - he was really really dominant and would only really listen to my husband and I and used to grab at the kids pants legs. He was a strong little guy. We had some other issues while we had him - fences that weren't built properly and mud - floods here in Toowoomba. In different circumstances I believe we could have worked with him - there was just too much all at once :-( . That said I think the kids would be more confident with a smaller dog now. They still love our old silky who went to stay with my parents while we built our house and never came home...lol... Oh we have sold our house and have bought one with great fences I'm not keen on maltese, jack russel or beagles sorry... The breeds that the kids/husband have come up with so far in conversation (still researching so tell me the ugly truths please ) : Shih tzu, Cocker Spaniel, Pug, Rotty (not happening while the kids are little and having friends over who would freak out..lol). Thanks so much for your feedback...hope I've described our situation a bit better....oh we have a ragdoll inside only cat too...

Hi all, Just looking for some advice in regard to dog breeds that may suit my family. We are a family of 6 with 4 children aged from 2 - 10 and want to add a puppy. We are looking at the dog being an inside/outside dog. We have had in the past a silky terrier and a rottweiler - yep both at the same time - they were great mates. We had a bad experience with a lab from a puppy farm (I have learnt my lesson- that said I wasnt aware he was from a puppy farm until I went and picked him up. We had already paid a deposit and just couldnt walk away ) and he went to live with a friend on acerage with no children. Was hoping to get a smaller dog and would love some advice on what type and reputable breeders please. We have a 1000 square meters with a good fence in town and are fairly active - ie walks and rides with the kids. I used to be a dog groomer while at uni so long hair isnt an issue. Thanks heaps in advance.

Thanks :D He had the C5 - the only one the vet will give. He's urinated another 4 or 5 times inside today/tonight - often in 2 spots within a couple of minutes.....grrrrrrr! No sign that he was going to do it. I'm definately on the hunt for a new vet

Thanks Jed It was a young vet at Herriot House I had a problem with. I had a highly excitable young lab with me (14 weeks) and she basically gave me a lecture how people think labs just lie around and be patted and that people really need to research their breed choice. Anyways that was just the beginning....they've been my vet for years but not any more. My requirements for a vet I guess are just to be approachable - I mentioned that I MIGHT not desex him until after 12/18 months and she basically told me any research on delaying it was unfounded and that it would be irresponsible not to desex him. So back to requirements - approachable, caring. Nothing out of the ordinary really.

Well I'm pretty sure I want out of our current Vet surgery after my Labs vacs the other day so I know its a long shot but can anyone recommend a good vet in Toowoomba Qld. Thanks

Ok my Lab just had his 2nd lot of vaccinations at 3 months (hes actually 14 wks). Apart from having a rude close minded vet who charged me $100 for a vac and a worm tablet and didnt want to discuss reasons for not desexing him at 6 months, he did ok (apart from being over excited). Now just a day after, he has really really awful poo - 2 of which had blood in them and he is urinating in the house again. He was almost fully housetrained - he rings a bell to go out - now he isnt giving any sign at all. The urine isnt even in a pool IYKWIM - theres one large pool and then 3 or 4 other smaller ones right near it. He seems to be pooing and weeing a lot more and drinking. We changed his food a little while ago from Blackhawk back to Eukanuba because I couldnt get to the food distributor. So is any of these seemingly related to the change of food or vacs? I'm just keeping an eye on him as I dont want to back to the horrid vet - need to find another one. That said he is still pretty bouncy etc as usual. TIA

Thanks

My lovely little 12 week old Lab pup took a liking to the zip on his soft crate so we need a new one as I can see him sleeping in the puppy pen for too long without finding out he can actually knock it over :D So can anyone recommend a place (online or major shop) that would sell crates at a good price - think I'll get a wire one this time ;) TIA

Thanks guys. I'm checking out those links now. BonJosie I know the game of chasey when you try to catch the little devil to actually put his in time out...lol I started getting the kids to do a bit of basic stuff with him (under supervision of course). I give them a few treats and get them to tell him to come, sit then they give him a treat if he behaves well. Its simple stuff and doesnt require too much timing as he knows these commands (though is equally good at ignoring them..lol). He seems to be showing them a bit more respect now - not barking and nipping as much. Will keep working with the little terror I also started give and in most cases now the game of grabbing stuff and running away is depleting as he is pretty happy to swap the thing for a toy - I tell the kids now they are NOT to chase him when he steals stuff. Ahhh kid and dog training all at once :D

We have a very energetic michevious 12 week old lab puppy. The last week or so he has started nipping, growling and grabbing at the kids clothes (9,7,4). He also grabs things and bolts with them jumping and growling while the kids try to get them. It is always supervised and I do step in. My question is basically I guess is this just normal puppy stuff or is there a dominance thing going on. Also is there a good way to stop it ?? When we had our last pup (a rotty) we didnt have kids so this is all new..... Thanks in advance

We bought our lab pup from a byb and what I guess now is a puppy farm of sorts I'm a sucker for a cute face and while i had that not quite right feeling I still went ahead. Would I again....no...our next pup will be from a reg/respected breeder even though this pup is still very young and I have no idea how he will turn out. The "breeder" owned 4 females and one male (all purebred with papers) dogs. We were free to interact with all the dogs and their pups even though they were crated (they were let out). All were friendly and in good condition. The pups were all wormed, vet checked and vacinated but it just didnt seem right that she had 2 litters and a 3rd due. But we bought him anyway....only time will tell. Information is power and next time we wont be doing the same thing.