Bec11

Thanks for everyone's input :) The puppy aptitude test was very interesting. I can't imagine doing the whole thing while we're there but it gives us a good starting point to discuss with the breeder and an idea of where we would like our new dogs temperament to sit amongst the wide range. It's also reassuring to hear that most breeders will be approaching this the same way we are and trying to match the right dog for our family (and if they don't then I'll consider it a red flag and look elsewhere).

That's very reassuring! The breed we're looking at is Miniature Schnauzer. I'm trying very hard to not get too excited because I worry that it won't work out for some reason. I love kelpies (my relatives are farmers and have always had kelpies) but we really, really don't have the lifestyle for a kelpie. Miah looks beautiful - I just want to scratch her under her chin.

We're going to meet a breeder and look at some puppies on the weekend. We're looking for a family pet and we're looking for a puppy that will be able to fit in with the kids and our cat. The tips I've read when choosing temperament seem to be so variable. We'll certainly be asking the breeder their thoughts, but are there traits that we should/shouldn't be looking for? I had a family member that chose a puppy because he was alert and happy and was the first to come and check her and her kids out when they visited. But ultimately she looks back and thinks that choosing this puppy was probably a mistake because he was the leader of the pack and very wilful. He was loved and well cared for, but what they thought he was - friendly and good with people - was more their misreading the signs and not understanding dog temperaments because what he was was strong-willed, autonomous and used to being the leader.

Aha - that worked better! Thanks for the link.

They're a little older now,and I'm sure, a little wiser too Why are you answering on behalf of the OP? I get the sentiment behind the comment, no animal lover wants to hear of animals being mistreated or the potential for animals to be mistreated. I wouldn't be considering getting a dog if we were unable to provide a good home for one and if the kids were unable to treat an animal with respect and kindness.

I actually haven't met a mini schnauzer before but I have met a couple of standard schnauzers owned by family and friends of family. I did however wave down a bloke walking his miniature schnauzer at the park this morning and had a quick chat. He had great things to say too. What's WACA? I only know it as the cricket ground and that's all that's coming up in my quick google search.

Thanks for this list. It's generated a bit of discussion here so here goes our thoughts: Prefer people-focused. We want a new member of the family. Prefer laid-back. The dog needs to be able to fit in to the rest of the family dynamics without too much stress. Coat type - not worried too much. Not too much shedding. Getting groomed is not a problem, we'd probably take a dog to where other family members take their dogs to get groomed. Social with other dogs. We occasionally get other dog visitors and live in an area with a lot of other dogs so it would need to be able to get along with other dogs, but not a huge priority as we don't have an existing dog (but we do have a cat). Social with strange people. Definitely - we often have kids/cousins/grandparents/friends over or we are visiting them. My Dad especially would love to have a dog over for a visit and doesn't have one himself. Not too worried about a watch dog. Happy for a warning bark (I'm hearing impaired and like this idea of being warned there are people at the door more than my husband does), but it's more important that the dog will get along with strange people then be a watch dog. Our current house has good neighbours that are at home a lot and this particular house hasn't been broken into for 15 years (before our time). Highly unlikely to move interstate. We moved back for family and health reasons (hearing impairment being the big one) and both have good jobs now. We haven't moved much in the past and no plans to in the future.

That is a REALLY good point. These two schnauzers I know are standard schnauzers but one is an ex-show dog and very well trained and the other is much younger, well trained and was noted to have a more submissive personality by the owners. I really did fall in love with the dog and they do look lovely (to me) and they really bonded with the kids but whether I can recreate that myself, I just don't know and probably don't have the experience. If we do decide to get a schnauzer, maybe the miniature one would be a better fit. I've been googling the other names on here too and will look into going to one of the local dog shows.

We're not an overly active, sporty family and in terms of training we were planning to take a dog to obedience classes. Mostly we want a dog that will come when called, walk on a lead, play catch without all the wrestling and chasing that involved with the cocker spaniels we had (although that was probably a lack of training). Take it to the beach. I don't really know what else we'd train a dog to do (lack of imagination on my part there I think - I'm sure there's tons more). Walking - a dog would get 30-60 minutes a day (longer walks on weekends) - plus the backyard's a good size for the suburbs (200sqm back yard).

Hi, we're in the process of looking for a family dog. We have two young kids (5 and 3) and one Burmese cat. The cat has some issues. He was our "baby" before the kids came along and then a combination of small children chasing him and then a traumatic interstate move - he got stuck on an airplane for 10 hours during during a bad thunderstorm - he started marking his territory all over our new house and all over the kids' stuff. This was two years ago. In desperation (I cried at the vet clinic) we have put the cat onto anti-anxiety medication and he's been doing really well now this past 12 months. We have our lovely, cuddly, playful Bumese cat back (he's 8). We've always wanted a dog as well, but wanted the kids to grow up a little and also not be working as much (we both worked full-time demanding jobs prior to having the kids). Things are now settling down, the kids aren't babies any more, I'm working two days a week and my husband is getting home earlier then he used to. Time wise, kid wise and financially wise it's a good time for us to get a dog. We have a good sized secure backyard in the 'burbs (ie cat can't get out of it) and some great parks in walking distance. I'm guessing a good 75% of our suburb have a dog of some sort. We anticipate the dog will be a family member and have free access inside and out. Neither my husband nor I have had a dog since childhood. He grew up with a golden retriever and a retriever/cocker spaniel cross and I had a cocker spaniel growing up. So far we've thought of getting a golden retriever or maybe a cocker spaniel (although both of us have found the cocker spaniel to be a little bit 'dopey' and tend to go wandering if they get out of the house). My father in law's wife has a schnauzer - as do friend's of hers - and we fell in love with the dog. We were warned that she hadn't had much experience with kids and we kept a close eye on them together - but she was wonderful with them and they all played together very well. She was a very well trained dog - better trained then any of the dogs my husband and I had while growing up. So now we are looking beyond our original idea of which breeds might suit and are open to suggestion! We're looking for a medium sized dog that doesn't shed too much and is good with kids and won't annoy the cat too much. Looking at Schnauzer breeders there doesn't seem to be many in Perth (family has contacts interstate for us).