Another Breed Thread :)

[OSoSwift]

I will put my 5 cents worth in for Whippets.

I have two Whippets and two kids 5 & 3. They all get along well and the three year old in particular is smitten with them. They are quite hardy, even though their looks may say otherwise, they are quiet inside, I don't allow inside zoomies and they are happy to lay around or draped over the lounge.

Mine love retrieving and love it when the kids throw balls for them.

They go to their bed and do not move from it until after tea has been eaten. They learn't very quickly you enter the kitchen or peruse the table,you go outside. They want to be inside so they are very quiet. I could not think of an easier breed, not major hair issues, when they lose their little bit I brush them with a zoom groom and you don't see it laying on the floor or lounge. No dog smell, smaller size, not heavy so while they may knock a very small child over if they push past they do not do it often at all.

Oh and mine are not timid at all, they LOVE pats and visitors and will sit on anyones lap for a cuddle.

[lic_82]

Thanks OSS

I've narrowed the search down to a cav & a whippet. I have emailed a couple of breeders with some questions & we are going to the next show at hillsborough in a weeks time.

Thank you so much to everyone for all your input. I appreciate it

[poodlefan]

One thing I'd get sorted out very quickly is the townhouse approval for a pet. Body corporates grant permission for pet ownership to individual occupants, not to the homes themselves. That means you will have to go through a formal process of getting approval for a pet even though the previous tennant/owner had one.

I'd suggest you do that before commiting to a pup.

I think Whippets are one of the undiscovered gems for a family dog. Yes, timidity does crop up in the breed but the right bloodlines and heavy socialisation will make for a robust, confident family pet. Howie my Whippet loves people and other dogs - a bit too much for his own good at times. A safe FENCED, offlead area is a must to allow one to zoom a couple of times a week. Recall training is another must.

I'm going to add another dog to the suggestions - Miniature Poodle - brilliant family dogs and you have an excellent breeder right on your doorstep (Elire). The grooming is the price you pay for having a non-shedding, people focussed dog that is well accepted in a lot of places. As I have both a Whippet and Mini Poodles, I have to say that both are wonderful pets.

Edited January 6, 2011 by poodlefan

[lic_82]

The strata stuff is all in the works thanks PF my future landlord currently lives in the house & said she has put a request in the email notifying them of her intentions, to allow me to have a dog.

My sister is a groomer so that side of things is not an issue with any breed.

Are poodles very vocal? My mums aunty had 2 when we were kids & I remember them as great dogs but really noisy.

ETA I'm not rushing in to anything, am purely researching at this stage. We wont be looking to get a puppy until the end of the year

Edited January 6, 2011 by lic_82

[poodlefan]

The strata stuff is all in the works thanks PF my future landlord currently lives in the house & said she has put a request in the email notifying them of her intentions, to allow me to have a dog.

My sister is a groomer so that side of things is not an issue with any breed.

Are poodles very vocal? My mums aunty had 2 when we were kids & I remember them as great dogs but really noisy.

They can be Lic but it depends on a few factors:

* how much exercise and stimulation they get

* what barking triggers exist

My Minis don't bark at nothing and certainly bark less when well exercised. I never had issues with barking when I had the one poodle in a town house. I rate them as generally less noisy than the Toys.

When I had a friend's two minis with me I had a barking complaint (her were debarked but would still bark and trigger mine) No issues since they left.

I'd not generally rate them as incessant noise makers and inside access will make a big difference. Mine will sit in the window and bark at dogs that walk past ( and the garbage trucks) but most of the day they're asleep.

Gee if your sister is a groomer you're set!! If you're going tyre kicking at Hillsborough, it might be worth visiting the poodles.. wait till after classes though if you want to chat - they'll be grooming up madly beforehand. JAG (DOLer) often exhibits her toys there so would be able to steer you around.

Edited January 6, 2011 by poodlefan

[lic_82]

The strata stuff is all in the works thanks PF my future landlord currently lives in the house & said she has put a request in the email notifying them of her intentions, to allow me to have a dog.

My sister is a groomer so that side of things is not an issue with any breed.

Are poodles very vocal? My mums aunty had 2 when we were kids & I remember them as great dogs but really noisy.

They can be Lic but it depends on a few factors:

* how much exercise and stimulation they get

* what barking triggers exist

My Minis don't bark at nothing and certainly bark less when well exercised. I never had issues with barking when I had the one poodle in a town house. I rate them as generally less noisy than the Toys.

When I had a friend's two minis with me I had a barking complaint (her were debarked but would still bark and trigger mine) No issues since they left.

I'd not generally rate them as incessant noise makers and inside access will make a big difference. Mine will sit in the window and bark at dogs that walk past ( and the garbage trucks) but most of the day they're asleep.

Gee if your sister is a groomer you're set!! If you're going tyre kicking at Hillsborough, it might be worth visiting the poodles.. wait till after classes though if you want to chat - they'll be grooming up madly beforehand. JAG (DOLer) often exhibits her toys there so would be able to steer you around.

Great, thanks for that info. I will be sure to wander amongst the poodle peeps whilst i am at the show

:laugh:

[poodlefan]

The strata stuff is all in the works thanks PF my future landlord currently lives in the house & said she has put a request in the email notifying them of her intentions, to allow me to have a dog.

My sister is a groomer so that side of things is not an issue with any breed.

Are poodles very vocal? My mums aunty had 2 when we were kids & I remember them as great dogs but really noisy.

They can be Lic but it depends on a few factors:

* how much exercise and stimulation they get

* what barking triggers exist

My Minis don't bark at nothing and certainly bark less when well exercised. I never had issues with barking when I had the one poodle in a town house. I rate them as generally less noisy than the Toys.

When I had a friend's two minis with me I had a barking complaint (her were debarked but would still bark and trigger mine) No issues since they left.

I'd not generally rate them as incessant noise makers and inside access will make a big difference. Mine will sit in the window and bark at dogs that walk past ( and the garbage trucks) but most of the day they're asleep.

Gee if your sister is a groomer you're set!! If you're going tyre kicking at Hillsborough, it might be worth visiting the poodles.. wait till after classes though if you want to chat - they'll be grooming up madly beforehand. JAG (DOLer) often exhibits her toys there so would be able to steer you around.

Great, thanks for that info. I will be sure to wander amongst the poodle peeps whilst i am at the show

:laugh:

You might want to PM JAG and see if she's going. She's got mates with Mini Poodles.