Pumi

[blacklabrador]

Lagotti might be easier to get, and the population bigger by the time you are looking.

Not keen on them. I think I'd go a schnauzee over one of those.

[blacklabrador]

They remind me of lakeland terrors ;)

:p I adore Lakelands.. mine were absolutely wonderful, terrific happy chappies perfect kids dogs too. Hey Blab, take a look at them as well, non shedding. very healthy long lived breed too.

I shall do.... I know a breeder.

[Monah]

They remind me of lakeland terrors

;) :D I adore Lakelands.. mine were absolutely wonderful, terrific happy chappies perfect kids dogs too. Hey Blab, take a look at them as well, non shedding. very healthy long lived breed too.

I shall do.... I know a breeder.

I'm jealous! They are just adorable!!!

[dogdogdog]

What about a bedlington terrier Blab? Mine are great little/medium dogs.

My boy is a lot bigger than my bitch. And no you don't have to clip them like when they are shown.

I groom mine myself in what I call a pet clip. So much shorter than when shown.

[TigerJack]

A friend of mine has adored Pumi from afar for years. Her current dog was aging and she had her heart set on a Pumi for her next dog. She had gone to the Royal Easter Show at Sydney at met with the only breeder that seemed to be there for several years (I think there was only one) and has corresponded off and on for several years. She finally decided the time was right and late 2010 made contact again to be told that this breeder was no longer breeding and was going to be relocating overseas so was reducing numbers. She did not have many Pumi left but there were a couple of two year old females. My friend had long wanted a grey male but this breeder had only black and white dogs left. After alot of thought she went out and met the breeder at her home (country NSW) and came home with a 2 and a bit year old Pumi female. This dog did not work out. It was terrified of everything and was never going to become the dog my friend wanted. (Dogsports.) She was heartbroken but came to realise that she could not give this dog the home it needed and it has gone back to the breeder. It seemed that the dog had lived its entire life on the one property in the runs with a couple of other dogs so was poorly socialised. Being relocated to urban Sydney with people and dogs was simply overwhelming for her.

My friend had fallen in love with the breed from a distance and sadly, rare as they are in this country, you don't get to pick and choose amongst many breeders. This breeder had only kept her dogs in the runs and had not had them around people. My friend looked at importing before deciding to go and see the white female.

It is a pity there aren't more of them about as they look like a fascinating breed. Bit of a challenge to train as they are supposed to be wilful but sadly, any dog, any breed that doesn't get socialised early will have issues. My friend was unable to afford the import costs and didn't want to have a dog go through quarantine. She was also reluctant to import a dog she had never met in the flesh. The reality of what Pumik are available in Australia meant that she could not have the dog she had yearned for for years. She has since spent months poring over all the rescue sites and has taken on a little cross bred rescue dog that will suit her.

Pity there aren't more in Australia, they do look lovely. As my friend said, 'so ugly they look like they've been dragged through a bush backwards.'

Jo