Wanted: Puppy in zurich area

Hi There,

After long considerations, my husband and I would like to get a puppy.

Although my husband is working, I am at home with our 4 years old and 4 months old daughters. Therefore time for training, cuddles etc.

We did owe a refuge dog before but he died a year ago. The poor dog was only 5 when he died - he had a very poor history (beaten etc). He was a loving dog.

After this experience, we do feel that a refuge dog will not be suitable for us, especially with 2 young children as well.

So we are flexible on the race (Yorshire Terrier/Poddle or even mixed races). It must be at least 5kg at adult size (I wouldn't want our daughters to hurt him/her)

We are flexible on the sex.

My ONLY criteria is a none molting dog please (or very very little)

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO COULD GUIDE US TO WHEREABOUTS WE COUD FIND A PUPPY AT A REASONNABLE PRICE PLEASE (I had a search on internet but can not find anything - we do not speak german!)

Thank you for your help

Geraldine

I think for a "reasonably priced" puppy in Switzerland you will just have to keep searching the shelter websites (I can't remember the main one that had dogs from all over CH on it.. but maybe somebody else does) for something suitable. I saw some poodle xs on there back when I was browsing it last year..

Also I think it was discussed on here somewhere before that Yorkies arent such a great breed for small children..

..but I think youre on the right track with poodles

Good luck

add;

This is the one I was thinking of. I know you said you dont speak German.. but I think anywhere you look online you will most likely have to just use an online translator because it wont be in English

I'm glad you are thinking all this through - adding a puppy to your family is a big step.

Some general thoughts:

First, as Lucy so aptly points out, pure bred puppies from a reputable breeder will not be inexpensive - expect to pay CHF 1000-3000+, depending on the breed, and lineage.

Yes, you might find a 'cheap' puppy from a puppy mill- or as they are now known, battery farmed dogs. But these poor dogs are bred with no thought to health or temperament, and often are very sick, often have extraordinarily high incidences of genetic disorders. They are usually kept in unspeakable conditions, the puppies are not socialized whatsoever - the suffering is horrendous. So eyes open - a pure bred puppy being sold cheaply is probably a battery farmed dog - please don't support this vile trade.

If you go to a breeder, please only go to a reputable, ethical breeder who breeds according to the regulations of an FCI breed club. Do your reasearch into the breed characteristics, with emphasis on temperament and inherited conditions; know what tests are required for the parents, and what additional tests are recommended to be done prior to breeding. Carefully vet the breeder, be sure you meet the mother and whenever possible the father, and be sure you are given a copy of all relevant medical tests. And, be prepared to wait. Most good breeders will want to meet you well before a litter is planned; some have waiting lists of a year or more. Expect to be carefully grilled as to the kind of life you can provide for the pup.

Go to the breed club of the breeds you are interested in; the club will have a 'Zuchtwart' who keeps record of all current and upcoming litters from the club member breeders. That person can best advise you. For a list of SKG breed clubs, see:

http://www.hundeweb.org/docs/SKG/Rasseklubs.pdf

One word of caution given the ages of your children - and please forgive me for stating the obvious if you have already thought this through...

As cute and cuddly as puppies are, they are a LOT of work. They have those needle-sharp little teeth, they do not yet have bite inhibition - you need to teach that. A puppy in house training needs your attention all the time. A puppy and a soon to be crawling baby can be difficult to manage. 'Puppy-proofing' your house before you bring a puppy home is a must. And 'child-proofing' the puppy's space is just as important. A puppy needs a consistent socialization program - do you have time for that now? Having a puppy is almost like having another baby - they need the same amount of attention in the first year. Again, forgive me if you have already thought all this through.

As you probably know, you will be required to take the SKN within the first 12 months of owning the puppy, be sure you research trainers in your area - and it is a good idea to book your course ASAP. You will also have to comply with the new ZH cantonal law, which includes additional training requirements, including puppy classes.

And, just because rescue is my thing... I wouldn't wholly discount the notion of a rescue dog. For instance, the group I volunteer with just rehomed three pure bred sheltie puppies, FCI papers and all; young pups do come into rescue occasionally. Just a thought.

(Although, the rescue I volunteer with does not home puppies to families with children under 5, due to the potential for the kind of problems we see day in and day out. Experience has shown that homing a steady older dog, whose character is known, is often more successful with families with young children. Just another thought to take on board. )

Wishing you and your family - and future furry friend - all the very best.

.

Can't add much to Meloncollie's excellent post but don't discount rescue centers for puppies - saw some small breed pups on the Tierschutz database the other day somewhere in Schwyz

I couldn't resist - I had to look.

Oh. My. doG - the little border collie puppy in Tierheim Burg...

Note to self: I don't do puppies, I only do oldies. I don't do puppies, I only do oldies. I don't do puppies, I only do oldies... and I certainly can't adopt yet another dog who is smarter than I am.

Sorry for the hijack.

But seriously Geraldine, if you are not fixed on breed, do keep an eye on the Tierschutz database as you search for your canine friend. Younger dogs do come into rescue. And there are many adult dogs - well trained, already assessed as child friendly, which may be an easier choice with young children - who end up in need of a new home through absolutely no fault of their own.

Whichever you decide, rescue or reputable breeder - good luck with your search.

.

I second that. Puppies and young adults can be quite a handfull together with a baby and a toddler. If it was me, I would go for about a three year old. That is more or less the age, when many dogs mature out of "young dog" and into "good dog" mode

Taken from a reputable sanctuary, with a well known past and proven child-friendly, and with the right to give it back, if it's not the right one for you or you cannot handle baby + doggie despite all the best intentions, would be the way to go, if it was me.

Whatever you decide, I wish you all the best. There is nothing better for kids than to grow up with animals around

That's the one I was thinking of, Meloncollie - sorry, hadn't realized it was a Border Collie, didn't mean to lead you into temptation! (And why I was looking in the first place I don't know since we've just adopted recently (he's settling in nicely btw))

hi Geraldine, nothing much more to add on top of melloncollie's excellent informative post but that no dog out there is NONE molting/shedding.

ALL dogs shed, just how much.

My best advice to you is to spend time on researching all the light shedding dog breeds, matching your size/needs requirements - narrow the breeds down to 2-3 before looking on the rescue database or contacting any breeders. Its seriously less confusing that looking at all the cute pictures of those dogs online, and not making the decision based on which breed is really right for a family of 2 children, taking into account the breed's general genetic health problems, energy levels, ease of training etc.

For example, dogs in the terrier group generally dont shed much (Jack russells, sealyham terriers etc), and they are hardy, determined and cheeky little buggers. But they require a firm hand and lots of exercise, as they can have quite a mind of their own and are very active. They can get quite territorial and nippy with children who paw too much over them. Dogs in the gundog group like the Spanish Water Dog doesnt shed very much as well, and are intelligent as hell. But they have very strong herding and work instincts, hence thrive on work and play - which again also illustrates how they need a lot of exercise. Hence it really all depends on your family's needs, activity level etc. You might have to go for a dog which sheds a bit more, (hoover more often) to find the right breed match.

If you want to go down the breeding route: breeding is very very well regulated in Switzerland by the SKG, so you can be assured of high quality and well socialised puppies.

Expect to pay about 1500 CHF and up - dont worry if you dont speak any German, although, yes, there WILL be breeders out there who will refuse to sell you the dog because you dont speak German. I got rejected by a breeder who was concerned that I wont be able to take the puppy to classes or communicate to the vets - fair play. But my breeder gave me a chance despite her basic English and we've gotten along fine.

Also expect long waiting queues - most bitches only breed about twice a year at most and some litters are well booked up in advance.

Good luck and feel free to come back on here if you want further advice on breeds or breeders!

Hello Geraldine,

I realise how emotive the "pet" section of this forum can be and usually I tend to try not to add my 'tuppeneth'.

I completely take on board that you have canine experience and have thought this through but I would like to share my own experience and maybe it will add weight to what others on here have already said.

I am a trained dog groomer and worked with dogs from being 16 until I changed profession in my 30's. I have dog handling experience and my border collie was worked with mountain rescue and very highly trained. I thought I was on top of my game with regards my dogs skills.

In my 20's I had my children and completely trusted my dogs with them and was careful to socialise them and integrate the child into the pack and remind the dogs where they were in the pecking order. When my youngest son was 10 month old someone called me regarding an Old English Sheepdog puppy in a bad way with its coat and could I go round. To cut a long story short I ended up adopting the puppy who was being fed on chips and whose coat had never seen a brush.

She was treated the same as the other dogs and my kids were trained never to pull the dogs around. However, when Peggy got to 6 month old and her hormones kicked in, one day she asserted dominance over my 10 month old son and bit him. She went for his face but luckily being a toddler he fell over and she bit his hand instead.

This was neither dog or child's fault. This was a direct case of small kids and dogs do not mix. I re-homed Peggy Patch onto a farm where there were no small children and I received reports from her new family twice a year until the letter came that she died from a ripe old age.

The moral was Peggy was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was confused that a small human had more rights than she did as a growing dog. Thankfully my training was enough to convince others that given the right situation she was a perfect dog but I would never ever recommend anyone getting a puppy and a baby as it is fair on neither of them.

Gal

I would just like to add my voice to the recommendations of the tierschutz database. Following the helpful advice of Melloncollie and summerrain etc I am currently sitting on the sofa with two very tired and adorable 3 year old poodles by my side. You might not find the right dog immediately, but there are so many out there looking for homes that something suitable is bound to turn up eventually. Good luck. So far my doggy story has been a completely wonderful one... I hope yours is too. xxx

Actually there are a few dogs (something like 5) that do not have any hair, but I can't say that I have ever seen one.

Some dogs shed a lot, like ours. But they have such lovely characters that the hair is just well, something we just have to live with.

I'm not suggesting this for the OP - I agree that puppies and babies or very small children are a bad combination, but this race sheds very, very little hair.

aieeee..how adorable! I am such a sucker for terriers.

Yes, the size of your family, number and age of children will definitely be factors that responsible breeders take into account here. When I first called up for my dog, some children related questions I was asked were:

1. I have any children?

2. No? Do you plan to have any children?

Most people will probably be asking what business is it of hers but I totally get where she's coming from.

Hi There,

Thank you so much for your replies. Some very good advices indeed.

We will keep on searching until we find THE ONE.

Geraldine x

I am a bit confused. First you wanted a rabbit.

ADVICE WANTED - buying a Rabbit

Now you want a puppy.

If you weren't "settled" enough for a rabbit ADVICE WANTED - buying a Rabbit

(your words, not mine) why on earth would you be ready for a dog?

A pet is a long term commitment...it's not like a buying a new pair of shoes.

There are far too many animals in need of rehoming in Switzerland. Please consider whether you are really ready for any pet at this stage of your life.

Mrs Doolittle,

Thank you sooo much for your concerns...

I just can't believe you went to alllll the troubles to find some of my other threads .. really what a concerned person you are...ohhhh and did you find the other threads about me looking for baby clothes and baby equipments???

I will have just a few other words to say: mind your own business!

Regards

Geraldine

If you don't want the opinions of others, don't post.