BlacksheepCardigans
Songster
Quote:
We have a Papillon mix (rescue) and she is unbelievably wonderful. One of the tiny or dwarf spaniels - Papillon, Cavalier, English Toy, Tibetan Spaniel, Japanese Chin - would fit your requirements, but the more popular the dog the worse shape the typical rescue is in. That group of dogs tends to have heart and knee problems, and often dental issues if they were not cared for properly. The whole group of them tends to be incredibly closely bonded with their people, rather aloof with other dogs (Tibbies - Tibetan Spaniels - can start arguments with other dogs but are amazing with people; the others may show mean teeth but mostly just want big dogs to leave them alone), ignore cats, low prey drive, quiet. Our Papillon mix (her other half is Cavalier King Charles) will sometimes unbend enough to play with a puppy but most of the time she's on a lap being horrified of the chaos below.
They really are lap dogs, bed dogs, car dogs, purse dogs. They get heartbroken if they can't be with you.
If you're willing to spend some money on a rescue - I never know how well a $500 adoption fee is going to go over
- the national breed club rescues are typically your best bet if you're inexperienced with a breed. Those dogs are all rescued by breeders of that particular breed, evaluated and health-checked, and you're not going to get a surprise. A great alternative, especially with the little dogs, is to look for a retired show dog. Dogs who have finished their championships but are not likely to be in a breeding program are usually available when they're between one and two; their female counterparts (so dumb that this censors the right word for them!) are usually finished with their breeding careers at three or four or five. At that age they still have over a decade of wonderful life left, and they tend to be not only stunningly beautiful but well trained and socialized as well (and, if they were bred, they're health-tested). I am not sure on Papillons but I know the typical placement fee for a retired Tibbie is a few hundred dollars; very little compared to the puppy price.
Oh, and expect to be asked for a home visit and for someone to insist on a safe fenced area for the dog.
By the way, virtually all show breeders ARE private homes. Most of us have some sort of group of crates in a room somewhere but very few of us have a real kennel and even when we do it's only used for sleeping. The typical responsible breeder has five or ten dogs, and very often only two or three. I have three Cardigans right now, only one of which is breedable. The days of the big show kennels are virtually over; I can count on one hand the number of people I know who have 20+ dogs and who could still be called "responsible." The field breeders are different (though still wonderful and a great source of pet puppies) but almost all show breeders are just a regular family or a retired couple in a neighborhood who happen to have a strange weekend hobby.
Joanna Kimball
blacksheepcardigans.com
We have a Papillon mix (rescue) and she is unbelievably wonderful. One of the tiny or dwarf spaniels - Papillon, Cavalier, English Toy, Tibetan Spaniel, Japanese Chin - would fit your requirements, but the more popular the dog the worse shape the typical rescue is in. That group of dogs tends to have heart and knee problems, and often dental issues if they were not cared for properly. The whole group of them tends to be incredibly closely bonded with their people, rather aloof with other dogs (Tibbies - Tibetan Spaniels - can start arguments with other dogs but are amazing with people; the others may show mean teeth but mostly just want big dogs to leave them alone), ignore cats, low prey drive, quiet. Our Papillon mix (her other half is Cavalier King Charles) will sometimes unbend enough to play with a puppy but most of the time she's on a lap being horrified of the chaos below.
They really are lap dogs, bed dogs, car dogs, purse dogs. They get heartbroken if they can't be with you.
If you're willing to spend some money on a rescue - I never know how well a $500 adoption fee is going to go over
Oh, and expect to be asked for a home visit and for someone to insist on a safe fenced area for the dog.
By the way, virtually all show breeders ARE private homes. Most of us have some sort of group of crates in a room somewhere but very few of us have a real kennel and even when we do it's only used for sleeping. The typical responsible breeder has five or ten dogs, and very often only two or three. I have three Cardigans right now, only one of which is breedable. The days of the big show kennels are virtually over; I can count on one hand the number of people I know who have 20+ dogs and who could still be called "responsible." The field breeders are different (though still wonderful and a great source of pet puppies) but almost all show breeders are just a regular family or a retired couple in a neighborhood who happen to have a strange weekend hobby.
Joanna Kimball
blacksheepcardigans.com
