Looking for Small Breed Pup for My Loving Home

Hi...I'm in Hershey, PA..I know I'm not very close but...I have a Shnoodle, that's a cross of a poodle and a schnauzer. She is a very smart dog, and eager to please...the best part, is she does not shedd. She is due with a litter on Jan 25. If you are interested, please e-mail me at ____@____.com...thanks, D.

1 mom found this helpful

I don't know where North Hills are but I am in Erie, PA and I am getting a chihuaua mix I think with Yorkie or westie.
they are about 7 weeks now. some long hair and some short hair. I haven't seen them yet I'm getting a long hair female. I can't wait. I have six kids five at home and one other dog. PM if you want a contact number. ____@____.com
I'm V..

1 mom found this helpful

We are also looking for a small dog for our family. We have a labradoodle that we all love but we also want a little dog. We also have 4 kids, 11 yr old boy, 9 yr old boy, 8 yr old boy and 5 yr old girl. There is a breeder in Southeastern PA that I found online that breeds Havanese and Cavanese. The website is www.willowspringcavaliers.com I have not met them but it looks like they are a good breeder. Another great dog for kids is the Cavachon whick is also a low to non shedding dog. THe breeder we bought our Labradoodle from sells the Cavachon and Cavanese and her website is www.cavachon.com She has great puppies and is an excellent breeder! I think this is the breed we will get, it is a mix between the Bishon and King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. We love both these dogs and the mix of the 2 makes a really cute dog.

I would stay away from the Lhasa breed. Although I love them and had one for 15 years they are not a good breed for children. I had mine before I had children, they are a great breed for adults but not little kids. THe other breeds you mentioned should all be great breeds for your family as well as the Cavanese and Cavachon. Good Luck!

1 mom found this helpful

petfinder 1st

craigslist my neighbor found puppy retriever mix

You might want to pick some breeds you like and will work well in your home (little dogs can be nippy with kids) and research some breed rescues. The advantage is that you have a dog who has been fostered in someones home and can know how they are with kids, cats, other dogs, etc. Breed rescues can often set up transport if the dog you want is far away. Anyway, i applaud your rejection of "pet stores." Good luck finding a fur-baby.

Have you tried adoptapet.com. I was just on the site last night looking for a small dog for my mom and saw some good choices. You may have to do a little driving to pick one up, but there are some cuties.

Believe it or not I just saw an ad in the Pennysaver for the
breads you just mentioned. Although I just threw it away
maybe check the next one that comes in the mail!

S.

Have you tryed animal frends or petfinder.
with pet finder you type in your zip code and they will
give you places that have pets in your area. They have links to all the shelters in and around your area.
We are looking for a dog and what I was typed in dog breed selector and you type in info about what size, temperment, how much walking, grooming you want to do. It will give you a list of dog that are best suited for you. I used a few sites and most gave me the same breeds. The test is not written in stone. You can also compare breeds and they have lists of dogs. It amazing all the so called designer breed names.
Many of the shelter have waiting lists.
We got our last dog from a shelter. You would not beleive how many pets are on petfinder. I at first thought that I had to have a young dog but now it does not matter as long as they have the traits I am looking for. Good luck.
B.

Hi:
I suggest you try Petfinders.com. It can search area shelters based on your criteria, such as size and age. If you see one you like, you can email for more info, and of course, visit them. We got a wonderful small-medium dog last spring and I've heard of other people who have had good luck with them. What's great is that you can check easily every day, so you can move fast if a smaller dog becomes available. Like you say, they're much harder to find! Good luck, we love the newest addition to our family of 2 kids and 4 cats! S.

We spent a long time researching the best breed when selecting a small dog for our home. I highly recommend you do as a first step because small dogs can be very, very different in temperament. Our kids were then 4 and 9. I am allergic so also needed one that is nonallergenic. I agree with the other poster about Llasas. I had one as a child and they really are not the most friendly breed. Steer clear. Poodles are highly energetic and frisky and can have temperament quirks. Not all of course but something to watch for. Bichons are generally very sweet dogs (my mom has one) but they have become so popular of late that you need to be careful also about temperament. The white coat is also tough to keep clean (something to consider if bathing them is an issue). No experience with Havanese I'm afraid.

We wound up with Shih Tzu pups. Bought one 9 month old from a breeder and loved her so much we purchased another pup 3 months later (different breeder--actually through a newspaper ad--awesome dog). Now of course everyone loves their dog but for this breed I would say that you have the advantage of a really good natured, sweetie that was bred to be a people person. They don't need much exercise, which is helpful for us because we don't have a fenced yard or time for multiple walks each day. One of my dogs is friskier than the other meaning he likes to chase and retrieve a tennis ball for 15 minutes or so...but then he gets quiet again! They are very gentle with kids. Crave affection and give it back. I keep my dogs very short as their hair grows and grows so a consideration with this type of breed (and others that are non allergenic) is you will have to either learn to use grooming clippers or plan to have them groomed regularly.

If you are interested in a Shih Tzu and can't find one at a shelter or via the other sources mentioned in these postings, there are great breeders around. I would recommend looking for a more energetic Shih Tzu if you go with that breed as they are just a bit more fun for kids than the really quiet ones (which are best for really quiet adults!).

One final thing to be aware of--small dogs are notoriously harder to housetrain. They take longer for some reason -- at least that is what i always heard and it was true for us. Be sure you are ready for this when your new one arrives (and with 4 kids it could be tough!). Adopting an adult might alleviate that concern.

Last but not least..just don't go to a pet store to purchase.

Good luck. I'm sure the new pup will bring tons of love and enjoyment to your home.

Look online for the breed you are looking for, but in animal rescue groups. Example- there are groups that only rescue pugs, golden retrievers etc. This way you are rescuing a dog but still getting the breed you want! Good luck!

Hi C.,

A tea cup poodle is a small dog. Just thought I'd respond. Good luck. D.