we want to buy a new dog to join our new family, however looking online at petlink and a few other places the money breeders are asking for i thought was quite high.
we've been to our local shelter and haven't seen a dog that will suit our family.
we are looking for a small dog breed, and at puppy stage. can someone recommend a few places we can look at in NSW, we are relative new to having a dog and only started researching. any help from experienced dog owners would be appreciated.
yeah most of the popular cross breed are like 2.5K-5K
what happen to the good old days when puppies were like $200
Our other one that was 13 died a few months ago, was $595 from a pet shop.
Everyone is getting their pets desexed so there’s no “my friends dog had this litter” going around, so of course popular breeds are being over bred, and over priced.
I think that's because of supply/demand.
Not so many years ago people wouldn't think much if their dog got pregnant. They'd put up notices or in the paper to get them homes cheaply. Even the amateur breeders were more prominent and could be found easier. It was mostly the pure-breds that got the big money.
Now it tends to be a thing that only breeders do and the accidental pregnancies/amateurs are fewer. Buyers have less choice and need to go to the breeders. So if the breeders are the main supply, and they set the price.
Just keep visiting the shelter. Something may come up.
Many vets also have links to adoption programs so get in touch with them too.
Another thing could be to adopt a dog that’s come from elderly people who have passed away. They’ll be heartbroken and need a loving family. Not sure how to find these though, but perhaps those local vets?
a Vet friend of ours says they do receive abandoned pets once in a while but most of them get taken to shelters after a short time as caring for them puts a lot of pressure on their clinic
Surely during your vast research that you have done so far OP, has had you get to a more specific dog than just 'small breed'.
So which is it? That's like saying you want a small car without telling us what traits you are looking for.
during our vast research we are open to most kinds of small breeds. maltese, shitzu, beagle, pugs, cavs.
do not want to single out a a particular breed which will shrink the window of breed of dog we get.
what i was looking for are whether they could recommend a particular breeder that they have gotten their pets from or know anyone that has a new litter of dogs that they may be looking at selling the puppies from.
Breeders generally deal direct with the public. So you would need to know the breed to source the pup.
are there any other channels in buying a dog other than from a breeder, pet store or adopting from shelter ?
@Archi: Don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds like you are seeing the headline "Dogs are great fun for families and for kids" and not understanding the full story.
Until you understand the needs of the DOG (not you), then you shouldn't get one.
@oscargamer: thanks for the assumption…
i'll make my own judgement on my own capabilities and i'll keep my assumption about you to myself
@oscargamer: I find it bizarre that I'm being negged for suggesting that the needs of the dog are more important than the needs of the human….
I'm sure I'll survive. Just hope the "chosen" dog does the same.
@oscargamer: If someone starts a sentence "Don't take this the wrong way "… there's going to be a high chance I'm going to take it the wrong way.
OP try a few shelters around you.
I understand the appeal of a breeder, but adopting from a shelter is more rewarding and saves a dogs life.
we have looked at couple of the shelters around… but the breed of dogs they have are unsuitable to our family sometimes the size as well along with age.
we have spoken to the staff at the shelters to contact us when they get new dogs in that fit our criteria
What exactly makes them unsuitable? From a size perspective I can understand, but what is it about an older dog that makes it not suitable for your family?
i have young children. and they would like a cute puppy.. and i'd like them to have a companion for a few more longer years, 12 month old or 18 month old is still ok.. but i think an 8 year old dog would be less suitable for our family wants
@Archi: I'm a dog lover, and I'm happy with all dogs.
What I meant was that a lot of shelter dogs are left there because they have outgrown their neotenous looks.
I don't know who you are, I don't know what you want.
But hoping for less dogs in shelters, that is all.
@Archi - I got my dog when he was a puppy. We don't know his exact age, but it was roughly 6 weeks.
I personally think pet stores shouldn't be allowed to sell cats or dogs. But look around and expand your search.
Even if I had to drive 3 hours to collect my dog, I would do it in a heartbeat. It's the most rewarding and satisfying experience I've ever had in my life.
There's a great one in Blacktown, which has all different types of dogs.
Old puppies are better. They're broken in and had first major service completed.
Are you talking demo puppies or previously registered?
Oh units that have been used as demo long enough for it to see a first service should be treated with more caution.
Previously registered are fine but definitely inspect with care.
Stay away from auctions.
Wise words !
Read This:
It is free and by Dr Ian Dunbar, he also has his fee book After you get your Puppy.
https://www.dogstardaily.com/files/BEFORE%20You%20Get%20Your…
Thanks.
The crackdown on idiot back-yard breeders like yourself was way overdue. It was intended to ensure the well being of the animals….sorry if that impacted your f***ing pocket money!
There are plenty of dogs that can be adopted from shelters at affordable prices.
Do you really believe that a family pet having a litter of puppies is so much more cruel than a professional breeding dog having a litter of puppies?
If so, why?
There are plenty of dogs that can be adopted from shelters at affordable prices.
My experience is you can pretty much have the choice of a staffy, staffy or staffy. Bogan dog of choice by the looks of things which then get given up when they realise there is effort and cost involved. Small dogs are pretty much nonexistent, small pups are a no chance, they are worth too much.
Try doggierescue.com. They are in Ingleside.
nice…. went through and saw dog breeds that i've never seen or heard of.
Yeah, purchased our first dog some 14 years ago now (a daschund) back then it was towards the more expensive side at $800. Nowadays they're pushing $2,500-$4,000 with people travelling interstate just to pick up their dog!? It's turned into a license to print money, although good for breeders and the eradication of puppy farms by regulating the industry.
I have a feeling it's the new normal, unless this dog ownership phase is just a fad, which i feel it isn't
we like the sausage dog, especially the short hair ones.
He was a great dog, not the most obedient (no matter how much you trained him) just be wary of vet fees later on in life. Due to the pedigree they can get a multitude of expensive health problems, ours had fluid retention issues that resulted in $100 a month medication.
There are places that specialise in re-homing doxies. Check Facebook.
Purchased from Bunnings?
the ones from bunnings have no hair… hopefully
Buy a greyhound
if i had an acreage i would.. i could run my own races around the farm.. but the kids find big dogs scary
a mate of mine had a greyhound, ex racing one, huge bugger… it was the most gentle and docile thing i've ever met, most damage he'd do was whipping things with his tail when he was happy or occasionally klutzing into things.
they're actually incredibly lazy creatures when compared with most other breeds, they're happy with a short-ish walk once a day.
everyone has this perception that greyhounds are amazing athletes that just want acres to roam and to run around all day, but in reality they're sprinters, they're happy with a quick run around then they're out for the count.
They don't actually need that much space, pretty much pooped after a 15 minute walk and sleep all day. I know it's contrary to what you think but they're quite lazy dogs.
They’re actually not bad small house dogs. Quite happy with an hour or so walk per day, then will spend the rest of the day asleep. Ideally next to you on the couch but will settle for a comfortable bed.
Also a good way to get the kids used to bigger dogs. They do have certain needs though and some have been treated pretty badly so they don’t like kids. They might suit so do some research.
Please also do research into vet costs etc. So many people don’t. I’m not suggesting for a second that you wouldn’t but people don’t and that is why dogs end up at shelters.
Consider an Italian Greyhound then. The smaller 'toy' version of a greyhound.
Lovely dogs but they've got little stilts for legs that are susceptible to injury.
Omg these dogs are crazy (in a good way). Their personalities are gorgeous and hilarious. I have never seen a calm one though haha. I want ten!
Italian Greyhounds seem fairly uncommon here, and otherwise expensive.
I would recommend a Whippet which can be rescued, as well. It's in between an Italian Greyhound and regular Greyhound.
Or get a Greyhound! Everything posted about them already is absolutely the truth. Great dogs, some compromises, though (I have two). I don't think I'll ever have another breed (maybe a Whippet to join the family).
Definitely 2nd his option, my sister adopted one from https://www.gapnsw.com.au/ and he is the loveliest boy. Very gentle with people and other dogs, was already potty trained and very docile. Loves a few quick dashes in the local park (30mins) before going back home to sleep or relax all day. Had 5-12yo kids come over poking and prodding him (even pulling his tail), and he just sits there and takes it (obviously this needs to be trained over time, like any dogs).
However, any dog you do end up adopting, please, please, please, make sure you put the time and effort in to train them and socialise them with other humans/dogs. Any dog can be as gentle or as aggressive as the owner lets it be.
If the kids find big dogs scary, all the more reason to get a big dog. Fear factor.
Hahaha I like that idea.
Adopt a Greyhound*
https://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/puppies.asp - Purebreeds only
I bought both my Shih Tzus from a breeder on here. First one, I flew up from VIC and the second one, she delivered to me in person in Sydney. Both $2500+.
These listings however have been decimated by Covid19 so it's not a good time in terms of choice.
A lot of the breeds you mentioned in a post above are pure bred and won't be cheap (e.g. Shih Tzu, Cavs). These are not typically breeds that pop up in shelters either, so you'll be waiting a long time if that's what you're after. Add to that the fact you are after a puppy, which are again something you do not see at shelters very often and if they pop up, gets adopted pretty quickly.
With the more popular/expensive pure breeds, your main options is to get them from a good reputable breeder (that will be expensive), or from a backyard breeder (which I strongly do not recommend).
I know you seem set on a small dog, but please be aware that the temperament and energy levels for different small dogs can be quite different. For example, from the list you mentioned above, the temperament and energy levels of a beagle would be quite different to a Shih Tzu or Cav.
A misconception that a lot of people have is that they need to have a large yard/house to have a medium/large dog. Dogs do not self exercise. You will need to walk/exercise them regardless. Retired greyhounds for example are perfect indoor dogs. They are pretty much happy to chill at home most.
My suggestion would be to list out a couple of requirements in a dog that would suit your family, and then research dogs that fit your requirements. Not saying size does not matter, but in my opinion there are other more important factors to consider such as is it an easy breed to train, how much exercise it needs, what health issues are they prone to etc.
exactly… i didn't want to pin our decision on a single breed of dog… but have an open mind and research different breeds as we come across … i only mentioned particular breeds only because someone above asked what type of small breed dog..i could google breeds and list them out.. but they were just the ones i could think at the top of my head quickly…
but for conversations sake and i was to choose a particular dog.based on previous encounters, i like sliky terriers and french bulldogs. but it's a decision the family is making not just my own.. my son doesn;t know much.. he just wants something brown.. my wife likes short hair dogs, as they have a different grooming level to long hair dogs, my daughter on the other hand has been looking after the neighbours Pomeranian every so often.. so she likes that type of dog.
there are lots of different factors in which will influence what breed, size, age, colour, temperament in a dog we will pick.
the links some other commenters have provided have been helpful.
RyanMK is spot on.
To elaborate on RyanMK's point about certain breeds never being in the shelters, also keep in mind that many purebred registered breeders will actively take back their dogs and rehome themselves if an owner's circumstances change. This is even more apparent for rare breeds. If you do go the purebred route, you'll be getting a pup with an obligation to get them desexed when they're of age.
As for beagles, I did puppy school with a beagle pup when I got my first Shih Tzu.
That little bugger was a handful (not aggressive, just demanding) and had to be seperately fenced off. A beagle is a scenthound and will completely ignore you if they pick up on a scent that interests them. Hence why they're used at airports to sniff for contraband.
OP, I'm curious as to why you like silky terriers? I grew up with one. They're not a popular breed anymore (unlike the 90s). My old Rufus was a tough little bastard who would annihilate anything that stepped in to our backyard. Very cute puppies but they're quite smelly and do not tolerate mistreatment at all. However, they're highly alert watchdogs and very loyal to their owners.
Frenchies are also a very popular breed nowadays. Too popular and too expensive to be honest. They're brachycephalic and hence have lots of breathing issues like a pug.
I note your family's preferences - all completely different, haha. I'm a Shih Tzu man nowadays but I wouldn't recommend them to most young kids - too fragile and not active enough. Also, I choose to outsource grooming for my two so that means an extra $150-$200 per month.
You want something small and active.
Your wife wants something that is easy to groom.
Your son doesn't know what he wants. Most dogs aren't just one colour.
Your daughter likely wants a toy breed.
OP, keep researching. You'll likely need to compromise at this point. Nothing is stopping you from getting two puppies (different breeds) but that would add new problems to the mix.
havanese… researching about them now. never heard of them before..they look like maltese. but you can sort of tell the subtle differences
@tallkid123: i know… but the coats are beautiful… some of the pictures when they have that streaky grey through it.
@Archi: For breeds like Havanese, Shih Tzus, etc, there is a 99% chance you'd have them in a puppy cut style for pure convenience.
Long flowing coats are more a showdog thing as they're such a bitch to maintain.
@tallkid123: exactly… if i got one of those types of dogs… it would likely have a buzz cut all year round.
if you are set on buying, look for registered breeders on https://www.dogzonline.com.au/ instead of backyard breeders
thanks.. will have a look…
Dogzonline is your best bet :)
Dogs have definitely increased in price.
I heard some breeders have also increased their prices due to covid, they are worried that people are just getting one for a temporary period so they have priced it higher to gauge the commitment levels.
Pups nowadays are around the $4k mark.
If you get a pedigree, make sure you get a certificate. I was lucky enough to get one even though i didnt know what it was until later on lol.
Also make sure you get a breed which suits your lifestyle.. There are plenty of questionnaires which can recommend you which one suits you!
Hope you find a furry buddy soon. They are worth every cent :P
try Monica's Doggy Rescue or one of the numerous other pet rescue organisations.
We got Elliot, our Maltese from Monika's. He's a lovely dog - probably my favourite of the 4 dogs I'm involved with.
You are after a pup so it's obvious what you are getting but many of the shelters understate the age of the dog.
Monika's said Elliot was 6, the vet said he was 9 and when we got his papers, they said he was 12. He's about to turn 16 and is capable of doing a 2 hour walk despite being almost blind and a torn ACL in the rear leg.
good luck. Dogs are great family members
Given you are new to dog ownership, if it's all possible, maybe try to volunteer with a local shelter doing walks or fostering before you go out and buy the first cute puppy that meets your limited criteria above. This can give you a better idea of dog breeds and temperaments that will fit with your lifestyle, without the 10-15 year commitment and possible regret. You'll quickly find size alone doesn't necessitate a particular activity level or behaviour type. Volunteering can also give you an in with the rescue if your dream dog does appear on their books.
Also, if you're concerned with fronting up the thousands of $ on a purebred pup, a rescue may be the way to go, but don't forget that with feeding, worming, grooming and vet bills, you can spend that annually on any breed or mutt.
.
thanks for your concern regarding my commitment or capabilities for owning a pet dog. some people with the best intentions cant even see what will happen in their own futures, let alone comment on how others will be.
not concerned with fronting the money for a new pup.. just didn't realised how expensive they got over the years compared to when i was kid (albeit that was 30 odd years ago.)
The easiest thing to do is just go to any dog park and observe what breeds are there and how they're interacting with owners. Find a smaller enclosed dog park as it'll be easier to interact yourself.
You can always just ask the owners questions about their dogs and go from there.
I've never been but since you're in Sydney, Cafe Bones in Leichhardt wouldn't be a bad place to start so long as it is close enough for you to get to.
Adopt from a shelter. My in laws never left a shelter empty handed. They didn't have the heart to. They would go there and adopt the dog that has been there the longest or had no chance of being adopted by someone else or was going to be put down next. The breed did not matter but somehow ended up being German shepherd and staffies. All the dogs they've had over their life have lived a happy healthy life and grew into little cuddle bugs in their family.
I also feel you should not jump into buying a puppy right away. Maybe foster short term and see if you are ready to give a dog the love care and respect it deserves.
Wait a few weeks for the COVID puppies to get into the shelters. Those puppies are the ones people bought during COVID lockdowns and now don't want them, sort of like Christmas puppies.
good idea… we are not in a rush. just waiting for the right dog to cross our paths.
We have had 3 pedigreed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and a crossbreed Lhasa Apso Toy Poodle (lasapoo).
Our last CAV died last year do from time to time I look. We paid $950 for him and he was only 9. We travelled from Brisbane to Gladstone to collect him.
The prices have increased by approx. $1500 since the start of coronavirus. There are also more wanted ads than puppies available. Before that, the prices were too high in my opinion (around $3-3500 but now $4500 if more).
The rescues herd in Qld don't have many small breeds either.
My advice would be to contact reputable breeders and go on their list for future litters. The good ones are often sold before they are born or within a week.
In Qld they have toughened the laws, so information About parents must be given. This includes evidence of genetic testing. Most breeds have common or hereditary conditions for the breed. Therefore, you look for parents who have tested negative to those conditions.
I have bought from a pet store (the lasapoo 15 years ago) and the 3 cavs direct from a breeder. Breeder for me in the future.
We have a couple of puppy stores here but their prices are astronomical, lots of cross breeds and no papers. Makes me concerned about puppy farms.
They are charging huge prices for cross breeds and that is a huge ripoff. The puppies are no actual pedigreed breed yet they charge as if they are. Pedigreed parents don't make the offspring pedigree if it's a mix breed.
I have also seen people charging the same price for pedigreed but no papers. Big no from me nowadays.
I like to deal with the breeder, meet the parents, see where they have been raised, aNd be able to learn about what foods they like and other useful information (eg when wormed, flea treatments etc). For us with 3 cats, I would be looking for home raised preferably with cats around nowadays
Our last CAV, he seemed as though he wAs raised with a family and a back yard etc. His vet check was supposedly all ok. However his muscle development was poor - so poorly developed that he injured himself within a few days with little exertion. He had fleas and earmites as well. That was a Distance purchase so I would be more careful next time about checking their breeder egistration etc.
If you have stairs, remember that puppies bones are not yet fully developed, so they should not be expected to use the stairs - length of time varies with breed. Doing so can do a lot of damage.
Young children love puppies, but they don't always understand being gentle. Our first puppy, our son was used to cats who of course can jump out of your arms perfectly well. He thought puppy could as well. He was almost 5 at the time. Each situation is different, but having a safe zone away from kids can be a good idea so puppy can escape as needed.
good advice.. thanks
I love this answer.
Buying from a breeder is definitely my preference too. But it is not a quick process. 14 years ago I went onto a list for a pug puppy. 13 years ago my little man was born. Five days ago he went to sleep in his bed and never woke up.
Even though I am not close to ready for a new dog, I know that if I want one within 18 months or so I need to get on a waiting list now for some of the best breeders.
I unfortunately also believe there is some wisdom in the comment that there will be a influx of surrendered dogs in the future, I know a few people personally who got a puppy at this time and are flabbergasted by things such as toilet training, chewing and the sheer amount of energy and time pups consume.
Also, consider an adult dog. They need not be old. I adopted my little girl as a 14 month old from a breeder. The breeder had held onto her hoping she would turn into a good show dog. As she matured though she had too many 'ring' faults. She is however the perfect pet.
Finally, depending on your working hours, some dogs, and this can also be breed specific, will need a canine friend. My little senior is doing okay at the moment as an only dog, had she predeceased her companion I probably would have had to get another dog quite quickly as he needed a leader and companion. That said, to avoid litter mate syndrome I would not recommend adopting two dogs at once.
Adopt one
@Archi I volunteer at Doggie Rescue and my wife works there. We know all the dogs and their true temperament and personalities. We can make a couple of recommendations if you live in Sydney. DM me if you are interested. We are both positive dog trainers who love animals and have a combined 30 years working with dogs. Won't sell you a pup so to speak…
you need to enable messaging in your settings
For some perspective, my fiance and I just bought a Shiba-Inu puppy for $5k.
I know that is a lot of money and I know I will get comments saying that we are stupid.
But we have always wanted one and we were on a waitlist with a specific breeder for 2.5 years. The waitlist has since been closed as there are 1700 people on it.
Our wedding and honeymoon was cancelled due to covid. We've been really depressed and our chance couldn't have come at a better time.
Finally, our puppy was assigned to us based on our home, suburb, lifestyle, personalities and needs. -atleast thats what we were told.. haha
Nothing stupid about wanting a Shiba Inu. I paid $5k for two Shih Tzus and that's because after having gone down the gumtree puppy farm route 12 years ago, I specifically wanted pedigree shih tzus with no other breed in them.
You were prepared to own this catlike dog and the breeder approved you as a result.
Honestly, nothing could have prepared us for this Shiba. All of the youtube videos and books that warned us that Shiba's are difficult were definitely correct.
But when she is good, she is great!
And we are putting in the effort, and we are committed to training her. Its still early days but it's a very trying process :)
I've always had rescue dogs and they are amazing. I might be lucky, or very good at "parenting"… I understand that sometimes you might not find a dog that matches what you want but keep visiting the shelters and checking petrescue and other websites.
When I decided to have a dog, two years after moving to Australia, I was checking online and saw this dog on a website (I think it was petrescue)… I was living in a town house and wanted a small dog. At the shelter, the dog was aggressive and wanted to bite all the other dogs… We went for a walk and he was totally out of control… I didn't have the time and patience to invest in reeducating so it was a no… I then walked around and saw the other dogs… I stopped in front of one of them, he was the only dog that was not barking, and he looked me in the eyes… He was "too large" (English pointer) and was around 2yo with no known history whatsoever, but we went for a walk anyway… He was gorgeous, friendly with people and other dogs… I decided to take him home for a 2-week "trial"… He was quite submissive, used to pee every time we arrived home… With some training and patience, he stoppped being submissive… After five years, he's still with us… He's amazing and I'm glad we gave him (and us?) a chance. We thought his size was a problem when we first saw him, but that was just misinformation… He's pretty chill at home (and can't stop running at the park).
All my friends that have bought puppies have dogs that are extremely anxious, with a lot of issues. Maybe they are all unlucky, or bad parents… LOL Rescue dogs generally behave better… Just keep visiting the shelters until you find a match.
I saw ads from a website they are offering pomeranian puppy $650 https://micropomeranianshome.com/index.html
Anyone think this is legit website? I contact them, they said they are in TAS
Note : the website is paid ads through google
Has anyone ever buy from other state and ship to NSW?
What payment do u use to prevent scam?
ABOUT POMENARIANS PUPPY
Peranians are one of the most intelligent and humble dog breed in the world with their beautiful looking colors and outstanding personalities. POMENARIANS descended from large sled dog breeds, the now-tiny POMENARIANS has a long and interesting history.
They managed to spell Pomeranian wrongly 4 times.
I don't have a good feeling.
I'm on a facebook page that helps identify puppy scam websites and this looks like one of them. Incorrect spelling (as pointed out by KSMLJ), use of American terms e.g. '2 pounds' instead of kg, and so on.
I'm not a breeder or shelter volunteer but the breeders I have contacted recently have all warned me that registered breeders (find on dogzonline) do not request deposits. Best not to pay in case you get scammed like many others have been this year. Breeders try to find the most compatible family for their puppies so you should be expecting a lot of questions as well.
Best situation is where breeder allows you to visit their home where they're raising their dog and pups and give medical history to check that no inbreeding or genetic conditions are present.
I have just checked online and you should expect $2000-$4000 for normal pomeranians.
ANOTHER THING: I notice scam websites always say 'AKC registrated' which is American. The official Australian body is 'ANKC' : http://ankc.org.au/.
I took my dog to the shelter when she was 2 years old, as she was so cute that I could not stand it and took her, not the puppies. And it cost me 400 dollars, although all my life I thought that in shelters they give dogs for free …
Adopt, after Christmas many will give up their puppies.
OP please update here if you managed to get one, and from where.
i dont live in apartment but probably needs to go back work from office couple days a week after October
preference: Whippets
no, we abandoned the idea,
too expensive, breeders were charging too much for puppies, and didn't find a suitable rescue. we have friends that have dogs, so we are waiting for a puppy from the litter of their dogs.
ah lucky you…
can you hook me up with your friends….
yeah i checked rscpa once long time ago, mostly they are big dogs…
Pups are a ripoff now, we got our now 7 year old pure bread cav from a local breeder for $950, now they want $2 - 4k. Great dog though.