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#1
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Chihuahuas vs. Papillons - Please Advise
The short of it: Which dog has a better temperment?
The long of it: I have been researching chihuahuas for the past year. I had one as a child and I love the way they look (esp. the long haired ones),their sassy attitude and sweet loyalty. I am having a hard time finding a breeder that is ethical and also has a female available (they are booked up for a while if they are any good it seems). Another snag is that I would like a larger sized girl, a lot of breeders seem to go for the smaller end of the 4-6 lb ideal. I'd feel better about my dog's durability if it was 5-6 lbs. Anyway, the other day at the dog run I saw what I thought was the happiest cutest most energetic long haired female chihuahua ever. Turns out it was a papillon. This discovery made me think I had shut myself off too quickly to other options. The problem is I don't know anyone with a papillon. I wouldn't want to waste the time of a serious breeder, and I'm not sure how to get to know one (ditto for pomeranians, who I also adore from afar). My heart screams chihuahua, but when i picture that happy little papillon zooming around wanting to play with everyone...help! Any anticdotes, personal experience, tarot readings, whatever, would be welcome and helpful. Thanks! You can respond to me personally or on the boards. (p.s. To those with helpful rescue info: I'm interested in good rescue info/clubs for the future. For now, I only want a puppy from a breeder because it's my first dog as an adult and I want to make sure it has a good temperment and was screened for health problems specific to the breed- don't worry, I do plan on adopting a rescue pooch down the line!) |
#2
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"sophie" wrote in message
om... I don't know anyone with a papillon. I wouldn't want to waste the time of a serious breeder, and I'm not sure how to get to know one To add to some of the other very good advice you're getting here, let me comment on this part. A serious breeder would not consider it a waste of time to talk with you about papillons. They are even more concerned than you are about whether or not a pap is right for you. The only way to know is to spend some time with them. And listen and learn and watch. Go to shows in your area and talk with the breeders there. If there is one anywhere nearby you - as far as you can manage to travel - go there and plan to spend a couple of hours. We did this with a couple of breeds before we got our last dog. What happened was that we were able to rule out breeds that we honestly thought might be right for us. And we probably could have been approved by the breeder (because it really did come down to our own preferences among similar breeds). But we would not have been a perfect home for one of those breeds. I *never* got a negative comment from any of the breeders for doing that. We were very up front right from the start that we were considering the breed but had never spent any amount of time with one. Our concern was that we not make a mistake - something any good breeder is also very concerned about. You've known a chi so the breeder will recognize that you start out as a possibility (as opposed to someone who only had a completely different breed and just thought a papillon would be fun). Have fun with your search! -- ~~Judy Owned and entertained by Spenser - the best dog in the world. http://home.epix.net/~jrussell |
#3
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Thank you so much everyone for all the advice. I found your suggestion
on approaching a breeder especially helpful. I wasn't sure how to go about approaching someone about I dog I'm unfamiliar with without sounding flaky- thanks for the specifics! "queenmother" wrote in message ... "sophie" wrote in message om... I don't know anyone with a papillon. I wouldn't want to waste the time of a serious breeder, and I'm not sure how to get to know one To add to some of the other very good advice you're getting here, let me comment on this part. A serious breeder would not consider it a waste of time to talk with you about papillons. They are even more concerned than you are about whether or not a pap is right for you. The only way to know is to spend some time with them. And listen and learn and watch. Go to shows in your area and talk with the breeders there. If there is one anywhere nearby you - as far as you can manage to travel - go there and plan to spend a couple of hours. We did this with a couple of breeds before we got our last dog. What happened was that we were able to rule out breeds that we honestly thought might be right for us. And we probably could have been approved by the breeder (because it really did come down to our own preferences among similar breeds). But we would not have been a perfect home for one of those breeds. I *never* got a negative comment from any of the breeders for doing that. We were very up front right from the start that we were considering the breed but had never spent any amount of time with one. Our concern was that we not make a mistake - something any good breeder is also very concerned about. You've known a chi so the breeder will recognize that you start out as a possibility (as opposed to someone who only had a completely different breed and just thought a papillon would be fun). Have fun with your search! |
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