I am thinking of getting a mini schnauzer

Hi
My wife and 2 kids aged 10 and 12 have been wanting a dog for a long time but I have been very reluctant. I am starting to warm to the idea, however my biggest concern is that the puppy could be left alone for 4 1/2 hours a day 4 days a week, would this be too long? or even cruel?
I am not sure I have posted in the correct place but would appreciate any advice.

Hi, welcome to the Forum!

As long as you don't get a puppy that is too young, it should be able to do at least four hours in a crate or pen without a problem. I would look for one that is 3 mos. or older.

My recommendation would be to set up a small exercise pen and put a crate in it (with the door removed). Always have water available, and newspapers laid down in case the puppy has to eliminate. As the puppy gets older, it will stop eliminating in the pen and wait until you can take it outside.

Thanks MsBritmor for your help and advice.
I have managed to enlist the help of my mum and dad to make sure we can give the puppy the proper care and attention - just to give us a bit of support in the early stages. We are going to view a puppy from a breeder later this month when she will be 6 weeks old. There is just one day for viewing the puppies, is this ok?
If we buy her we could collect her from 8 weeks old, then between my wife and myself there would be someone at home constantly for the first 2 weeks, after this she could be on her own for 1 hour until my mum arrives to puppy sit.
I am a bit anxious about it all and any advice would be appreciated, such as what we should look for when we view the puppy? How to make sure its from a good breeder? Its all a bit worrying making sure we get everything right. Think we are well prepared but still feeling worried as this is the first time we've been through this and our imaginations have been working overtime - hoping everything goes smoothly.

Is the breeder a KC accredited breeder? or a member of one or more breed clubs in the UK?

Will they be eye testing the puppies before they leave home?

Are both parents eye tested clear in the last 12 months?

Eye tests must be done by a BVA/KC eye specialist vet and you should be able to see the certificates.

Are the pups raised in the home or out in kennels?

Will the pups be Kennel Club registered (good) or Dog Lover registered (bad)?

What does the breeder know about the breed? They should have a good knowledge so they can always be there to offer advice to you about your puppy.

Did they ask you lots of questions or just say you can have a pup?

UK based breed forum if you want anymore help about your new puppy search.

Hi - this is so worrying trying to sort this out and we're finding it very stressful, so thanks for getting back.

All the puppies are K.C. registered, micro chipped, eye tested (the breeder said that both parents hold a current clear eye certificate), wormed, insured for four weeks and comes with a full puppy pack and life long after sales care.

The breeder is KC accredited

The pups are rasied in the home until they are on solid food then in a 'special puppy kennel' but they are 'exposed to other adult dogs and a wide range of other people,who come to visit' (this is the bit we're a bit worried about - should we be worried or are we being too sensitive?)

The breeder only breeds this breed of dog
They didn't ask any questions but we did tell them a lot about us anyway in our initial contact.

Really just don't know what to think. We've been in touch with their vet and they couldnt reccomend them highly enough.

Personally, I would keep looking. Why only one particular day to see the puppies? Puppies certainly don't usually have much in the way of personalities at six weeks as those are just starting to develop at that age.

They should have been asking you questions, although I myself do tend to let the people prattle on... one can sometimes learn a lot more that way about people.

What is "insured for four weeks"? Is this a 4-week guarantee? Ridiculous! It should be much longer than one month... at least for congenital problems. The puppies need to have their own eye exams, even though the parents have both been. Congenital cataracts, which are hereditary, are detectable at eight weeks.

Puppies need to be handled every day... several times a day. I don't like the idea of them being put in a "special puppy kennel". Just seeing other dogs and people is not enough... they need to be able to interact with them and to be handled.

I am assuming that you are in the UK; here is where you start your search for a good breeder: Miniature Schnauzer Club of Great Britain

Hi
Thanks for all the advice,I really appreciate it. I think we are going to keep looking and I will post any updates.

The 4 weeks insurance will be either with the Kennel Club or through Pet Plan - it is an insurance policy which will cover accident or illness vet fees or pay back the cost of the puppy should it die during those 4 weeks. It is something most breeders over here will do. This is different to any guarentee that a breeder may choose to offer.

I also prefer to raise my puppies in the home, as I expect them to be living in the home of their new owner, so I want them used to the comings and goings of a home and all the sounds and smells associated with that.

I would be interested to know if the wide range of people visiting are all on that same day you can visit, or at other times too?

Hi Jo
I was quoting when I said-'exposed to other adult dogs and a wide range of other people,who come to visit', and I think what is meant is that the pups are getting socialised so I think that these are general visitors on a frequent basis.
Thanks

Then if that is the case, people should be able to visit on other days then the 1 mentioned. But that is JMHO

macsuibhne wrote:
I was quoting when I said-'exposed to other adult dogs and a wide range of other people,who come to visit', and I think what is meant is that the pups are getting socialised so I think that these are general visitors on a frequent basis.

Many years ago a woman bred her bitch to one of my males, and several weeks later she called me to "fix" one of the puppies as he would run away screaming when anyone came to buy him and tried to touch him. Konnor came to me for the weekend for a "quick fix" when he was about 11 weeks old, and died here 15-1/2 yrs. later, as after three days with me I told her that her options were to haul him everywhere, frequently, particularly around "doggy" people and shove him in their arms, put the dog down (destroy him), or let me have him to work with. Konnor never went back to her.

She told me that the litter saw LOTS of people as she had moved into a new house around the time that they were born, but, in actuality, I know that they were not handled much. It was very evident from the way they behaved when I saw the entire litter at seven weeks. I think that the first time people came to look at the puppies, the man probably had a very loud voice and scared the crap out of Konnor... who would scream that "you just stepped on my foot" scream when touched... which he quickly learned would make people back away from him. I named him Britmor the Kon Artist. Konnor ended up being a very nice dog, but his affections were much like a cat... on his time and when he wanted.


"Exposed to other adult dogs and a wide range of other people,who come to visit" means absolutely nothing if those puppies are not handled frequently, every day. Having twenty people walk by their pen each day and say, "Aren't they cute!" just isn't good enough. Never assume certain things are being done; they may not be.