Crossbreeds eg Chorkies - what are the issues? Questions

Hello.

I'm new to this forum, and came on here as I am keen on getting a small puppy/dog and like the idea of having a crossbreed rather than a particular pedigree breed. I know someone with two Chorkies and am attracted to that type as they are both lovely looking dogs with great temperaments, but the breeder is no longer breeding. In looking around for other breeders I have found a minefield of puppy adverts from people/places I have no reason to trust

How does one go about finding reputable.breeders if the breed is not pedigree (I may be using the wrong terms here, apologies), or is it simply not possible due to the fashion for 'designer' dogs?

For info, I am also looking into adopting rescue, particularly 'oldies', but am also curious about this issue.

The only place i would get a cross like that is from rescue ...
You can never really tell what the dog will end up like ...

There's absolutely nothing wrong with crossbreeds, or wanting one... (the only purebreds I've ever had are from rescue too) but there's alot wrong with 99% of breeders who breed them. Like Murf says, you should be able to find a little crossbreed in rescue, I certainly have, not that I was specifically looking for a crossbreed, I just ended up with crossbreeds and mutts.

Would I be a terrible person for favouring getting a puppy? That's my only issue with rescues, is I'm unlikely to get a small crossbreed puppy. The only crossbreeds I've seen in rescue so far have been sbt or jrt crosses and I think sbt would be too high energy for me, and I've been warned off jrts...

Nothing wrong with wanting a puppy, but spend the time to find a reputable breeder, one that health tests (not a vet check, but specific health tests for the parents) their dogs, one that will take the dog back at any point in their life, one that doesn't churn out litter after litter, It's hard to find a crossbreed breeder that does all that, but they are out there, with alot of research, you should be able to find one.

Any tips on where to start looking?

I don't think you are wrong at all. You obviously know the pitfalls about looking for a crossbreed.

Years ago, my sister got a colliex pup from the local RSPCA centre. I am sure they are few and far between but you might be lucky, although you would have to be incredibly lucky to get the cross you want.

Good luck!

Helen

This is my rescue ..
8 weeks old we got her ...
So they are out there .

Not from me, I'm in Canada ;-)

I just seen a 6 month old male Maltese cross Yorkshire Terrier in West Horsley, Surrey..

Look at those ears :-D

I'm not sure where to start looking. Maybe the breeder who has stopped? She might know of others?

Helen

That is a gorgeous looking little dog. Where did you see it?

i have to ask, whats a Chorkie??

It's a chihuahua cross yorkie.

The only way you are going to find what your looking for from a breeder is to ring the ones you see advertising and really vet them yourself. Check on the health issues that can affect both breeds (Yorkies are pretty healthy little dogs so a good start, but do your own checks) and ask about whether the breeder has carried out the recommended health checks on the parents. Also ask if mum (and dad too, but this is less likely) can be seen and how the pups have been raised, ie indoors, in kennels etc. Ask if they've been exposed to household noises and met with people other than the breeder. It's also useful if the pups have also met children.

It's always a bit of a lottery, but you can shorten the odds by doing a bit of research before letting heart rule head

I've tried looking at the kennel club website for health tests required for particular breeds but can't find anywhere it actually lists these?

Surrey
Animal Mission
Brighton Road, Lower Kingswood, Surrey KT20 6XL
Tel: 01737 243472

Animal Protection Trust
Coldlands Farm, Haroldslea, Horley, Surrey RH6 9PJ
Tel: 01293 782356

Dogs In Need
Chelston, Guildford Rd, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8EA
Tel: 01276 858720
www.dogsinneed.co.uk

RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre
Millbrook Farm, Guildford Road, Chobham, Surrey GU24 8EH
Tel: 0300 123 0740 Fax: 01276 856022.
www.rspca.org.uk

RSPCA South Godstone Animal Centre
Eastbourne Road, South Godstone, Surrey RH9 8JB
Tel: 0300 123 0741
www.rspcasouthgodstone.co.uk

Some details that may be of some interest...


http://thelittledogrescue.proboards.com



Yorkshire Terrier Club Rescue and Rehoming
Mrs B Evans - UK Co-ordinator, Bedford. Tel: 01234 262515
Ms Rose Webster, Shropshire. Tel: 01691 622332

Happy days Yorkshire Terrier Rescue
Wendy & Tony Souter, South West. Tel: 01752 785722
Mrs Marian Cooper, Midlands. Tel: 0121 4533468

Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terrier Relief Fund
Mrs C M Roberts (Secretary), Staffs. Tel: 01283 712498, Email: chrismrob@tiscali.co.uk
Mrs S Weinberger, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01442 832990
Mrs Dawn Inett, Worcestershire. Tel: 01905 452078
Mrs Wendy Laker, Hants. Tel: 01730 891360
Mr Bob Croyman, Lincolnshire. Tel: 01529 460074
Mrs Jackie Burr, Scotland. Tel: 01467 624966
Mrs Anne Weaver, Gloucestershire. Tel: 01285 654782
Ms Helen Miller, Scotland. Tel: 0131 449 4470
Mrs C Hewitt, Kent. Tel: 01689 828788

Southern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Welfare Organisation
Mrs B Billington, Surrey. Tel: 0208 224 5172, Mobile: 07931 493914

Chihuahua

British Chihuahua Club Rescue
Mrs P Bungard, Co-Ordinator, Hove, Sussex. Tel: 01273 413501
Mr G Foote, West Sussex. Tel: 01444 400384, Email: footeballybroke@aol.com
Mrs M Lewis, London. Tel: 0207 358 9760
Mrs I Jennings, Gwent. Tel: 01495 249271
Mrs C Shallcross, Wiltshire. Tel: 01793 878261
Mrs D Lunney, Kent. Tel: 01322 555324
Mrs D Parker, Co Durham. Tel: 01388 603422

Longcoat Chihuahua Club Rescue
Mrs S Lee, Newbury, Berkshire. Tel. 01635 278510.
Email: susanlee834@btinternet.com

Midland Chihuahua Club Rescue
Jane Cooke, Telford, Midlands. Tel: 01952 413708


Border Terrier

Border Terrier Welfare
John Evans, Chairman, Tel: 01494 676339
Mrs Sandy Norris, Berkshire. Tel: 01344 622036
Jan Rabin, Birmingham. Tel: 01213 780911
Mark & Julia Harvey, Bucks and Beds. Tel: 01844 291583
Chris Davis, Cheshire. Tel: 0151 342 5009
Trudi Baird, Cornwall. Tel: 01326 564770
Mrs Helen Freeman, Dorset. Tel: 07976 968885
Jenny Miller, Leicestershire. Tel: 01455 220330
Sarah Newsom, London. Tel: 0207 627 2918
Vicky Dowry, Norfolk. Tel: 01603 717875
Bernie Browne, Northern Ireland. Tel: 07516 858878
Mrs D O'Grady, South & West England. Tel: 01983 865370, Email: ogradyds@hotmail.com Jan Gale, Southern England. Tel: 02380 843677
Moira Evans, Sussex and Kent. Tel: 01342 823232



Dandie Dinmont Terrier

Southern Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club Rescue
Mrs G Tinsley, Wellington, Somerset. Tel: 01823 663436


Norfolk Terrier Club Rescue
Mrs H Jupp, Towchester, Northants. Tel: 01327 831097



King Charles Spaniel

King Charles Spaniel Rescue & Rehoming
Mrs B Wigzell, Brighton, Sussex. Tel: 01273 593296
Mr D Wickens, Ammanford, Dyfed. Tel: 01269 825716
Email: kcs.rescue@tesco.net
Mrs Coupland, North of England and Scotland. Tel: 01461 800310
Mrs S Waters, Newcastle on Tyne. Tel: 01207 561249
Mr & Mrs Smith, Derbyshire. Tel: 01332 663579


Lhasa Apso

Lhasa Apso Association of Wales and South West Rescue
Mrs J Givens, Gloucester, Glos. Tel: 01452 412621

Lhasa Apso Club of Scotland Rescue
Mrs R Watson, Ayrshire. Tel: 01563 860207

Lhasa Apso Club Rescue
Ms L Owen, (Co-ordinator) Whitton, Middx.Tel: 020 8898 3426, Mobile: 07949 759557

North of England Lhasa Apso Club Rescue
Mrs P Stansfield, St Annes on Sea, Lancs. Tel: 01253 727796

South East Lhasa Apso Society Rescue
Mr D Mathias, Canterbury, Kent. Tel: 01227 731406


Maltese

Maltese Club Welfare and Rescue
Mrs V Blore, Aintree, Liverpool. Tel: 0151 525 6470
Carol Hemsley, Chobham, Surrey. Tel: 01276 857786


Shih Tzu

Home Counties Shih Tzu rescue
Mrs P M Read, Abbots Langley, Herts. Tel: 01923 675069
Lisa Mayhew, Hertfordshire. Tel: 01442 234722

North East Shih Tzu Rescue
Mrs A Craggs, Chopwell, Newcastle upon Tyne. Tel: 01207 560046

Shih Tzu Rescue
Mrs E MacDonald, Oldham, Lancs. Tel: 0161 624 3171

Southern Shih Tzu Rescue
Mr D Yates, Co-Ordinator, Kent. Tel: 01795 472624
Mrs J Ellis, Chairperson, Kent. Tel: 01795 474416
Mrs Barbara Parker, Secretary, Kent. Tel: 01732 841138

Just a quick question but if you are after a puppy and are happy to go to a breeder then why dont you want a pedigree breed?

http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/download/1100/abshealthreqs.pdf

By the looks of it, neither breed has any recommended KC checks

Might be worth searching round the internet for details on both breeds to double check what health problems can affect, but which don't yet have required testing

http://www.prodogsdirect.org.uk/