April_Mum Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I have been contemplating bring a puppy into purfamily for quite some years. But the timing was never right- rented apartment, first baby, etc My DS is now 2.5 years old andwe have a house with a big yard. DH and i have been considering getti g a cavalier puppy now. We alsohave a persisn cat , so we think the dog will also have some company. My question to you all is how manageable is getting a dog in this case. How do you guys, especially the ones with young kids and full time jobs manage. I guess i want to make sure i am doing the right thing and research thorughly before we make any decision PS: Both DH and i have had dogs growing up, but our parents have been their primary carers Thanks in advance for sharing any suggetions or thoughts on this. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirty Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 It can be done, but it will require some hard work and management on your part. Cavaliers need to be part of the family - they don't do well being left in a backyard for long periods. Ideally the dog will have access to the house when you are out, which means it needs to be toilet trained, which means dedication on your behalf. It would be a good idea if you could organise a week or two off work to get the pup settled and into a routine before it was left alone. Otherwise, consider adopting an adult dog from a breeder where the hard yards have already been done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I rehome dogs and talk to people very regularly about what they want from a dog etc etc and try and make a good match. Most people think they want a puppy ... when that may not be the right thing for them at this time in their life. In your busy situation, I'd ask if you wanted another toddler around - most people say no, they are too busy to have that so I recommend that getting a puppy would be a bit similar in regards to the amount of attention/work required. Unless you want to wait, I'd recommend an older dog. One thing I've learned about cavvies this year is that they can be quite vocal. Probably best to find one that can cope with being left along for the working day ... and if you are honest, do you have time to walk a dog every day? That's what most dogs need and often what working, busy families find so hard to manage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PennyGB Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I can only speak from my own experience as a full time working, first time puppy owner: They need more time, more attention and more money invested in them then you first think (and we thought we were prepared). In hindsight would I change my decision? No Way. Am I happy to spend the extra time, attention, money on my pup? You Betcha. But we don't have children to factor into the situation and every person (and puppy) is different, and the way they deal with situations is different too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trinabean Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 I rehome dogs and talk to people very regularly about what they want from a dog etc etc and try and make a good match. Most people think they want a puppy ... when that may not be the right thing for them at this time in their life. In your busy situation, I'd ask if you wanted another toddler around - most people say no, they are too busy to have that so I recommend that getting a puppy would be a bit similar in regards to the amount of attention/work required. Unless you want to wait, I'd recommend an older dog. One thing I've learned about cavvies this year is that they can be quite vocal. Probably best to find one that can cope with being left along for the working day ... and if you are honest, do you have time to walk a dog every day? That's what most dogs need and often what working, busy families find so hard to manage. Agree. I have two active boys and a 6 month old boxer puppy. It is like having a third child! I need to get up at the crack of dawn to walk and do a little training with my dog. Some days I fit in some more short training sessions and some days I just don't manage it. I can dedicate more time to walks etc. on weekends but I'm still juggling everyone's needs. Attending puppy school and an obedience course was really important to me too. I did, and it was worthwhile but the logistics weren't always easy ( I needed my OH to look after the kids and he was working interstate some of the time). I love my dog but I think I would have been better off waiting one more year. That said, CKCS are lovely dogs. Their exercise requirements may not be as high as a boxer either...;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starkehre Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 If you are the sort of person that has energy to burn, highly motivated, keen to learn and enjoy early starts and late nights, I see no reason that you would not manage it very nicely. It is certainly doable in your situation, as long as you are prepared for a lot of work, unrelenting committment and dedication and your life altering quite a lot. If this sounds like you, then I would say go for it. If it does not sound like you, I would wait a bit longer and consider an adult dog or leave it altogether. Just my opinion. Best of luck with whatever you decide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budgiew Posted July 14, 2011 Share Posted July 14, 2011 If you were not working full time i would say yes to a pup.Puppies are a lot of work like babies.Consider a rescue dog,the pounds shelters and rescue groups are chock full of little dogs that are past the young puppy stage and have some training and will settle in very quickly.There are even cavaliers at times if thats the breed you are after.Ask for advise on what breeds suit your situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 I work full time, have four kids and have done a few puppies over the years. It does depend a whole lot on the breed and individual that you choose, as to how demanding they are. Maybe if you are really interested in a Cav, pop into the Cavalier thread in the breed sub forums and have a chat with some owners and breeders. I'm sure there will be people there that have families and work as well as dogs, and can give you a good idea of what suits best. To be honest, I would be very careful with a rescue or pound dog with a young family. Some, not all granted, are older dogs that have had varied upbringings and often need much more training than a young pup. JMHO of course. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budgiew Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 We got our last dog from the pound when she was 10 months old.We had 4 kids at the time,the youngest was 3 years old.She was a wonderful dog and settled in to be a loved part of our family for 10 years.With rescue dogs you need to take time to find one thats right for you.There are some that are older but some may suit first time owners so they can gain experience with a dog then get a puppy later or when they want their next dog.Their is a Cavalier K.C on 'save a dog scheme inc.'named Holly,who needs a home.They are located in Glen Iris..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 To be honest, I would be very careful with a rescue or pound dog with a young family. Some, not all granted, are older dogs that have had varied upbringings and often need much more training than a young pup. JMHO of course. The way to be careful would be to select a dog from an organisation that has its dogs living in foster care while being assessed. It is fairly easy to avoid getting a dog that would require as much work as a pup would - if you get one from the right place. Getting a dog from a pound isn't going to be suitable for a situation like this, as it is unknown how the dog will behave in a home. But buying an adult dog from a good source is often the best way to avoid having to do all the training that is inherent in puppy ownership. There is a world of difference between buying a dog from a reputable rehoming organisation and a pound, same as there is a big difference between buying a pup from an ethical breeder or getting one from a pet shop. The OP will have to be careful no matter where she buys her dog from, and it may be that an adult dog is a lot more suitable in her situation right now than a puppy would be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budgiew Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Most pounds do asssessments on their dogs the same as rescue groups.They will also let you trial the dog at home the same as rescue groups.Dogs from the pounds and shelters deserve the same chance to find a home as any dog from anywhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Most pounds do asssessments on their dogs the same as rescue groups.They will also let you trial the dog at home the same as rescue groups.Dogs from the pounds and shelters deserve the same chance to find a home as any dog from anywhere else. Of course they do! The only reason I say it in this post is that there is a concern about whether it will be too much responsibility for this particular family. They have young kids, as well as it being a bit unknown as to just how well the adults will be able take on a strong leadership role. The wrong dog could be a disaster. Having a dog in foster care instead of in a kennel does give an extra insight into how the dog will fit in to a family home. It is very hard for people to take a dog on trial and have to give it back if it doesn't work out, especially in homes with children. While it is essential (in my opinion) that pounds don't sell dogs without having assessed them, this level of assessment may not be enough for this particular family. A far more detailed assessment can be made about dogs in a foster program. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 (edited) Most pounds do asssessments on their dogs the same as rescue groups.They will also let you trial the dog at home the same as rescue groups.Dogs from the pounds and shelters deserve the same chance to find a home as any dog from anywhere else. Not all pounds assess dogs prior to adoption. No pound I'm aware of uses real children in its temperament assessments. No family I'm aware of would willingly trial a dog if a bite to a child might be the outcome. Novice dog owners should always source their dogs from knowledgeable sources where the temperament of the dog is a known quantity. That reduces potential sources to two: responsible breeders and rescues. You don't take chances with the safety of children where safer alternatives are available. Taking a dog from rescue means another dog makes it out of the pound to their care. That's not robbing a pound dog of a chance for a home. Edited July 15, 2011 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budgiew Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Yes Greytmate;I understand what you are saying,It is difficult to find the right match with any dog.Any extra advise about the dog is helpful.Sometimes dogs behave differently in the pound than they would in a home situation.We are lucky here in Victoria to have some excellent shelters pounds and rescue groups that go to great lengths to match their dogs to the right homes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budgiew Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Most pounds do asssessments on their dogs the same as rescue groups.They will also let you trial the dog at home the same as rescue groups.Dogs from the pounds and shelters deserve the same chance to find a home as any dog from anywhere else. Not all pounds assess dogs prior to adoption. No pound I'm aware of uses real children in its temperament assessments. No family I'm aware of would willingly trial a dog if a bite to a child might be the outcome. Novice dog owners should always source their dogs from knowledgeable sources where the temperament of the dog is a known quantity. That reduces potential sources to two: responsible breeders and rescues. You don't take chances with the safety of children where safer alternatives are available. Taking a dog from rescue means another dog makes it out of the pound to their care. That's not robbing a pound dog of a chance for a home. Not exactly sure how rescue works in other states,but from what i read on the rescue threads it seems that rescue groups take dogs from the pounds to rehome them.Here in Victoria i think once a dog goes to the pound;at least the ones i know;they are there untill they find a home.I have not heard of dogs taken out of the pounds to rescue groups down here.So they need to be adopted from the pound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 (edited) Not exactly sure how rescue works in other states,but from what i read on the rescue threads it seems that rescue groups take dogs from the pounds to rehome them.Here in Victoria i think once a dog goes to the pound;at least the ones i know;they are there untill they find a home.I have not heard of dogs taken out of the pounds to rescue groups down here.So they need to be adopted from the pound. Let me tell you, there's no way in God's green earth I'd ever recommend a novice dog owner with young children take ANY adult dog direct from a pound into their home. Puppies would be fine but there are too many risk factors with adults, even with a temperament assessment. Edited July 15, 2011 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suziwong66 Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Our family dog pre children was a German Shepherd. We got him as an 8 week old puppy at a time when I had just quit my job and had the time to invest in him. He adapted fantastically when our daughters arrived respectively 3 and 6 years later; i attribute this to the time we invested in him to train him so that he was well behaved. Our second puppy (yellow Lab) came along when I was at home raising young children so again I had the time to invest in him. Again, the time invested in raising him, i believe, was integral to his ability to fit into our family so well with few problems and certainly no major problems. Wilbur (choc Lab) is due to become part of our family in 4 weeks time; again, as luck would have it, I'm in a non-work period. After 6 years of full time study i was due to go back to full-time work this year. However, I took the year off to care for our daughter who suffered a serious illness last year and needed on-going support this year. Even though your circumstance is very different from my experiences, if you do go ahead and get a puppy, be prepared to invest a great deal of time and effort in socialisation and training so that you have a family member that fits like a glove rather than a 'problem child'. For our family, time, effort and persistence has been the key to raising four-legged family members that fit seamlessly into the family unit. good luck with your decision Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 Greytmate and PF I couldn't agree with you both more. For a novice owner with a young family, pound dogs should not be a consideration. Rescue dogs can be fantastic, I have to agree as I've fostered and rescued myself. But some "rescues" and people adopt out dogs straight after release from the pound, not all rescue dogs go through programs and assessments like GAP dogs. Just as not every registered breeder is reputable, not every rescue is either. For someone not savvy to it, to paint all pounds and rescues with the angelic brush can be a disaster waiting to happen. Not just where temperament is concerned but where health is a factor as well. A young family don't need to take on a dog with existing health issues that can lead to heartbreak and financial nightmares. Dogs in pounds can and sometimes do have existing health issues. We always harp on at folks to source pets from reputable breeders or reputable rescues, for reasons of health, more known quantities in temperament, reliability in size, breeder/rescue support etc etc. These factors are more important than ever when sourcing a pet for a family with children, and puppy buyers should be steered in those directions. They need support in finding the right pet, not a guilt trip about how many dogs die in pounds if they don't take them in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
**Super_Dogs** Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 As most people have already said - a puppy is like a baby/small child. So firstly you have to be willing to take on the extra commitment. Secondly you need to have the time to train and walk your dog. If you don't your dog will be naughty and your family and your dog will be happy. If you don't have the time for this or are not mnoitvated and commited to training your dog - I would say now is not a good time for a puppy. If you do decide to get one - I think a cav is a great choice. My brother got a cav and they have 2 children (then they were about 2 and 4). My sister in law had no experience with dogs and had no trouble training their cav. However, she was at home, so had the time. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_Louise Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 We don't have children yet - but when we were looking for our new dog (the first where we would be primary carers as well) - we had to consider that we both work full time, which meant the dog would need to be able to cope on it's own for a few hours a day. My OH wanted a puppy - but I thought this unfair, and wasn't confident we would have the sufficient time to dedicate to a puppy's needs. So we looked for older dogs from registered breeders and older dogs from reputable rescue organisations. It was the best choice I ever made. Frustrating at first, because we got knocked back from numerous breeders - but I was happy to accept their opinions (they know their dogs best), because at the end of the day I wanted to find a dog that would suit us, but that we would also suit the dog as well, to allow them to be happy and flourish in our family. It took a good couple of months researching, meeting of potential dogs etc... and finally - there she was. My Sasha. She was 2.5yo when we got her, she was fine with periods of being left alone (and I've since learnt actually prefers to be left alone to snooze in the sun during the day), and suited us down to the ground. Okay, she had some quirks that we've had to work on... but she was house trained, had good manners and was the perfect foundation for us to build on. Luckily I work close to home, so am able to spend my 1 hour lunch break with her each day, and means I am home in a matter of minutes so we have more time for training and walking etc. But I'm glad we chose an older dog, and the rewards have been a thousand fold for us. She is a not a perfect dog, but she was the perfect dog for us... She was more work than I expected (bless Mum and all the hard work she did without us noticing with our family dogs) - but nowhere near as much work as a puppy would have required. And to be honest, I love every second of caring for her. I would recommend a rescue dog from a good rescue organisation that places a high priority on matching families with their dogs needs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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