Cockerpoo arrives in 3 weeks..

[RedRoses]

Excited!

Dd is over the moon - it is her birthday present.
Any useful adios about introducing her to the cats?

Arf.

Ideas*

Be helpful...HER as in the femail puppy obvs

Argh female

I've only been on doghouse threads in last few weeks but I've noticed a distinct disliking on here to cross-breeds. Hope you get some genuine advice soon. I have no advice re cats though I think the cats will quickly assume dominance.

I don't have a distinct dislike to cross breeds, I do however have a distinct dislike to dogs being given as birthday presents. My opinion is that dogs should be brought in as part of the family to be trained, loved and nurtured, not a possession or play thing. Sorry, just my opinion.

I would make sure you have a couple of stair gates put up ready for the cats to know they have a safe retreat from the pup if it gets too much for them.

Ideally one on the bottom of the stairs so the cats can snooze away in peace upstairs or in our case goad the pup by sitting on the stairs and knowing they cant be got at!

Both cockers and poodles just want to be liked and tend to fit in very easily with cats. The first thing you need to remember is you the combination you are getting is two high energy intelligent breeds who really need to be with people.

I have two 4yr old male cockerpoos . Get ready for a constant companion.
Mine follow me everywhere.
I love it.
They have never ruined a thing , are darlings with my children and adore attention from visitors.
Cats, we don't have but they yelp when strays come in the garden.

Is it so bad to give a dog as a birthday present if they were going to get one anyway?

I received a cat as my 13th birthday present but it was very well thought through by my parents and she was loved to bits.

I was given my first puppy as a birthday present for my fifth birthday. I worshipped the ground he walked on! We have had dogs in the family ever since. It doesn't automatically mean they are going to be gotten bored of and dumped.

I don't think there is dislike for crossbreeds per se, mostly the breeders that tend to be associated with the new trend of 'made-up' breeds, cockerpoos and the like. Many of these fashionable types of little dog are bred for a quick buck. Hopefully you have got yours from a reputable breeder OP :)

I introduced a puppy to my two cats. The older, larger cat took a couple of months to be comfortable in the same room as the pup. Sadly we lost him (the cat) to cancer in March, and it is only since then, now the pup is 11 months old that the smaller cat will come into the same room. Basically I never pushed an introduction, made sure the cats always had an escape route, somewhere 'safe' to sleep, eat and have their litter tray if they needed it. The younger cat has always been more independent anyway, so I think this is why it has taken her longer. She didn't care so much!

I think Dogs Trust has some good information on introducing dogs to cats on their website.

There is not a distinct dislike for cross breeds on here at all.

Supporters of Animal welfare on Mumsnet are like all other supporters of animal welfare everywhere else, in that they do not condone supporting unregulated breeding for a profit. Because it's not in the animals welfare.

And in all honesty, a reputable breeder would not purposely breed cross breeds.

^^ Good point