Getting a new puppy advice

[Cath2907]

Hi,
We are looking to get a puppy. DH and I grew up with dogs but have never owned one of our own. This has been discussed over about 12 months and what finally clinched it was a stay with friends and their Bichon in December. We've left it until after Xmas so pup would arrive at a calm period. DH and I are both home all day (I work from home and he is a SAHD). Looking for a small dog good with kids - thinking a Bichon or a Cavalier or similar. I know we need crate, bedding, car harness, collar lead, bowls, brushes, food (same as puppy currently fed), a vet for jabs.... I have researched puppy classes ready to take newcomer to school. I realise I'll be mopping poop and pee for a bit.

We have a 6yr old daughter and a caravan and lots of dog friendly family ready to help out.

Anything else I need to consider before we take the plunge and go look at some puppies?

If you just go look at puppies ready now, you'll more than likely be looking at puppy farmed puppies, especially with those breeds.

What you want to be doing is researching breeds, picking one and then finding a decent breeder and getting yourself on the waiting list for their next planned litter.

Breed clubs are the best place to start.

You need to think about how a dog will restrict you - holidays may be fine, but what about popping into town and thinking of an impromptu cinema trip? A puppy can't be left for more than 5 hours in any day and no more than 2 hours continuously.

And its not just going to training classes once a week, its training every day for pups, expect accidents until at least 6 months, being woken in the night, dealing with separation anxiety etc.

Before you start talking to breeders (note, anyone who will let you have a puppy within a few months should be avoided - you should be waiting a long time as good breeders have a waiting list) go for a walk twice a day, everyday no matter the weather or how you feel. Time how long you are all out of the house and each time think of what you'd do with the pup.

Read up on all the health problems of breeds you are considering - Cavs in particular have huge problems as a breed. I'd go to Crufts in March to meet lots of different breeds

Thanks for the advice on avoiding puppy farmers. I had struggled with that aspect and read the Kennel Club advice on the subject. I've looked on all the various rescue organisations sites and spoken to the local RSPCA place and it is very unlikely they'd have suitable puppies for us and in the main most won't rehome their dogs to a family with a small child.

I appreciate the thoughts about not leaving a puppy for more than 2hrs. Once the puppy has had suitable jabs they could accompany us on the majority of our outings. We live in a small countryside town that is very dog friendly. We've checked the places we go most often and pubs / garden centers / outside parks and play areas all allow dogs. We are happy to sit outside cafes and so forth and my hubby is well aware he'd be the holder of the dog outside a shop. For full day out requirements (rare for us to spend a whole day off anywhere but it could happen) my parents who live very close have agreed to dog sit.

It sounds like you have a great set up to welcome a dog to your family :)

Puppies are very full on to begin with and can't really be left alone. This can be difficult at first as they also can't walk on the floor until they've had their jabs so you can feel quite housebound! That said, if you have friends with sensible dogs that are up to date on vacs, you can invite them over or you can go there which is good socialisation.

Cavs can have quite bad health problems - they require extensive screening to ensure health which sadly many breeders do not do. Bichons require regular grooming trips so that an expense to consider.

A good place to start is the breed clubs:

www.bichonfriseclubofgb.com/

www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/start.html

You can email them and they will help you find a breeder. Breed clubs also often offer breed rescue so that might be worth considering.

You won't be going and looking at puppies yet. You need to research both breeds. What's the worst of both? What health issues are there in the breed? (I wouldn't have a cavalier because of the health issues.)
Contact the breed clubs. Maybe visit Discover Dogs at Crufts.
A new puppy can't be left. At all. An adult may be left for perhaps up to 4 hours.

Well done for doing your reaseach there are some horrible puppy arms with websites full of gorgeous looking pups, but you never meet the parents, or they fob you off with a mother who is clearly not THEIR mum. Lots of health problems ensue too which can be heartbreaking when you've fallen in love with your pup.

Have a good look round as suggested above, to find a good breeder , you sound like a lovely family for a pup!

It is a complete lifestyle shock if it’s your first pup as a family. I thought I was prepared - and probably was as far as you can be prepared - but still I had no clue how very hard it would be. The fog is only just starting to lift after 8 weeks! Really, really imagine not going anywhere without pup for the first couple of months. We hadn’t even considered, for example, that our pup would be so needy and even after a couple of months hates being left alone even for very short periods. We are having to work creatively around this but the two weeks I took off work to settle the pup turned into 6 and we’re still not quite there! Sorry if this sounds negative but I assumed I’d love it but just find the Puppy stage ridiculously hard. Family support and back up is a bonus though. I hope you enjoy your pup when/if you do go ahead :)