DH and DDs would like a dog but...

[SandunesAndRainclouds]

...I’m not sure I do, and I wouldn’t even know where to start!

DD(13) has wanted a dog for as long as I can remember and I’ve always said no - mainly because I was working as was DH and I didn’t see the point in having a dog to leave it at home alone all day.

DD had cancer / major surgery a couple of years ago and her recovery has been helped by PAT dogs. This will be coming to an end soon and she’s already saying how much she’ll miss them, and is building anxiety about the dog not being around any more.

We also have a DD with SEN who isn’t great with any animal tbh. However, we’ve just spent the weekend with a friend and her dog (spaniel) and I’ve seen how both of my girls have relaxed and enjoyed the dog. He’s a super calm, quiet boy though.

I find myself coming around to the idea but wouldn’t commit without research and understanding of breed etc - which is where I could do with some guidance please!

I am now at home full time so dog would always have company. I am very active so walks / exercise aren’t a bother and I’d be happy to train, play and mentally exercise a dog. I also run so it would be nice to have a dog that could join me on the shorter runs. I wouldn’t expect a dog to run with me over 5kms.

My must haves are calm, non-barky, likes a cuddle and being handled. If we could train as a PAT dog that would be great and I’d be happy to do that - especially for the benefits I’ve seen with my girls. We have 2 cats so would need to fit in with them. I’m also happy to groom but would prefer a dog that doesn’t moult loads.

I wouldn’t discount a rescue (cats are rescues and not an issue) but everything I’ve looked at so far online needs an adult only home with no cats... I thought a puppy would be easier to train into our home but happy to be corrected.

Apologies for a huge essay but any advice or suggestions are welcome!

Don’t discount a rescue. Ours was advertised as good with cats and kids and he’s totally fine. Might take a bit longer for the perfect one to come up

If you go puppy-hunting, you need to work out what your priorities are in terms of what you think constitutes a 'good enough' breeder. As Wolfie says, you do need to turn detective.

The absolute deal-breaker for me was the co-efficient of inbreeding (COI). A low one doesn't guarantee good health, but it certainly improves your odds. I found a breeder who didn't know what 'COI' meant, but did understand that inbreeding was a bad idea and was happy to chat to me about the pedigree of the litter and talk about the different lines that had fed into it. When I plugged the dam's and sire's names into the KC website, the COI came up well below breed average.

But as others say, puppies are bonkers and they do bite (and scratch). Ours wasn't too bad with me, because I'd put her straight down and ignore her, but the DC let her get away with things and then wailed about their battle-scars. (They were teenagers, so my sympathy was limited.)

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I love my dog.
The puppy stage frequently left me bleeding and crying.

Hmmm yes, puppy stage sounds intense!

I’m more than happy to adopt / rehome and I’m also happy to wait. Hopefully we can find the right dog for us, who will make us happy and in turn we can give him / her a happy life too.

Good luck. Be honest about what time and training and grooming and potential issues. Oh and cost. You can deal with.

Grooming - daily doesn’t bother me. My cats get brushed most days, especially in the spring.

Walking - easily twice a day morning and evening. If it’s a dog that can run that’ll be 3 times a week at least. We live near the coast and have loads of beautiful woods and open spaces too that we already go to quite a lot so pooch would be a part of that.

Training - can be built into our daily routine and have a super keen DD who would be happy to build a programme.

Already registered with a super vet, will check out dog fees. Also need to look at insurance and add on food, toys, bed etc.

Does that sound enough?

Sounds great! I’m so pleased you’re really thinking this through. It makes a massive difference.
Re grooming. I didn’t mind doing it myself but CBA taking a dog to the groomers every few weeks. Worth considering that. Some dogs need that kind of upkeep. It’s time and money too.

Hadn’t thought of a groomers, will add that to the list. Cats really are easier...

My friend who is a dog walker / small boarder and I have been chatting and she’s happy to help me out with my research and has said I can spend some time with her own dogs to get a feel for the routine and commitment.

So my list is:
Costings
Contact local rescue and start the conversation about who we are and what we can offer a dog
Pop in to vets and ask for a price plan thing
Step away from pictures of cute beagle puppies

Oh hell yeah. Beagles aren’t for the faint hearted. (And I say that as a bloody idiot who took on a wolfhound for her first dog!)
Find a good trainer too. Not so much for the dog as to train you. Positive and reward based only. Run a mile from any mention of dominance or pack theory. Our trainers made life so much easier and the training was something we both enjoyed, hugely useful and built a close bond.
Oh and? Pictures of a new dog are compulsory around here.

I read Barney the Beagle every night for pretty much my entire childhood.... one day maybe!

Positive / reward based sounds similar to how we have to help DD’s SEN, right down to how we have to word instructions. For instance if we want to tell her to stop at the end of the path we say ‘Remember to stop’ so it’s a positive process, and always a praise for what she’s done. If we use negative words - ‘Don’t forget to stop’ she only hears the negatives - Don’t... stop which obviously doesn’t keep her safe.

I can see that working well with a dog too, same but different.

It is worth thinking through how having a dog (maybe not a pup) and the kids would work. Juggling the biting pup and the kids was a real challenge. For instance I ended up laying out breakfast things the night before so they could avoid the mad morning biteys in the kitchen.
I also really struggled with not leaving the pup and giving the kids what they needed. But then she was a difficult puppy. Very.

There’s definitely a lot to consider. Which is why I’m not rushing it (or buying the first puppy I see) and I haven’t said it’s a definite yes to DD. In my mind there’s a HUGE difference between a dog and the dog.

Sort of not quite relevant.
How about volunteering for the Cinnamon Trust or local shelter? Time with dogs but not committing to “the” dog.

Along the lines of costs, it would be a good idea to add in a decent sized pen if you end up getting a young dog or puppy, with or without a crate also. It means the dog has a secure area to sleep at night with no risk of chewing your stuff, has a safe and secure area away from the dc if you are not able to supervise for a few minutes - cooking for example or doing homework. They're not for leaving pup in for prolonged periods, but are so useful.

I think Beagles are quite a lot of work (I've heard) - they also often have really loud deep barks. I don't think a beagle would be my first choice if it were my first dog.

Here's the kind of dog you need
Calm, older ( but not old) rescue :)
There are no many out there, absolutely no need to put yourself through the puppy nightmare stage!

Sorry, link fail:
m.facebook.com/BlackRetrieverXRescue/

I LOVE other peoples puppies, but ive had a puppy once, and never again. They are harder work than a baby.
Honestly, if you want calm, get an older one 5years plus. Theres a lot of breeds out there that live 15-18 years and you still get ages with them, and I swear they appreciate it more

There’s some beautiful dogs there @fivedogstofeed but also some very sad stories. Funny ones too, I like the honest descriptions of their hooligans!

My cavalier is healthy and is energetic on long walks. He is also really cuddly and small enough to be easy to take out and about. Would recommend so long as you check they’ve had health tests.

He’s also small enough for the children to easily handle and take out with them (they are 10 and 13).

We have a Bernese Mountain dog (probably a bit large & hairy for what you are thinking).
They make wonderful family dogs & are happy to fit in with whatever you are doing. Just don't expect to ever be able to go the loo alone again!

I don’t believe they can screen cavs for syringomyelia (spelling). On that basis alone I wouldn’t have one. Shame.

There is a screening scheme for CM/SM and an associated breeding protocol however I don’t believe uptake has been that brilliant amongst breeders, plus the breeding protocol has been criticised by some veterinary neurologists as not being strict enough.

The breed is also prone to a huge list of other health issues, one of the most widespread being heart issues. By the time they reach ten years of age pretty much every CKCS will be showing some signs of Mitral Valve Disease (MVD).

They’re one of quite a few breeds that are in dire straights because of a lack of genetic diversity. Whilst health tests, screening schemes and breeding protocols are available (and there are at least some breeders utilising them to full effect) ultimately the breed’s gene pool is too shallow to support the breeding of truly healthy dogs, particularly in the case of MVD which essentially cannot be reliably avoided as it’s just so widespread.

As with other breeds struggling with high rates of health issues and lack of genetic diversity things aren’t going to improve until the studbooks are opened and regular outcrossing to being in her genetic material can begin.

Thankfully there are some breeders committed to producing healthy small companion spaniels, some by crossing the CKCS with other breeds and I believe there are also some starting completely from scratch. Until the state of the pedigree CKCS improves (which is unlikely to be soon when the breed club still insists they’re “generally healthy” ) then breeders like these are a much better bet for a healthy CKCS-type dog.

I’ve been reading about Cavs as my friend who has one recommended the breed and I have to say the list of health problems was worrying, especially the heart issues that can seemingly be fine on early checks and still can develop.