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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Be honest, how hard will this be?

77 replies

NoviaPop · 15/01/2023 07:23

I'm moving house in 2 weeks, gorgeous big place with huge garden, very rural. No kids of other pets.

DH and I have wanted a puppy for years!
A friend is a breeder (genuine breeder, the dam and sire are health and DNA checked, there's all the correct paperwork, first vax, etc) dam is a much loved pet, this will be her 3rd and final litter.

The timing is amazing, as pups will be ready to pick up in 6 weeks, so enough time to settle in the new house before pick up.

First time dog owner.

How tough will the training be? The house needs renovating so I'm not worried about toilet accidents (though plan to follow guides to take pup outside frequently).

I think I'm mostly worried about feeling trapped inside as I won't leave the pup alone and this will be built up slowly (have read about flitting etc).

Will I be trapped in the house for months?! What sort of places can you go, with a pup? I WFH very part time so I don't want to be bored, but I won't have any friends or family in the new location so I will want to explore and try to meet people, try new things etc.

OP posts:
Coffeecreme · 15/01/2023 08:49

through Blush

HandbagsnGladrags · 15/01/2023 08:50

Cavapoos are very trainable and such loving dogs. Ours is a year old now. I won't lie that the puppy months aren't hard but put the work in and you'll get a lovely dog. Ours comes most places with us, we're lucky to have a dog friendly local pub. But we do leave him to go to the gym or for nights out where he can't come. Longest we've left him is 4 hours.

BarrelOfOtters · 15/01/2023 08:51

It’ll probably be fine. We moved into a project house (with our grumpy old cat) and the puppy arrived the next day. Upsides are she’s very well socialised with workmen and noise, the carpets were all coming up anyway so accidents didn’t matter. We had to work round various times when bits of the already small back garden were out of bounds due to diggers and things.

I think what’ll be difficult are just the usual puppy stuff. It’s easy to feel trapped by a puppy until they can start going out on walks. We used family and a friends daughter as puppy sitters. And they do need to know how to be left alone, slowly in stages.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 15/01/2023 08:52

We moved when our lab male was 6 months old. We moved from a rural area to a more suburban one. We also had to do major renovation works, although we were able to stay elsewhere for the worst month of that.
He was great, took it in his stride, loved all the tradesmen and all the neighbours, especially the neighbouring bitches 🙄.

Timeforachangeisitnot · 15/01/2023 08:53

Sorry, meant to add, my 2 labs are a tie, way too energetic to leave with elderly parents, but we have in the past used a good kennel.

Original poster
NoviaPop · 15/01/2023 08:58

BiteyShark · 15/01/2023 08:47

My dog is a tie. That's because we don't have family to look after him so everything has to be planned around not leaving him too long or paying for daycare or boarding.

If you want to go somewhere that isn't dog friendly for more time that the dog is happy with or a spontaneous trip out who would you leave the dog with?

That's the thing - there is no one. So the pup wouldn't be left; I wouldn't be able to go for spontaneous outings!

I also walk and run a lot. I can get a treadmill so I do my runs inside home with pup and plan on getting a backpack to bring the pup with me on walks as I know their exercise needs to be limited when young.

OP posts:
Coffeecreme · 15/01/2023 08:59

perhaps you need to reconsider the breed, and take a dog that can manage a run? a vizler?

Coffeecreme · 15/01/2023 08:59

get a dog walker that is flexible that can take your dog if you want to go out for a long time.

FarFlungFlamingo · 15/01/2023 09:00

Is there a reason you have gone for a cavapoo? Your lifestyle suggests a more active breed might be a better fit.

Original poster
NoviaPop · 15/01/2023 09:01

Coffeecreme · 15/01/2023 08:59

perhaps you need to reconsider the breed, and take a dog that can manage a run? a vizler?

A cavapoo is definitely the right breed for us, though I did consider a Vizler. They're stunning!

OP posts:
HandbagsnGladrags · 15/01/2023 09:01

Coffeecreme · 15/01/2023 08:59

perhaps you need to reconsider the breed, and take a dog that can manage a run? a vizler?

My dog is a cavapoo and he runs with my husband. They can be low maintenance or they can walk for miles. Depends what they get used to.

FarFlungFlamingo · 15/01/2023 09:04

The other reason I asked about breed is anecdotally, all the poodle crosses I know have had some form of separation anxiety.

Original poster
NoviaPop · 15/01/2023 09:06

FarFlungFlamingo · 15/01/2023 09:00

Is there a reason you have gone for a cavapoo? Your lifestyle suggests a more active breed might be a better fit.

The affectionate nature, being very dog and people friendly (will run a dog friendly holiday let on site in 12 months) intelligent and trainable, and the hypoallergenic fur as my DH has allergies (he's fine around Cavapoos).

My friend's Cavapoos love the activity she does, she does even more than me!

OP posts:
Girlintheframe · 15/01/2023 09:07

I did feel trapped when our dog was a pup. Couldn't go anywhere unless I could take pup too. He hated being left alone until he got to about 6 months. At the time I hated it, it felt very claustrophobic but it passed.

He is now 5 and we leave him but nothing past a couple of hours. Anything longer he goes to family or daycare.

Every dog is different. Previous dogs we've been able to leave much younger and for longer.

A family member has a cavapoo. He is lovely but not a very relaxed dog. Feel like he doesn't have an off switch and is very barky. But again every dog even within the same breed is different.

Favouritefruits · 15/01/2023 09:12

having a dog is really hard, our boy who has sadly died had really bad separation anxiety all his life, I literally didn’t go out unless I had someone to ‘dog sit’ him. It was ok when me and DH went out separately but we hardly went out together. Big long walks along the beach are amazing but I did feel trapped as I lived in dog walking gear and just went out for walks like a prisoner.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 15/01/2023 09:30

Coffeecreme · 15/01/2023 08:59

perhaps you need to reconsider the breed, and take a dog that can manage a run? a vizler?

Most healthy adult dogs should be able to manage a run as long as it's built up slowly.

In fact, it's larger breeds that you generally need to be a bit more conservative with as they tend to struggle with their joints.

And viszlas, cute as they are, are absolutely bonkers!

LCforlife · 15/01/2023 09:37

Find a reliable, professional dog walker that offers other services. If you don't have anyone around to help, you'll need that. And if it's the same person/people then you and the dog will build a relationship with them.

Ours does walking, pop ins, holiday sitting in your own home, even poo picking and disposal.

So if we have a full day event, they'll come in a couple of times to walk, feed and play with them. They're happy to give prescribed medication if needed.

Other than that, it sounds like you're well set up for dog ownership.

Whinge · 15/01/2023 09:41

I WFH very part time so I don't want to be bored, but I won't have any friends or family in the new location

Yes DH def on board! But he works away Tues-Sat. He only home Sunday and Monday.

I think this sounds really isolating, both for you and any potential dog you get. No local friends / family and you're home alone 5 days a week.

Dogs can be a great way to meet people, but if you're really rural then you're unlikely to make local doggy friends from just going out for walks etc. So I agree with a previous poster that looking into classes and training would be a good idea.

I also think it's easy for DH to be on board when he's not doing the day to day dog stuff / training.

Floralnomad · 15/01/2023 11:13

All dogs are different just because your husband is ok with one Cavapoo won’t guarantee that he will be ok with another , even if they are related .

Didiplanthis · 15/01/2023 12:50

If you are really rural then you will need to make sure you put alot of time and effort into early socialising. We got that wrong with our first puppy, did lots with her training etc but never had to go anywhere so she didn't get exposed to enough early on.. we did puppy classes and outings a few times a week and thought we were doing ok but it wasn't enough. The last puppy I made a point of taking to different places every day.. so instead of beautiful walks out the back door, we drove to horrible ( for me ! ) walks around town and on walking paths with dogs, cyclists, buggies and horses. She is so much happier and easier to take out now

Wolfiefan · 15/01/2023 17:19

@NoviaPop if your DH has allergies then a crossbreed isn’t ideal. No dog is ever hypoallergenic but you can’t tell what sort of coat your pup would have. This is a really bad idea.

Original poster
NoviaPop · 15/01/2023 21:15

Thanks so much for the replies!

OP posts:
Ooshie · 15/01/2023 21:31

A lot of places are dog friendly now so there’s no need to stay at home feeling trapped. Look up socialising puppies with different places, people, dogs, children etc. take the puppy where you will want to go in the future, eg the pub, cafes, the beach, woods. I would recommend the Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy book, it’s quite a funny read but very helpful. The first couple of months will be hard (and the naughty teenager phase) but it will all pay off in the end.

NeuroWasabi · 15/01/2023 22:14

Puppy training is so much fun! They're just like little kids really, cute, silly, temperamental and have their own personalities and quirks.

You can start training straight away. Be consistent, calm, use hand signals and a word in a specific tone of voice, the same every time for every person. Use treats and praise to positively reinforce what you want. Don't ever hit or scare them, punishment really doesn't work. Your displeasure and a firm 'no!' is enough, puppy will want to please you. If they're being really naughty, turn puppy over and loom while holding him immobile. That's a good way to show dominance. Also make him wait for his dinner, until you say he can go for it.

Spend a lot of time together, especially at first, and have a strong bond. That's the most important thing. Halti's are really good for training them to walk at your side and not pull. Extendable leashes are fantastic until puppy learns to come when called. Also for when you're walking when there could be animals like ducks or sheep when he's older.

You can do all sorts of fun stuff together - competitions like agility, shows, sheep herding whistle commands, retrieval outside or bringing you specific objects, go to dog parks, take them to swim in a lake or something if you have one local (depends on breed). Make sure other dog owners visit/it's safe. You can even cycle with the dog alongside when they're well trained. Mine was trained to run alongside on the pavement while I was on the road. They all have different skills and preferances like people, including vices. Some breeds are known for these.

You can do lots of things with a dog. Even visit some pubs and shops and go on buses and trains.

NeuroWasabi · 15/01/2023 22:16

Just saw that your pup is a cavapoo.. FYI mine was a Labrador