Be honest, how hard will this be?

[NoviaPop]

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.

Also, you can crate train dogs so that they're happy enough to be left home alone. I haven't done it, but I would if I was training another pup.

Strongly advise against a mixed heritage puppy. You don’t know what you will end up with. Cavaliers are also quite an unhealthy breed, with many dying young from heart disease.

Instead, why don’t you get a poodle. They are fabulous dogs, very intelligent and easy to train and have very few health problems. A toy or miniature would suit you.

I’m at a real loss to understand why people don’t just get a poodle, instead of all these crosses, many of which come from puppy farms.

Ah, and there it is. The MN objection to poodle crosses. I was waiting for it.

I've seen it quite a bit! Why is that?!

I left pup for short periods like popping to the shops from day 1. It's not realistic to be tied to the house. It's an animal not a baby.

Because there are specialist health tests that need doing for each breed that the breeders of these dogs don’t normally do.
Decent breeders match potential parents carefully, breed to improve the breed and not just purely for profit. That’s not the case with doodle type dogs.
In this case you have someone with allergies and a cross isn’t a known entity. I’ve known cockerpoos to turn out like cockers or with poodle coats.
Why not an actual poodle?

The guides and books I've read have said that just leaving them is a bad idea and surefire way to risk separation anxiety, I want to do my best for the pup and have them feeling secure and build confidence. I'm hoping that putting the time/effort in will help create a well rounded, socialised, happy dog I can take anywhere. If I decide to get the pup that is!

Genuine breeder.... of cavapoos.

😂😂😂

@NoviaPop because some people are judgemental snobs.

@HandbagsnGladrags er nope. We had rescues and crossbreeds and mongrels as family dogs.
This is a health and dog welfare issue. That’s all.

What's the health issue with cross breeds? Some are healthier than pedigrees. If both parents are health checked I honestly don't see the issue. Millions of people have cross breeds who are healthy.

Yes, they do exist. Stop the judgement.

I'm a massive dog lover, sitting here with the two four-legged loves of my life beside me as I type this... and I would never do the puppy thing again 😂

It's incredibly rewarding. Watching them learn, crying with laughter at their (mis)adventures, snuggling up with their warm little bodies wrapped around your neck, soft pink bellies, scampering feet tap-tapping after you literally everywhere, puppy breath in your ear, AND there will be times when you want to tear your hair out.

Night time crying, inexplicable whining, sleeping on the couch with them just to get some shuteye, finding things chewed and destroyed all over the place, toilet mishaps, non-stop clamouring for playtime and chewing your ears with their little needle teeth, weird unexplained diarrhoea, picky eating, trying to get that <insert small dangerous object> out of their mouths....

All the wonderful stuff is 100% true and beautiful, AND be prepared for some puppy blues / wondering what the heck you were thinking.

That part is also 100% normal, and as long as you're prepared for the chaos, all you need to do is take the great advice you've already received here and remember that the madness and the self-doubt will pass!

Exactly what I was thinking.
Sorry OP

Also echoing what others have said, you have no idea if your OH will be allergic to the puppy or not. That is the problem with poodle Cross breeds

Please do NOT follow this advice about “looming” and “showing dominance”!! Outdated rubbish.

Also consider using a Y front harness - not a Halti especially with a Cavapoo. It’s not like the dog is likely to pull you over.

Be careful with extendables.

Find a trainer who uses positive reinforcement methods and avoid anyone who mentions pack theory/dominance/being the boss/alpha etc.

There is no reason to rush with alone training. Pup needs to feel secure before you start leaving him.

@HandbagsnGladrags crosses can certainly be healthier. Or they can inherit conditions from both sides.
Plus health testing. Cavs are VERY prone to heart problems. A specialist should be testing before breeding. A BYB or puppy farmer is unlikely to know or care about the breed tests needed. They aren’t breeding for health.

The breeder has recommended a Y front harness, and I don't like extendable leads, dangerous things. All the training I am reading about is positive reinforcement :)

I've found puppy classes and dog socialisation groups near the new house, so that's encouraging.

My point is, there is nothing at all wrong with an actual poodle. You know what you are getting, you can source a reputable breeder and quite honestly they are utterly delightful. We have a miniature and she’s everything anyone could ask for.

Our vet said to us that it was so lovely to see a nice calm poodle puppy, as their hearts sink when it’s a poodle cross, especially those crossed with spaniels. She said they present with behaviour problems. This is actually what was said. I have no axe to grind, I’m not a poodle breeder, just an ordinary dog lover who has found a perfect dog in a miniature poodle.

Cavaliers are very prone to heart disease.

Actually nobody had said anything until the OP said her husband had allergies and it’s perfectly true to say that with a cross you have absolutely no idea what type of coat they will have

No matter how rural you are, you need to find a good reliable dog walker and kennels/dog sitter/home boarder. Things will come up they always do and the earlier your pup is introduced to both these things the better and the easier for all of you.

I probably use the dog walker three times a year, but things do come up that you can't predict. Because I am so ad hoc sometimes she can't fit me in. So we have two local places that I can use for occasional day care if needed.

Ddog also goes in kennels when we go on holiday. This needs booking a long time in advance now thanks to the influx of lockdown dog owners!

@NoviaPop

"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!"

Examples of things that just come up: funerals, family needing help and hospital appointments.

Then throw in things like invitations to weddings/birthdays/events and holidays.

Especially if your dh works away and you don't have friends to help out with emergencies locally.

Do not become the person that can't or won't go anywhere because they have a dog. It's perfectly doable but it's something that needs organisation and money.

They really don’t. @PourOnTheHeat is right. People are ignorant if they believe there’s ‘genuine’ breeders.