Tips for first timers

[letstryagainnow]

Hello! We've been researching and thinking about this for a long time. We're taking the plunge and visiting a pup tomorrow. A Cavachon.

Any tips for first time dog owners would be much appreciated. Essential purchases and things to avoid. Similarly essential dos and definite don'ts would be amazing.

Thanks!

I would avoid a cross personally, cavaliers are prone to a number of absolutely devastating health conditions that are just as prevalent in the designer crosses.
The cav used for breeding should be at least 2.5 yrs old, and have eyes and heart tested, and should be MRI scanned for syrengomyelia, if it hasn’t been, don’t go and see this puppy. Unless of course you have a strong desire to pay for the vet to go on four holidays every year and still lose your pet at a young age.

Id suggest looking for a reputable breeder of a bichon personally.

As the owner of a now 16wk puppy, my only suggestion is to reconsider getting one now and wait til the summer.

The rain, snow, wind, ice, dark. Toilet training will never be fun but I have no doubts at all that it would be much easier in the summer. You will be spending a lot of time standing in inclement weather willing that puppy to pee.

Add into that potentially having a puppy that isn’t keen on walking initially, going out in awful weather won’t help that in the slightest.

Not much advice actually, you will get great info from the books and web sites out there. For me, it’s all about positive reinforcement and consistency. Agree re possibly waiting until spring actually. Toilet training in bad weather is sooo much harder! Shop around for pet insurance - pet plan is great, but not cheap. Above all, treat a dog as the valued member of your family they are and enjoy being a dog parent - I have three, all awesome!

Agree what methods of training and correction you will be using with the rest of your household...

We got one in the summer and had the back door open for a few months, as the person above says, toilet training in winter will be miserable. Wait for spring. And we went of Cavalier breeds, there are better options.

I do agree with waiting until spring , there will be more pups available then so more breeders to choose from . Most good breeders don't breed at this time of year for obvious reasons .

I would avoid a cross like this one. Never search for a pup online unless going for rescue. Contact a breed club if you don’t want to rescue. Understand the health conditions of different breeds. Like Cavs.

Plus one for waiting until spring / better weather. And avoiding the designer cross types.

Get a copy of 'Easy Peasy, Puppy Squeezy' by Steve Mann. Loads of good info in that.

I wouldn't get any puppy at this time of year, toilet training and socialisation will be absolutely horrendous.

I also wouldn't get a "cavachon" of any kind, they are a puppy farmers' dream.

Thank you for your replies. We have researched quite a bit but now wondering if that was enough 🙈Everything we've read about Cavachons has been really positive about them for families. I'll ask about dad too. The toilet training thing in this weather makes sense.
Oh dear. We've fallen for him already so these replies aren't what I was hoping for at all. But I do appreciate you taking the time and being honest.

A cavachon is just a mongrel - nobody can say they're good with families because there's absolutely no regulation surrounding their breeding and no breed standard for anyone to adhere to.

Honestly, take a step back and do some proper reading around dogs and dog breeding.

Yy to not getting a mongrel. Friends of ours have a delightful poodle mix who has developed paralysis in her back legs - apparently it's now a known health issue with the breed!! Wtf!!!

Agree all the training words and don't allow any making them up.

Only allow toileting in the v small area you decide - when on walks insist they toilet at the first dog bin then. I did this with my spaniel it makes it so easy. If you allow free rein poos that's a Tod for your back.

Completely agree.
if you want a good family pet I ccouldnt recommend a cavalier more… if you can find a fully health tested one.
Don’t look on pets4homes and similar for a puppy. Carefully chose and breed and speak with the breed club for that dog.
Expect to have to go on a waiting list for a puppy, not to just be able to see one straight away.

I liked having a puppy in the winter as the door stays shut which meant toilet training was quick and by the time the better weather comes then pup can go out for longer. We had no issues with socialising over the winter. I don’t mind bad weather though.

With that cross you need to make sure the parents have had all the health tests recommended for both cavaliers and bichons. There are many! If they've not then walk away. Both are prone to multiple health problems which are both emotionally and financially costly.

Rescue is the best breed!😊🐶

Make sure you know how to spot a puppy farm or dodgy breeder and be prepared to walk away if you have any concerns. This link gives some advice https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/puppy/sales also check out pdsa and dogs trust on what to look for and on what to expect with a young puppy. Ask lots of questions and expect questions back. Do not think you are 'rescuing' them if breeder us less than ideal - you are nearly encouraging further poor breeding and condemning more dogs in the longer term.

Be aware of health risks associated with both breeds, and make sure you have good insurance.

Having said that if it all checks out then enjoy your new addiction! They are hard work to start with but if you put the effort in dogs are brilliant additions to the family.

I had my puppy in the winter, and found toilet training super easy with him, I could use going back inside as reinforcement, especially at night. If the weather was beautiful, I could use a run and play session in the garde as a reinforcer instead.

Super important to have a big coat and boots by the garden door at anytime though. But overall, winter was never an issue, neither for toilet training nor socialisation. I had him a bit before Xmas so he followed me everywhere when we were visiting family and friends.

Another great outcome of having a puppy in the winter is that they're already trained and start to have good manners when summer arrives. I remember a picnic in a park last summer, my dog was already mature enough to just stay around and have fun with my friends' dogs.
And now, for his second winter, he doesn't require as much outdoor exercise than when he was a moody teenager.

Make sure the breeder has done Health tests on both parents

I have a cross breed and both parents have been extensively health tested
It dosent mean that the pup won't develop something else but it does show they have taken some precautions at least

If they say they have done no health tests at all walk away

Winter is a great time to potty train, leaving the door open in the summer for a young pup doesn't teach them to ask to go out or to hold on

We got said pup,red/white border collie in September. That's the latest I would consider. It's not fair and sometimes not safe to expect an 8 week old puppy to go outside in rain/snow/frost for toileting. First time ours saw rain, she was horrified. Also got badly spooked by transit van at night. Started crossing the road with my 2, we were in the road already. Van did a U turn,was barrelling towards us,had to yank dogs back onto grass verge. She was terrified, struggled so much, she got out of the harness, which was trapped round her back legs, making her panic even more. Now,back to square one walking in the dark. Personally, I wouldn't get a cross like this. A neighbour has 2 cavapoos,male same litter, one is nice one is horrible. I did try countless rescues.

As a cross of two companion breeds, a cav x bichon should be very sociable.

It's the health issues that would worry me. Recessive illnesses that one of the breeds is prone not so much - more the issues like mitral valve disease in Cavs where, as I understand it, the mode of inheritance isn't all thay well understood.

I'd also want to check out who has bred it very, very carefully. Small crosses like this are often puppy-farmed so be aware of that.

Thank you all for your replies. They helped us realise-what our heads had already been telling us really-that yes we will get a pup but we're not quite ready yet as there's too much that we don't know. So the plan is to get Christmas done and between now and into the new year start to really research everything we need/don't need and extra information that we need to make sure we know. And then start our search feeling more confident that we'll make a good forever family for the right pup. The photos of the one we were going to see keep making me want to go with heart instead but know that head is best to win here for the best for all of us. Thanks all for your honest input.

You're being sensible, with Christmas coming up as well. Extra busy, not so much time to spend on a puppy,and people coming and going.

That’s a really good decision.
I’d broaden your New Year research to include Miniature Poodles, Cairn and Norfolk Terriers, Portuguese Podengos and Papillons.

Whatever breed you decide on find the main Club for that breed and research what health testing is desirable and finders breeders through them.

I had a puppy in the depths of winter (February I think) I remember standing in the snow in the night in my nightie and coat with a torch 😂

Christmas would be horrendous with a puppy, so many hazards for the puppy and additional sources of stress for you. It makes life much easier with a pup if you essentially baby-proof all areas before they arrive. So remove all books, ornaments lamps and anything with trailing wires below 3 foot high and clear coffee tables. Christmas really isn’t Zen and add a Christmas tree with baubles and lights; present opening and lots of paper and plastic and tat and excited children and tipsy adults and you have a recipe for disaster!

I completely agree now that I'm thinking with my head and not heart. I'll look at those breeds too and at where we would be able to get from a responsible breeder.
Thanks!