my hubby and i have been talking about getting a dog recently. im not terribly knowledgable about different breeds and their quirks, and was wondering if any dog owners here would be able to make some suggestions. needless to say, if we dont find a dog that will suit our family, we wont be getting one, and he'll have to settle for a hamster lol

we have 2 children, aged 16 months and nearly 4. hubby works during the day, i work in the evenings, so the house is empty for a max of 1hr a day, in total (nursery run, dropping me at work etc). if we go visiting, my mother in law owns a dog boarding and walking business, and has said she would take care of the dog for us if we were on holiday or out for a day that we couldnt take the dog too. im wary of big dogs, and our house isn't that big anyway, so we'd be wanting something small to medium. short hair would be prefered, and cos of the kids, the dog would have to be quite placid. ideally, we'd be looking for a dog that doesnt need loooooong walks and runs, as with us both working and having 2 kids, we simply wouldnt have the time. we live about 5 mins walk from a large open grass area that is not near to any roads, so the dog would be able to run about on a regular basis. our car is a bog standard size saloon, but with 2 car seats in the back, the space for travelling with a dog is limited. finally, nothing too high maintenance!!!!!

any ideas?

i should add, himself doesnt want a teeny cutsey dog, as he'd feel rediculous walking it. we have agreed that pugs are rather sweet, and he'd be willing to walk it lol

unless you've got eyes in the back of your head, I wouldn't recommend getting a dog with a toddler in the house... but if you're stuck on the idea, go to a rescue centre. The people at the rescue centre will have a good grasp on each dogs character/behaviour, some background on where they've come from etc. Mongrels are generaly better behaved, purely because they haven't been interbred... (KC are licensed murderers IMO). And it would also stop lining the pockets of lazy arsed breeders who don't care about dog welfare and can't be bothered to get a proper job.

I highly recommend Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. they are the perfect dog for young and old alike.

I have my third now and she is 13 months old. I take her to work every day and have done since I got her at three months. She lies beside my desk sleeping most of the say.

They are easy to housetrain and have strong constitutions. Their needs are minimal - Food, water, walks (but even then if it's really bad weather or you're feeling ill, they will put up with the garden), cuddles, love, laps, playing, a bit of grooming etc.

They are very good and very gentle with children although all children should be taught to respect a dog's space.

yeah, just hope you don't get one that has a skull too small for it's brain....

Totally agree with the above....

Rescue dogs are much better, due to the fact that most of them will have known history and the rescue will match you with the dog that most suits your family, work hours etc.

Being a rescue does not mean the dog is old or anything like that, unfortunately too many puppies/young dogs are finding their way into rescue now.

I would go along to your nearest rescue, Dog's trust (are very good) and speak to them, as they will help you find a dog that will become a much loved member of your family, and you will be helping the rescue at the same time give a dog in kennels a wonderful family home.

Good luck....

Personally I wouldn't advise getting a first dog from a rescue. It may have bad habits from it's previous owners or be fearful or timid because of how it's been treated. I would say that rescues often don't know the history of a dog either.

If you get a pedigree you can be pretty sure of how it will behave and what problems it may have if you buy a book on that particular breed.

And mongrels are no more likely to be better behaved!

Not all breeders are 'lazy arsed' and just in it for the money. Some may be but you can usually weed those out too and the good ones do care for the dogs welfare and are quite particular about who they sell to.

the kids are used to dogs, as they spend at least 2 evenings a week at my in-laws, who as well as boarding dogs, have 2 yorkies. they know the boundaries and they are enforced firmly by all the family.

he used to have a cavalier when he still stayed with his mum, who lived to the ripe old age of 13 (the dog, not his mum!), and i think they are lovely, but himself says its like walking a frilly duster, and as his mums dog was so ill for the last couple of years (he went a bit soft in the head, poor thing. had always been a bit stupid, but this was somethin else!) he said no to a cavalier. which is a shame, cos i think they are such nice dogs

This is not quite true, if the rescue does not know the history of a dog, they would be very unlikely to home it to a family with young children.

But those dogs they do know the history of they can match with prospective families.

But as mentioned before, rescues do have puppies and young dogs so your options are open.

If you do decide to go to a breeder then take a look here for the do's and don'ts and what to watch out for.

http://www.dogclub.co.uk/advice/puppychoice.php

And you know what? Some dogs from Rescue centres make excellent first pets.


Yeah, things like hip dysplacia, ear problems, breathing problems, and as I pointed out before, in the case of CKC's, skulls that are too small for their brains... But as long as you're informed, and the dog has a fancy bit of paper to back up the fact that it's mum is also it's sister, and aunt (or whatever), you'll be fine!


Mongrels are 100% more likely to be physically and mentally less prone to defects, purely because of the fact that they are not in-bred.


There are so many health issues with pedigree dogs these days, and also so many decent dogs that need rescuing, I can think of no reasonable excuse for someone to want to deliberatly breed more dogs into this overrun world....

Whippet perhaps? Medium sized, short hair, pretty chill around the house and don't need large amounts of excercise.

Hmmm!!! How many do you actually think this happens to?

I saw the programme that you obviously watched. The following Saturday I had to take one of my cats to the vet for his vaccination. The vet too had seen the programme and she said in the history of her practice she had never seen a Cavalier with Syringomyelia! So stop scaremongering!

Generally nervous, and not great with kids...

It happens, it's a fact, so it's not scaremongering - in fact someone in another thread in this forum has had to have their CKC put to sleep because of this (post here). And considering it happens at all due to something as nauseating as pure asthetics, if it just happens to one, one is too many.

we're thinking of popping out to the dogs trust this weekend, see if there are any dogs that would suit our family that they can guarantee the backround of. thanks for the link, will have a wee look


i suggested a whippet to himself, as i think they are lovely, but i was under the impression that as the are a running dog, they need a lot of exercise? i can commit to 2 x 20 min walks a day, and at the weekend a good runabout and play on an open grass area, would that be enough for a whippet?

ah. thats that one crossed off my list then.

You are welcome Jessica, let us know how you get on at the Dogs Trust !

I wouldn't go for a whippet because of their nervous nature, but they don't need more than what you have to offer, as long as you have a garden?

This may also help you. Its a site for dog rescue, and there are loads of members on there involved in rescue aswell as who have dogs from breeders that can give you fantastic advice.

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/index.htm

How many rescue dogs are returned because the nice little pet that someone thought they were choosing turned out to be not so nice when it was taken 'home'?

Your paragraph starting 'Mongrels are 100%' - How is that related to behaviour!

See my previous post about Syringomyelia!

I know someone who has just lost their CKCS at the age of 18. he must have been dogged (excuse the pun) by health problems to live to that age.

You can always check the dogs pedigree (sorry, it's fancy bit of paper) to see whether its mum is also its aunt, sister or whatever! Good breeders will also have more history than is on the pedigree too.


Jessica, my hubby didn't want a CKCS. I'd had two in a previous marriage. He now loves her to bits - you should see them together and he would be devastated if anything happened to her.

I chose the breeder very carefully. Her parents had been tested for everything they could be tested for. She was the right sex and the colour I wanted and was ready at exactly the right time - before Christmas but after my holiday in Australia and I travelled from Wiltshire to Hull to get her and also to see her when she was four weeks old. Her breeder had her microchipped and vaccinated and also kept all her pups until they were three months old - that isn't an uncaring breeder!

If you choose a puppy early, most good breeders will let you visit the puppy and get to know it with its family long before its ready to leave home.

sure will. i'll have to leave my heart strings at home, though, cos they tend to tug on them!


we have a small garden, no room to run, as this house had a conservatory when we bought it. during the summer, we leave the doors open, and the kids belt in from the garden to the lounge and back again, but there really is very limited space out there. although, it is secure! as the kids use the garden, i would be wary about letting the dog poop there. i would, of course, clean up after it in all circumstances, but if i let it out in the back garden then went to sort one of the kids, for example, then i may miss some poo! however, out for a walk on a lead, i know exactly where it's done its deposit lol!

You are talking as if ALL Cavaliers have the problem though! Only a very minimal amount do. Also some (probably also a minimal amount) of rescue dogs have inherent problems - you just don't know what they are likely to be.

Anyway, I'm not getting into any more of an argument with you about Pedigree vs rescue dogs. It's personal choice. I'd always choose a Cavalier, you might always choose a rescue.

They normally bring dogs out to see you rather than you having to walk past hundreds of dogs in their kennels.

My local Dogs Trust at Harefield normally chat with you first about what you are looking for, find out the home/work situation and then choose several dogs for you to meet that they think would be suitable...

the added bonus with DT i think is that you have back up for life with them ! they will help you all the way with training and advice !

Here's a link so you can have a read yourself !

http://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/choosing_a_dog/

At the end of the day it is your choice whether you decide breeder or rescue, just make sure you are well informed on both sides so you can weigh up pros and cons and hopefully you will end up with a loving furry friend !

i understand, but we're not wanting a dog that either of us have to be talked into. as an example, himself loves boxers, and although i think they are attractive, i dont want one on the basis that it would probs take ME for a walk, and just be too big whilst the kids are so small. so although i KNOW he'd grow to love a CKC, i dont want to have to talk him into it. my feelings are, the dig has to be right for all of us from the get go.

my friend has just offered me her dog for a weekend, to see if we really want a dog in the house. i'll add here that the dog knows me well! however, the dog is a young male staffie ... NO WAY lol! he's just a bit to big and exuberant for our house!

our local dog trust do exactly the same, and are great. we visited them a couple of years ago, when we were first married, but as i found out i had a wee surprise on the way, it wasnt the right time to be getting a dog!