Considering getting a dog
Discussion
So, some help please. We are finally in a position to consider getting a dog. We work long hours but my wife only works 4 days a week, and we have a friend who is a pet sitter who will walk it/put it out on work days.
I am a little worried about our two cats, who are around 12 now and have never had a dog in the house with them before. We have space to keep them separate but will need to introduce them eventually. I have been reading up on how to do this, but am a little worried so would welcome any advice from the PH crowd or reassurance from anyone who has done this.
We are thinking about a cocker spaniel, I have some experince of them and think they are great dogs. We do a lot of walking so want an active dog, but my deciding criteria was something small enough to fit in the TVR (this is PH after all). Can anyone recommend a breeder? We are based in Lancashire, but would of course travel if needed and in no rush, would rather get the right dog from a reputable breeder. Thanks in advance.
I am a little worried about our two cats, who are around 12 now and have never had a dog in the house with them before. We have space to keep them separate but will need to introduce them eventually. I have been reading up on how to do this, but am a little worried so would welcome any advice from the PH crowd or reassurance from anyone who has done this.
We are thinking about a cocker spaniel, I have some experince of them and think they are great dogs. We do a lot of walking so want an active dog, but my deciding criteria was something small enough to fit in the TVR (this is PH after all). Can anyone recommend a breeder? We are based in Lancashire, but would of course travel if needed and in no rush, would rather get the right dog from a reputable breeder. Thanks in advance.
Some friends recently took on a Cockerpoo puppy. The cat instantly hated it, took refuge upstairs and hasn't really been down since. When I suggested it was a little unfair on said incumbent, they said 'Well it can come down if it wants'. Doh.
When I arrive the dog runs at me - I am expected to catch it so it doesn't run out and kill itself. It then barms its muddy paws all over my trousers. When I try to walk down the path it constantly jumps up at me from all angles and nips at my trouser legs. When I try to hang my coat up it bites the sleeves and tries to pull it off. It smells of dog. Their living room looks like a bombsite and all the cushions are piled up in a heap on the dining table so the dog can't eat them. Bits of chewed carpet tiles lie around like confetti.
Hope this helps
When I arrive the dog runs at me - I am expected to catch it so it doesn't run out and kill itself. It then barms its muddy paws all over my trousers. When I try to walk down the path it constantly jumps up at me from all angles and nips at my trouser legs. When I try to hang my coat up it bites the sleeves and tries to pull it off. It smells of dog. Their living room looks like a bombsite and all the cushions are piled up in a heap on the dining table so the dog can't eat them. Bits of chewed carpet tiles lie around like confetti.
Hope this helps
When I got my Weim' 3 1/2 years ago I just brought him home and introduced him to my 9 year old cat. He's a rescue cat who's owners moved house and left him behind and now refuses to go outside; He's not falling for that again! As a result he's not had any contact with dogs. He gave the pup a wide berth when it was playing. Gave him a few slaps about the head if he did try and play. But was happy to be near him when quiet.
Now three years later the cat just thinks he's part of the furniture. He does occationally freak the dog out either by being nice and grooming him or snuggle up next to him, which eventually results in thew dog falling off the settee/bed as he edges away. The dog just has a deep mistrust of the cats motives... and I think he's scared of it.
Introduced my friends whippet to the cat a couple of years ago. Same reaction. Niether dog likes cats when they're out though.
Now three years later the cat just thinks he's part of the furniture. He does occationally freak the dog out either by being nice and grooming him or snuggle up next to him, which eventually results in thew dog falling off the settee/bed as he edges away. The dog just has a deep mistrust of the cats motives... and I think he's scared of it.
Introduced my friends whippet to the cat a couple of years ago. Same reaction. Niether dog likes cats when they're out though.
Ok, I've done that, and I just did the opposite, just rescued a pair of kittens who had never known dogs. For about two weeks they were scared, now they don't care and will headbutt the dogs' muzzles for attention. BTW, these dogs are 27" or so to their shoulders, with heads bigger than the entire cat.
It really isn't hard to do, you just use treats and introduce them slowly over a period of time. You have an advantage in that a puppy will just be happy running around and will say hello to the cats, who will then show it who is boss (only you know your cats and whether they will use claws - some dogs have been scarred in this way and I know a person who wasn't great at introducing and his ridgeback lost an eye). You let both animals have somewhere to escape to as well and both free i.e. not being held.
If that doesn't make sense let me know.
It really isn't hard to do, you just use treats and introduce them slowly over a period of time. You have an advantage in that a puppy will just be happy running around and will say hello to the cats, who will then show it who is boss (only you know your cats and whether they will use claws - some dogs have been scarred in this way and I know a person who wasn't great at introducing and his ridgeback lost an eye). You let both animals have somewhere to escape to as well and both free i.e. not being held.
If that doesn't make sense let me know.
AdiT said:
When I got my Weim' 3 1/2 years ago I just brought him home and introduced him to my 9 year old cat. He's a rescue cat who's owners moved house and left him behind and now refuses to go outside; He's not falling for that again! As a result he's not had any contact with dogs. He gave the pup a wide berth when it was playing. Gave him a few slaps about the head if he did try and play. But was happy to be near him when quiet.
Now three years later the cat just thinks he's part of the furniture. He does occationally freak the dog out either by being nice and grooming him or snuggle up next to him, which eventually results in thew dog falling off the settee/bed as he edges away. The dog just has a deep mistrust of the cats motives... and I think he's scared of it.
Introduced my friends whippet to the cat a couple of years ago. Same reaction. Niether dog likes cats when they're out though.
same with our young Weim.Now three years later the cat just thinks he's part of the furniture. He does occationally freak the dog out either by being nice and grooming him or snuggle up next to him, which eventually results in thew dog falling off the settee/bed as he edges away. The dog just has a deep mistrust of the cats motives... and I think he's scared of it.
Introduced my friends whippet to the cat a couple of years ago. Same reaction. Niether dog likes cats when they're out though.
she still wants to play with the cat (13yrs old and pup introduced at 10 weeks old) every so often but they have accepted each other well. we followed advice of a few friends who said to do it when the pup was sleepy - we kept it like that for 10 days or so and now they are fine together, pup was always treated when it ignored the cat and came to us instead. the cat has given it a few swipes and that has helped put pup in her place. I won't ever leave them alone together but am more than happy to have the in the house at the same time and not have to keep an eye on them 100% of the time.
Do it slowly and I really do think that the pup being sleepy on initial introductions helped us.
Simpo Two said:
When I arrive the dog runs at me - I am expected to catch it so it doesn't run out and kill itself. It then barms its muddy paws all over my trousers. When I try to walk down the path it constantly jumps up at me from all angles and nips at my trouser legs. When I try to hang my coat up it bites the sleeves and tries to pull it off. It smells of dog. Their living room looks like a bombsite and all the cushions are piled up in a heap on the dining table so the dog can't eat them. Bits of chewed carpet tiles lie around like confetti.
My experience exactly. Barks like a mad thing whenever the doorbell rings and randomly at 3am (well, probably whenever a fox wanders by).You want a dog. Why not consider giving a dog that needs a new home a forever home. You need a dog to fit into a small space,but a dog that loves life. Try a rescue Cairn. They come in sizes from a small Poodle to Cocker Spaniel size, but they think they're bigger than a GS. You own a car with attitude- these little blokes are supercharged bundles of love/honesty & love . I've got a rescue 11 year old ,who' got more get up and go than yer average dog.
Have a look at http://www.cairn-rescue.co.uk/rescue2.html - you'll never regret getting a Cairn .
Have a look at http://www.cairn-rescue.co.uk/rescue2.html - you'll never regret getting a Cairn .
Thanks everyone, keep it coming. Whilst there will always be bad experiences, I think we will be very disciplined in the way we train the dog and introduce it. We are not new to dogs, my mother is a dog trainer and has 3 obedience champion collies, she just lives quite a way off, but plenty of help. Feeling more reassured now. Our cats have great personalities so was just keen to make sure this wasn't a disaster waiting to happen.
Thanks for the info re Cairns, they are nice dogs and rescuing one (like we did with our cats) appeals but I have history with cockers and really fancy one.
C3BER - will mail you in the morning, thanks.
Arran
Thanks for the info re Cairns, they are nice dogs and rescuing one (like we did with our cats) appeals but I have history with cockers and really fancy one.
C3BER - will mail you in the morning, thanks.
Arran
Our cats haven't forgiven us, one lives permanently upstairs (and as a result needs litter tray, food & water upstairs) and one lives permanently outside, only coming in after we've gone to bed.
I regret getting the dog, it has ruined the cats' lives and is a completely different lifestyle for us. Mrs Puggit doesn't work and agreed she would be at home all the time for the dog - yeah, right
I regret getting the dog, it has ruined the cats' lives and is a completely different lifestyle for us. Mrs Puggit doesn't work and agreed she would be at home all the time for the dog - yeah, right
Puggit said:
I regret getting the dog, it has ruined the cats' lives and is a completely different lifestyle for us. Mrs Puggit doesn't work and agreed she would be at home all the time for the dog - yeah, right
That's nothing compared to another chum of mine. Five childen between 0 and 14 and his wife thinks she's going to start feeling lonely. So this time he gets her a dog. Except it's a large, very boisterous rescue dog, vaguely Labrador. It has to be chained in the kitchen or it will knock me clean over and eat everything in sight. Later in the day, sitting in their lounge (3 adults, 5 children, 1 dog) it decides to make its way from patio door back to kitchen - only then did I notice the zig-zag trail of wee across the room and right over my shoes...And they choose to live with this thing. I just don't get it.
Simple said:
Thanks everyone, keep it coming. Whilst there will always be bad experiences, I think we will be very disciplined in the way we train the dog and introduce it. We are not new to dogs, my mother is a dog trainer and has 3 obedience champion collies, she just lives quite a way off, but plenty of help. Feeling more reassured now. Our cats have great personalities so was just keen to make sure this wasn't a disaster waiting to happen.
Thanks for the info re Cairns, they are nice dogs and rescuing one (like we did with our cats) appeals but I have history with cockers and really fancy one.
C3BER - will mail you in the morning, thanks.
Arran
RE dog training- Cairns are dogs that would respond to training- highly intelligent, but responsive to love rather than anything else . Mine has seen GS us put GS seat into car, and now knows that he has to be picked up to go in boot. Seat goes in car ,and he's up on sofa to get picked up . No training needed - it's a thing about cairns - they're more brainy than the average dog . Thanks for the info re Cairns, they are nice dogs and rescuing one (like we did with our cats) appeals but I have history with cockers and really fancy one.
C3BER - will mail you in the morning, thanks.
Arran
Well a friend who knows all about cockers has recommended a breeder. Spoke to them tonight and we have our name down on a list forn a puppy due later this year. Sounds ideal, she doesn't breed many litters just one every other year. We are first on the list for a dog. Likely to be late this year, Nov/Dec when they are ready. Very excited, will be wishing this year away.
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