Suggestion for 1st time dog owner? Breed?

[scottmel]

A previous poster mentioned Havonese (I know I am butchering these names!). I guess I am just trying to find a smaller dog that I personally can tolerate. I am just NOT a dog person simply b/c I am a cat person and just clueless but I love animals so it will work out! I just know that me being home I will be the caretaker as DD and DH go to school and work and I guess I still just really want a cat. I will happily tend to the dog and love him too but I need him to get along with the cat i am going to select. So in my head, I need to place this before shedding,etc. But I am thinking no go on the golden retriever.

I liked the advice on socializing him so much. Now I am understanding that word. I couldn't figure out how a dog 6 weeks old when adopted wasn't socialized...like he is only 6 weeks old! Where the heck does he go to get socialized in 6 weeks?But now I am understanding.

This whole dog talk has been brewing in my home for YEARS with DD and came to a head about 2 months ago. Ironically we all agreed that my current cat, CC, was boss of the house and of course bringing in a dog would devestate her. So I honestly felt like me and a dog were light years apart from happening. Wouldn't you know my perfectly healthy cat got really sick 3 weeks ago. Blood work, xrays, ultrasound later - she was put to sleep yesterday. I have already told DD that I simply CANNOT even consider a dog right now and she fully understands but we are doing research now to select our breed and figure where to get the dog and plan on a fall / holiday arrival. I just so want a cat as well and just want the dog I select to be cat friendly.
Is there a way to tell if one breed is more cat friendly over the other or will simply ANY of my choices work?

 

[simba928]

since it sounds like you are going the puppy route, pretty much any breed would be fine with the cat. As long as they are socialized with a cat, it will be fine. You definitely want to supervise at all times until you can be completely confident just to be safe. I had a husky/malamute mix growing up. Both breeds are known to not be good with small animals at all, as in they are big time predators. My girl was raised with them, though, and was, therefore, fabulous with my cat and rabbit. But socialization is important through the dogs entire life, especially the first three years or so. It's not like you can just socialize for a wek or two and you have a fabulous dog. You need to have them around all sorts of people and animals throughout the dog's entire life in order to have a well-rounded dog. If you have any questions, especially about the after getting puppy home part, feel free to pm me!

 

[scottmel]

Thank you, Simba! I will PM you when I know when the puppy will arrive. I will have many questions for sure! I plan to enjoy my disney trip in June and promised DD we would DEVOTE July to breed selection and reading a dummy book on puppies or something of the sort. Then in August we can visit the top 3 breeds - hoping to go to the breeders house for visits and then she can select her favorite breed and get on a wait list at that point. Whew....it will be fun though! Lot to look forward to. And change is good I tell myself...

 

[disneycruising]

The first thing I would do is find a local AKC sanctioned dog show and just wander around and see what breed appeals to you.

Different breeds are shown throughout the day, so you might want to check the schedule and see what time breeds you are interested in show.

Then ask questions of the breeders there. But quick hint - do not ask while they are waiting to go in the ring. Always wait until they are done showing. Most handlers and breeders will be willing to talk to you, but some are snippy. A dog show is a lot like the DIS. Most are willing to help, but some are cranky with newbies. Don't let it bother you. Just move on to another breeder.

You can find out about local shows by contacting a local all breed club. You can start by looking on the AKC site. Click on the Events Tab on the home page. Then click on "Events and Awards". Click on your state to find things that might interest you.

If you are interested in finding a good breeder, and that is the best way to find out about the breed, you can also use the www.akc.org site. Click on breeds, click on King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and then click on breed club. This will take you to the national breed club and you can go from there.

FWIW - I have always found that a puppy from a reputable breeder will cost you far less than a pet shop or backyard breeder. Reputable breeders are into it for bettering the breed and not for as much profit as possible. If you breed correctly, such as doing all the health screenings and all the prenatal care, it is pretty much impossible to make a profit off a litter.

Breed club rescues are great as is the previously mentioned Petfinder if you want to go the rescue route.

I would stay away from the designer dogs as these are usually two puppy mill / backyard breeder dogs being bred together for profit. No reputable breeder would allow their carefully researched and bred dog be used to create mutts for profit. So, they only place the designer dog breeders can get dogs without a spay/neuter contract is from a puppy mill. So, buying a designer dog is just really buying a puppy mill dog.

Good Luck in your search!

What great information.

 

[scottmel]

Is this a fair assumption on my part? If I go to www.akc.org and look up the dog I like and it will list breeders. Is this list a PERFECT way to go? Or do you STILL have to dig deeper into this list for a suspect puppy mill? I guess I am trying to say if I go to the AKC site am I ASSURED this is a perfectly fine place to find my dog. Or do I STILL have to research that breeder more? meaning if they are listed - AKC has already accredited them or whatever...Am I making sense?

 

[Bunnyfeather]

Is this a fair assumption on my part? If I go to www.akc.org and look up the dog I like and it will list breeders. Is this list a PERFECT way to go? Or do you STILL have to dig deeper into this list for a suspect puppy mill? I guess I am trying to say if I go to the AKC site am I ASSURED this is a perfectly fine place to find my dog. Or do I STILL have to research that breeder more? meaning if they are listed - AKC has already accredited them or whatever...Am I making sense?

Nope, not perfect, but a good starting place. AKC just means the dog is regestered as that breed. It means your bichon is a real bichon with bichons for parents and grandparents. That doesn't mean the breeder took care to screen the parents for common genetic defects in the breed. It doesn't mean the breeder took any particular care to select for particular characteristics. It doesn't mean the bred dogs were particularly good examples of the breed. AKC breeder can mean excellent breeding program, puppy mill, or a guy whose neighbor has a dog of the same breed so they decided to make a few bucks on a litter. So if you want an excellent puppy, you will have to talk to several breeders and find out more about their dogs and their breeding practices.

 

[Tinijocaro]

Update

THis thread has been GREAT!!!! We have went thru the online quizes and studied little videos on line, etc. The finalists are:

1. Bichon Friese (did I spell that right?)
2. King Charles kind of losing favor a little b/c of heart issues and no one close by breeds them...and they tend to be more fragile. DD11 very gentle little girl but she would worry about him I know she would...
3.Smaller if possible Golden Retriever??? Gosh they are soooo gentle.

Here are Mom's (me!) issues.

the dog MUST like cats......According to what I read all three are gentle as listed above but anyone have negative experience bringing one of these 3 breeds into a house with a cat? No cat is here currently but we will be getting one (our beloved kitty passed away recently...)

Mom does not like LOTS of shedding and keeps a very very tidy household. Sort of museum like but a homey museum...Think picture perfect magazine spread. It is my hobby! Decorating, cleaning, etc.

And your pick would be????????????

I have two Bichons and they are wonderful-no shedding, no allergies! Great with our 4 kids, never biting or growling. They bark a bit but not for long. Bichons must get groomed every couple months or so-just like you and me! They do what's known as the Bichon Blitz- they tear around the house getting their energy out for a few minutes a day-funniest thing. Our Ollie does this dancing thing that is very cute for company that he likes-look him up on youtube "Ollie the Dancing Bichon". He can stay up and dance like that for several minutes!

I personally could not have a dog that sheds-dealbreaker for me-kind of gross to find dog hair in your food, on counters, furniture clothes-everywhere! Many guests to your house will not like it either. My neighbor's golden can't walk past you without leaving a bunch of fur on your clothes and drool to boot. Too big for my taste-when he gets excited, he can knock you over-super strong.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

ETA: look up "Bichon Blitz" on youtube-all kinds of videos on it-so cute!

 

[bananda]

i have a king charles. he's our first dog. we got him as a puppy and he's not even a year old yet. he's full of energy and loves to run around and play, but he also loves curling up in people's laps and always wants to be around the family. and he's not fragile, despite being small. my dad is pretty rough with him.

we took him around to my cousin's house a few times and they have a cat. the only reason my dog (cody) doesn't like the cat is because cody wanted to play and the cat tried to swipe his nose. its a mean cat.

 

[scottmel]

UPDATE 5/24 - you guys are FANTASTIC!!! the tips you have offered and advice. I went from clueless to somewhat knowledgable in a week!!!

i read everyone's advice and thoughts and it was soooo helpful.DD and i really decided we loved the King Charles Cavalier to look any further. So upon the awesome advice of this thread, i contaced the "parent club" and spoke with 3 breeders this weekend. One of which is only 2.5 hours away and seems so nice, so perfect and invited us for a site visit at the end of June. there are 2 litters of puppies due this year so here's hoping we get one of them. But this board is incredible. MANY thanks to the people who lent so much time and explanation to me and made this much easier!

thank you ALL again!

 

[scottmel]

thanks tinajacario! the bichons are super cute too and the no shedding...what a plus!!! but ever since i saw Sex in the City with charolett'es little cavalier, i been been DRAWN to him!!!! Darling video of the bicheon. thanks bandana, mickey's minion, simba and bunnyfeather. your advice was great!