Hi all, Didnt know if their was already a thread about this...but, I really want a dog. We're going to look at a rescue centre on sunday. I have a liking for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Dont want anything big, I dont have the time to take it on 10mile walks. Having said that I want something that will come running with me, but at the same time be happy with the garden first thing in the morning.

I have a 6yr old and 2 cats so the dog needs to be good with these. My question is, what dog and shud I get a 1-2yr old, housetrained or get a puppy. Both have good points. I go to uni a few days a week but generally im not away all day, on the day that I am, I have a 3hr dinner break so I can pop home. Any suggestions? They've sent me a picture of one, hes a Bichon frise x springer spaniel (or cocker i cant remember) 15mths old, house trained. looks like a right un lol.

btw I think this picture is from the pound in ireland..so he wont have been bathed or groomed etc. They still destroy them there so they get rescued and bought over here

Best thing is to speak with the rescue to understand the history of the dog plus how it behaves.

Puppy maybe ideal because they are still learning, thus you can get it use to your 6yr old and cats. However any young dog could be fine providing it's not got a history of being "snappy." The ultimate test would be to see whether the rescue will allow you to bring the dog back to yours to test the environment.

i would get a puppy because they are easier to train and rescue dogs cant be unpredictable which is not good with kids about

At 15 months, that dog is still a pup.

The problem with rescue dogs is that they may not have been treated the best in the past, which can lead to behavioural problems, nervousness etc. On the other hand, he could be the sweetest thing going and you won't get any problems with him. You can't tell which from a photo. Put it this way, I learnt to walk by using our Alsation who was a 'rescue' dog. Did it by holding onto her shoulder. My father has sworn he'll never have an Alsation again because he feels he will never get one which would match her.

If you do get him, your kid will have to be gentle with him and be quiet with him until you get used to each other.

every dog i have had has been a rescue dog and they have been fine find out all the info about the dog. there are many dogs that are fine around kids. i would always say rescue dog before puppy, as it is also very unfair to leave a puppy when you are at uni.

I would say the majority of rescue dogs respond well to a kind and loving owner and so it gives back 10 fold the love you give it cos it's just glad to be looked after.

I'd be tempted to get a dog around a year old preferably house trained unless you've got oodles of time to train it yourself?

Liam

I work with in a rescue center (cats not dogs)

Most rescue centers train the dogs in their care, and dont put them up for rehoming untill the dog is healthy, are sure of the dogs character and its needs, they also wherever possible gather as much info as possible on their previous life away from the center.

Telling the center on arrival or before if poss about your lifestyle in detail is the best thing to do. Some centers will call you if a suitable dog is in house
most good centers will ask a series of questions and do a 'homecheck' before even showing you around

This matches a dog in their care to a potential owner, (not the other way around!) and ensures that the dog and new owners are given the best possible opertunity of a fun and happy future together.

The last thing a center wants is for a dog to be returned, as it causes alot of heartache for all concerned, thats why the above (some would say) regurious 'vetting' takes place

Good luck in your search
and congratualtions for going for a rescue dog!!!

Gezi said:

I have a 6yr old and 2 cats so the dog needs to be good with these.

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there could be a center with a dog in their care that has had experience with both in a previous home!

dont limit yourself to one center, call a few and tell them of your lifesyle

chaos said:

At 15 months, that dog is still a pup.

The problem with rescue dogs is that they may not have been treated the best in the past, which can lead to behavioural problems, nervousness etc. On the other hand, he could be the sweetest thing going and you won't get any problems with him.

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not all rescued dogs have been mistreated or had a bad life, some are there for other more simpler unfortunate reasons, such as owner unable to keep, owners left country, new baby, dog not getting on with other pets in house, owner gone into rented accomodation, owner died, or dog just unwanted

As for the unfair because of uni comment..im barely there tbh. But yes, it wudnt be the best situation for a little one.

To Emm, ive filled out a pre-adoption form and ive called the centre a few times. They're mega busy as they have an open day sunday...so that little chap wont be there as no one has had chance to fetch him yet They know all about my situation and they're gettin someone to home vet us soon. The puppies in question have gone now too. However the pups father a king charles spaniel might be avaliable. I agree with the heartbreaking bit about returning them...I wudnt like to be took to a nice home only to be taken back to a kennel I dnt have oodles of time to house train a pup, but saying that its the end of the uni yr and I may go back to college...which will leave me at home ALOT.

Aaaah i dont kno lol. Im gettin my hopes up really. We're having all new fencing ready for the new arrival (whatever kind of dog is turns out to be) so maybe the delay in bringing the dogs over is a good thing. gives us more time.

Emm..what rescue centres would you reccomend? We're going to mill rescue sunday and ive been looking on manytears website too

Our last dog was a rescue dog, but I don't recommend a Jack Russell with two cats and children!

A lot of rescue dogs make very good pets. Bear in mind that mongrels in general have better temperaments compared with pure breeds (inbreeding can make dogs highly strung i.e. Dalmations, Red Setters etc.) so don't limit yourself to pure breeds.

Saying that, Greyhounds make very good pets and there are plenty looking for homes when they got dumped because they're too old for racing.

I'd also say go for a rescue dog every time. Very often they've already had plenty of training, are house trained and the kennels know what their temperament is like. Also bear in mind that when getting a puppy it might be a rogue one who grows up into a snarling child/ cat eating monster! At least with a grown dog its temperament will already be known.

Oh, and one of the best breeds to have with children and cats are Labradors, more so the bitches. Very docile and laid back, though maybe not the first two or three years. They don't need too much exercise, and are very easy to look after. After about 6 years old all they will do is eat and sleep all day if you let them!

And as much as I like terriers, maybe not a good idea with kids and cats!

Good luck and hope you find a nice one. And that dog in the picture you posted is so cute!

Gezi said:

As for the unfair because of uni comment..im barely there tbh. But yes, it wudnt be the best situation for a little one.

To Emm, ive filled out a pre-adoption form and ive called the centre a few times. They're mega busy as they have an open day sunday...so that little chap wont be there as no one has had chance to fetch him yet They know all about my situation and they're gettin someone to home vet us soon. The puppies in question have gone now too. However the pups father a king charles spaniel might be avaliable. I agree with the heartbreaking bit about returning them...I wudnt like to be took to a nice home only to be taken back to a kennel I dnt have oodles of time to house train a pup, but saying that its the end of the uni yr and I may go back to college...which will leave me at home ALOT.

Aaaah i dont kno lol. Im gettin my hopes up really. We're having all new fencing ready for the new arrival (whatever kind of dog is turns out to be) so maybe the delay in bringing the dogs over is a good thing. gives us more time.

Emm..what rescue centres would you reccomend? We're going to mill rescue sunday and ive been looking on manytears website too

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hey

the daddy king charles sounds good to me, my friend (with cats and grandchildren) has a king charles and hes a happy little tinker! shes had king charles all her life and cant fault them.
They are a very relaxed breed and very very rarely agressive, they love to be loved! sounds a good choice for you imo

I work for the RSPCA and can reccomend them, as for smaller independantly run canters im not sure tbh, sounds as though the one youve chose is going through all the rite fields , next step will maybe be taking your little one to meet the dog, then can see how the dog is with him/her

1986Uno45S said:

Saying that, Greyhounds make very good pets and there are plenty looking for homes when they got dumped because they're too old for racing.

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arghhhh! dont put a greyhound in a home with cats!!! (resuce home wont anyways!) Wot is it they are trained to d?!o lol! (chase little furry animals and kill 'em!!)

Emm said:

not all rescued dogs have been mistreated or had a bad life, some are there for other more simpler unfortunate reasons, such as owner unable to keep, owners left country, new baby, dog not getting on with other pets in house, owner gone into rented accomodation, owner died, or dog just unwanted

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Yes, I know - I have worked in a kennels before.

1986Uno45S said:

Our last dog was a rescue dog, but I don't recommend a Jack Russell with two cats and children!

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Hmm....my JRT was OK with 2 cats and 3 kids

Emm said:

arghhhh! dont put a greyhound in a home with cats!!! (resuce home wont anyways!) Wot is it they are trained to d?!o lol! (chase little furry animals and kill 'em!!)

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Well, cats can be stuck up little sods so maybe that will teach them

(Oops - forgot about greyhounds chasing cats Same applies to a lot of terriers!)

chaos said:

Hmm....my JRT was OK with 2 cats and 3 kids

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My Jack Russell was great with my nephews and nieces but I wouldn't trust him with them on his own. Mind you, my mother spoilt him though so he was prone to tantrums with me and they can snap without warning. Great little dogs and full of character, but they do like their exercise.

I guess if a JRT has been brought up with cats then they'll be fine. But they do instinctively chase other furry things. God help any cat who strayed into our garden as once our JR found out all hell would break loose!

I've had both a puppy (scottish terrier) and a rescue centre dog (staffy cross).

We had the puppy straight from its mother, checked out both parents as you're supposed too,soooooo cute but once we'd got it a couple of weeks he turned into a right little monster with kids (my daughter was about 6 at the time too), so unfortunately he had to have a new home.

We tried again and had the 6 month old staffy from a rescue centre, complete opposite with kids, he'd fall asleep with my daughter and was so soft and gentle in the home. Outside on the lead was a completely different matter and didnt respond to training so unfortunately yet again he had to go.

It really is a matter of finding the right one, but like others have said perhaps go for a rescue centre dog over a puppy.

Around here they come and check your circumstances and your home before allowing you one of the dogs, so they'll make sure the type you're looking at is right for your circumstances.

That lil un looks very cute in the pic!

Hope you find him or her soon.

id say go for a rescue dog. IMO i think its selfish that people breed dogs to sell when there are so many dogs out there desperatly needing homes.

Our dog was a rescue, from over the road. Some druggies moved in to a little house on the road adjacent to us, and literally every day the dog would escape from the garden to our house or our neighbours wimpering and cowering. He was clearly being neglected and/or abused. Sometimes he would stay overnight at our house and the owners didnt even bother looking for him. One day, he came running over as usual and the owners came over smacked of there t!ts shouting "give us the f*cking dog back!" but we refused this time, especially with the state they were in. The arguement lasted about an hour, till we threated to call the police - to which they realised they'd be truely screwed and so said to us "fine, keep the f*cking little sh*t"
They were arrested a few days later for disturbing the peace and possesion.

Anyways hes a great dog and im glad we didnt give him up to the RSPCA tbh

hahahahahah!!!! I didnt make the connection about greyhounds and small furry pets myself till i saw the post lol funny.

Im thinking im going to either get the guy on the first page or im going to hold out for a king charles from a rescue....it may take some time. They have a daddy one so we'll see.

Its beginning to feel like a nightmare!!