Cavalier King Charles in flat?

UKTigerlily

Ok ok, this isn't moneysaving . . YET! I've wanted a dog ever since mine ran away just before I turned 7 (Awww, violins pls!) Anyway, now i'm almost 30 & am thinking, life's too short, go for what I want BUT

I live in a council rented flat, ground floor. I have been here 3yrs in December so have done the probationary period & have just e-mailed to ask their permission. I've e-mailed breeders too & will buy some books (If anyone has any good cav books cheap! Or knows where). I need to know if my accommodation is suitable for one Cavalier (If the council agree & I decide to buy one).

It's just me, no kids & there never will be, no partner & there may be someday but just me right now, and one cat. I've read they're ok with cats & my cat should be alright if it is to her (And the ex & I spent 7 months with his Mum who had two dogs & she was ok). Now, I have a small bathroom, small kitchen & a bigger living/bedroom in one, no garden but a communal (Never used) grass area right outside the front door, not enclosed but large.

I was thinking I could buy a lunge line (Like a long long lead horses use!) to attach to the collar & take it out to the grass area (Bigger than my old garden) when i'm outside reading. Basically like a garden but dog would need supervision and to be on a long line/lead, would be able to run about.

I have no job so could walk it 3/4 x a day, we have a country park close & an enclosed park right behind my flat. I intend to work part time one day (4hrs maybe per shift) and have someone who could be with the dog while I do, it wouldn't be alone. I can afford worming, flea treatments, vaccinations, microchipping, neutering, food & vet, insurance etc.

I'd appreciate anyone whether dog owner or just anyone who knows letting me know how much room these dogs need. And anything else! I'm definitely in no rush, won't get one if the council say no, don't mind dog or pup, old is fine! I just want to do right by any potential dog & if I can have one now & be fair to it & it's ok in this flat with going out whenever it likes, I want to do it!

TIA

suki1964

I bought my first cocker up in a first floor one bedroom flat with just a communal garden and the nearest open space suitable for dog walking a good five miles away.

It can be done but its hard work (oh and I also worked full time so had to employ a walker)

The hardest bit will be toilet training. Unfortunately as you don't have an enclosed private garden your dog wont be allowed out till after all his inoculations which means toileting in the flat for at least five weeks. I too had the same problem and so got plastic sheeting under paper so my carpets weren't ruined. As soon as my lad was old enough to use the great outdoors I took a week off work and seemed to have spent my life running up and down stairs all hours of the day and night making sure pup learned no more toilet in the house. Really hard work but it needs to be done.

Dogs and flats are no problems as long as they have the exercise they require. A cav should be fine for you if you are home all day - spaniels are very much people dogs and hate being left alone.

I wouldnt be tempted to get a dog if the council refuse permission, you never know who may take upset about a dog using the comunual areas and decide to report it

Good luck xxxxx

UKTigerlily

Yeah there's absolutely no way i'm getting one if they don't say yes, i've e-mailed them tonight so can just wait! Will call up for a housing transfer application tomorrow too for a one bed flat! What age do pups have their vaccinations? I know cats are 9 & 12 weeks! One nice thing for the dog, other than it'd be sleeping in my room lol is I have no worries about waking up several times a night to take it out to the grass area, I sleep whenever having no kids. When I work again i'd have someone come to walk him or her & it'd only be about 4hrs a day.

Shouldn't be a problem being left alone, I have Bipolar Disorder & rarely go out! lol I'd hope to be able to leave it for 4hrs maximum without it going mental, but have people who could nip in during that 4hrs. (Hoping to start back at the Gym). I don't think anyone lives above me or on one side lol never see anyone here. Wondering if the dog'd be ok to go out in the grass area tho as no other dogs go there? I don't think anyone else owns one here except maybe the Yorkie (But that could be owned by visitors). It never goes on the grass area though.

suki1964

Im not one hundred percent on exactly what age pups have their injections - its either at 8 weeks and 10 weeks or 10 weeks and 12 weeks - and you bring a pup home at 8 weeks so you will have the pup not being allowed feet on floor outside for between 3 and five weeks (you leave it another week after the last injection)

You pup can not go out onto the grass area untill it has had its course of inncoulations.You really should never risk letting a pup out on the ground, the illnesses they can pick up are life threatening - parvo (which lives for months outside the body) is a very cruel infection and very few pups survive if they catch it

This isnt to say you dont take pup out - you do - everywhere you possibly can - CARRIED. Even some shops will allow you to take your pup in carried so do ask and take it with you. They really do need as much socialising as possible at that very early age .

A good book to be reading now is The Perfect Puppy by Gwen Baily. Ask your library if they have a copy or try ebay or amazon

UKTigerlily

Thanks very much! If the council reply with a yes i'll buy that right away! IF they say yes I intend to read & find out as much as I can first & i'm fine with it staying in for a while, wouldn't want to risk Parvo & such you're right. Wonder what the cat would think to it, she's seen bigger dogs (Collie x & JRT) but never a pup! lol Probably would sulk but i'd never leave them unsupervised, Aunt has two CKCS & her cat scratched one in the eye, it had to go to Birmingham for treatment & would've cost £4,000, good thing he was insured!

pink_piggy17

Would you consider adopting a dog rather than buying one? There are so many lovely dogs in shelters and pounds looking for good homes and it sounds like you can provide a really nice home for a dog. Cavaliers are very sweet dogs but unless you go to a fantastic breeder you run the risk of buying a dog who may end up very unhealthy due to being bred for extreme looks.

Some private rescues won't rehome to somebody unless they have a secure garden but you could always have a chat about that or get a dog from a pound where there aren't homechecks done.

also, if you get a part time job, 4 hours is about the maximum a dog should be left alone so that's a perfect amount of hours to be working.

Loopy_Girl

pink_piggy17 wrote: »

or get a dog from a pound where there aren't homechecks done.

I wouldn't get a dog from anywhere that didn't do a homecheck. If they can't be bothered to see where that animals are going and who will be looking after them then god knows what else they won't bother with...like telling you the dog bites or has a medical condition that needs medication.

pink_piggy17

Well pounds are pounds, they are basically a holding place for stray dogs until their 24 hours or 5 days are up and they can be killed or hopefully adopted or reclaimed before that. It's not like a rehoming kennels. besides, you can get a rough idea of a dogs temperament by meeting it. Only thing I'd be worried about is the cat as a lot of dogs can't be trusted around cats.

UKTigerlily

I have thought of rescue, especially as I don't mind an older or sick dog. I'm about to look for a breed rescue as I know that cats have breed rescues. Not sure if there'd be many Cavies at the RSPCA & such or if they'd be happy with one living here (Even if breeders would!) but it can't hurt to ask, i'm sure if they say yes I can have one i'll look at hundreds of places to be sure.

I say a Cavie because i'm aware it'd need to be a small dog & these are really the only small breed I like! I do like Staffies but don't feel here is right for one & my faves are GSD's (Way too big!). I love the cross breeds tho, just want to be 150% sure it'd be ok in this size place, and i'm not sure with crosses, and I guess you never know which of the parents it'll take after!

If the council do say yes i'd certainly call around all of the rescue centres & Cavie breed rescues if they exist, I like the idea of an older dog about 5+, tho pups are cute too, i'm not bothered on age! Yeah if I work i'll go part time & have someone come round to walk & fuss the dog halfway through, so about 2hrs in, or make it so I can nip home, it wouldn't be left alone any longer than 4hrs tho.

I bet the council say no, but then the tenancy agreement doesn't say no dogs, just no dogs in sheltered accommodation & all pets must be well looked after & not bother neighbours. They said yes to the cat no problems. Hope they reply tomorrow & say yes! Still I never dared even dream I could ever have a dog so I won't just yet lol

UKTigerlily

I think there's only three places i'd look:

1) Breed rescue
2) Adoption centres like RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross
3) Kennel Club recommended breeders, or good breeders

I know it won't be from the local shop window or newspapers! And I agree, i'd insist on a home check I need to be sure they're happy with it being here & think it'll be ok with me

Loopy_Girl

pink_piggy17 wrote: »

. besides, you can get a rough idea of a dogs temperament by meeting it.

OMG...is that what you really think? 5 minutes with a dog and you have it's personality down pat and know it will be okay with other dogs, cats and small children?

Whilst it breaks my heart about unwanted dogs (I am actually on many waiting lists to give a - funnily enough - CKCS a forever home and have been patiently waiting over 6 months now to hear of one) I would never ever take a dog from the pound.