Help please - questions to ask when getting a new dog - updated!

devotee · 21 September 2009 at 11:43PM

Doozergirl wrote: »

I don't know where you got that list from - I couldn't find a website for Kidderminster or the RSPCA Worcester anywhere! That's fantastic, thank you

We have been to the Dogs Trust a couple of times - it is far from us. That's where I had aconversation around the demand for family dogs versus the actual supply of them. I was basically told it was fine for us to get a puppy as long as we found a reputable breeder etc. - that they always had far more demand for family dogs than they could supply.

I do text H about dogs at our local rescue centre. I think the issue is now that H wants a puppy because he is really worried about a grown dog and the effect of that on our cat, bless her. He thinks she will be able to stand her ground much better with a puppy. I know if I chose a dog that he actually wouldn't mind - he's always hapy when I'm happy but I just want to make a firm decision together. It doesn't help when I feel I need his confidence behind me!

I will have a look for lab rescue too, thank you!

Regardless whether you choose a rescue dog or a puppy, as well as making sure the dog is healthy, you should ask the questions if the dog was socialised with people, cats, children and other dogs. Obviously that's easier to find out if you go the puppy route and visit the breeder where you would see the conditions where the puppy was brought up in, meet the parents (or at least the mother), see how the puppy is interacting with other dogs and cats, but staff at the rescue centre should also be able to help.
Some dogs that were not socialised with adult dogs when pups continue to nip as they never learnt the bite inhibition, or they might be lovely with kids and you and go ballistic with strangers and other dogs in the street. So do your homework and good luck!

foreign_correspondent · 22 September 2009 at 12:05AM

Doozergirl wrote: »

I think the issue is now that H wants a puppy because he is really worried about a grown dog and the effect of that on our cat, bless her. He thinks she will be able to stand her ground much better with a puppy. I know if I chose a dog that he actually wouldn't mind - he's always hapy when I'm happy but I just want to make a firm decision together. It doesn't help when I feel I need his confidence behind me!

I will have a look for lab rescue too, thank you!

Don't think that a pup will necessarily grow up to be tolerant of kids or good with cats, even if brought up with them. We always had dogs and cats when I was a kid, and we only ever had one dog that liked the cats - and at least one of them would have killed a cat if she could have caught one, even though she had been around them all her life. The cats wee well aware of this and kept out of her way.

When you get a pup you get potential, but you dont always know what the adult will be like - some will grow up to have a strong prey drive, some are chilled out, some highly strung - obviously, careful and consistent training helps, but that is actually much harder to do well than many people think.

When you get an adult dog you can see the dog as it is, its temprement and character as a mature dog - if it likes cats and kids that is unlikely to change unless it has some really unpleasant experience.

Just like people, some dogs will adore nothing more than being pestered by kids, playing daft games with them etc and will have endless patience -whilst others will find them a noisy annoyance and will get grumpy! When you get an adult dog, this is easy to assess - when you get a pup, it is far less clear!

One point though - Your husband needs to accept that any dog or pup will be expensive, a tie and hard work, and that it is up to you to train it and work with it, and this takes time. If you get any dog, there will be difficulties at some point, and you need to know he will not blame you when it is hard work, for making the 'wrong' choice!

ETA - a 'homes offered' ad on dogpages would be a good idea - someone may just have a nice little dog in foster who is living happily with kids and cats as we speak, and looking for a nice forever home! Of course, it does not commit you to anything, but is often a good way to seek out some suitable potential dogs!

foreign_correspondent · 22 September 2009 at 12:32AM

here are a few looking for homes I found to give you a few ideas - it may be they are too far from you, but personally, as you may well have the dog for the next 10-15 years, I would happily travel for the right dog, if a homecheck could be arranged, of course.

this one loves kids and has lived with cats too:

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=208656

These two are both youngsters:

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=208671

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=209018

and of course, if you do decide to go for a pup, there are always pups in rescue too:

http://www.dogsblog.com/daisy-and-buttercup-10-week-old-female-collie-cross-labradors/

http://www.dogpages.org.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=208540

citroennut · 22 September 2009 at 1:44PM

Hope you don't mind me suggesting a nice greyhound or lurcher for your family. It is possible to get one which is completely cat safe.

After losing our much loved dog in May, we have recently adopted a beautiful lurcher from our local greyhound rescue. We were initially a little concerned about how she would get on with our cat as she was a street dog and has lots of scars, some presumably from disagreements with cats! However she has accepted our cat very well. I wouldn't say she likes him but is very accepting of him. I think she looks on him as one of the pack.

Greyhounds mostly are very tolerant and get on well with young children. Your local rescue would work very hard to match you with the right dog and will rehome with small children.

HTH

Blonde_Bint · 22 September 2009 at 2:27PM

Can I suggest, a king charles cavalier. They have a lovely temperament not very big animals so easily managed. Great for children, though i'm told they are not good with babies, but are very friendly creatures. They just want to be your pal

down side, they must be brushed every day and they drop hairs badly.

we have a king charles cavalier and i've never had a dog before, I didnt really want it

hubby n child whinged for it so I gave in, but he's lovely and I wouldnt be without him now. but because he's small he's easily managed I wouldnt want a bigger heavier dog, for obvious reasons, walking one I couldnt it would walk me:D bathing it would be hard and taking it anywhere in the car is more difficult too. with our cavalier everything we want to do is easy because he is so small:D he's curled up asleep on my knee as I type. Have a look at some on the internet see what you think.