Cavapoo tips

***kate*** · 13-03-2012, 07:44pm

Does anyone have any tips/dos/don'ts about puppies, specifically cavapoos, but any advice about puppies welcome. I've never had dogs before.

DH has been banging on about having a dog but I don't know if one would fit into our lives.

What do you do if you're at work? Crate the dog? (I only work five hours a day) and we are fairly active so exercise outside of those times will be very easy.

We like to go on holiday - there's every chance I could find a dog sitter but are they ok in kennels if not?

Do they poo etc in the house or are they easy to train? Do they smell?

How much do they cost to keep - what do you need to do (dog licence? Injections etc)

I know I sound really dim about dogs but I don't want to get a pet and regret it.

**Adelelee** · 13-03-2012, 07:46pm

what is a cavapoo??

xx

***kate*** · 13-03-2012, 07:48pm

It's a cross between a king Charles spaniel and a poodle :)

**Adelelee** · 13-03-2012, 07:49pm

Awwww sounds cute!

***kate*** · 13-03-2012, 07:51pm

Not if it smells or chews my furniture it won't be :)

**Adelelee** · 13-03-2012, 07:53pm

Originally Posted by *kate*

Not if it smells or chews my furniture it won't be :)

PMSL

**cheeky_biscuit** · 13-03-2012, 08:10pm

We looked at cavapoos and cockerpoos but both sounded really demanding- twice daily walks, grooming put me off.
I didn't really want a dog so DH went ahead and got a chihauhau(?) just before Xmas & I got a kitten the next day. I have grown to quite like the dog.
Vet bills; she's had her 2 jabs i think they were £30/each & I think they're both annual. We still have to take her to the vet to get weighed for flea & worm treatment (because she's still under 2kg); that's about £6-8/m.
DH works from home, I think Bella sits on his lap while I'm at work- she sleeps a lot still.
She has a very small brain & only manages to toilet on her newspaper/outside 70% of the time - we currently have a pineapple box stopping her getting upstairs as she likes to run up and crap in the girls bedrooms

She goes to weekly puppy training classes Which are mainly to socialise her with other dogs (£15 sign up, £3/class)& she is beginning to show signs of being a dog (sit, stay are her favourites).
She gets a bit smelly but I Hoover every other day & hopefully the house doesn't smell. She has a bath in the sink every 4wks.
I think you only need a license if youve got a dog on a list?

**cheeky_biscuit** · 13-03-2012, 08:10pm

We looked at cavapoos and cockerpoos but both sounded really demanding- twice daily walks, grooming put me off.
I didn't really want a dog so DH went ahead and got a chihauhau(?) just before Xmas & I got a kitten the next day. I have grown to quite like the dog.
Vet bills; she's had her 2 jabs i think they were £30/each & I think they're both annual. We still have to take her to the vet to get weighed for flea & worm treatment (because she's still under 2kg); that's about £6-8/m.
DH works from home, I think Bella sits on his lap while I'm at work- she sleeps a lot still.
She has a very small brain & only manages to toilet on her newspaper/outside 70% of the time - we currently have a pineapple box stopping her getting upstairs as she likes to run up and crap in the girls bedrooms

She goes to weekly puppy training classes Which are mainly to socialise her with other dogs (£15 sign up, £3/class)& she is beginning to show signs of being a dog (sit, stay are her favourites).
She gets a bit smelly but I Hoover every other day & hopefully the house doesn't smell. She has a bath in the sink every 4wks.
I think you only need a license if youve got a dog on a list?

**mummyplus2** · 14-03-2012, 02:26pm

Puppies are hard work, you really have to be committed to put up with all the weeing/pooing in the house, chewing, sleepless nights due to the crying, nipping, training etc. I personally would never get a puppy!

I fostered a 9 month old dog for 2 weeks and that was long enough!

Dogs shouldn't really be left more the 4 hours on their own, I do leave mine once a week for 6 hours but there are 3 of them so have company in each other, and especially as puppies they really need a lot of time and attention. Someone I know got a puppy recently and the dog has totally chewed all their walls, bannisters, etc as they don't take it out enough, and leave it alone too often. Will you be able to take time off work for the first 2 weeks to help the puppy settle in?

I have heard crate training is really effective, so I would definitely look into that if I were you. I wouldn't put a dog in kennels but I have used a lady who takes the dogs into her own home, I found this perfect as some dogs can get stressed in kennels (although mine are used to kennels as they are ex racers I still prefer them to be in a home environment).

Most puppies will require some toilet training but it depends on what they have been taught with the breeder. Even if they have been toilet trained, the change in routine/household can make them regress a step. Some pick it up quicker then others, depends on the dog.

If you are really unsure I would not get a puppy, they are cute but are much harder work then a baby. Have you considered a rescue dog? That way most of the hard work is already done, you can get one trained and fully assessed of their temperament/ whether they are good at being left etc. and are only in rescue due to change in owners circumstances. I presume your husband works full time? Just remember most of the dog ownership will fall on you if you are the one who is around most of the time, you will be the one clearing up dog mess, anything thats been chewed etc so you are really the one who needs to be sure about getting a dog.

I am not trying to put you off (although it would be great if you got a rescue dog instead!

) but just making you aware of what you could get yourself into.