I am not panicking yet - but when my daughter says she wants to do something I know eventually it will happen.  Despite the fact that her OH hates dogs, and that she has a 2 year old daughter - also looking to expand family sometime soon, she still wants to get a dog.  Now they are buying our present house sometime this year and we will build again next door.  Any dog she gets will involve me quite heavily.  Now my bc Meg is not tolerant of the little dog next door (who is not well socialised anyway) but gets on well with other dogs we meet outside.  She is a nervous little dog and is gradually settling down.  My daughter has a thing about toy breeds.  I know with all the careful socialising in the world that 2 dogs may not get on but how can we minimise the risk?  What sort of toy breed will be laid back enough to put up with children and a bossy little dog next door.  Also I think she will favour a bitch too.   She has got to be pointed to an 'easy' breed.  She does have a thing about Chinese crested!  I think she is mad - why she just can't share my dog I don't know.  Oh yes and her OH wants to keep hens.    This isn't something that is going to happen in the near future but I like to plan ahead.

In my view the best toy breed for family life is a Cavalier King Charles. They are easy going and usually love kiddies. Ifd you decide on this breed, do check that the parents have been checked for heart and eyes.

Chinese cresteds are fabulous little dogs, great characters, full of fun and mine came for walks with the collies and borzois. They do need a bit of upkeep though - the powderpuff coats are a nightmare, far too much work for me but fine if you want to spend 10-20mins every day grooming them. The hairless are the lower maintenance variety but even they require regular bathing, baby oil rubbed in and the occasional spot squeezing :D I'd imagine your Meg would get used to any puppy brought into her family, mine always have.

Can your daughter be wary of her OH not liking dogs.  My sister's OH doesn't like dogs in any shape or form but she insisisted on getting one anyway and he did agree to it.  However within 3 months the poor dog was back at the rescue centre it came from - it was never going to work out in their case.  It was a real shame for the dog who wasn't at all a problem but the dislike of dogs just kept raising its head and caused no end of rows and poor treatment of the dog.  Your daughters situation may not be like this at all but she really should think hard about it.  I hope it works out for her though as I love owning a dog :)

CG

I would echo this warning.  There is a nice Elkhound bitch near me who was originally bought by the owners daughter and non doggy husband.  It caused no end of strife, and it was lucky that parents who had always had GSD's and were waiting on getting another until her retired were able to step in.

As a breeder I would not be willing to sell to a family where any member was less than keen.

Yes this is a potential problem - I see him wince everytime Meg goes to jump on him - he doesn't know what to do and she knows his weakness.   Chinese crested look so delicate too - and they don't do much for me - I like a doggy dog if you see what I mean - one to go on long walks with.  I knew they needed moisturising but spots ugh!   Are Cavaliers good with children then - they do seem a bit more solid.  I have heard of the heart problems.  A good excuse for a trip to Crufts and the discovering dogs section I think.  We did that when I was looking.  I wanted a Kooikerhondje but the problems of getting a puppy are too great - they have to be well past the puppy stage before they can be brought into the country.  Coupled with that I would really have to get into serious stuff - breeding and that.  Wasn't ready for that.   I will definitely talk to her about children being of a sensible age to care for animals - 2 is much too young.  I think 5 at least!  That is how old she was when we had our dog and cat.  Even then my son (at 3) tried bathing the kitten in the bathroom sink.  Meanwhile my granddaugher has plenty of contact with our dog. 

I've never owned a Cavalier but the ones I have met have always had very good temperaments.  I would think they would be a good toy dog to start with.  I have papillons but would never recommend them for your daughter.  They tend to be quite fine boned and, although they are very outgoing little dogs, a very young child could easily hurt one unintentionally.  If your daughter does get a dog and it doesn't work out because of her husband, are you prepared to take it over?

What about a Pug ? nice solid little characters ...or a Griffon Bruxellois...or a French Bulldog....or a Japanese Spitz....or a German Spitz...or a   Schiperkee....none of these are particularly delicate small dogs although I believe that some can be a tad noisy

as for keeping Chickens - fantastic pets ..such funny characters they just stomp around the garden muttering to each other they quickly become very tame AND they give you lovely fresh eggs  ....just LOVE my chooks :D.... but don't get a cockrel unless you have very understanding neighbours !. ( I have 5 rescued from houses whose neighbours did not appreciate being woken up at 4 in the morning  ( no more I keep telling myself ...no more !!! )

Yvonne

Cavaliers are generally very good with children - they do love to be with their people though, so if your daughter's husband can't be reconciled to a beautiful little dog that wants to sit on his lap, that might be a problem!

Cavalieirs are great but you need to make sure both parents are heart & eye tested aswell as the pups. What about a Mini Schnauzer? Gorgeous Dogs :)

I love the look of French Bulldogs - they look as if they have so much character.  I think a dog that doesn't move to fast may be more acceptable to my son-in-law.  Meg being a collie is so fast.  Saying that she is so good with my granddaughter.  My granddaughter is learning so fast - she is nervous of Meg's quick movements too and has learnt to use hand signals and say down, stay.  Meg looks to me for confirmation and usually obeys.  I moniter things very carefully. My daughter now fancies a Boston terrier .  My lights have just blinked off funny the electricity is still on.  Must go and investigate.

Cavalier PUPS aren't heart tested,MVD doesn't show up in pups, the vital thing is that both parents are at least 3 years old  and that THEIR parents (i.e. all four grandparents) are at least 5 years old and still heart clear. But sadly 99% of all Cavaliers will still develop MVD at some point during their life. (50% by age 5.) There is also now a big problem with Syringomyelia.

I cannot agree that 99% of Cavs have MVD at age 5 years. Yes heart and eyes are a problem but if one goes to the right breeder the chances are good

It's not a matter of agreeing, is it -it's facts and statistics. Good breeder has nothing whatsoever to do with it.

From a Rescuers point of view Dont get one, if all parties are not willing to have a dog, the dog will at some point end up in a rescue ....sorry to sound so negitive but have heard stories like this so many times, a dog came into our rescue today the child had been poking its fingers in its eye and hitting it, also 2 weeks ago another dog came in for a similar reason,now we dont rehome to any families with children under the age of 5 yrs...
To bring a dog into your home ALL family members must be aware of the responsibility,her hubby will resent it at some point you cant make people dog friendly, if they dont have it in them....

Not allways - I have 6 children, 3 dogs & a husband who is allergic to dog fur (allthough he does like them).

It can work but will make life hard. It is also best if the children are used to dogs & know how to treat them.

Puppies also bite, even toy breeds, this could scare a child.

From a breeder's point of view I wouldn't sell a puppy to a family were one member actively does not want it. It's different if, say, the wife wants the pup and the husband is just willing to go along. I've sold pups to a couple of families like that and in each case the husband ended up doting on the dog even more than the wife. But if one partner does not like dogs they won't get one from me. That's why I insist on meeting the whole family (and on them meeting the hairy herd) before I agree a sale.

The discussion about Cavaliers is very interesting - I think it is enough to put one off the breed although temprament-wise I thought that would be the best bet.  As for the husband not wanting a dog - my husband didn't really want another dog - It is my responsibility - I see to her needs and clean up after her.  However he has come to really love our dog - unfortunately it doesn't get him up out of his chair very often to walk her.  He will do it if I am ill and on sunday mornings.