Hi all,

I've been volunteering at our local animal shelter and we are thinking of offering a dog a home:rolleyes:. Bearing in mind our cavvy boy is 6 months old would it be better to go for an older dog or a puppy?
The older dogs are staffy girl or a lab girl (not sure how old or any background!) and the puppies are 3 male staffie crosses, 1 alsation/rottie cross girl and 1 collie cross boy.
I know i seem mad but i truly love animals and believe we have enough room in our house and our hearts to offer 1 of these dogs a home.

Any advice would be gratefully recieved

I wouldn't consider any of those at the moment.  I'd be inclined to give your boy your undivided attention until he's a couple of years old and then see what sort of companion he might like - or not.  He may like being the only dog in the house and having all the attention! :D

We were always going to add to our "family" but we were going to wait until he was at least a year!:rolleyes:

I don't believe that i would have any less special time for our boy, although i appreciate it will be hard work ( i have 2 young children so am used to beong torn in ten directions!)

Working at the shelter has made me appreciate how lucky our boy is to have a loving home and we want to offer that to ogther dogs too

I agree with Val really, but if you were determined to have one just now then personally I'd go for the older lab girl. It's never a good idea to have two puppies together as they really do make more than twice the work - they lead each other astray and are much harder to train.

Of the adult dogs although the staffy may be closer in size to your boy I think (taking an average of each breed) the lab would be closer in temperment :)

I wouldn't have another dog yet either as your cavalier is only a baby. I could have had a BC puppy from the blood lines that I really like, but my BC boy was only a year old & so I turned the offer down & booked a puppy from a litter from the same parents this year(I hope)

You do need quite a gap between dogs for two reasons-one they will both be old together if they are close in age, two you can get problems for "pack"leadership especially if they are the same sex

I think Angel has already made up her mind about getting another dog(correct me if i'm wrong angel),so i think we should be steering her in the right direction in regards to breed,the work to be expected etc etc.And how can anyone discourage anyone from saving a shelter dog

And how can anyone discourage anyone from saving a shelter dog

Because with a young puppy and two young children at home, a better home could be waiting for them. :)   Now I'm not suggesting for a minute that Angel couldn't offer a good home for another dog, just that dogs who have experienced problems could benefit from 1-2-1 attention rather than an owner who is already spread thinly on the ground with other committments. :)

My local rescue kennel was so keen to keep its 'homed' numbers up that any reasonable home was accepted eg a 12 month male OES (who happened to have testicular cancer - but that's another story!) with a lovely young couple who happened to both work full time.  Doomed for failure! :(   And these dogs were sadly homed and returned on a regular basis - they didn't know if they were on foot or horseback and their problems increased with each homing - but it kept the 'homed' figures up! :(

I would also always urge caution to a Mother with young children rescuing a dog without knowing the full history.  I have seen a few with happy endings but far more with disasterous results. :(  Loving animals just isn't enough I'm afraid.  It's essential to be practical and realistic about these things too. :)

I'm sorry if it's not what you want to hear but having had a grooming parlour in the vicinity of a large national rescue kennel and seen first hand some of the results, I sincerely would say leave it a little longer. :)

>Because with a young puppy and two young children at home, a better home could be waiting for them.   Now I'm not suggesting for a minute that Angel couldn't offer a good home for another dog, just that dogs who have experienced problems could benefit from 1-2-1 attention rather than an owner who is already spread thinly on the ground with other committments.

Valid points :)

>I would also always urge caution to a Mother with young children rescuing a dog without knowing the full history.

I agree 10000%

I've had dogs that were 6,mths or less apart and didnt have any problems,so it can be done,allbeit it does take a little extra work.
I would be leary of adopting a staffy from a rescue unless you know every in and out of their past.Some are offered up due to behavioural problems,but others land there through no fault of their own,such as the death or illness of their owner.
If you really,really want a big dog i would go for the lab,but if it were me i would wait till a little dog came in.

Thanks for all your replies, yes you are right ktee i have already made my mind up!

I am taking my husband to look at the dogs this morning so we will make a decision from there. The Staffy is good with kids and other dogs (found out a bit more about her today) she came from up north in the uk because of all this ridiculous business with staffies at the moment. She has a lovely temperament and i'm very keen on her. Rest assured i love my children more than anything and i would not put them in danger, as with ANY dog i would watch them at all times and also would never leave them alone!
I do think that sometimes people assume that mothers with young children are less capable than others which i find very frustrating. My eldest is in pre-school 3 full days per week and will be starting school next year and my youngest will be starting pre-school in April next year also 3 full days. I am going into this with my eyes wide open not with rose tinted glasses i assure you and our animal shelter is the same they have very strict guidelines for re-homing any animal and would not let me have a dog if they didn't think we could cope. I value all your opinions on this website which is why it was my first port of call. Do you think that the staffy cross puppies would cause a problem along the line (they are all boys) we don't know that they are definately staffies we just think they are.

Thanks

Strictly on pre-conceptions as I don't have personal experience of either breed, but I wouldn't be looking at a SBT if I already had a Cavalier - having had a Dobermann and a Rough Collie who both had super temperaments but were utterly incompatible in the way they played and interacted, I'd be wondering if the mix you are considering would be the same?

M.

I do think that sometimes people assume that mothers with young children are less capable than others which i find very frustrating.

I certainly don't think that Mothers with young children are less capable!  I think that they're b***dy fantastic if they can do a good job as a Mother, wife, house keeper, socialise and train a 6 month old puppy AND do voluntary work.  But we all only have the same 24 hours in each day and therefore our time HAS to be limited.

You're obviously not going to listen to reason and all the experienced posters here who, without exception, are saying that this is not a good idea, and so I'll wish you good luck in your new venture. :)

PS  Have you shown your husband this thread?

I do think that sometimes people assume that mothers with young children are less capable than others which i find very frustrating. My eldest is in pre-school 3 full days per week and will be starting school next year and my youngest will be starting pre-school in April next year also 3 full days.

Taken from anothe post less than 2 months ago..

Alot of people tried to put us off because our children are aged 1 and 3 but it has turned out great we have set "play" time when we ALL get involved with playing with our "baby" and set sleep time which is when he goes into our kitchen for his rest from the kids!!!

Wasn't going to post but decided I had to also.  You have literally 2 babies.   You say the second starts pre-school in April like it is next month.

I am flabbergasted that people will just not take advice. You have manged with one , I think a second ( especially some of the breeds you have been previously mentioning in other posts) will be a disaster.

I just can't get my head around why someone would want to rock the apple cart.  Forget the dogs how can you give 2 babies the time they need with 2 dogs.

Just my opinion. :-)

Forget the dogs how can you give 2 babies the time they need with 2 dogs.

This is sort of what I was thinking too. The summer holls start tomorrow, so the preschool will be over, and this is the perfect time to get out and about with the children, to some places that don't allow dogs (zoos etc) for their fun and learning, as well as to the beach, playgrounds, etc. Even with the best behaved little ones, they can become fretful or have tantrums, so hands will be full even with one puppy. There may even be a holiday, and its a bit much to expect a rescue or a new puppy to begin to settle in then stay elsewhere for a week or so. Summer is exciting for little ones, full of exciting things to do, and it would seem a shame to lose this time for the care of a new dog/puppy. I remember well how good one becomes at multi-tasking with little ones :D...but very often other things have to slide, like the housework or iorning, unless you are lucky enough to have a good back-up with parents/extended family to give you a break. Why not just wait a while, at least until the eldest is at full time junior school, or better still both of them. Its not all that long, but the time you have with the little ones is precious, don't stress yourself out by missing this time because you have to spend so much time with dogs. Give the spare time you do have helping with the less fourtunate dogs, you can walk away from them at the end of the day, you can't when you have a problem in your home.

I say all this with the best intentions, I am only aiming to maybe put a different light on your choice, whilst realising that its yours and yours alone at the end of the day, and I wish you all the best with whatever you do. :)

When my daughter was very small my older dog passed away I waited until my daughter was over 7 before we brought another dog in the house. I am not saying people don't manage but I struggle to manage my life with my dogs and a 17 year old child :-)

>I do think that sometimes people assume that mothers with young children are less capable than others which i find very frustrating. My eldest is in pre-school 3 full days per week and will be starting school next year and my youngest will be starting pre-school in April next year also 3 full days. I am going into this with my eyes wide open not with rose tinted glasses i assure you and our animal shelter is the same they have very strict guidelines for re-homing any animal and would not let me have a dog if they didn't think we could cope

Thinking someone can cope & being able to cope are two totally different things

Please reconsider getting another dog. I've had big dogs(GSDs)with the Cavaliers & yes the last one was a rescue bitch aged 8 months 12 years ago. However the difference is in situations is that I've had GSDs for nearly 50 years(will be next August)& the cavaliers were not puppies & were used to living with GSDs & BCs(as were my cats). The bitch was from a breed specific rescue who have over 50 years of experience with GSDs & about the same with rescuing the same. Abbie was tested with small dogs & cats & was 150% with them. The dogs we had were used to GSDs & were all dogs & she fitted in really well

You on the other hand have a young Cavalier(for only a couple of months)that hasn't lived with any bigger dogs other than it's same breed adults & the rescue will probably not have lived with a small breed. I wouldn't have another dog until he is mature(around 18 months to 2 years)then a dog/bitch that is good with small dogs & has been tested with them & children.

Maybe a rescue puppy(there are always lots)so he/she will grow up with your Cavalier

I thought long & hard before getting my kittens(booked puppy not yet conceived)& my two older dogs are fine with cats having lived with two until three years ago & my young BC is OK with small dogs & has quickly accepted the kittens(they are already the Alphas). I had the agreement of the lady whose cat had the kittens that she would take them back if there was any problem(didn't think there would be)& it isn't so upsetting for a young animal to be returned.

But rescues deserve to go to a forever home & not be returned if a mistake is made

Please think again & delay your acquisition for a few months

I'm not anti staffy or any other breed nor rescues BTW Never had a staff because they are not a breed that would suit me personally but I know lots of very lovely ones & also many many rescues

I've had dogs that were 6,mths or less apart and didnt have any problems,so it can be done,allbeit it does take a little extra work.

One point I've not seen mentioned in this thread (apart from Ktee's valid point about the Staffies) is that the new dog would be a RESCUE. I.e. it may well be a lot more work than a pup got from a breeder as it may have all sorts of issues that don't become apparent until it's been with you for a while.  So yet another reason to leave it a bit longer.

Labs can have behavioural problems too!

I'd leave it a bit longer.

I have a 15month old golden and we fostered a rescue for 6 weeks and have now adopted him.  It is hard work as Jasper my golden has picked up some bad habits from Henry my rescue and vice versa. 

Jasper is older than your puppy and I'm at home with them both all day with no small children to look after I can manage this, but had Jasper been younger I know it would have been a challenge

You still have to go through the 'Kevin stage' with you dog - definitely wait a while longer.  As people have said on here, rescues come with problems that take a while before we know they've got them!

Better to get the timing right so that when you do adopt it will be his or her forever home :)

I would most definitely agree with most people on this, I would wait a bit longer.
I didn't get my 2nd stafford until my 1st was almost 5 years old.
They are not a breed for the faint hearted (not that you are that Angel).
I volunteer with Stafford rescue and agree too that a stafford from rescue could be there for any number of reasons.
I really would advise exercising caution, particularly as you have a cavy and two young children.
Staffords don't 'play' with other dogs in the same way as some do..
Hope it works out well.. but do have your wits about you :-)

Hello!

I deffo wouldnt get another pup or even think of it while your Cav is so young.
You need to train your 1st dog to the standard and then possibly get another but only when your first no longer requires your undiveded attention, or else they will simply teach each other bad habits and you will be pulling your hair out before you know it!

And a staffy would be far too boisterous to have around such a young Cav, theyre playing is very hands on with what seems like aggresion but its just them being staffs so would be too much for a young Cav, i have 1 SBT and getting another later on this year when our girl will be 2 years old we wouldnt get any thing smaller then a staffy now to avoid any problems.

I used to have a Labrador bitch who was built like a tank. There was someone on our walk that had a staffy cross dog. He absolutely loved my Lab but when he played he often became very boisterous and used to drag my Lab bitch around by the throat. She used to hang her head over the canal to try and stop him when he became too much for her. What I am trying to point out is that a Cavalier wouldn't stand a chance if this dog became very boisterous with it. Hope sharing this experience helps with your decision.

That's very similar from the behaviour I had with my Rough Collie and Dobermann, as posted above, Alison. Not a nasty bone in either of their bodies, but totally different playing styles.

M.

I don't mean to be rude but I seem to be having an overwhelming sense of deja-vu :rolleyes: You are asking for advice which a lot of people are giving, yet it doesn't seem to be going in..?

http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=827676;hl=;hlm=and#pid827676
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/cgi-bin/board/topic_show.pl?pid=835501;hl=;hlm=and#pid835501

6 months is way too young to be getting another dog - why the need to be in such a hurry?

Yes my husband is aware of this thread we sort of expected this sort of reaction but i thought i would ask anyway. I will talk to the lady that runs the kennels and see what her view is, i have already had a chat with our little boy's breeder who says that she doesn't see a problem providing i continue with the training and have my wits about me. Wanting to home a dog doesn't make me a bad person! Its true that we were going to wait a while and there was no rush but then these dogs came along. If everyone turned their back on rescue dogs the animal centres would be in an even worse mess than they are, a bit like having children there isn't always a "right" time and it is obviously something that alot of people view very differently.:rolleyes:

There is no need to be rude i only came on here for advice i was always going to make the decision myself.

>Its true that we were going to wait a while and there was no rush but then these dogs came along. If everyone turned their back on rescue dogs the animal centres would be in an even worse mess than they are

Unfortunately Angel, if there's one thing certain in this world, it's that there will be more of them along to follow. :(

I don't, and I don't think any poster, thinks you're a bad person for wanting to give a dog that's fallen on hard times a home. On the contrary, I have every admiration that you're getting out there and helping. All people are trying to do is point out the many pitfalls.

M.

If everyone turned their back on rescue dogs the animal centres would be in an even worse mess than they aremad,

And if everyone thought through things more carefully before getting dogs, there would be LESS dogs in the rescues.......

Angel, I don't think anyone is being rude. The use of your past posts simply show the history you have built up, which gives people a better chance to give better advice. Much of this is from people who are very experienced with puppies and rescue dogs, many are parents themselves and know how hard it is having both at the same time. The puppies they have had will be either their own bred, or from lines they know so they have some idea of how the puppy will turn out, and also what breeds are best together. many also have rescue dogs, and know from experience the highs and lows and pitfalls of them. it is difficult to judge the nature of any crossbreed, even if you know the parents. By asking for advice you are being responsible, and if asking advice there must be some doubt in your mind as to if this is a good idea. My feelings are, if in doubt, don't.

Whilst it is wonderful you want to give a homeless dog a home, what I would ask you to do is seriously think how you would feel if it all went wrong and one of your precious little ones were bitten, or worse, attacked. How would you feel if the puppy was injured? How would you feel if there was no other choice but to return the rescue....or the cav? Would your breeder take the cav back if her advice went wrong, and the dogs did not get on? So many simple questions, but things to think about. You have many years to rehome a dog, does it really have to be now?

Unfortunately, some people don't want to listen, even to themselves! :(

It is unfortunate that our small dog came 1st but i'd hate to think that it would prevent us from getting anymore of the breeds that we love.  We are also cosidering a rhodisian and a dogue de bordeaux so we really are just at the very start of our search!!

I have got 2 young children and we had a staffie girl before they came along, unfortunately she wasn't happy when they came along and she went to live with my parents.

We would have happily taken on a rescue dog over here but they don't like to re-home with young kids, is that the same in the UK?

We took him out for a little walk on his lead and he refused to walk!!! He decided that whilst his lead was on hi would crawl on the ground on his belly , it was hilarious but after a while we took him back and he happily bounded round our garden!!??
I think it is obviously because he isn't used to wearing his lead and maybe it was a bit strange for him being outside.
I am really worried about letting him off the lead in case he runs off and doesn't come back or just runs into a road...any advice?  
This was posted only a month ago!

We have got a little Cavalier who is 4 months old, since we have had him when he has been on my lap i get the sneezes and my eyes are so itchy!!  He is the only long haired dog i have had and its only happening when i handle him, could i be allergic to his fur?
Is there something that i can take to stop this allergy?
And this was posted 3 weeks ago.

Angel PLEASE (I don't know what else to say!) reconsider.  This is a disaster just waiting to happen.  You've only had your Cavalier boy for 2 months now.  You've experienced nothing with him yet.  He really does need more time.  Please give him a chance before you continue to do what you want to do. :(  How much room do your parents have to take more dogs if this doesn't work out?

I agree, please reconsider. It's a sad truth that there will likely always be dogs needing rescuing, so please please give your Cavalier time to grow up, keep working at the rescue and helping, which means you are already helping those poor dogs a huge amount, and in a couple of years, THEN see what is in the kennels and needs some extra help. :-)

Well after a lot of thought we have decided not to go ahead with rescuing anything.
I guess that working in the rescue got to me and i am the sort of person to want to save them all but i will help them in a different way. I would still like to get another dog down the line but i will continue to lavish my attention on our boy instead. I think that some people have been a tad rude in their posts and there wasn't really a need to dig up all my previous posts where i was asking for help but i guess some people have too much time on their hands!:rolleyes:

Thanks for the constructive advice though, i DID take it all in and it did help me to make my decision.

I'm pleased enjoy your little boy & when he's older then start looking for a pal for him-maybe a younger rescue etc don't be put off a rescue just not right now

Angel,
By reading all of the posts on here I don't think that any of the posters are being rude at all. They are advising you of the pitfalls that may happen. The majority of regular posters on here are very experienced and are passing that experience on to you. we have all seen things go wrong and are sharing these reservations with you. I have two children albeit a lot older than yours and I know that even in their teen years they are hard work, sometimes I am run ragged by the demands of a family and dogs. It is lovely that you were considering offering a rescue a home but that home will still be available in a few years time also when your pup has matured and children older.

Enjoy your pup and watching him grow and I feel that on reflection you will be glad that you didn't rehome a pup at this present time.:

Hi Angel

It's not a case of "not enough to do" when perusing older posts, to see what a (relatively) new CD member has said before .....often older posts will answer questions that have been answered in the past - we're checking our own memories :D :D

Glad that you have taken on board the points that have been made - enjoy your little chap whilst he is a puppy!

Margot

Well done, I think you've done the right thing - like others have said, you can still rescue a deserving case in years to come. :-)

When you're used to the board, looking up previous posts takes no time at all.  In fact it's the only way to make sure that you give an appropriate reply because most individual posts don't give enough background information to know what the situation is. :)

I sincerely think that you've made the right decision.  When the right time comes then there'll be plenty of experienced help on the board.

Keep up the good work at the rescue kennels - I do the same thing too and so understand how those sad eyes can get to you!  But you can't be responsible for all the unwanted dogs in the kennel, only the one that you have at home and your own family.  The right time will come to increase your numbers :)

Thanks.

Just for the record i didn't just give my old staffie away to my parents, my parents wanted her very much and she was happier with them because she wasn't happy being around the children (bad background). I don't want posters to think that i am the sort of person that abandons my animals when the going gets tough far from it.

I'm really glad to hear that you've reconsidered Angel...
Working in rescue can really pull on the old heart strings (to put it mildly!)
As you've owned a stafford before, who had issues being around children, then you obviously know how rough n ready they can be.  Imagine a Stafford whose background you don't know.. eek! 
Just keep doing the good work with rescue, you're skin will get thicker as time goes on :-)
Well done on your decision :-)