So, I've been lurking for a long time on this forum, and I've been considering posting for about a week now. Forgive me if this post seems to meander a little bit; I just have so many things that I want to say.
Basically, my situation is this: I'm currently in law school in Los Angeles with a couple of years left before I get out. I'm hoping to get a dog in the future, but not in the immediate future.
Quite a while ago, when I was searching for information about dog breeds, I came across the Cavalier. Beyond just being some of the most beautiful dogs ever, they appealed to me for a number of reasons. (1) they are (usually) ultra friendly companion dogs. This is the thing I've wanted first and foremost, but (as I'll mention later) may be the source of my problems. I love that most want nothing more than to follow their "person" around and get love or cuddle. (2) they're small enough to still be a good lap dog without being so small they look silly (i don't want a purse dog!) (3) they aren't, on the whole, a yippy breed. (4) they seem fairly trainable to a basic level at least.
Before I go on, let me mention that I've read all of the stickied posts by Karlin. These have been highly helpful, and far better than the pieces of information I was previously able to put together from around the internet. Feel free to emphasize any points made there, but I just wanted to make it clear that I'm trying to approach this with that information in mind.
Anyway, my problem is this: when I get out of school, I'll have to work a lot of hours. I'm very worried about separation anxiety. The last thing I'd ever want to do is be in a situation where my dog was unhappy. I'll likely be able to afford dog daycare or a daily walk on weekdays, but I don't know how far this goes toward solving the problem. If I were to get a dog, I would definitely be willing to spend time so that it was not otherwise neglected (grooming, general loving, taking daily walks, etc), but it is unlikely that I can solve the problem of having to work long hours.
So I really have two questions to start:
1. Would it be possible in this situation to get a cavalier? If it makes a difference, I think that I'd be perfectly happy raising a puppy (though my last year of law school would be the only real time for me to do this for a while) or getting a lower maintenance rescue cavalier.
2. If it would be a mistake to get a cavalier because of how much being apart would hurt it, can you suggest any other breeds that might fit the things that I like about cavs? I think part of my problem is maybe that I want incompatable things... a dog that always wants to be there with me, snuggling, etc. when i'm around but who isn't unhappy when I'm not.
I have a lot of time before this is a real decision to make, but I wanted to make sure that when I do make the decision it's the right one -- both for me and my dog.
I know that's a lot to read, but I'd be very grateful for whatever help people can provide. It's impressed me how much cavalier owners love their dogs, and it's made me want one even more.
Thanks in advance.
Basically, my situation is this: I'm currently in law school in Los Angeles with a couple of years left before I get out. I'm hoping to get a dog in the future, but not in the immediate future.
Quite a while ago, when I was searching for information about dog breeds, I came across the Cavalier. Beyond just being some of the most beautiful dogs ever, they appealed to me for a number of reasons. (1) they are (usually) ultra friendly companion dogs. This is the thing I've wanted first and foremost, but (as I'll mention later) may be the source of my problems. I love that most want nothing more than to follow their "person" around and get love or cuddle. (2) they're small enough to still be a good lap dog without being so small they look silly (i don't want a purse dog!) (3) they aren't, on the whole, a yippy breed. (4) they seem fairly trainable to a basic level at least.
Before I go on, let me mention that I've read all of the stickied posts by Karlin. These have been highly helpful, and far better than the pieces of information I was previously able to put together from around the internet. Feel free to emphasize any points made there, but I just wanted to make it clear that I'm trying to approach this with that information in mind.
Anyway, my problem is this: when I get out of school, I'll have to work a lot of hours. I'm very worried about separation anxiety. The last thing I'd ever want to do is be in a situation where my dog was unhappy. I'll likely be able to afford dog daycare or a daily walk on weekdays, but I don't know how far this goes toward solving the problem. If I were to get a dog, I would definitely be willing to spend time so that it was not otherwise neglected (grooming, general loving, taking daily walks, etc), but it is unlikely that I can solve the problem of having to work long hours.
So I really have two questions to start:
1. Would it be possible in this situation to get a cavalier? If it makes a difference, I think that I'd be perfectly happy raising a puppy (though my last year of law school would be the only real time for me to do this for a while) or getting a lower maintenance rescue cavalier.
2. If it would be a mistake to get a cavalier because of how much being apart would hurt it, can you suggest any other breeds that might fit the things that I like about cavs? I think part of my problem is maybe that I want incompatable things... a dog that always wants to be there with me, snuggling, etc. when i'm around but who isn't unhappy when I'm not.
I have a lot of time before this is a real decision to make, but I wanted to make sure that when I do make the decision it's the right one -- both for me and my dog.
I know that's a lot to read, but I'd be very grateful for whatever help people can provide. It's impressed me how much cavalier owners love their dogs, and it's made me want one even more.
Thanks in advance.