Solitary female cavalier.

I'm considering adding a new pup to the family towards the end of summer.
However Miss Dizz is enjoying her status as a single cavalier.Although she's not at all aggressive,she just doesn't like company.She's turned two since January.
She's not prepared to share a lap,a couch or even a field with another cavalier. Is it mad to add a new permanent pup and have it shunned for the rest of it's life?
I laugh in disbelief when I see all those beautiful photos of cavaliers cuddled up in piles!!




Sins

I'd recommend taking your pup to Cavalier get together. Gage how your cavvy reacts. It could also be that she needs to be socialized. And if that is the case getting another furbaby might have to wait and your need to seek the advice of a professional trainer. :wggle:

You know, you might be pleasantly surprised. Maddie doesn't bother with other dogs, tells them off if they are in her face, and has a real tendency to jealousy, but when I brought Pippin home as an 8 wk pup (Maddie was about 22months old) she couldn't have been more excited about having him around. I never left them on their own together - she had the run of the kitchen all apart from one area that we could gate off for the pup. So they could be nose to nose through the bars when we weren't around, but played together when we could supervise. They don't always cuddle up together even now 2 1/2 yrs down the line, but they are definitely best friends. Pippin learnt a lot of doggy manners from Maddie as well.

Having learnt the hard way in the past I wasn't too interventional with their interactions. If Pippin was being too much for Maddie I let her tell him off. He soon learnt his boundaries, and she's still the boss of him even though he's bigger. In the past I introduced a pup and prevented my older dog from telling her off, and was too much in the pups favour. That pup grew up into a most obnoxious dog around other dogs, and it was mainly down to my inexperience in how to introduce a second dog to a household. Still we live and learn.

We introduced a 2nd cav into the house in feb this year when Harry was nearly 2yrs old. I don't think Harry was overjoyed to have a permanent companion in the early days, he was much too much an only dog & wasnt too keen to share the favors. But now he does seem to enjoy having a playmate, especially as Charlie is getting older, they certainley have good fun playing together, the entertainment value is priceless when they are both in the mood for a game of chase, who needs tellys when they have cavs to watch!

They still haven't reached the stage where they sleep cuddled up together, Harry still prefers his own space, but i have no regrets in having added to the 4 legged family

Thanks everyone - I have been having a similar debate about adding a second dog. Ilsa is friendly and loves other dogs but is so spoiled and jealous of my attention. If I even pet one of her dog friends she jumps her little face right in front and glares at me! I know she would never hurt another dog but I am afraid that sharing her mommy and her treats would make her unhappy.

I've been thinking of offering to sit for another small dog and see how she does with it.

Jen and Ilsa

You should give Tara a ring or drop her a PM. I know Daisy is well socialised as she has had to tolerate plenty of my rescue dogs in foster at your place :lol: but some dogs are just more aloof and less tolerant of 'friends'. On the other hand having a permanent friend around can bring out an aloof dog's more sociable side -- at least with that one other dog. But it could post permanent management issues for you too. I'd have a chat with someone like Tara to get a professional perspective.

I'd like to PM her for advice as well. (If you are reading this Tara please PM me if you have a chance)

Jen and Ilsa

My Casey is very aloof and prefers a person anyday to some dog. Every now and again, she will rest her head on Winston when we're on the sofa, or chase Ollie around the yard. But for the most part, she keeps to herself. She's not annoyed by them at all, but prefers human companionship and that's okay! Didn't stop me from adding another, and another...

I'm traumatised!
I came home sick from work,sore throat,cough,temperature,nauseous.
Hubby went to his goddaughter's confirmation alone and at the lunch was seated next to a lady who breeds and shows dogs. What do you do when on the evening of your 17 th wedding anniversary your husband comes home and says we should consider getting a *cough cough*
Bichon Frise icon_devil
I need medication.......pass the smelling salts and a divorce lawyer:cry*ing:
Sins

sins said:

I'm traumatised!
I came home sick from work,sore throat,cough,temperature,nauseous.
Hubby went to his goddaughter's confirmation alone and at the lunch was seated next to a lady who breeds and shows dogs. What do you do when on the evening of your 17 th wedding anniversary your husband comes home and says we should consider getting a *cough cough*
Bichon Frise icon_devil
I need medication.......pass the smelling salts and a divorce lawyer:cry*ing:
Sins

Click to expand...

It is very simple. Tell him that he is sleeping on the couch for saying something SO rediculus!

Aw Sinead, I had your anniversary written in my diary but I forgot to look at my diary! :sl*p:
:jump: Happy Anniversay:jump:


Put hubby on msn later, I'll have a quiet word about the Bichon Frise! Dear oh dear

Oh and that last picture says it all, "Um...you stay down there!"

You might want to remind your hubby that it would cost a small fortune to keep a bichon clipped and groomed!

It's time to start leaving photos of cute cavalier puppies out everywhere!

Cathy Moon said:

You might want to remind your hubby that it would cost a small fortune to keep a bichon clipped and groomed!

It's time to start leaving photos of cute cavalier puppies out everywhere!

Click to expand...

my groomer says bishons are the worst dogs to groom too, plonk a gorgeous 10 week old puppy in his lap, and say, such a shame he is gonna be put down as no one wants him, and you want a bishon so we cant possibly have him, can we :winkct:

I think they are nice dogs as well. I used to have a lovely maltese! That said, the grooming is a royal pain and needs a professional every 3 weeks at least.
Or an hour a day of your time. Or both!

If you can handle that, I think all dogs are wonderful!
Jen and Ilsa