gentle puppies?

[LovesJellyBeans]

I have found that my puppy (now 1 year-old) didn't ever like being around a lot of other dogs at one time. He seems much calmer around other dogs one-on-one. However, the exception to this rule is other Cavaliers. He loves being around his own kind... I think it helps that they as a breed tend to be calmer and less likely to jump at or on him, which he absolutely hates.

I still try and take him to the dog park on occasion, but he rarely strays far from me, preferring to stay at my feet if other dogs approach him.

[BrooklynMom]

LovesJellyBean brought up a good point....the exception to the rule is always cavaliers together!

Is there a cavalier club near you? Or a casual cavalier meet up group? Maybe contact some breeders or cav owners in your area and ask or maybe even start one up yourself?!
You are right in that bullying is not okay, and will just make our pups more scared. It is the long process of finding that right mix/park/play group. It must be a frustrating endless search, but you are doing a great job and trying so many new things!!!

Also, I just thought of this... I am a member of a site in Australia called Dog Tree (http://www.dogtree.com.au), it is basically a site where people come together that have dogs in your area and look for play mates, park buddies, socials, get togethers, someone to keep pup company what home alone, etc. Check it out and see if something like that exist in your area? Because you can also search by breed, so I am friends with a few Cav owners on there and I have met up at the local park with another small dog owner. It is nice because you can go through all those questions in advance...like I always say that Brooklyn is very calm, does not like rambunctious play, etc. and you meet nice people. There is a cavalier meet up group on there that meets once a month too, but it is not in my state

Just trying to brain storm! If you want to fly Toby to Sydney, we can have a play date! Ha.

[gamefanz]

Thank you for your experience. It really does help knowing we are not alone with the calmness. Are you the one that belongs to the cav group in the seattle area? It should would be awesome if we could find the time some day to travel up there for a get together.

Becky

I have found that my puppy (now 1 year-old) didn't ever like being around a lot of other dogs at one time. He seems much calmer around other dogs one-on-one. However, the exception to this rule is other Cavaliers. He loves being around his own kind... I think it helps that they as a breed tend to be calmer and less likely to jump at or on him, which he absolutely hates.

I still try and take him to the dog park on occasion, but he rarely strays far from me, preferring to stay at my feet if other dogs approach him.

[gamefanz]

Sadly there is no meet up groups or play groups in my area for Cavaliers. You do not see many down where I live. There is a group in the Seattle area though but its over an hr from me. Not sure about breeders or Major Cavalier group for show/agility but for now we are mainly focused on play. I have searched the internet until I am blue in the face for meet ups. My best bet is day care but I really don't need him in day care.
I'm not sure of a general dog site that you can put your info and get an answer back on a dog that would fit for him. I will have to search it out. I'm just generally sad that there are very little Cavaliers in my area.
I will keep on my search though.
Becky

LovesJellyBean brought up a good point....the exception to the rule is always cavaliers together!

Is there a cavalier club near you? Or a casual cavalier meet up group? Maybe contact some breeders or cav owners in your area and ask or maybe even start one up yourself?!
You are right in that bullying is not okay, and will just make our pups more scared. It is the long process of finding that right mix/park/play group. It must be a frustrating endless search, but you are doing a great job and trying so many new things!!!

Also, I just thought of this... I am a member of a site in Australia called Dog Tree (http://www.dogtree.com.au), it is basically a site where people come together that have dogs in your area and look for play mates, park buddies, socials, get togethers, someone to keep pup company what home alone, etc. Check it out and see if something like that exist in your area? Because you can also search by breed, so I am friends with a few Cav owners on there and I have met up at the local park with another small dog owner. It is nice because you can go through all those questions in advance...like I always say that Brooklyn is very calm, does not like rambunctious play, etc. and you meet nice people. There is a cavalier meet up group on there that meets once a month too, but it is not in my state

Just trying to brain storm! If you want to fly Toby to Sydney, we can have a play date! Ha.

[Kate H]

Have you thought of asking your vet? He or she is likely to know most of the dogs in your area - especially puppies who have been in for their shots.

At the same time, I wouldn't be too worried if you can't find another dog. We think puppies should play - but I'm not sure all Cavaliers think the same, as long as they have their owners to play with! Until I had Aled I only had one Cavalier at a time; they were quite friendly with other dogs we met, but none of them - even when we went out for walks with friends and their dogs and they were all off-lead - showed any inclination to play. They were quite happy to interact with humans, say hello to other dogs in passing, and investigate every tree and blade of grass for interesting smells! The exception was other Cavaliers - they would very occasionally run around with them; Aled enjoyed having five to play with when he was away with a friend while I was in hospital, but doesn't seem to miss it now he's home.

Kate, Oliver and Aled

[gamefanz]

Thank you for the response. I know she has mentioned seeing a few Cavaliers in her practice. Not sure if she would hand me phone numbers though. I could give her mine to give out to Cavalier owners.
Its nice to see so many other Cavaliers who are not too big on playing rough. Toby really loves having his nose to the ground. I'm sure if we found the right dog he would love to play with them. Toby LOVES people. He kept trying to get everyones attention at the puppy social.
Becky

Have you thought of asking your vet? He or she is likely to know most of the dogs in your area - especially puppies who have been in for their shots.

At the same time, I wouldn't be too worried if you can't find another dog. We think puppies should play - but I'm not sure all Cavaliers think the same, as long as they have their owners to play with! Until I had Aled I only had one Cavalier at a time; they were quite friendly with other dogs we met, but none of them - even when we went out for walks with friends and their dogs and they were all off-lead - showed any inclination to play. They were quite happy to interact with humans, say hello to other dogs in passing, and investigate every tree and blade of grass for interesting smells! The exception was other Cavaliers - they would very occasionally run around with them; Aled enjoyed having five to play with when he was away with a friend while I was in hospital, but doesn't seem to miss it now he's home.

Kate, Oliver and Aled

[LovesJellyBeans]

Becky, one of these days I will try and schedule a 'far' south event. One of my meet-up members lives near Tacoma, and her dog is very sweet. If you'd like I can try and get her your contact info and see if she'd be willing to meet with you at a local park sometime. Or maybe you guys might be able to work out a carpool to attend one of the Seattle Meet-ups.
If you'd like me to send her your info, just PM me your e-mail address and a little intro I can send her.
Traci

[gamefanz]

The weirdest thing just happened.
I walked out my front door to take Toby for a walk and across the street was a lady taking her dogs for a walk. She has a mini Aussie & a Black/Tan Cavalier! I have lived in this neighborhood for over 1 year and have never seen these dogs before. As we starting talking across the streets, her Aussie was going crazy. He was barking and showing aggression. I asked if he was friendly and she said not really. He is very over protective of the cavalier. So I was very cautious. The female is 4 years old and 13 lbs not fixed. She asked where I got him and how old he was. She said he was beautiful then asked if we want to breed him. I couldn't believe she asked that right out. I said no he is just a pet and we are under contract not to breed. She said thats too bad. She said she wants to breed her cavalier but she can't find a male that is just as small as she is. She wants to breed small ones..I was shocked. Then I asked her if she knows about SM and she said no. I told her a little about it (short form as the aussie was insane) and she said she is not concerned with that.
It made me real sad. She wants to bring over her Cavalier to play with Toby but with Toby starting his male habits I am really scared to do that. I don't know what to do about an actually meeting with a female that is still intact and an owner who WANTS to breed. The 2 dogs did meet nose to nose but nothing to touchy feely. Toby peed all over the street, not sure if it was from the female or the Aussie that was crazy barking.
I was so excited at first to see another Cavalier in the neighborhood.
Becky

[Kate H]

I've had this too from someone who lived nearby and stopped me in the street to ask if Oliver could mate her bitch - she hadn't even heard of heart problems, let alone SM! What a shame, though, that the only Cavalier nearby has such a criminally stupid owner. I wouldn't let Toby anywhere near her - I bet if you started meeting up she wouldn't tell you when her bitch was in season in the hope that Toby would perform!

Kate, Oliver and Aled

[denali]

That happened a few years ago when cavaliers were 'the' dog to have.
They were everywhere, not so much anymore. Which i suppose is a good thing, because it stops people like that.

But it was with our old boy Anzac!
He was a handsome boy and would have made a wonderful show dog, but he was neutered because we never planned to breed him.
We had a guy with a tiny blenheim ask if he could borrow our boy!
We just said sorry, he is fixed.
He went on for about 20 minutes about how much of a shame that was becaus ethe puppies would have been wonderful!

He too didn't care about the testing.