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Will I or won't I?

bawnie

New member
Hi everyone

Have set my heart on getting a new puppy & have decided on a Cavalier. Need help deciding on Blenheim or tricolour, male or female? Anyone out there that can advise?

P.S. Any tips on puppy selection? Thanks.
 
It really won't matter because you'll end up getting another anyway and probably, the type/sex you didn't get the first time... ;)

I went through thinking I wanted everything but a blenheim then ended up with a blenheim as my first, and thought I'd go for a female and ended up with a male. I know lots of us here will have a similar tale!! 8)

I have two males and really adore them. This is one breed where there isn't really a strong personality argument against getting a male vs a female. Many say the females love you but the males are in love with you. When I had one boy I knew I'd be delighted with another boy, or a girl; it didn't really matter.

It may really end up being whatever colour puppy a good breeder has available; or else the puppy in the litter that attracts you most.

Do read through the information in the FAQs on finding a good breeder for a puppy, the things to watch out for, and the questions to ask. icon_thumbsup
 
Nope, it just doesn't matter! I want a blenheim female and got a tri male, the next one was going to be a blenheim female and ended up being a tri female. Love them both equally and can't imagine life without them.

It truly doesn't matter!!
 
Bawnie, I should add since I see that you are in Wexford, that you can contact the breed club through the IKC and get the name of their puppy contact. Ask them to recommend a good breeder. Basically you will pay the same as the puppies listed in the Buy& Sell and the latter, even if they have IKC registrations, are mostly backyard-bred dogs or puppy farm dogs being sold through brokers. There's a huge difference in quality (and usually, appearance, and health) between a pup from a good breeder and a puppy farm dog.

The cavalier show at the dog arena near Dublin airport is June 11th, if you want to have a look at lots of cavaliers; the breed club contact is Evelyn Hurley, 01-8481621.
 
I have three blenheims.. two girls and a boy... I love them all equally and they are all equally different. I will have a difficult time with my next cavalier because I'm so flexible in what I want! They are all so sweet and wonderful... oh and.. you'll want a second so you can always try a different color/sex then! ;)
 
Yup can agree with the above - they are all wonderful, so it doesn't really matter which colour or sex!!

I have found that the girls maybe stay slightly closer when let off the lead, but as long as you make sure your Cavalier is obedient - maybe go to classes, which are excellent for socialisation too - you shouldn't have any problems. The trick is to always be more interesting than anything else your dog may encounter!! Whether that is with a game, or food etc.


Spayed girls tend to be slightly more independent, the boys are maybe more adoring, so there are pros and cons to both sexes, but both are very eager to please, so easy to train and quick to learn - Rupert, our Blenheim boy was housetrained in two weeks with the use of a crate, he came to us at 8 1/2 weeks.

We did a little bit of showing - just local exemption shows, then went on to obedience and agility...some Cavaliers are PAT dogs, so go visiting people in hospital and homes etc; some work as Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, so they really are very adaptable and will fit in with your lifestyle.

They are usually very good with {sensible, caring} children.

I know some Cavaliers who exercise jsut in the garden, with plenty of games for stimulation, others walk 10 miles every day. These are the extremes though, it is good for them to get out and about, they love to meet people and other dogs.

I think most of us walk our Cavaliers a couple of times a day, when they were fit mine were doing 2-3 miles and sometimes up to 5, plus free exercise in a large garden.

Usually if you go to view a litter, there is always one puppy who stands out as being the one for you - whatever preconceived ideas you may have gone with about sex or colour!! :D

Do go and look in the FAQ section though, there's also some good advice on here http://www.doglady.org.uk/puppy.htm

Sorry I've waffled again...
 
Your 'waffling' is nothing of the sort! Lots of helpful info there and it is always interesting to hear about others' experiences. As we all know, who EVER gets bored talking about and hearing about each others' cavaliers? :lol:
 
Got one!

Hi again everyone

Went to see a tri female and came home with her. Up half the night with her but she's just gorgeous. She's asleep on her own for the first time today, I'm wrecked but can't stop smiling. Will send on a photo as soon as she wakes up!

Was a little worried about her markings as she has a consistent white, brown and black but with a brown patch on the side of her face. She seems to have other markings consistent with her breed but this mark on the side of her face made her stand out she is IKC Reg so I just think she's different and special all in one. I don't intent showing her so it makes no difference, just as cute with or without the patch.

She is almost 9 weeks and quite independent already. Love her already. Now for some advice, should I leave her on her own tonight? I don't know. Some say a ticking clock helps?

Thank you all for such great advice.
Chat soon no doubt

Bawnie
 
Congrats on your puppy! Tris should have brown on their muzzles; some have more than would be considered breed standard markings but it makes no difference for a pet and even many show dogs are mismarked; they are appraised on many other points than markings alone. Tris should be black and white white tan markings on the sides of their head, under the ear, the eyebrows and on the back of the legs under the tail and downwards. The breed standard:

<<Tricolor - Jet black markings well broken up on a pearly white ground, with rich tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears and on underside of tail.>>

Make sure she has lots of nice soft bedding to sleep in.

Here are so,me more good links on caring for cavalier puppies:

http://www.roycroftcavaliers.com/manual1.htm
http://www.roycroftcavaliers.com/manualtraining.htm

Personally I wouldn't leave a little puppy entirely on its own at night in a room by itself; this is very traumatic as they've just come from the warmth and company of a litter. I kept mine at first in a crate by my bed, though the first week it was a large cardboard box so that I could easily reach him and take him out if he needed to go during the night (most puppies do, at lkeast for a few days or weeks). Also I could touch him reassuringly in the night if he started to shift around.

Don't put a hot water bottle in with him unless it is very securely wrapped in a couple of towels and there is absolutely NO chance of him coming in contact with the hot rubber by pulling the covering around; Mine really liked the warmth of this but you do need to be very cautious and don't use boiling hot water. A ticking clock often is calming for them.

Others might have other suggestions! In my case I lasted about three weeks before I just let him sleep on the bed and that's where he's been (and now his half brother too) as well. ;)
 
How exciting!! Don't you just love puppy breath!!??

We were completely different with Jake as far as the first night. He slept in his crate by himself the first night. I put a little cuddle bed, a clock wrapped up in a towel and a warm disk (you put it in the microwave and it hold the heat for like 10 hours). He would have been happy with just the bed! I got up after a few hours in a panic when I realized I hadn't heard from him, came out into the family room and about scared the pants off of him! He was sound asleep and I woke him up. Shelby was even easier than Jake cause she had him in the crate right next to her.

We took him out every few hours the first few weeks and then he was good to go.


Jake's marking are funny. It looks like his face got smushed to the side. He was more brown on one side of his muzzle and the white line up his forehead is off center. Just give him more character :?

Let us know how your night goes.
 
CONGRATULATIONS BAWNIE on your precious new puppy :D

We're looking forward to a photo asap!! No pressure though!

Rupert had a large crate in the kitchen, with a cardboard box lined with vetbed for his bed. Puppies can be very destructive, and it doesn't matter if they destory the cardboard. Vet bed is excellent, if they do wet then the liquid soaks to the base of the fabric, so they don't lie on a damp patch. It's very easy to wash and dry too.

At the time we had a Westie, so Rupert wasn't on his own. But the first night I slept on the sofa with him in the crate, so that he had company.

After that I set my alarm to take him out every night.

I also took him out every time he woke up, after every meal, after play sessions/exciting events, and every 1-2 hours in between.
He very quickly grapsed house training, and was trained in two weeks - at 9 1/2 weeks. Some dogs learn quicker than others, and really you shouldn't expect them to be totally trained until at least 6 months, often 1 year.

Lots of praise when they go in the right place, if they have an accident indoors, then ignore it, and put them outside whilst you clean up. IF you actually catch them toiletting indoors, then say no and carry them outside quickly to finish off - then lots of praise.

If we have another puppy, then it will have a small crate next to the bed - more comforting for both of you, and you can easily tell that they are becoming restless and need to go out.

Remember, no running up and down stairs until at least six months, and lots of short play sessions to build up the muscles and burn off some energy.


You can start basic training too - sit, down, walk to heel off lead in the house and garden. VERY short sessions, just a couple of minutes, as they have very short attention spans.


At the end of the day, markings don't really matter - it's the character that counts, and we all have the most handsome/beautiful Cavalier in the World!!
 
:lol: :lol: See you'll get all sorts of advice and we all do things differently -- except we all are crazy about these dogs... :D
 
Here's Zoe!



hi all, have tried to put Zoe on this page but can't quite manage it yet sorry.

She's settling in very well. Have her using outside to go to the toilet already. Have but one worry, she's only eaten one meal today and her tummy is quite bloated. Think she has a little upset tum which is to be expected I suppose. Hopefully she'll be better after she's had a good night's sleep. Can't stay long as I have to be up in 4 hours for a toilet break with her, she's doing better than I expected. Mad about her already and it's only been two days!

It's amazing how quick they capture your heart. She is the dog that dreams are made of. Thank you one and all for your support and advice, long may it continue!
Regards
 
Hi Bawnie --

Has she been to the vet for her first check up?

Puppies are so small that they do look really full after they've eaten and maybe that's what you are seeing and it is nothing to worry about. Now and then they may decide to skip a meal or two and it is usually nothing to worry about. See how she is in the morning but do book her in for her first vet visit if she hasn't been yet!

It's possible that she may need to be wormed unless the breeder did this recently. Worms can cause bloating but so can other things or it may be nothing at all.

As for images -- you can't post one directly from your computer; you need to upload it to a site like photobucket.com or flickr.com (which is free) and then resize it to a size that fits comfortably on the screen. Basic info from the Board Guidelines section:

4) To post pictures in the gallery, you need to upload the images to a photo storage site like flickr.com or photobucket.com. These sites let you resize and/or choose the size image you want to use. Please keep images smaller than about 6-7 inches across or they distort all the posts on that particular thread! To post an image, copy the url of the picture, then click the IMG button on the message menu, paste the URL, then click the IMG button again. You can choose 'preview' (rather than 'submit') to see if your link worked.
 
Re: Here's Zoe!

bawnie said:
Mad about her already and it's only been two days!

It's amazing how quick they capture your heart. She is the dog that dreams are made of. Thank you one and all for your support and advice, long may it continue!
Regards
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You've been bit by the cavalier bug!! Just wait til you start thinking about your 2nd one!! icon_yikes

I can't say I fell instantly in love with Jake because he was such a pill! He was my first dog in 20 years and required so much attention. I just didn't know how to handle him. Shelby wrapped herself around my heart instantly because she fit in so smoothly. Thanks to her big brutha Jake showing her the ropes.

I just am so in love with these guys. I can sit and love on the pups forever. My favorite thing is the have Jake laying across my lap and Shelby across my arm, at the same time. Surrounded by puppy love!!
 
I NEVER get tired of having them curled up on laps or alongside while I am reading or watching TV, or their morning ritual whereby they have to come up and wag tails madly and try to lick my face as soon as they know I am actually awake. And I enjoy taking them on long walks off lead -- such a pleasure to watch them trot along, explore and play. Yes they are addictive. icon_thumbsup cavtiny
 
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