I am hoping the members and preferably experienced cavalier owners can help me. I suffer from anxiety/panic attacks, sever clinical depression, I previously owned a companion dog (this is what a dog who's owner has a medical condition that the dogs presence helps) 3 years ago This was an Australian Red Cattle obviously a breed very far from the Cavalier. She wasn’t actually mine she was my mother’s but the dog had decided that I was her owner anyway I moved away to study and for the last three years couldn’t Have a pet because I was bouncing from rental to rental. I am now in a secure rent through the housing department and after saving for the last three years and filling out a mile of paper work with the department I have been approved to have a small breed dog. I am in no rush to get my puppy as I want to know exactly what I’m getting into with the breed and after doing some research it would appear the Cavalier is a good choice, But that is my interpretation of the breed I think and experience owner/ breeder would be able to tell me more. I have a lot of questions so I’m going to put them one by one so as not to confuse anyone also can only experienced owner/ breeders reply or People with reliable information.
As stated above I have an anxiety/panic attack condition would the dog be likely to stay calm throughout an episode or would the dog be likely to get upset or scared (ie. Bark, Growl, Cry or upset the dog to a point where it would develop a fear of me or the episodes)?
I ask this question because while my mother’s dog was perfect in that situation and would normally just sit back quietly and let the situation play out or she would put her head in my lap. The other dog my mother owned would bark continuously and run around in circles and this would raise my anxiety further causing the panic attack to go longer and would obviously upset the poor dog terribly. While I understand that just like people dogs have individual personalities some breeds are better in those situations than others, For instance a highly anxious breed would not suit an owner with an anxiety condition.
How much exercise is too much or too little for the Cavalier ?
The only area I would have to exercise a dog is walking around the streets and in my private courtyard in my unit. I have bought a lot of things over the last few months basically in preparation for a puppy mostly toys and accessories (collar, lead I.D tag only my address and phone number on it.) because those things don’t expire) so the dog would have many things to play with but I’m more asking about general exercise walking and then counting in playtime. I also ask this question because I read about Episodic falling which what I read said it was exercise induced.
Another question about Episodic falling it stated that it was often misdiagnosed as epilepsy how do I know if it was a misdiagnosis. Is epilepsy common in the breed as I couldn’t find that information?
What about Keratoconjunctivitis sicca I have heard that this is common before but what I read was that it can cause blindness. Would it not cause blindness if it was treated appropriately or is the blindness a problem that could occur even with treatment?
I don’t mind having a blind dog but I just want all of my information before I even go seriously looking for a puppy I want to know what to expect, what could possibly happen what to do about it and when it is an emergency that needs me to drop what I’m doing immediately and take the dog to the vets instead of something that I could make an appointment for. The vet that I have chosen for me to use comes highly recommended by a lot of my friends with pets and a few non cavalier breeders. He is the most comforting for the dog and most dogs love going to see him but the problem with that is it can take a day or two if you make an appointment rather than just taking the do in there when it’s an emergency.
How common is a luxating patella and how can I tell if a puppy is likely to have problems when I go to view any puppies?
And which grade in mum and dad should I look for?
I know the breeding pair has to be checked but I also know about throw back genes and know that while Mum and Dad don’t have it doesn’t mean the pup won’t have problems.
How common is Syringomyelia , and how will I know if my pup has it? Is it something I should ask the vet to check for when the dog has its routine checks if the dog is showing no symptoms ?
I read that it can be non symptomatic.
What can I expect if my puppy has Mitral Valve Disease ?
If the puppy has it should I restrict certain exercise or anything like that.
How can I tell a good breeder from a bad breeder ?
I have never gone looking for a puppy before and I think bad breeders could be compared to a shotty car salesmen they’ll say anything to get you to walk away with a puppy. The only cavalier I have seen advertised in my area was a litter of pups for Au$550 this sounds cheap for a good purebred.
The Au is for Australian dollars.
I am aware of two puppy farms with my region but I am sure there are more that I’m just not aware off because I only know of these because they had been shut down by the rspca before. I would suspect a puppy farm or non reputable breeder would advertise in the paper but what about reputable ?
I found the Cavalier club in my state is this the best place to find a breeder ?
Also do you think a breeder may not want or find it weird if I want to view the pups individually before I see them all together?
I want to see the pups general behaviour walking around and such to get an idea of each individual pup’s personality and temperament to see if the pup is suited for someone with anxiety. Pups Behave a lot differently when they are together and I want to see what the pup would be like without other puppies and want to see how it interacts with me. I will inform the breeder of why I want the dog and what I’m looking for but some people find things like that a little odd.
What is the best way to train a Cavalier? Treats or Affection
Obviously puppy preschool is important but what about reinforcing the training from puppy preschool at home appropriate places for the toilet, obedience, appropriate play behaviour and training the puppy that it cannot go in certain areas.
I have a thing about any kind of pet being in the laundry because when I was a little kid we had a cat fall into a full washing machine and drown obviously it would be extremely hard for a dog to get up to the washing machine but it’s just a thing I have and I get to anxious when an animal is in the laundry. My laundry doesn’t have a door should a buy a safety gate to keep the dog out. Other than the laundry and the kitchen when I’m cooking I don’t have a problem with the dog going anywhere else.
Also like a lot of other small breeds do Cavalier’s become easily overweight?
My mum bought a small breed for my sister and it became overweight and it was healthy with no problems or allergies until it became overweight now it has a list a mile long of allergies and illnesses.
How do I prevent this from happening?
Besides moderate food portions because I don’t think my Sisters dog was overfed , they gave it a lot of treats though.
If I have left out any medical conditions there could you let me know of the other ones I won’t be getting a puppy for a few months because I want to have a little more money to put on account with the vet and I already have a fair bit but I’m including desexing vaccinations, micro chipping and general checkups in with that amount and I won’t at least $3000 there for emergencies because thats what I heard an emergency surgery or procedures can total up to over here. I had a friend who just brought a mixed breed and the dog got really sick and she had to pay off a debt a little less than that because she wasn’t prepared. I don’t want to be in that situation I want to make sure there is always money there in the event of because I know with my medical problems (other besides the anxiety) that they come at the worst possible time and when I can’t afford treatment so I do the same for myself I keep a few thousand stocked up at my doctors and a credit card purely for medical expenses for myself in the event of.
If anyone thinks a Cavalier is not suited for me please let me know.
A little about me I’m single , no children (don’t plan on until I’m much older), no other pets, I’m 23, uni student I attend four lecture’s per week 2 hours each and two 1 hour tutorials and beside grocery shopping, doctors visits my friends come to me so I don’t go out much. Some people say I’m over thinking getting a dog and I do tend to over think things (tends to happen with people with anxiety) but I just want to be as prepared as a possible new dog owner can be because this will be the first dog that I have been 100% responsible for. Sorry about the really long post but better to be prepared and have nothing to be surprised or disappointed about.
As stated above I have an anxiety/panic attack condition would the dog be likely to stay calm throughout an episode or would the dog be likely to get upset or scared (ie. Bark, Growl, Cry or upset the dog to a point where it would develop a fear of me or the episodes)?
I ask this question because while my mother’s dog was perfect in that situation and would normally just sit back quietly and let the situation play out or she would put her head in my lap. The other dog my mother owned would bark continuously and run around in circles and this would raise my anxiety further causing the panic attack to go longer and would obviously upset the poor dog terribly. While I understand that just like people dogs have individual personalities some breeds are better in those situations than others, For instance a highly anxious breed would not suit an owner with an anxiety condition.
How much exercise is too much or too little for the Cavalier ?
The only area I would have to exercise a dog is walking around the streets and in my private courtyard in my unit. I have bought a lot of things over the last few months basically in preparation for a puppy mostly toys and accessories (collar, lead I.D tag only my address and phone number on it.) because those things don’t expire) so the dog would have many things to play with but I’m more asking about general exercise walking and then counting in playtime. I also ask this question because I read about Episodic falling which what I read said it was exercise induced.
Another question about Episodic falling it stated that it was often misdiagnosed as epilepsy how do I know if it was a misdiagnosis. Is epilepsy common in the breed as I couldn’t find that information?
What about Keratoconjunctivitis sicca I have heard that this is common before but what I read was that it can cause blindness. Would it not cause blindness if it was treated appropriately or is the blindness a problem that could occur even with treatment?
I don’t mind having a blind dog but I just want all of my information before I even go seriously looking for a puppy I want to know what to expect, what could possibly happen what to do about it and when it is an emergency that needs me to drop what I’m doing immediately and take the dog to the vets instead of something that I could make an appointment for. The vet that I have chosen for me to use comes highly recommended by a lot of my friends with pets and a few non cavalier breeders. He is the most comforting for the dog and most dogs love going to see him but the problem with that is it can take a day or two if you make an appointment rather than just taking the do in there when it’s an emergency.
How common is a luxating patella and how can I tell if a puppy is likely to have problems when I go to view any puppies?
And which grade in mum and dad should I look for?
I know the breeding pair has to be checked but I also know about throw back genes and know that while Mum and Dad don’t have it doesn’t mean the pup won’t have problems.
How common is Syringomyelia , and how will I know if my pup has it? Is it something I should ask the vet to check for when the dog has its routine checks if the dog is showing no symptoms ?
I read that it can be non symptomatic.
What can I expect if my puppy has Mitral Valve Disease ?
If the puppy has it should I restrict certain exercise or anything like that.
How can I tell a good breeder from a bad breeder ?
I have never gone looking for a puppy before and I think bad breeders could be compared to a shotty car salesmen they’ll say anything to get you to walk away with a puppy. The only cavalier I have seen advertised in my area was a litter of pups for Au$550 this sounds cheap for a good purebred.
The Au is for Australian dollars.
I am aware of two puppy farms with my region but I am sure there are more that I’m just not aware off because I only know of these because they had been shut down by the rspca before. I would suspect a puppy farm or non reputable breeder would advertise in the paper but what about reputable ?
I found the Cavalier club in my state is this the best place to find a breeder ?
Also do you think a breeder may not want or find it weird if I want to view the pups individually before I see them all together?
I want to see the pups general behaviour walking around and such to get an idea of each individual pup’s personality and temperament to see if the pup is suited for someone with anxiety. Pups Behave a lot differently when they are together and I want to see what the pup would be like without other puppies and want to see how it interacts with me. I will inform the breeder of why I want the dog and what I’m looking for but some people find things like that a little odd.
What is the best way to train a Cavalier? Treats or Affection
Obviously puppy preschool is important but what about reinforcing the training from puppy preschool at home appropriate places for the toilet, obedience, appropriate play behaviour and training the puppy that it cannot go in certain areas.
I have a thing about any kind of pet being in the laundry because when I was a little kid we had a cat fall into a full washing machine and drown obviously it would be extremely hard for a dog to get up to the washing machine but it’s just a thing I have and I get to anxious when an animal is in the laundry. My laundry doesn’t have a door should a buy a safety gate to keep the dog out. Other than the laundry and the kitchen when I’m cooking I don’t have a problem with the dog going anywhere else.
Also like a lot of other small breeds do Cavalier’s become easily overweight?
My mum bought a small breed for my sister and it became overweight and it was healthy with no problems or allergies until it became overweight now it has a list a mile long of allergies and illnesses.
How do I prevent this from happening?
Besides moderate food portions because I don’t think my Sisters dog was overfed , they gave it a lot of treats though.
If I have left out any medical conditions there could you let me know of the other ones I won’t be getting a puppy for a few months because I want to have a little more money to put on account with the vet and I already have a fair bit but I’m including desexing vaccinations, micro chipping and general checkups in with that amount and I won’t at least $3000 there for emergencies because thats what I heard an emergency surgery or procedures can total up to over here. I had a friend who just brought a mixed breed and the dog got really sick and she had to pay off a debt a little less than that because she wasn’t prepared. I don’t want to be in that situation I want to make sure there is always money there in the event of because I know with my medical problems (other besides the anxiety) that they come at the worst possible time and when I can’t afford treatment so I do the same for myself I keep a few thousand stocked up at my doctors and a credit card purely for medical expenses for myself in the event of.
If anyone thinks a Cavalier is not suited for me please let me know.
A little about me I’m single , no children (don’t plan on until I’m much older), no other pets, I’m 23, uni student I attend four lecture’s per week 2 hours each and two 1 hour tutorials and beside grocery shopping, doctors visits my friends come to me so I don’t go out much. Some people say I’m over thinking getting a dog and I do tend to over think things (tends to happen with people with anxiety) but I just want to be as prepared as a possible new dog owner can be because this will be the first dog that I have been 100% responsible for. Sorry about the really long post but better to be prepared and have nothing to be surprised or disappointed about.
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