Ideas Please

[Dave2021]

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Hi
I have a cat and my wife would like to get a puppy, she is an experienced dog owner, I am concerned for my cats wellbeing.

My question is, we are looking for a small breed that is good with a cat, can be left for around 5 hours a day Monday to Friday and not a barker.
There are no children in the house but they will visit.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Tinytom]

Have you considered an older rescue dog that is cat trainable...leaving a puppy every day for 5 hours maybe a bit too much to ask unless you can get family or friends to come in and see to pup during the hours you wouldnt be there ....
How old is your cat ....some cats may never happily accept a dog into their home ..

 

[Flobo]

I agree with @Tinytom, an older rescue dog maybe something to consider rather than a pup, also your cat may accept a dog that already has a healthy respect for felines in the home where as a pup may just be too much!

 

[JudyN]

Bear in mind that you might struggle to find a rescue that will let you have a dog if you need to leave it for 5 hours a day. Will you be able to take time off when the dog first arrives to let it settle in and get used to being left? The difficulty is that some dogs would take months before they are happy being left for a few hours... and some never get there. But some form of dog daycare is an option.

 

[Dave2021]

Bear in mind that you might struggle to find a rescue that will let you have a dog if you need to leave it for 5 hours a day. Will you be able to take time off when the dog first arrives to let it settle in and get used to being left? The difficulty is that some dogs would take months before they are happy being left for a few hours... and some never get there. But some form of dog daycare is an option.

How do people who have to earn a crust ever manage to have a dog?

The puppy would not be left alone, we would take time off work to make sure it and the cat are OK.

 

[JudyN]

How do people who have to earn a crust ever manage to have a dog?

I tend to err on the side of caution because, although the dogs we had when I was a child seemed fine being left for most of the day, my own dog was very needy and developed separation anxiety despite me following the book - fortunately I work from home so it wasn't too much of a problem, but if we both went out to work, we'd have had to rehome him. He also chased our cat whenever he had the chance!

So yes, my post is from a pessimistic 'all the things that could go wrong' perspective.

In terms of breeds that might suit, I'm not an expert but King Charles Cavaliers do seem to be calm, easy-going dogs, so if you do want to go for a pup, they might be worth considering. There are genetic health issues which you'd need to research though.

 

[Dave2021]

I tend to err on the side of caution because, although the dogs we had when I was a child seemed fine being left for most of the day, my own dog was very needy and developed separation anxiety despite me following the book - fortunately I work from home so it wasn't too much of a problem, but if we both went out to work, we'd have had to rehome him. He also chased our cat whenever he had the chance!

So yes, my post is from a pessimistic 'all the things that could go wrong' perspective.

In terms of breeds that might suit, I'm not an expert but King Charles Cavaliers do seem to be calm, easy-going dogs, so if you do want to go for a pup, they might be worth considering. There are genetic health issues which you'd need to research though.

Thank you for your help, I was thinking along the lines of a Cavapoo or Havanese, both seem to have nice temperaments.

Being the cat person I am worried about a dog hurting or bullying her, I am hoping that getting a puppy will allow the cat to get used to a dog and that the dog grows up with a cat.

Would the cat be 'company' for the puppy in terms of it being left?

 

[JudyN]

Being the cat person I am worried about a dog hurting or bullying her, I am hoping that getting a puppy will allow the cat to get used to a dog and that the dog grows up with a cat.

A lot would depend on the cat, I think. My cat, Monty, would never stand up to Jasper but turn tail, and being a lurcher, he thought this was wonderful fun. He did actually love Monty, but was far too big and rambunctuous for him, and Monty ended up spending most of his time in the bathroom/'walk-in' airing cupboard behind a stairgate (he was 12 when Jasper arrived, and died a couple of years ago at almost 22). Other cats, though, will hiss at the dog and swat him, and generally put him in his place.

Would the cat be 'company' for the puppy in terms of it being left?

Again - I don't think you can tell in advance. Even having two dogs isn't a guarantee that one or both won't have separation anxiety. There's more about SA here: Separation anxiety

 

[JoanneF]

I'd caution against a cavapoo for two reasons. First, poodles were bred as hunting dogs, so you are decreasing the chance of the dog being cat friendly.

Second, Cavaliers in particular can suffer from some really nasty congenital conditions (heart problems, syringomyelia) that good breeders try to eliminate through responsible breeding; like carrying out health tests and careful selection of parents. You are unlikely to find a breeder of cavapoos that does that, so you are far more likely to get a dog plagued with health problems that you may lose at a young age.

 

[Dave2021]

I'd caution against a cavapoo for two reasons. First, poodles were bred as hunting dogs, so you are decreasing the chance of the dog being cat friendly.

Second, Cavaliers in particular can suffer from some really nasty congenital conditions (heart problems, syringomyelia) that good breeders try to eliminate through responsible breeding; like carrying out health tests and careful selection of parents. You are unlikely to find a breeder of cavapoos that does that, so you are far more likely to get a dog plagued with health problems that you may lose at a young age.

Thank you for the advice, do you or anybody have any experience of the Havanese, I will only buy a puppy that is KC or whose parents are KC and would want DNA and health checks.

 

[Tinytom]

Bichon frise are lovely dogs ...have you thought about this breed ...

 

[Buddy1]

Have you had a look at the Havanese Breed Club website? There will be people you can contact there for more information on the breed.

If you live anywhere near London, Discover Dogs is at the ExCel at the end of November. It’s a really good opportunity to meet all the different breeds and talk with owners/breeders about them.

 

[JoanneF]

would want DNA and health checks.

Look not for health checks, but actual tests on the parents. And if you read that DNA tests have been done, these are the very cheap ones so look also for what other tests are recommended for the breed.

I don't know much about havanese but the tests they should have are listed here.

Havanese | Dog Breed Health

 

[Finsky]

T.
Being the cat person I am worried about a dog hurting or bullying her, I am hoping that getting a puppy will allow the cat to get used to a dog and that the dog grows up with a cat.

Would the cat be 'company' for the puppy in terms of it being left?

There is as much chance that your cat would end up hurting the dog...not necessary in a way that it could take big chuncks out of a dog or kill it, but those sharp claws can do some nasty damage to dog's face/eyes. So worrying about a dog's behaviour is not a only concern.
As for turning into 'best friends' or tolerate each other...nobody can predict that. Animals have entirely their own likes and dislikes. But picking right dog breed gives you that little bit more chance to succeed in your dream.

 

[Dave2021]

Look not for health checks, but actual tests on the parents. And if you read that DNA tests have been done, these are the very cheap ones so look also for what other tests are recommended for the breed.

I don't know much about havanese but the tests they should have are listed here.

Havanese | Dog Breed Health

Thank you

 

[Dave2021]

Have you had a look at the Havanese Breed Club website? There will be people you can contact there for more information on the breed.

If you live anywhere near London, Discover Dogs is at the ExCel at the end of November. It’s a really good opportunity to meet all the different breeds and talk with owners/breeders about them.

I live about 1.5 hours by train away so this will be a great idea.

Many thanks

 

[Dave2021]

Thank you all for your help, I am going to try and get to a show and see as many breeds a possible and start to find good breeders, I am not going to rush into this, your advice has been invaluable.

 

[RGC]

Thank you all for your help, I am going to try and get to a show and see as many breeds a possible and start to find good breeders, I am not going to rush into this, your advice has been invaluable.

It’s admirable that you’re exercising caution and not rushing into adopting a dog. As things stand you have a cat which, I’m assuming, is very happy with its ‘family’ and exercising its own independence. Bringing in a new family member doesn’t mean that your cat will volunteer to stay at home and keep your dog company in your absence. At the moment you have a happy household. What you’re proposing is a dog/puppy that’ll be happy to remain alone for several hours. Please appreciate that I’m thinking of your cat. If you’re fortunate enough to have someone who could look in regularly you are lucky and the enterprise may look promising. We have both a cat and a dog which get on well BUT we’re retired and can put the time in. I wish you well and a harmonious conclusion.

 

[Dave2021]

It’s admirable that you’re exercising caution and not rushing into adopting a dog. As things stand you have a cat which, I’m assuming, is very happy with its ‘family’ and exercising its own independence. Bringing in a new family member doesn’t mean that your cat will volunteer to stay at home and keep your dog company in your absence. At the moment you have a happy household. What you’re proposing is a dog/puppy that’ll be happy to remain alone for several hours. Please appreciate that I’m thinking of your cat. If you’re fortunate enough to have someone who could look in regularly you are lucky and the enterprise may look promising. We have both a cat and a dog which get on well BUT we’re retired and can put the time in. I wish you well and a harmonious conclusion.

Thank you, I may just leave things as they are.