We've take the first step!

[Cob-Web]

Hi guys!

Thanks to all of you who have replied to my first few postings, hubbie and I visited a local breeder today who has a new litter. We spent over an hour with her and her dogs (not mum or the pups at this stage cos they are sooo young, only 1 week), and left a deposit and a commitment to go back in three weeks to give the pups a cuddle and try and choose a pup.

Estimated coming home date assuming all goes well will be the 7th August; at just over 10 weeks old (we have a Wedding to go to the previous week and so have agreed that we will wait a week longer, hard though it will be   )

Now I'm both excited and nervous - I've not had a puppy for years, and its a little bit daunting!

I have started reading the postings here on the forum about what to buy for pups and what can 'wait', and all sorts of info about feeding, training, walking and so on but advice from anyone can remember how I feel right now would be gratefully received!                    

[lizzy]

That's lovely news Rachel!!

What colour is your new pup? Is it a boy or girl? There's so many people getting new puppie's I'm feeling a bit broody!! :roll: Although I have got a 20 week old at home so I can't be to greedy!! :wink:

If there's anything you want to ask I'm sure somebody will have an answer!  

Can't wait to see some piccie's!

Lizzy Molly and Evie                    

[Jan/Billy]

aaaaawwwwww yes i remember the night before we went to pick Billy up. My fiance and i were like children on xmas eve we were so excited and couldnt sleep. Then when we collected him Billy cried in the car he was so so frightened, we drove really slow so as to make it not too distressing for him!!!!
I also remember after the first week i sat down and cried, thinking what have we done!!! I was off work for the first ten days but my fiance wasnt, i remember Billy chewed and bit everything, i couldnt even go in the shower in the morning as he would sit outside the door and cry and scratch. I couldn't do anything, couldnt even dry my hair with the dryer as he would bark. It was such a shock, i felt like he had completley took over my life.I could not take my eyes off him for a minute as he would be chewing someting or ripping something up. My hands were bitten, all over my body was covered in scratches.
So i went out and bought loads of books on cockers and puppies, subscribed to dog magasines etc and then best of all found this web site.
I needed to know if my puppy was "normal".I have learnt so so so much since we bought Billy and the majority of it is from here. Billy is now 7 months old and we love him to bits.I dread to think of the cost of the damage he has done since we bought him. Chair legs chewed, skirting boards, carpets etc etc
It sounds as though i dont love him i do and there is now way i could be without him. I would be distraught. Dont get me wrong he is still hard work but when he sits on my lap in the evening and looks up at me with is big brown eyes he is just so so adorable. He is so so loving and loves being cuddled, hes a real big softie        
All i am trying to say is be prepared for a change in your life for the first few weeks. I thought i was prepared but i didnt expect half of what we went through. And this web site is so so so useful, dont know what i would
have done without it.
But it is so so so worth it! I love him to bits                                  

[Cob-Web]

Thanks both for your reassuring words!

The litter are blue roans (Islanza pedigree line if anyone knows it, although I am totally green to the Show/Pedigree world)

We have not seen the litter yet, although have met just about every other family member   but get 'first pick' in three weeks when they are old enough to meet and cuddle   . We think a dog rather than bitch, although are reserving judgement at the mo.

Has anyone any thoughts as to whether dogs or bitches make better 'companions' - especially for children? This might make a really difficult decison just a bit easier!

Thanks

Rachel                    

[lizzy]

I have always had bitches and found them to be very good with children, both mine and other people's, they are very loving, loyal and a joy to have around, but saying this I've known male cockers to be as brilliant with children  ,very loving and just totally gorgeous, so I think it's just up to each individual to choose which sex is right for them!

Personally I don't think there is that much difference in personalitys, ofcourse a bitch has her season so there is this to consider, some people say that the male can be harder to train but I don't think this is a real issue in cocker's, you'll probably find when you see the pups it will be easier to choose which sex is right for you! :wink:

Lizzy Molly  ans Evie                    

[bluesmum]

Hi Rachel  

I have two children and have the most loving gorgeous blue roan dog - Blue, he is fantastic with the children and was very easy to train :wink:  so easy in fact that I have just got another dog - my little Bailey, 10 weeks old and already he sits and goes into the down position and we're almost there with him giving his paw, I prefer dogs myself but as Lizzy has said there isn't much difference in personalities, Emma (Mrsbojangles) lives just down the road from me and has a beautiful blur roan bitch- Indie and her and Blue are both great with children and are just as scatty as each other.                    

[PennyB]

I have to say that as a family we always had bitches and my 1st cocker was a bitch. However as she was a little madam I decided to get a dog the next time. My mum kept going on to me about whether I was doing the right thing and right up until I picke dmy pup up I began to have doubts. I couldn't have picked a better pup to change my mind as if/when I get another (5 years time!) it will be another male. Wilf is so laid back and complements Ruby's character really well!                    

[Sheila]

Oooooh, how exciting another puppy.

We collected our little girl Lottie on Monday, she was 8 weeks old on Wednesday.

We already have a labrador Goldie, who is a bitch, as well.

Our lab has grown up with our children, they were 3 and 5 when we got her as a pup.
I honestly dont think there is much difference between the sexes though....my parents have a male cavalier and he loves children.

I have to agree that life has been disrupted, it feels like having a baby in the house again. I had forgotten just how easy and obedient our older dog is.....but it is definitely worth it.
I am just planning on spending as much time with Lottie as possible to cut down on chewing damage etc. We have already taken her out in the car every day and she has visited the vets and two friends houses, plus a few visitors to see her which is all helping to socialise her.
It was 9 years since we had a pup in the house, but you soon adjust and they are great fun.
It is a real pleasure to see little Lottie trotting along after the children or Goldie.

I hope your wait doesnt seem too long and dont forget to post some piccies when you have any.                    

[Magic Star]

 I prefer dogs myself but as Lizzy has said there isn't much difference in personalities, Emma (Mrsbojangles) lives just down the road from me and has a beautiful blur roan bitch- Indie and her and Blue are both great with children and are just as scatty as each other.

    That made me laugh Maria, Blue is Mr Cool  and Indie is Miss Wizzie  

In answer to your question, I don't think there is much difference between the male/female, I think each individual dog has their own character and personality   Obviousley with bitches you do have the seasons to contend with, but they are not so bad!

Good luck                    

[Cob-Web]

I said it wouldn't be long before I started asking daft questions. What time of day is best to bring a puppy home?  :? We can either collect late afternoon on a Friday, or morning of the Saturday (I then have the whole of the following week with no commitments other than puppy.)
Has anyone any thoughts?

If its the Fri afternoon, we can collect the puppy, and then one of us can pick my daughter up from nursery. I am concerned that this will give the pup less time to get to know us before bedtime, though.

If the Saturday, we would either have to take daughter with us to pick pup up, which I'm not sure is the best idea (!) or get a babysitter for an hour while we collect pup and bring him home.

Anyone any thoughts?

Thanks

Rachel                    

[Magic Star]

Hi Rachel

Its all very exciting.......   IMO the best time to collect a puppy is as early in the day as possible, like you say this gives the pup lots of time to settle in before bedtime :wink:                    

[*Jay*]

When it was time for me to take Vegas home, I had the option of either picking him up Friday after work or Saturday morning. As hard as it was, I left him until the Saturday, just so he would have longer to get used to the environment before bed.                    

[correna]

Hi, Rachel I know exactly how you feel I am picking my new baby up in 3 weeks time and cant wait. He is a black boy from a powerscourt stud and although is the smallest is the biggest character. I as you will do, have spent a fortune on doggie bits, but 1 investment I was told to get is a puppy crate to help with chewing and toilet training, although I am sure the crate will end up in our bedroom! Keep in touch and we can swap piccies
Correna                      

[bluesmum]

Hi Rachel, we only picked Bailey up 2 weeks ago and thought it would be best to pick him up in the morning as then he would have the rest of the day to adjust to his new surrounding's before he settled down to sleep :wink:                    

[Silver Surfer (indiesnan)]

Hi Rachel, i say the morning as well, gives him longer to settle in before the night time.  :wink: