Newbie needing advice

[Becs2607]

Hi everyone.

I am new to the site & at the moment do not own a dog. We have a Bengal cat, moggy & some fish!
Our son is five years old & adores animals. We have thought & looked hard into dog breeds & feel a Cocker would be a fantastic addition to our household. Obviously I want to do my research to get a puppy from a reputable breeder & also want to know more about introducing a puppy to our son & cats. I alsowant to know about if we would be a suitable household for a Cocker puppy?
We live in West Yorkshire & are looking at a show breed rather than working breed & love black, black & white & liver coloured dogs. Our cats are both female, so not sure if it would be better to go for a bitch aswell (is there a difference in temperament?)
I work part-time over 2 days, so the longest the puppy would ever be left would be around 7 hours one day (max) & 5 hours the second day. Our friends have a large puppy pen which we would have in our kitchen for these times.  The rest of the time I will be at home. We go camping in the UK so would take our new addition with us. It's such a big decision & I want to make the right choices.  Can anyone recommend any books to buy to help with my research? Also any personal advice is very gratefully received.

Sorry for the huge post - I just want to get this right - for my family & the puppy's sake.

Thanks

Bex x

[Poppsie]

Hi and welcome to COL, you have made a good choice with a cocker puppy as they just love to play even at 13 years old.
My only reservation is that you say that the puppy will be left 7 hours one day and 5 the next.  I personally feel that it is too long to leave a young puppy for that amount of time. even left in a large pen they can become eaily bored and you may have problems?  You will get some good advise on this web so don't give up hope just yet.  x x x

[black taz]

could you get someone to come in during the 7 hour day at lunchtime to break the day up (or are there any doggie day care places near you)?  It would be such a pity to loose out for the sake of 1 day, but 7 hours is a bit long for a young dog (i used to leave my previous dog about 7 hours but she was about 5 yrs old at the time and very laid back.  I wouldnt leave my current two that long without someone popping in though.

[Becs2607]

Thanks for your replies. When I put the post on I forgot to mention that my dad can call in during the 7 hour day to check on the new addition & let them out to the toilet.
I would feel very mean leaving the puppy alone for that length of time. 5 hours will be the longest they will be on their own. The other day would mean a 5 hour period on their own & then another 2 hours before my husband & son got back from school.

Bex x

[Nicola]

Hi and welcome to COL

It sounds like you're putting a lot of thought into getting a pup which is great, a show Cocker could be a good choice for you if you can make suitable arrangements for the days you work  A 5 hour stretch is too long to leave a young pup on its own but it could work if you and your OH could perhaps take staggered periods off work to settle the pup in at the beginning and start to get it used to being left and then if you could get someone (Dad, friend, neighbour, dog walker) to come in at least once during the 5-hour period to let it out and provide some company. Small pups need to pee approximately every 20-30 minutes, need a lot of human company and attention and need to be built up gradually to being left alone for extended periods. The longest an adult dog should be left without a toilet break and some attention is around 4-5 hours and for pups it's much less than that.

[Ian Wright]

Hi and welcome to COL

It sounds like you're putting a lot of thought into getting a pup which is great, a show Cocker could be a good choice for you if you can make suitable arrangements for the days you work   A 5 hour stretch is too long to leave a young pup on its own but it could work if you and your OH could perhaps take staggered periods off work to settle the pup in at the beginning and start to get it used to being left and then if you could get someone (Dad, friend, neighbour, dog walker) to come in at least once during the 5-hour day to let it out and provide some company. Small pups need to pee approximately every 20-30 minutes and need to be built up gradually to being left alone for extended periods. The longest an adult dog should be left without a toilet break and some attention is around 4-5 hours and for pups it's much less than that.

Totally agree with Nicola plus you will find all the advise on here you will need and everyone is friendly and willing to help
good luck

[Liz F]

Hi and welcome to COL

It sounds like you're putting a lot of thought into getting a pup which is great, a show Cocker could be a good choice for you if you can make suitable arrangements for the days you work  A 5 hour stretch is too long to leave a young pup on its own but it could work if you and your OH could perhaps take staggered periods off work to settle the pup in at the beginning and start to get it used to being left and then if you could get someone (Dad, friend, neighbour, dog walker) to come in at least once during the 5-hour day to let it out and provide some company. Small pups need to pee approximately every 20-30 minutes and need to be built up gradually to being left alone for extended periods. The longest an adult dog should be left without a toilet break and some attention is around 4-5 hours and for pups it's much less than that.

Totally agree with Nicola plus you will find all the advise on here you will need and everyone is friendly and willing to help
good luck

I too agree with Nicola, I work full time and when I got my two - at separate times. I saved up my holidays and took 4 weeks off together. Was lucky with both of them as both where easy to toilet train, but in early puppyhood they can go every 20 mins easily. Its not only the toilet side you need to consider but also the mental stimulation for the puppy.  In about the third week of holidays started to build up gradually on time left alone (in preparation for going back to work).  When I did return to work my daughter was home from university so this gave another 6-8 weeks to build on time left alone. (This was same scenario for both Diesel & Olli)  Now they are both adult dogs they are left alone for no longer than 4 hours. I get up 5.45 so they can have a good run before work (I start at 8.30) I come home at lunchtime - dont have lunch just take dogs for walk and go back to work, then return from work and guess what back out for another walk.   I  it though

I personally think 7 hours is far too long for an adult dog, let alone a puppy.  You will need some help during the days you work before considering a puppy.  Good luck on finding some help and finding a puppy  

[Hurtwood Dogs]

Welcome!

I agree with others in that 5 or 7 hours, even if only 2 days a week is too long for a pup to be on it's own, so you need to find a way to work around that.

It's very likely you will have problems with your 5 yr old and the pup. Most cocker puppies are wotsits for biting a lot during a good proportion of the first year and as children react more than adults and are more excitable, they can become a serious target for the puppy which prolongs training the puppy bite inhibition and can be very upsetting (and painful) for the child and frustrating for the adults! The best way around this is to prepare a way to keep child and puppy separate (and therefore happy!) a lot during the first year - I had a baby gate across my kitchen and puppy spent a lot of time on one side and child and sensible older dog on the other side... it worked brilliantly and they're now best mates But I had to have this in place for 8-9 months, so be prepared for that - if you have a look on the puppy board you'll see that there are threads for a couple of other desperate mums that are going through the same problem with their young children and puppies at the moment

[Black Red + Yellow]

Welcome!!  Well done for putting so much thought into your new family member.

Maybe you might be able to consider spreading your 12 hours over 3 days once your pup has settled in - that way he/she will only be left for 4 hours - if your Dad can pop in after 2 hours for cuddles and wees, 2 x 2 hour would be a very manageable situation - you could get a nice routine going

Good luck

[Ailsa]

My dog walker offers a puppy sitting service where she will spend time in your home with the puppy (since most pups can't go out on walks until they get all their jags). She will spend a certain amount of time playing with the puppy and will do some training with it if requested, as well as obviously letting it out for piddles. Something like that might work for you maybe?