Abigail

So, I guess the cat is Zoe's idea of Channel No. 5 :D :D I could never get tired of seeing cats and dogs forming a bond

OMG, that is just an awesome photo of a beautiful situation. Wish I could just reach out and give that malamute a great big, tight hug. You have gotta do that for me pleeeaaaase!

How gorgeous are they !

AWWW, that photo of Joey and Leroy is unbelievably touching. Gotta laugh when I think of the saying "fighting like cats and dogs" This most certainly does not pertain to your gorgeous Joey and Leroy - A match made in heaven.

That photo is worth a million bucks, :D Thank you for posting it, LDR

Love to hear as to whether you happen to own a cat or cats along with your beloved canine friends!! And how do they interact with one another? Edit because of typo error!

Mmmm, polished floors may look very stylish but they don't go hand in hand or should I say paw in paw with dogs, as the other posters have said, you will have a floor that looks like a serious game of snakes and ladders. Vinyl can be great BUT you have to be ultra careful when moving heavy furniture as it tends to drag and tear; tiles are the best by far....easy to clean and very hardy but make sure that the grouting has been sealed otherwise regular mopping will eventually seep right down to your polished floors. I would not go past tiles, they can look quite elegant providing the colours can last through the times and not look dated in a matter of months, lol. Tiles equate no dust mites, no dog hair as it is a breeze to vacuum and no germs. Oh, btw...I promise I don't have any shares in some tile company, lol

I love to hear as to whether your OH allows the family dog/s on the bed? Has it proven problematic? I know that my partner has never ever had dogs in the house let alone on the bed; we have discussed this and he has relented as far as allowing our future dogs in the house but whether he will allow them in the bedroom or on the bed is anybody's guess - for now anyway, lol.

Thanks everyone, I really enjoyed reading your responses Sounds like the cavalier is definitely the breed for me; my partner loves the westies so therefore, after much contemplation, we have decided to get one of each. I am not working and have all the time in the world to devote to them and will be providing adequate training. The question now is - will I be allowed to let them sleep in OUR bed? LOL OH has never had dogs in his bed and perhaps his pride will not allow him to give in too readily but I will work on that :D

LOL - that is funny westielover. So I guess there is always the exception to the rule or perhaps all dogs love people anyway. :D

Thanks Jules! Sounds like the cavalier is the breed for me although my partner may object to the profuse shedding but I am prepared to vacuum the place every day and use my brushomatic to keep hair on the furniture to a bare minimum. I know that my partner loves the westies as a mate of his owns one and he has become fond of that little dog. I will have to wait and see how adamant my partner is in wanting a westie all for himself.

I am looking into getting a westie or a cavalier in the near future (perhaps one of each). If that is the case I will be looking into clipping the westie myself so therefore am considering in investing in a pair of decent clippers. My gf owns two poodles and has both a pair of Andis and Oster clippers and she claims that she prefers the Osters but that they do tend to get hot rather quickly. What are your experiences and what do you prefer and recommend?

Help us out by telling us a little more about yourself and what sorts of characteristics you're looking for in a dog. Both look "cute" but thats about where the similarity ends apart from size. CKCS is a toy breed, its a small spaniel that retains some instinct, tends to be very people focussed, often soft in nature and has a silky coat that requires regular brushing to keep tangle free. WHWT is a terrier, developed to hunt and kill vermin. They tend to be independent, feisty and their wire coats require a fair bit of stripping to look as good as the ones you see on breeders websites or the My Dog ads. They can be challenging to train and feisty with other dogs. Both breeds can be active and thrive on regular long walks (when grown up). ETA: Based on what you've said in the previous post, I think the CKCS would suit you better. However there are probably a heap of other toy breeds you might like to consider. Thanks PF. I don't mind the grooming that accompanies either the cavalier or the westie. From your description I would be opting for a cavalier given that you say that they are more "people focused". I had spoken to westie breeders ages ago and was told that they are just as affectionate as a cavalier and love attention and being close to their owners. You say that they can be a challenge to train - is that to say that they are stubborn? To be honest, I am not one to go on extended walks but I can certainly teach them to play "fetch" when they are old enough to exercise extensively without risking bone problems, but as I said earlier - if they should want to run till they are puffed there is more than enough room here for them to do just that, lol.

For instance, as great as they are I would never own a beagle as I have constantly heard that once their nose in on the ground they develop selective hearing. I don't want to offend anyone that happens to own a beagle but I am just giving an example of what I do not want in a dog.

these dogs are so different it may not be possible for people to answer such a broad question so you might need to help by giving some more information like what is your lifestyle? are you active? what do you want to do with the dog? what do you like in a dog personality wise? I do have a very large property so therefore there would be ample space for the dogs to run around in so I am not really obliged to have to take them for a walk if I should not want to on any particular day; I am also wanting dogs that don't require to be on the move 24/7 and that are quite happy to be couch potatoes some of the time and sit beside me whilst I watch a good dvd with a nice glass of red....basically, a dog that is affectionate and not one that is aloof....I am not interested in a dog that is content to do its own thing, one that is reasonably obedient.

I believe that dogs ought to be part of the family so therefore we will be allowing the dog/s indoor during the night and indoor/outdoor during the day. Charles.....basically, I am wanting to know the temperament of the cavalier....given that you happen to own one or two, etc etc....how prevalent is mitral valve heart disease in cavaliers here in Oz....any other prevalent health problems that one ought to know about?

Hi poodlefan...well, I guess I like the look of both the westie and the cavalier although I realise that there is no resemblance whatsoever, lol. Do you know what the difference in temperament is? and if so...I would be most interested to hear. I can fathom that there is a difference as I have found out from googling information but as I said....I would much prefer to hear from westie/cavalier owners. Then again....we may end up buying one of each.

Great answer Crisovar....if people did research a breed that interested them thoroughly there would not be as many dogs ending up being dumped. How true to stick to what you know best.

You are not being selfish in the least. If you were to obtain a rescue dog you might always be "pining" for the aussie shepherd so hence just follow your heart. I know that aussies are a great breed and I agree with you wholeheartedly that they are very bright, easy to train and obedient providing that they receive adequate training as with any breed really.

I am interested in purchasing a westie or a cavalier but would like to hear from westie and cavalier owners first before I/we commit ourselves. I suppose I could obtain info through doing a search on the internet but I would prefer to hear it straight from a horse's mouth so to speak I have been reading posts from this forum for quite some time and have enjoyed every minute of it and I don't doubt that I will be provided with valuable information. Thanks everyone

I personally do not believe in vaccinating a dog for the remainder of its life. I believe, and have proof of this, that should a pup receive its puppy shots and a booster 12 months later it is protected for life. I would never subject my dog to autoimmune problems no matter what a vet/s says. We human beings don't get vaccinated every 12 mths and neither should our pets. I do wish that vets here in ozland didn't make a habit of sending yearly reminders to vaccinate a dog. I shudder when I see an elderly pet at the vet's for yet another shot.