Which out of the 2 please

[logmein]

hi

need some advice on which out of the 2 should i be considering for my household of 4 ( kids 10 & 8)

- Maltese x Shi Tzhu
- Cavalier

Both are 
- male pups
- about 8 weeks old
- not from a breeder

Probably you can gauge, I am very new to the pet world and needing some advice from the experiences out there. I have tried finding my answers by Google but not all can be found  

from a household perspective, i work from home 2-3 days a week and hubby is very flexible as well. He comes home for lunch and then also picks the kids too. So max 2.5 hours of isolation at any time.

Thanks In Advance

 

[Gretel]

Please find a reputable breeder who health tests their breeding dogs and raises their puppies well 

This pup will be with you a long time so it’s important to choose carefully. And having support from a breeder is great.

[Bundyburger]

Not from a registered breeder? So a per shop? Neither!

[Guest crazydoglady99]

I *think* Cavaliers are more active. Both beautiful dogs though.

 

With both breeds:

 

Be prepared for grooming  costs around $70 every 4-6 weeks. 

 

You still need to brush the dog,  at least once per week, and check for prickles - especially lodged in between paw pads.

[persephone]

It's a shame you don't feel able to buy from a registered breeder  
In which case- I would  say neither ,sadly .
The information here may help explain   

CLICK HERE   and please read this  !!   I think it's well set out .  CLICK HERE

No- we are not breed snobs ... or many of the other insults . Many of us (me included) have crossbreeds.... a lot of these were/are RESCUES 

Your children sound old enough to help care for a dog too, which is good news. Thanks also for letting us know your details .

have you considered an older 'pup' ? Or a young adult rescue - already used to children  and living in a foster home ?  there are some nice dogs waiting .. already desexed/vaccinated etc. 

[Guest crazydoglady99]

Ooooh and I forgot, get a harness for walkies. These tiny dogs have fragile little necks. 

 

And both of those breeds have weepy eyes, I find salt water on a cotton pad daily is easiest to keep them clean.

 

I have never owned a Cavalier, only a Shihtzu. Beautiful little dogs. But hands down our Shihtzu is 10times the amount of work our mixed breed shedding dogs are. I find I need to bath him fortnightly and lots of brushing.

 

I bet your kids would just love every moment! Get them helping with training, walking, pooper scooping etc from day one. And take pup with you everywhere you can.

[persephone]

15 minutes ago, crazydoglady99 said:

Get them helping with training, walking, pooper scooping etc from day one. And take pup with you everywhere you can.

yes All important things ! 

[RuralPug]

Before you choose your baby puppy PLEASE learn all you can about socialisation (this does NOT mean letting them roam dog parks), canine enrichment, brainwork and early training. This is setting yourself up to have a wonderful companion for life to be proud of.

CHECK that the breeder of the pup has used parents that have passed all the health tests for conditions common to the breed or breeds involved - this is setting yourself up to decrease the likelihood of huge vet bills and a pup with a short life. Eyes, hearts, patellas especially with your choices.

All of the breeds you are looking at have brachiocephalic features (short noses, relatively large heads) so PLEASE learn all about the extra care that needs to be taken with these for their lifetimes.

Please choose to educate yourself. And you ARE getting a pup from a breeder,(be it a puppy farmer or a BYB) unless you are going interstate to buy from a pet shop, as Victoria has made puppy and kitten sales in pet shops illegal. Your job, for your own benefit, is to make sure that the breeder is a reputable one who understands and can explain the needs of the breed and has carefully selected the parents and health tested those parents.

Take a deep breath, research, (asking here is a GREAT START  ) and do not rush into a 15 year commitment. Please don't be the type who researches more carefully a new car or new washing machine that will last fewer years than they research a new living member of the family!

[asal]

11 hours ago, crazydoglady99 said:

Ooooh and I forgot, get a harness for walkies. These tiny dogs have fragile little necks. 

 

And both of those breeds have weepy eyes, I find salt water on a cotton pad daily is easiest to keep them clean.

 

I have never owned a Cavalier, only a Shihtzu. Beautiful little dogs. But hands down our Shihtzu is 10times the amount of work our mixed breed shedding dogs are. I find I need to bath him fortnightly and lots of brushing.

 

I bet your kids would just love every moment! Get them helping with training, walking, pooper scooping etc from day one. And take pup with you everywhere you can.

maintenance wise you must, MUST keep your shih tzu pure or cross well groomed , ears cleaned n teeth checked regularly .

 

cavaliers are much easier to maintain coat wise BUT you have to make sure their ears are cleaned regulary as well, or they too get thrush. neither breeds or x's have good dentition so make sure you get them checked regularly for tarter buildup

 

both breeds are notorious for hernia's, so check for that too , most need surgery to close them

Edited September 14, 2018 by asal