Having had Cavaliers and young children at the same time (our oldest daughter now 22 was just 2 when we got our first Cavalier) I feel mildly qualified to comment about placing Cavalier puppies in homes with children.
First-if you ever have a nagging doubt about placing any puppy with any family, with children or without, DON"T DO IT! This is the same advice I give to people looking for a breeder-use your instincts as they are usually dead on. This is why I never tell someone inquiring about a puppy that I have one available. Using the words "I MIGHT have something for you" allows you to kindly tell someone about whom you are uncomfortable that unfortunately you have decided to place the puppy with a friend. I then try to voice my objections about this home by saying something like "you know, you might want to consider waiting until 1)you aren't working such long hours 2)your youngest child is a bit older" or whatever the case may be. Follow this by asking the person to keep in touch and perhaps later on you may have a puppy for them. This is supposing that your worry is indeed a correctable one-a totally unsuitable person is not going to listen anyway so just saying no is all you need to do. Now as for children........as others have said, it totally depends on the individual child and even more importantly, on the parents. Cavaliers and children are a wonderful combination, but only under the right circumstances. I have placed Cavaliers in homes with mulitple children and in homes with toddlers. But my decision was based almost exclusively on how the family interacted ,how the parents treated the children and on how well the children listened. A child who runs around my house, grabbing at books and things on the end tables with Mom and Dad just saying no over and over, child not listening and parents unable or unwilling to use effective discipline techniques is not one whose family is ready for a dog-at least not one of mine. Children who listen when Mom and Dad speak to them, who stop an unacceptable behavior when asked, who are curious and interested in the dogs without being abusive have a pretty good chance of having a dog placed with them. And NO child, even my own perfect (HA!) little angels or my grandson (who is indeed perfection in my eyes no matter what his parents tell me) should ever, ever be left alone with any animal until they are at least 5 years of age. The child is not the Bad Seed, the dog is not Cujo-they simply cannot communicate effectively and this can lead to disaster for both.In addition, the parents need to understand that they will be caring for the dog-"getting a dog for the child" is a misnomer as no child under 12 is disciplined enough to think of the dog's needs consistently. So, with certain cautions and conditions, placing a puppy with a family with children can be a good idea. But placing a puppy when there is any nagging doubt whatsoever in your mind, is never a good idea. IMHO. Anne Shapiro Shadowlawn Cavaliers Las Vegas, Nevada www.shadowlawn-cavaliers.com --------------------------------- Do You Yahoo!? Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals. ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
