This might cause a stir but i need some advice...

Question:
 Hey guys,
I have a bit of a problem and wouldn't mind some advice off some experienced dog lovers.. let me explain
I live with my girlfriend in a medium sized house with a small (ish) back garden, both of us are at work full time, both leaving the house at 8am and getting back around 6pm
Now, last week i found out that the lady's mother is going to buy her a Cavalier King Charles for her b'day in a few weeks... i know that the whole 'buying for a birthday' thing won't exactly impress many but i assure you the dog itself will be welcomed by both of us with open and loving arms.
Since finding out, i know there is no way i can convince her otherwise, so i decided to do as much research as possible so i could provide a good home and at least know what to do when the dog gets here!
We're both in our mid twenties and can afford financially to give it a brilliant home, and i know for a fact that the other half will give the dog more love than me whenever she can....
Aside from this i have a few concerns and questions, even if you yell abuse at me i'd still appreciate the input:
1 - Seeing as we both work full time, i'm going to ask an elderly neighbour to pop in once a day for the first month to give the dog some love. I can pop back for 40 minutes a couple of times a week, but overall how will this effect a Cavalier King Charles Puppy?
2 - Although we both absolutely love dogs, i've held off from buying one because i'm mildly alergic (same symtoms as hayfever) ... I know it sounds mad to be even considering one, but does anyone know if the symtoms just go away after a few months?
3 - Neither off us have ever owned a dog before, is a CKC a good 'starter' dog? Is there anything i urgently need to do with an 8 week old puppy, book the vet for injections or anything like that?
4 - Is there a dog breed that is better suited to being left alone while we go to work? I'm going to book sometime off to look after it to start with, but i don't want to leave it distressed when i go back? I think i could at least persuade the mother-in-law to buy another type...
I know it sounds quite bad, and you'll all pretty much flame me like crazy but i figure that seeing as i can't do anything to persuade the girlfriends mother to NOT buy the dog (and besides i'm looking forward to owning one!) i thought i might as well lay my situation down to you guys and see if you could offer any advice?
All would be appreciated

Answer:
Have you spoken to your doctor about your allergies and the dog? If not, that's a good place to start.
Where is the puppy being purchased? If CKC is Continental Kennel Club in this case, RUN.

Answer:
No, CKC is Cavalier King Charles - sorry!
i've secured a day out with her and a friend when they go looking next week, i've read all about picking dogs from breeders, make sure you see the mother, never buy the quietest or loudest one etc etc
I have a huge list of things to check and i'm going to make sure that she goes no where near pet shops or puppy farms of any type
We were looking at epupz.co.uk for reference, but i know that even some on there probably won't all be all great breeders
I had a talk with the doctor a couple of months back and i have a few pills and such to relieve the symtoms slightly... he didn't comment on if they'd go away or not tho so i'll take that advice and visit him again thanks

Answer:
I think you sound like you both would love the dog a lot.
As far as your allergies, definetly talk to your doctor. If you do get the dog, I would take it to the vet right away, just to have it checked over good.
I'm not very familiar with the dog type (other than to know they're very cute), but I'm sure there will be lots of experienced people on here who can help you.
Personally I think it's a good idea to have the elderly neighbor check in on her. The puppy will love this and I bet your elderly neighbor will too.
Keep us updated :)

Answer:
I just love King Charles Spaniels, they are excellent little guys, I have taken care of quite a few here at our kennel. I have considered getting one myself to keep my maltese company while I am working also. From what I have seen, they are very energetic, but also very cuddly and loveable...great with children! Have you considered looking into a daycare for the pup? Be selective where you would go for daycare or kenneling, but if you find one that is sanitary and will give the puppy some one on one playtime or cuddle time, that may be a good alternative than leaving the little guy alone durning the day. I know lots of our customers do this and it works out well. Best of luck!

Answer:
Kudos to you for doing your homework! Don't worry, I'm sure you'll get some good advice. Now to answer your questions:
1. I think it's fine to get a puppy while you both work full time, as long as you make arrangements for the puppy to be taken care of. An 8-week old puppy can hold it's bladder for about 3-4 hours. It's good that your neighbor would be coming by to check on your pup and give it love, but I would recommend continuing it past the first month. I'd do it until the pup is at least 6 months old. If necessary, hire a dog walking service.
2. It depends on the person. Sometimes the allergies can disappear over time as you get used to your dog. Other times, a good allergy medicine might be in order.
3. I've never had a Cavalier, but from what I understand, they are very sweet dogs. They're a managable size and aren't known for having "hard" temperaments, so I think they're a great choice for a first dog.
- Yes, puppies need their vaccinations. Find a vet now, and ask them what is recommended for your area.
-Get enrolled in a puppy class at your local obedience school. They're great fun and can help your pup get off to a great start.
-Do some reading. There are many great books out there that can help you out.
Please continue posting! We love helping out new puppy owners. And be sure to post LOTS of pictures of the new arrival.

Answer:
This is a tough one as you really won't have much time for the pup.

Answer:
There are some products you can use on your dog that help reduce the amount of allergy-inducing dander. Check out http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/NavResults.cfm?N=2001+113370
Also, there are breeds that don't induce allergies as badly... Toy poodles and Maltese are two off the top of my head.
I think that most or all small breeds need lots of company because they are bred as companions. Any chance either one of you can occassionally take the dog to work with you once it is well-trained?
There are lots of techniques for helping with separation anxiety in a dog, though. I recommend picking up several training books. There are various approaches and one is bound to help if you have problems.
Definitely take pup to the vet in the first week. They can do a wellness check and let you know about vaccines.
Good luck!
Oh, and remember, Cavaliers are very prone to heart problems. Make SURE that the breeder has had both parents tested extensively for heart problems!

Answer:
Cheers for all of the advice guys... you peeps have a great forum going here :)
So from what i gather, the main problem is going to be seperation anxiety in the new pup right? (I'll pick up some book on training dogs from the library) do you guys think in all your experience that leaving the tv on and getting the neighbour to call in once a day will help/solve this?
I'm also looking at worst case scenario too... i expect she will, but if the neighbour can't do it, would it cause the puppy distress to be left that long? (i'm not being cruel or anything, i just really don't know the answer!)
I'm not to concerned about me sneezing all the time because i do it most of the time in summer anyways... why not winter too!

Answer:
Congrats! Cavs are adorable dogs, but prone to quite a few health issues. Please read up on diseases that could effect your pup's eyes and especially the heart; then grill the breeder to the nth degree about why or why not she has or has not tested for these genetic issues.
You should go ahead and book an appointment with your vet for a general check-up the day of or the day after you get the pup. All GOOD breeders will have wormed their pups at least a couple of times and should have administered at least one set of vaccinations. Otherwise, you will have to do this on your dime.
As far as allergies go, yours might adapt to the dog, they might not. Once the puppy is old enough to start being bathed ( 4 or 5 months old) find a mild, soap-free shampoo and bathe the pup a couple times a week to help keep the fur from clinging to any additional environmental allergens and to keep the dander down. There are a few options for allergy therapy for yourself that you may want to look into.
Cavs are very loving and seem to be pretty easy as a first time dog. They might take a bit longer to housebreak than say, a Lab or Shepherd, but with time, patience and CONSISTANCY, you should be fine. It's great that you're already making arrangments for someone to pop in at least once a day. I'd suggest twice a day for the first few months as the pup won't be able to "hold it" for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. I would also suggest looking into crate training, as this will help with both housebreaking and keeping your pup out of trouble when no one is watching it.
Good luck, bring us pictures when you can and keep us updated! We're always glad to help!

Answer:
The puppy needs to be taken out during the day. She simply will not be able to hold her bladder that long. And you do not want to allow her to potty in the house, as that can mess up housebreaking. If your neighbor cannot come over, can you come home for lunch? Or hire a dog walker?

Answer:
I worked full time with a puppy - and she has blossomed into a beautiful, obedient, and HAPPY 1 year old bigger puppy ;) now.
I know many people will have similar stories as yours too :)
It WILL be stressful at first, and you will have to dedicate alot of hours to your puppy at first.
Also realise your social life will have to go on hold, as one of you will have to stay about in the evenings to dedicate time to new puppy!
Getting someone to pop in is a great idea. We didn't have that luxury, and it still worked out great.
In an IDEAL world noone would work if they had a puppy, but that just isn't the case.
I worked - yes, I felt guilty, and stressed. I can't lie to you. But we worked through it, and the bond between me and Bodhi is unbelievable :D

Answer:
Hmm.... the only problem is that (i've just realised) you guys are all in america (?)
I'm over in england and the whole puppy walking thing doesn't really exist... at least theres non that i can find around my area.
I think i might actually have to depend on the neighbour instead :(

Answer:
Get the book " How To Raise A Puppy You Can Live With " ...Rutherford and Neil !

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You might find a retired neighbor who likes to walk whom you feel you can trust to walk a puppy a short distance, or even just go out into the back yard with your pup for a play-and-poo break :)
Separation anxiety may not even become a problem. Interesting toys are a must, and puppies sleep a great deal of time when they are that age, so playing and sleeping should keep your pup occupied for a bit :)

Answer:
Congratulations!!
I think you can handle the puppy just fine as long as someone can let it out to potty and give it attention during the day.

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The hard thing about having a dog when you both work is that he or she usually gets the short end of the stick, not always, but usually. Me and my boyfriend are both in our 20s and have two dogs, and when we were both working in offices, it was a ton of work and stress!!! Our dogs jsut didnt get out enough, it was really depressing for them and us. not to say you shouldnt get a dog or you cant do a great job of working around your schedule to fit him/her in, but it was the biggest issue we had. I now work from home and my boyfriend can take dogs into his office, so we have a little bit more leadway as far as being with our dogs. I'm not sure how KCS's do by themselves. You should find out if they are extremely pack oreinted, do better with more than one dog, etc. etc. Example: my husky does not do well by himself all day and he is extremely high energy and needs to get out. If he doesnt, he destroys everything. I love having my dogs, even though balancing them with work is difficult. Just make sure you are being fair to the dog and yourself and you know what you are getting into.

Answer:
This is a tough one as you really won't have much time for the pup.
Don't worry about that, not everyone has a stay at home career and they manage fine.

First of all, a puppy class (and further training preferebly) is a must. I don't know where I would be if I did not take obedience classes with my Emma. Not only is it EXCELLENT socialization, you'll be able to train your pup using very easy methods and have help if problems arise. Look into what type of training you'd like to do Eg: clicker, treat, etc. I'd reccomend finding something that highly motivates your dog, whether it be food, toys, balls (that's my emmas favorite) etc.
Secondly, Cavaliers are amazing dogs but they are known to easily become overweight. Watch what you feed and the amounts. I've never met a fit Cavalier yet in my life. :(
Food wise, have you made a decision? I'm not sure if these brands are available in England however, I reccomend Canidae, Innova, or the Raw diet (I HIGHLY reccomend the raw actually.
I reccomend crate training your dog. My dogs both stayed in an x-pen or kennel while I was away. They love it in there, it's there "safe" spot and it avoids all havoc your puppy might cause while you're gone.
Another thing, please read up on NILF training. (Nothing in life is free) I swear by this and believe it's a must for all dog owners.
CKC are great dogs. I wish you the best of luck and hope you stick around and share pictures when you get your "baby".

Answer:
Hello. Welcome and thank you for taking the time to do your research.
My answers are in bold below.
Hey guys,
I have a bit of a problem and wouldn't mind some advice off some experienced dog lovers.. let me explain
I live with my girlfriend in a medium sized house with a small (ish) back garden, both of us are at work full time, both leaving the house at 8am and getting back around 6pm
Now, last week i found out that the lady's mother is going to buy her a Cavalier King Charles for her b'day in a few weeks... i know that the whole 'buying for a birthday' thing won't exactly impress many but i assure you the dog itself will be welcomed by both of us with open and loving arms.
Since finding out, i know there is no way i can convince her otherwise, so i decided to do as much research as possible so i could provide a good home and at least know what to do when the dog gets here!
I have to be honest and say I don't like the way this starts out...Not the gift idea, but if you wanted to you could say no. Please know that upfront.
We're both in our mid twenties and can afford financially to give it a brilliant home, and i know for a fact that the other half will give the dog more love than me whenever she can....
Aside from this i have a few concerns and questions, even if you yell abuse at me i'd still appreciate the input:
1 - Seeing as we both work full time, i'm going to ask an elderly neighbour to pop in once a day for the first month to give the dog some love. I can pop back for 40 minutes a couple of times a week, but overall how will this effect a Cavalier King Charles Puppy?
I have a toy breed as well. The king cavalier gets to around the same size or a bit bigger than a shih tzu, from what I have read about this breed and seen. When I first got my shih tzu puppy he literally had to go out every 30-1 hour in order to properly train him to go outside. A dog who is 8 weeks old and is a toy breed cannot hold his bladder for 4 hours very well. Obviously taking the dog out this much really cannot be accomplished with your schedule.
You have the option of training him to go on pee pads or a litter, but keep in mind anywhere you go over night with the dog you would need to bring this litter box, which can be frustrating. Dogs also usualy get confused when you want them to go inside sometimes and outside other times. I would not recomend this option, but it works for some people.
2 - Although we both absolutely love dogs, i've held off from buying one because i'm mildly alergic (same symtoms as hayfever) ... I know it sounds mad to be even considering one, but does anyone know if the symtoms just go away after a few months?
This is a huge red flag because this is a big reason dogs are rehomed. Even dogs that are not high alergy like poodles and shih tzus still will cause a person with alergies issues and you need to commit upfront to using alergy medication for the rest of the dogs days if need be. If you cannot do that, then please turn down this dog.
3 - Neither off us have ever owned a dog before, is a CKC a good 'starter' dog? Is there anything i urgently need to do with an 8 week old puppy, book the vet for injections or anything like that?
They are supposed to be a good starter dog. Please make sure they do not get the dog from a pet store or a back yard breeder (I can provide more info on what this means if needed)
4 - Is there a dog breed that is better suited to being left alone while we go to work? I'm going to book sometime off to look after it to start with, but i don't want to leave it distressed when i go back? I think i could at least persuade the mother-in-law to buy another type...
Most toy breeds do not take well to being alone for long periods of time. I cannot think of any toy breed that is okay being left alone all day, but this can sometimes depend on the dog.
I know it sounds quite bad, and you'll all pretty much flame me like crazy but i figure that seeing as i can't do anything to persuade the girlfriends mother to NOT buy the dog (and besides i'm looking forward to owning one!) i thought i might as well lay my situation down to you guys and see if you could offer any advice?
I hope you did not think I flamed you. I just want you to take a hard look at your situation. I was in your situation and waited for a dog until once of us was working from home. I know my dog is very happy this way and I have peace of mind knowing this.
All would be appreciated

Answer:
I think others have already given you great advice and convered most everything, but I do have one bit of advice.
I've heard of people teaching small dogs to go to the bathroom in kitty litter boxes. No kidding. It might be an option for you.
Hey, goodluck! And cheers for you for doing this research and being open to learning! I defintiely commend you for that!

Answer:
I've heard of people teaching small dogs to go to the bathroom in kitty litter boxes. No kidding. It might be an option for you.

This is very true... As a matter of fact there are dog litter boxes on the market, or you can just make something up that suits you. My mom's 3 Maltese dogs are all paper trained. She only takes them out on nice days to romp and play in the yard, but they never HAVE to go out. They just do their business on papers in the laundry room. Of course she has to clean up in there a few times a day.

Answer:
The allergies are what worry me. You really need to get this resolved before a puppy comes into your life, IMO. Does your M-i-L know you have allergies?

Answer:
I think you have gotten some great advice here.
I think the potty training will be an issue. Just because an 8-week-old puppy can hold its bladder for 3 hours, doesn't mean it will voluntarily. 3 hours is probably a maximum, you would feel discomfort in your bladder long before you've reached your breaking point, right?
I am lucky enough to take my puppy to work with me. Until he was about 14 weeks old, I took him outside to go potty 10-13 times in a 24-hour period. If I didn't do that, he would have gone wherever he was and would never be housebroken. I used puppy pads for times when I wasn't sure if I'd be able to take him out before he needed to go for the first week or so, until I figured out his schedule.
Now he's 18 weeks old and it's once when we get up (7:30), once before work (9am), once before lunch (around 12:30), once in the afternoon (around 2 or 3), once before dinner (around 6), and once or twice more before bedtime.
I can't imagine how things would be if I left him by himself for so long. I think you might have a much much easier time if you didn't get a puppy. I'm not sure where you live, but here in the US we have animal shelters and rescue organizations with millions of adult dogs waiting for a home. An adult dog can hold their bladder all day and would be less stress for you in general. You'd still need the neighbor to check in during the day, especially if you have to work late or something, but things would be a lot easier all around.
The allergy thing is interesting too. I got tested for allergies yesterday and found out I'm mildly allergic to dogs! Who knew? My allergies are livable unless I also have a cold. I think I might start an allergy thread to hear some more about these living with allergies ideas.
I guess I'm in a rambling mood today. Sorry for the long post!

Answer:
i think it's totally doable! it's going to take alot of work though. i got yoshi while i was working full time. i took about a half a week off for her. i work 2:30-close meaning i get home about... 1 or 2 in the morning *now when i first got her just worked about 5 hours a day 4 days a week* when i first got her was the hardest. you just have to dedicate more time to your dog saay you get up at 8 instead get up at 7 take dog for walk. when you get home before you get settled and don't want to get up take your dog for another walk. getting someone to stop by will help too.
i am also allergic to yoshi. some days are better than others. sometimes i'm ok but then the next day i'll wake up and i'll be clogged up and have a headache. vacuuming and keeping yoshi bathed and brushed helps a lot. only on days when i let that go does that get bad. i don't usually take meds for it, only if my allergy sypmtoms are so bad they'll interfer with work theni might force some down but i've just learned to live with it.
you know dogs are puppies for a long time. i got yoshi when she was 4 months old and i think that helped me out a little, she was past a big destroying stage, she could hold going to bathroom a little longer. try rescuing a dog :) they'll love you forever and i'm sure you could find the perfect dog for you guys

Answer:
Wow - cheers for all the replies peeps, all that advice was really welcome and i thank you all for it... especially the big long posts :)
Firstly a couple of developments, i went over to my parents last night and brought up the subject of the puppy, they were over the moon and said if i wanted to i could drop the puppy off at their house every morning and pick it up after work... mom only works a couple of hours a day and will be in 99% of the time to care for the puppy
This does of course raise another question, how would a puppy cope with his/her enviroment changing everyday? my parent are on the way to the girlfriends work, but it is about a 45minute car journey everyday?
As for the allergy thing, i already take allergy medicine everyday in the summer, i've got no problems taking it for the winter as well. I will however consult my doctor about it on the weekend

Answer:
My pup has three places he calls home: My office during the day, My home on weeknights, and My boyfriend's place on weekends. He had to be housetrained in three places, which is why I'm so vigilant about taking him out regularly, I don't leave it up to him. I expect it to take longer for him to be reliable because of this, but he's doing pretty well.
He seems to really look forward to the various places, bounding up the stairs at the boyfriend's condo for a weekend of chasing cats, bounding in the house when we get home every night to greet the roommates' dogs and get some dinner, bounding into the cubicle to take a nice cozy nap or standing guard right at the entrance to my cube waiting for someone to come by and play with him :)
He's also just fine in the car and always has been because I've taken him to work every day since he was 8 weeks old. (He's been amazingly well-behaved.)
I've heard adult dogs are more routine oriented and more bothered by disruption than puppies. If the puppy is raised with a lot of variety in his life, he'll be better suited for that sort of thing as an adult.

Answer:
Great advice so far, and it sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders!
Someone mentioned the absolute NECESSITY of making sure that the sire and dam of your puppy pass heart-health tests with flying colors, and I cannot emphasize enough how VERY important that is in A CKC. Heart problems run RAMPANT in this breed, and there is nothing more devastating than losing your dog at 2-3 years of age because you didn't do your research.
Your prospective breeder should take that very seriously.
Also- expect to be absolutely GRILLED by the breeder as to why you would make a good home. Don't accept a dog from anyone who will sell it to a friend to give to you as a gift. That is absolutely asking for trouble. If the case is that your friend/family member is just providing the purchase price- then this is acceptable, but I would RUN in the opposite direction of anyone who didn't require a meeting with the future owners themselves. Getting a puppy from a good breeder is roughly akin to adopting a child. In other words- it should be hard!
Think twice about getting a dog from anyone who will part with a puppy just because you have the cash. This is a sure sign they're in it for the money. And if that's the case, then you can bet they're cutting corners elsewhere too. (Eg: the likelihood that the parents will have had heart screenings is basically nil).
Another thing you're going to have to take a good hard look at- the toy breeds are bred SPECIFICALLY to be companions. That means they want to be around you ALL the time. More than most breeds. It would be unfair to ask a breed like this to go for 8 hour days with no one around- so definitely make sure you've got friends and family who can keep your dog company and break up the monotony of the day.
Toy breeds can sometimes be more difficult to housetrain than others as well. I totally second the idea of getting some indoor potty pads in your case. It would be incredibly difficult to house train a puppy with any consistency when you're gone for such long time periods- *especially* because these guys have little bladders!
ETA: just saw your latest post- I believe your pup would do just fine with the environment change. CKCs are absolute people-lovers- not one-man dogs in the least! So I don't think you'd have a problem there. As long as the dog has some kind of a set *routine* you're golden. Dogs don't like to be "thrown for a loop," so to speak. They enjoy predictability, structure, order, and knowing where they are in the pack order.
Good luck!

Answer:
Firstly a couple of developments, i went over to my parents last night and brought up the subject of the puppy, they were over the moon and said if i wanted to i could drop the puppy off at their house every morning and pick it up after work... mom only works a couple of hours a day and will be in 99% of the time to care for the puppy
This does of course raise another question, how would a puppy cope with his/her enviroment changing everyday? my parent are on the way to the girlfriends work, but it is about a 45minute car journey everyday?
As for the allergy thing, i already take allergy medicine everyday in the summer, i've got no problems taking it for the winter as well. I will however consult my doctor about it on the weekend
Excelent. Thank you again for asking these questions and taking the answers to heart!
There should not be a problem with the enviroment change. A lot of dogs go to doggie day care during the day and are home at night and there is no issue. A lot of dogs also love car rides, but some do get car sick, so you would want to keep an eye out for that.
I am taking it that over the moon means they would be more than happy to take care of the puppy? They also need to keep in mind that they would be doing the majority of the house training with the puppy. Of course there will be accidents, and with a toy breed it can take over 6 months or more to train them to be 100% house trained. I just want to make sure they are really informed and understand the work involved?
Its great to hear you are willing to pay for an take the alergy medications if needed :)

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double post

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Hi Mark I am from the UK too lol, good to see you are doing your research before the puppy comes along. while reading this topic, my main concern apart from toilet training was the lack of socialisation your pup would be getting while you are both at work all day, am am more happy now that I have read that your mother will be looking after your pup this will make a big difference IMO, and the pup will settle into a routine in no time going from one house to another, what I would say though is Epupz is not the best place to get your pup from, there are many puppy farmers advertising on there, that on the face of it look really good but are knocking out litters here there and everywhere I would contact the breed club and request the recommended breeders list, normally these are breeders that have passed a certain criteria set by the club, and the breeder meets their code of ethics. with regards to health, breeding age, etc.
heres a link to the CKC club.
http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/start.html
it also may be work looking at the rescues they have maybe something that is already trained?
this is the link to regional clubs each one should have a breeders list.
http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/start.html
Mo

Answer:
Great advice so far, and it sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders!
Someone mentioned the absolute NECESSITY of making sure that the sire and dam of your puppy pass heart-health tests with flying colors, and I cannot emphasize enough how VERY important that is in A CKC. Heart problems run RAMPANT in this breed, and there is nothing more devastating than losing your dog at 2-3 years of age because you didn't do your research.
Your prospective breeder should take that very seriously.
Also- expect to be absolutely GRILLED by the breeder as to why you would make a good home. Don't accept a dog from anyone who will sell it to a friend to give to you as a gift. That is absolutely asking for trouble. If the case is that your friend/family member is just providing the purchase price- then this is acceptable, but I would RUN in the opposite direction of anyone who didn't require a meeting with the future owners themselves. Getting a puppy from a good breeder is roughly akin to adopting a child. In other words- it should be hard!
Think twice about getting a dog from anyone who will part with a puppy just because you have the cash. This is a sure sign they're in it for the money. And if that's the case, then you can bet they're cutting corners elsewhere too. (Eg: the likelihood that the parents will have had heart screenings is basically nil).
Excellent advice and also a good way to let the gift-givers still have the joy of giving while you and your girlfriend will be able to be matched to the dog best suited to you.

Answer:
Hey guys... Boy we have a different Time zone out here, i'm about to go to bed and you guys are all at work!
Anyways, again a special thank you to all the people that took the time out to give advice, every last bit was really helpful.
Moe - Thanks for those links, i'll have a really good look at them tomorrow at work (its midnight and i'm going to bed!)
I feel much better about taking a puppy into the family with all of that information, i'm going to continue to read up and do the best i can in time for her birthday... its ironic that i'll have to train the girlfriend with all my research before we can start training the puppy!
I've been looking into crate training quite a bit and along with the litter trays i think it sounds like the best way to go... hope it doesn't confuse the little guy having to wee in a flower pot in the day lol
Either way, my worries have now been turned into excitement and i'm pretty confident that as long as i give it 100% that the little guy should be walking into a great home... I want to say a big thanks to everyone that posted, i owe you all a beer :)
In a couple of months i'm sure there will be more questions tho!