Living With A Cavoodle
Oh, my goodness…twelve months has passed and we are still adjusting to living with Jazz, our miniature cavoodle. A sweet, gentle, quiet, adorable ten-week-old cavoodle puppy was delivered into our welcoming arms by our son. We gazed adoringly as she toddled on unsteady feet, gently exploring her new surroundings. A small step caused her to tumble over and look up at us in surprise. What happened there? Next attempt was an enormous leap to avoid the step, only to tumble over as she landed. What a sweet, gentle baby girl.
We were in love.
Jazz entered our lives at a traumatic time. We had recently lost Millie, a beloved miniature schnoodle only three years old. She left a gaping hole in our hearts, but this little cavoodle was going to bring joy back into our lives, along with a few challenges!
Recovering from major surgery, I was looking forward to the company of a dog to while away the hours of forced inactivity. However, this sweet, little puppy tuned into an active bombshell. Coming from a litter of eleven, she showed us how she could hold her own and manipulate her ‘humans.’ I found myself holding pillows as a shield as she dive-bombed me, wanting to ‘play.’ She pounced from all angles, smiling as she went into attack mode. This wasn’t the recovery I was hoping for.
How did this happen?
Off to Puppy Pre-School. This is the answer, we hoped. That didn’t happen, she used this time to play with the other puppies, ignoring any instructions. Hence, she failed!
From sweet, gentle and kind to a raving lunatic! What to do?
I found myself googling ‘cavoodle,’ searching for guidance and re-assurance that we didn’t have a nut case. The information gathered offered little comfort.
‘Cavoodles are gentle and intelligent dogs who love to please.’
Yeah…right!
Food? Jazz would go days without eating if what was offered was not to her taste. Different expensive and high -quality dog food was ignored, home cooked veges and rice became fried rice for the family, chicken in any form was acceptable…..sometimes. Anything from her human’s plate was eaten with gusto. We believe that Jazz thinks she is a ‘human.’
The months passed and our little girl never left our sides. She loved being with her humans, still enjoying her attacking play. Her energy levels are extreme and off-lead runs are enjoyed daily. Any dog or human are her friends, not even to be deterred by extremely large dogs. Thankfully she can run very fast when being pursued. Taking on the role of watchdog became her obsession, even when there was nothing to warn us about. It gave her great satisfaction to charge at the gate, barking furiously at nothing, or, on some occasions, someone, then set off every barking dog in the neighbourhood. She loves that!
Jazz accompanied us on a caravan trip to the Hunter Valley. This was NOT a success because she fretted and barked at every strange noise, making herself quite ill. After three weeks of tension, I decided that Rick should take her to a vet for a check-up. (She is Rick’s dog after all!). I anxiously awaited their return hoping the diagnosis wouldn’t be serious.
‘I’ve just paid $75 to be told her problem is behavioural,’ Rick announced with a disgruntled sigh.
Recently we decided to have her clipped professionally to tidy up her curls. She greeted the groomer with kisses and happily departed for her beauty treatment. Thirty minutes later I received a phone call to say the groomer was unable to complete the job as Jazz had become agitated and frantically rejecting the clippers. This was unusual as she always behaved beautifully for Rick. I apologised for our recalcitrant dog. Now we have an odd-looking face with one side with long whiskers and the other short. Jazz is not happy for us to trim her chops just yet, having been traumatised by the experience. She let us know loudly what she thought about the entire ordeal.
Needless to say Jazz, our miniature cavoodle, remains a much -loved member of our family. She is loyal, affectionate, stubborn, challenging, super active, and nearly has her humans trained. Thankfully she has never dug in the garden or been destructive and we wonder what we ever talked about before she arrived!
Two long walks every day, food that she will eat when it suits her, lots of loving and action is rewarded with her unconditional love. We are her family, and she rules.
We share stories on our daily walks, discovering that every cavoodle owner appear to have a similar story. The magic behavioural turning point varies from, eighteen-months, to two years to ……..NEVER!!
I wonder when it will happen with Jazz? No matter when, she is the best addition to your family and we love her to bits
Do you have a cavoodle story?
I would love to hear.
Until next time
Jenny Old AUTHOR
‘Innocent Nurses Abroad’
‘Back of Beyond’ Facebook
