CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIELS UK ONLINE
A Guide For Prospective Cavalier Owners
Cavaliers are not kennel dogs and because of their long association with their owners and development as a lap dog they make wonderful companions. They crave company and may not take to being left all day alone whilst you work.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a delightful, gentle breed. A happy outgoing, loving little dog who will get along well with children, other dogs and cats.
Ensure that you have an enclosed yard or completely escape proof garden. Puppies and even older Cavaliers will find holes in fences or escape under gates or even injure themselves in the process. This can be overcome by the use of plastic mesh to secure fences and the bottom half of gates.
Puppies and young dogs will chew cables so ensure that the area you have chosen for the puppy is clear from electric cables, doors that can be opened and surfaces that can be jumped on.
An indoor kennel is a valuable piece of equipment for the new puppy or young dog. Introduced to them from the beginning they don’t mind them and they feel secure. The door can be left open when supervised and closed when one has to be away from home for short periods of time. They are especially useful where there are small children as the puppy needs peace to rest.
A new puppy can be introduced to his cage by being closed in for short periods whilst the owner is at home. Once the puppy has taken to his new bed he will be quite happy to be left and his owner will know he is safe. They should not be left however for long periods.
Towels make good initial bedding and can be replaced later with something more suitable such as Chew-Resistant Veterinary Bedding. Generally dogs will not foul their bedding and the front of the cage can be lined with newspaper or training pads.
Toilet Training and getting through the first night
This can be accomplished quite quickly if the owner has the time to dedicate to taking the new puppy to the garden every hour. Praising and cuddling when the puppy performs. I have always got up in the night on demand and have had puppy clean, apart from the occasional accident, from nine weeks old.
Crate training makes housebreaking very easy but requires commitment on the owner’s part. Getting through the night and having a full nights sleep can be achieved by keeping the puppy active for 3 hours, then allowing him to sleep for 1 hour, before bedtime. This should be done under supervision so he can’t get a chance to slip up on the house breaking. At bedtime, wake him up and carry him out to eliminate, taking the time to allow him to both urinate and defecate.
His crate should be placed where you can hear him from bed. IF he cries speak to him in a firm voice with a loud ‘quiet’. A hot water bottle or ticking clock and something with your smell on can help him overcome leaving his litter mates behind.
For the first few days or weeks, your puppy may wake up very early, so be prepared to make a few sacrifices? In time, however, he will adjust to your schedule, and you both will enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep.
Crate training makes housebreaking very easy but requires commitment on the owner’s part. Getting through the night and having a full nights sleep can be achieved by keeping the puppy active for 3 hours, then allowing him to sleep for 1 hour, before bedtime. This should be done under supervision so he can’t get a chance to slip up on the house breaking. At bedtime, wake him up and carry him out to eliminate, taking the time to allow him to both urinate and defecate.
His crate should be placed where you can hear him from bed. IF he cries speak to him in a firm voice with a loud ‘quiet’. A hot water bottle or ticking clock and something with your smell on can help him overcome leaving his litter mates behind.
For the first few days or weeks, your puppy may wake up very early, so be prepared to make a few sacrifices? In time, however, he will adjust to your schedule, and you both will enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep.
Crates have a wide variety of uses, a safe haven away from visitors and small children, trips to the vets, on holiday in a hotel room, in the back of the car and transportation where ever you need to go.
The " Cavalier " is a direct descendant from the small spaniels of the 16th Century of which King Charles II was very fond.
Feeding your Cavalier
Most breeders provide a diet sheet and a small supply of what ever food the puppy had been eating and a list of quantities and feeding times. As a young puppy develops the amount of food should increase.
In the first few days whilst trying to acclimatize to new surroundings it is best to stick to what ever diet the puppy has been on. A puppy may lose its appetite but don't be tempted to try all sorts of food in desperation. Normally the breeder would be happy to help and it is to them that you should turn for advice. Often they will know what the particular dog favourites are. Providing the puppy is not losing weight don't worry unduly. Given time to settle in your puppy will soon start eating again.
Generally puppies should be fed 3 times a day from 8 to 12 weeks and twice a day from then till they are between 9 and 12 months.
An adult Cavalier should normally receive one meal per day or the same amount spread over two feedings. If the dog is getting fat you may be offering too many tit-bits.
The breed standard weight is 12 to 18 pounds although you are looking for a well balanced dog and some exceed those weights and are quite healthy. If your dog exceeds this and is looking fat then it would be advisable to talk to your vet.
You should not feed scraps from the table, this is a sure way of your dog becoming overweight and what we eat is not always suitable for dogs.
It is always advisable to feed the best you can afford. Cheaper varieties of pet foods are not always high in nutritional value. There are many good quality dog food manufacturers that spend a lot of time and expense on nutrition development so it is best keep to them if you can.
It is important that clean water is always available for the dog to drink.
In the first few days whilst trying to acclimatize to new surroundings it is best to stick to what ever diet the puppy has been on. A puppy may lose its appetite but don't be tempted to try all sorts of food in desperation. Normally the breeder would be happy to help and it is to them that you should turn for advice. Often they will know what the particular dog favourites are. Providing the puppy is not losing weight don't worry unduly. Given time to settle in your puppy will soon start eating again.
Generally puppies should be fed 3 times a day from 8 to 12 weeks and twice a day from then till they are between 9 and 12 months.
An adult Cavalier should normally receive one meal per day or the same amount spread over two feedings. If the dog is getting fat you may be offering too many tit-bits.
The breed standard weight is 12 to 18 pounds although you are looking for a well balanced dog and some exceed those weights and are quite healthy. If your dog exceeds this and is looking fat then it would be advisable to talk to your vet.
You should not feed scraps from the table, this is a sure way of your dog becoming overweight and what we eat is not always suitable for dogs.
It is always advisable to feed the best you can afford. Cheaper varieties of pet foods are not always high in nutritional value. There are many good quality dog food manufacturers that spend a lot of time and expense on nutrition development so it is best keep to them if you can.
It is important that clean water is always available for the dog to drink.
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