This class gives your puppy the opportunity to meet other dogs and people in a safe place. Training Goal #8: Sign Up for Puppy Kindergarten Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, use a pet stroller on outings to introduce your Cavalier to new sights, sounds, and people. Training Goal #7: Socializing Your Puppy with People and Places “Keep a loose leash and use food to lure them to follow you,” says Katz. When you begin the routine early in life, they learn to accept and enjoy the pampering. Training Goal #5: Introduce Your Cavalier to Bathing, Brushing, Nail, Ear, and Oral CareĬavaliers require regular grooming and professional dental cleaning. Katz suggests keeping training lessons short-about 5 to 10 minutes, using treats as a lure and as a reward, and praising rather than punishing.Īt this age, Cavaliers are eager to learn. “Cavaliers want to please you, so teaching your pup to focus on you makes all training easier.” “Most owners also want to discourage begging at the table, jumping at guests, and pulling at the leash,” says Gail Katz, Performance Chair of the American Cavalier King Charles Club. Housetraining usually ranks at the top of the list, while sleeping quietly through the night, crate training, and appropriate chewing follow close behind. What basic manners do you want your puppy to learn? Training Goal #4: Set Your Training Goals Give your pup a day or two to settle into the new surroundings before inviting a lot of visitors for a meet and greet. To help build a bond with your new pup, think about staying home the first day. Following consistently helps your puppy learn what you expect. Use baby gates or room dividers to create a boundary.Ĭreate a daily schedule for feeding, housetraining, sleeping, and playing. Set up a room where the puppy can play and rest without getting into trouble. Having them on hand gives you more time to spend with your pup. Training Goal #3: Prepare for Your Cavalier’s Arrival and Manage Your Expectationsīefore your puppy comes home, stock up on the pet supplies you’ll need. At another session, the breeder will clip the puppies’ nails. One to two weeks later, the breeder bathes the puppy, puts it on a grooming table for light brushing, and offers a treat. To introduce housetraining, the breeder takes pups outside to potty after a nap, after a meal, and during playtime. “When the other pups pull on the leash, it simulates leash walking.” “At seven and eight weeks, I put collars on puppies and supervise a session with one pup dragging a leash around, but I don’t leave the leash on all the time,” says Harrison. Training Goal #2: Begin Leash, Potty, and Groom Training The breeder introduces a few basic skills to set your pup up for later success. Remaining with their mother, littermates, and the breeder’s other dogs until the pups are 11 to 12 weeks old helps them build their social skills. The early exposure helps reduce unwanted behaviors later. This time is crucial for a dog’s behavioral development and puppies should experience positive interactions with their littermates, people, noises, and sounds. The critical socialization period begins at 3 weeks and ends at 12 weeks. This avoids transmitting Parvo, a deadly virus. Harrison asks visitors to bring a change of clean clothes. Before entering the kennel area, guests should leave their shoes at the door and use hand sanitizer. “This helps them learn that separating from their litter is not something to be upset about and helps with early housetraining.”īy six weeks, the breeder can begin inviting adults and well-behaved children to meet the puppies. “At five weeks, the puppies are ready to spend an hour in individual crates,” says Harrison. “From day 3, Early Neurological Stimulation helps the pups take strange situations in stride later in life.”Īt three weeks, the puppies can go into a crate while the breeder cleans the whelping pen. “When breeders begin handling their puppies daily from birth, they give them a good start,” says Harrison. Training Goal #1: Early Socialization with the Breeder Before your puppy comes home, the breeder should provide a few basic lessons. Key Milestones: Birth-6 WeeksĬavalier training begins in the whelping box. The former Cocker Spaniel (Parti-Color) and Pug breeder fell in love with the breed’s beauty and easy-going temperament.Īs a breeder, owner, and conformation handler, she recommends setting up the following goals at certain times in your puppy’s development. Sandy Harrison, Recording Secretary of the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, acquired her first Cavalier in 2000. With some planning, persistence, and a positive outlook, your puppy quickly takes to training. This graceful, fun-loving toy spaniel only wants to please you. Preparing the sweet, gentle Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to follow good behavior guidelines isn’t tricky.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |