🐾 CRATE:

We use two crates for our puppies.  Please let me explain. 

We have one crate located in the living area for the puppy to have easy access.  This crate is used whenever he/she needs quiet time or you are leaving and returning home,

i.e., grocery store/work… This is also the crate that you will use for time when the puppy needs quiet time, or you may be busy cooking and cannot keep your eye on them.  When your puppy is out of the crate it is important to ALWAYS leave the crate door open.  You will find your puppy may go in the crate to rest without being told.  The puppy will learn that this is a safe place for me to rest.  The command we use for this is “kennel Up.”  Each time you put puppy in crate say command and put in kennel.  In a few days or a week, start saying kennel up and have a small treat for them to receive when they go in the kennel.

The second crate is used for bedtime.  We keep it in our bedroom and the only time it is used is for nighttime sleep.  When you are ready for bed, you take your puppy outside, saying outside go potty and when complete we go inside and say, bedtime.  In the beginning you will most likely be carrying your puppy, but we still say this every time.  Your puppy will associate bedtime with their crate in the bedroom.  In the morning, we open the crate and outside go potty.  We will then close the door to the bedroom, so they learn bedroom is for sleep.  If your puppy gets up in the middle of the night, please do the same thing…outside go potty, praise and return to bedroom and say bedtime.  Please note that this is what we use and may work for you.  Whatever commands you decide everyone needs to use the same commands for this to work.

🐾 TOYS:

Puppies like to chew and believe me the Cavaliers seem to love shoes.  So be prepared, shoes are not toys.  Should they grab a shoe, take it away by saying “drop it” and take it away and replace with a puppy toy.  We recommend Benebones and Lumabones for chewing.  You can purchase it from Walmart or Amazon.  When they become too small replacing them with new ones.

When purchasing puppy toys, there are some serious issues with the rope and knot toys and considered NOT SAFE.  The puppy/dogs chew on them and the strings are ingested causing intestinal injuries and death.  You can use them BUT only under direct supervision.  There are multiple toys on the market that puppies love.  Squeaky toys are a favorite for puppies.  They are safe, however as puppies chew, please inspect them so they cannot get to squeaker or the stuffing.  If they tear it up, sew it up or toss it out. 

Balls are great toys, please do not buy the cheap balls as they will tear apart easily and then you will have a mess and if they eat the pieces can cause intestinal injuries.  We have balls, but we invest in the regular tennis balls and they last.  Please remember that your puppy is small now, but they will grow fast.  When you purchase toys, please keep in mind that you want the toys to be safe as they get bigger and cannot swallow the small toys.

Remember they will chew!!  There is a product called Bitter Apple spray that you just spray the area they seem to want to chew, i.e., molding and usually that helps to avoid them chewing.  Best to say NO and spray the area.

Collars are beautiful and we all want our Cavaliers to look their best.  Please do not use a collar for leashing your puppy.  Cavaliers are best to be on a harness and a leash for walking.  It is extremely hard for me to tell you what size to purchase as we have many different size puppies when they leave for their new homes.  Collars are always pretty and can be used for “look” but not for leash walking.  Also please always remove the collar when your puppy is in the crate.  The collar could possibly get caught in the crate and hurt your puppy. 

Puppy clothes are also cute and necessary during inclement weather.  Please make sure when purchasing clothes that you are monitoring your puppy so they do not have anything that they could get caught in.  Sweaters or jackets are the best for cold weather.  I prefer Velcro jackets as they are easy to put on and take off.  When the weather is HOT, please do not place additional clothing on your puppy or monitor them to stay cool.  The pavement and roads can get extremely hot so please be careful when walking your puppy/dog in hot temperatures and they can burn the pads of their feet.

🐾 GATE: If you do not wish for your puppy to be in certain areas, please purchase a gate(s) and install it prior to the puppy coming home.  We prefer the pressure (tension) gates as they do not leave holes in the wall when your puppy is potty trained.

🐾 FOOD: You will also receive a 4- 6-pound bag of food to start when you pick up your puppy.  If you prefer to switch food, that is fine, however, PLEASE wait for at least 4 weeks and then begin slowly.  If you switch food too quickly, they can develop diarrhea; if you plan to switch food, please look for Taurine in the ingredients for the new food.  Taurine is good for cardiac health.   As you all are aware Cavaliers are prone to Cardiac (Heart) issues.  Our parents are checked yearly and have no evidence of any heart issues.  Research shows that there is a correlation in heart disease with Cavaliers and Grain Free food.   Therefore, we do NOT recommend any Grain Free Foods.  Please discuss with your veterinarian.   It is also important to remember to wash the dog bowls, empty water and food bowls, spray with bleach to water ratio, very low, then use dishwashing soap or place in dishwasher.  The bowls are better if they are weighted or heavy.  The puppy will learn but will try to tip over the food and water bowl.  Water must always be available, except at bedtime.  Please make sure to wash your water bowls in the summer especially as you can get green slime and it is not good for the puppies.  We use an Automatic Wide Mouth Gravity waterer.  I have two clients that their puppies would NOT drink water out of bowls, as they were use to the waterer we used.  You can purchase one at Walmart or Amazon 

🐾 TREATS: Cavalier’s love treats.  It is especially important to have treats for training.  They thrive on getting a treat and you will see it helps when you are training.  I suggest you purchase training treats, which are small treats after 4 weeks.  I suggest you use the puppy food kibble as treats until they are comfortable in their new homes.    Give your command, and praise and treat.  Your puppy wants to please you, and they thrive on attention.  Good Boy/Girl or by their name is better, use a higher pitch that you normally talk to them.  Continue praise and give a treat. 

You may want to consider just using kibble puppy food for a treat in the beginning as you do not want to introduce a lot of new foods in the beginning.  We use many different treats in our home after 6 months of age/ Some examples: frozen blueberries, give 2 a day is supposed to help with eye staining.  Other fruits are strawberries and watermelons.  Please only give small amount as it can cause tummy upset.  Carrots, string beans, broccoli are great for dogs after the age of six months. Make sure you cut them so they are not round and could lodge in their throats.  I would wait a little before you start them on carrots, but they will love them and great for chewing.  Apples are great treats and healthy.  Cut them is small tidbits, PLEASE make sure No SEEDS. 

One of our dog’s favorite treats, LOL are ice cubes.  They absolutely love them and think it is a treat. Great no calorie option.  Popcorn is also good.  When I make popcorn, I have all twenty dogs lined up waiting at the microwave as the popcorn cooks.  Then they line up and wait for the first toss.  It is a great way to teach your dog to catch!  Please NO Salt and Butter.  Peanut butter is good if you must give medicine, however we do have one dog allergic to nuts, so may want to avoid it.  In addition, peanut butter may have xylitol as ingredient which is toxic to dogs.  If you must give medicine, then pill pockets or cheese work wonderfully.  You can purchase them from Walmart or any pet store.

🐾 VACCINATIONS:

Your puppy will have vaccinations at 6 and 9 weeks.   Depending on when the puppies receive their vaccinations and weight they may or may not receive their 12-week vaccinations.  Bordetella is not administered while they are in our care, however I suggest you discuss with your veterinarian on this vaccination.  Any puppy that receives vaccination after the 10 weeks will be the responsibility of the puppy parent.

🐾 PICKING UP YOUR PUPPY:

Puppies leave at 10 weeks of age.  If for some reason I feel that the puppy needs to stay longer, I will contact and discuss with you.  You will receive the medical records for your puppy on the day of pick up. You MUST have your puppy examined by a veterinarian within 5-7 business days and contact us immediately should there be any concerns.   We suggest that you schedule your appointment now!!

 

You will also need to make appointments for additional vaccinations usually at:

• • 10–12 weeks
  • 16–18 Weeks
  • 12–16 months

🐾 PUPPY VITAMINS The health of my dogs and puppies is a top priority.  I highly recommend that you continue your puppy on NuVet Plus for total body support.  Your puppy will begin daily vitamins at 8 weeks.  Vitamins are a comprehensive supplement that supports skin and coat, eyes, ears, bones, teeth digestion, immune system, heart, nervous system.  It is not mandatory but highly suggested.  To order NuVet plus, the website is http://www.nuvet.com/953756 or you can call them directly at 800-474-7044 the referral code is 953756.  I suggest that you place your order now so you will have it when your puppy comes home.  The directions state to give one chewable tablet a day, we only give a ¼ tablet at this age, increase to a ½ tablet at 6 months and 8-9 months a whole tablet once a day. 

The other product I recommend is NuVet puppy/kitten shampoo.  It is a great product, and the puppy smells nice.  Your puppy will be shampooed on day of discharge with this product. 

🐾 TRAINING TIPS: I was asked for the list of commands, so I am sharing with all the pet parents.  Please note I am not a trainer; this is just what we use and maybe helpful to you.

We call them by the name we gave them OR by the name you have chosen.  It is important you call them by their name all the time.  Even if in your lap, petting the puppy while talking to him/her and using their name.  They will learn fast.  Remember while with us and seven puppies, they may or may not know their name when you pick them up.  Sometimes it can be confusing for them with all the names being said.  I try to spend individual time with each, snuggling and calling their name.  if You have given us a name to use, we will do so every chance we can.  If you do not or have changed your mind when you see your puppy it is NO big deal.  The puppy will learn fast. 

Please make your commands consistent and all members of the family are saying the same command.  Below are a list of commands and hand signals I us.  Please remember I am not a trainer and my eleven dogs have good and bad days, just as we do.  I always use praise.

🐾 SIT: Place your hand gently on the butt area, slightly helping him/her to sit and say SIT.  PRAISE, praise, praise, and then small treat as they followed your command.  You can also snap your finger and say sit, as your puppy grows you will be able to snap finger, and they will sit down.

🐾 LAY: In a sitting position, tell him/her to lie, gently pushing them to lie.  Praise, praise, praise..treat.  If you are consistent, they will learn fast. 

🐾 DOWN/OFF: Puppies will jump up…it may be cute now however it can be an issue when friends/family and their nails are sharp and scratch someone.  A good way to train them, as they learn “do you want a treat” they will come running for that little morsel.  When they jump up, say DOWN firmly, take the palm of your hand open and push your hand down.  If they continue to jump do it again and gently push nose and say down.  They will learn that that hand means downs.  You will still use the word DOWN, but they will learn the hand signal. 

🐾 SHAKE/PAW: As they are sitting, take their paw and say Shake or paw whatever you choose.  Just keep doing it and give a treat.

🐾 COME: This will take the most time.  When outside call your puppy by name and say Come.  Example: Smokey Come.  If they do it give them a treat.  You may want to start with a leash and give lots of treats.

🐾 STAY: You will have them on leash and will start walking.  When you stop and put them into sit, you say STAY repeatedly.  If they try to walk to you. Reinforce sit and stay.  Praise and treat.

🐾 DROP IT: This command is important.  Your puppy will take something they should not have.  As you go to them to take it, say drop it repeatedly while you gently take it away.  Praise and treat.  With constant training they will learn to drop.

🐾LEAVE IT: After they have learned to drop it, they need to learn they have to leave it.   Example: puppy outside and picks up dead bird.  You need to tell them to drop it. Praise treat, and you must tell them to leave so they will walk away from the bird. 

Good way to work on this by walking on leash.  They may see something you do not want them to have. Drop it and then leave it. 

We hope that some of this information is helpful to you.  Please do not hesitate to email, text or call us with any questions.  Please remember these are just tips and not training.

Milt and I thank you for choosing Enchanting Cavaliers as your breeder.  We enjoyed meeting all of you, your family, and friends.  We take pride in breeding and wish you all the best with your new “Fur Baby.”  We hope to hear from you all and send us pictures of your pet.  Please always feel free to contact us if you have questions about your pet. 

Sincerely

Susan & Milt Williams

Enchanting Cavaliers.