House Training Your Cavalier

He just doesn't understand that he's supposed to go outside. What you have to do is this.
Take him out on leash first thing in the morning. Only give him 5 minutes, that's it. Don't wander around. Don't play. He's out hereto do business. If he pees PRAISE him. Take him back in and put him IN HIS CRATE. Give him his breakfast in his crate. During the 15 minutes you give him to eat you can go change or do what ever you want.

After the 15 min. are up, remove BOTH food and water. Leave him in the crate. About 1/2 hour later, ask him if he has to go out (or whatever you want to use). Put his leash on and take him out to the spot he went before (where you want him to go). Give him 5 minutes that's all. If he pees or poos, PRAISE. After the 5 minutes are up bring him back in. If he only did one (poop or pee) he goes back in the crate for another 1/2 hour to hour. Take him out every hour until he does both. When he has done both (you know he has to because he ate and drank) then he gets 1/2 hour free time outside the crate to play supervised.
If you can't watch him while he's loose put him back in his crate.
After the free time is over he goes back into his crate with some toys. At next meal repeat this. Last thing before you go to bed take him out again. Bring crate to your room and go to bed. The next day you start all over again but this time his free time after he poops and pees can be lengthened to 45 minutes. The next day you can give him an hour. Remember you have to keep an eye on him. When you get past an hour, every so often ask him "Do you have to go out?" (or whatever you are asking)

What's going to happen is he's going to connect you praising him madly when he does his business outside with your asking him that question and he'll begin responding to the question because he knows what's going to follow. Sometimes that first response is slight. My 9 month old's first response was to just to walk away, circle past the door and return to me. Now he stares at me intensely and then barks once and then runs to the door and jumps on the bells I have there. It's a neat moment when you get that first response. You can actually see the little light go on.

If he has an accident during his free time just cut back the time you are allowing him. Don't give him free access to water until he's letting you know when he has to go. My poor pup had the idea before he had the muscular control. He'd let me know and then as he ran to the door, sometimes he'd pee. He'd be so upset! It was harder convincing him it was ok and that it wasn't his fault than it was to housebreak him.

Yes he will spend a lot of time in that crate at first but it's a safety zone. You know he'll try to hold it in as long as possible and when he has to go he'll have more incentive to let you know quickly since he doesn't want to go in his crate. It took my pup 3 days to get the concept. On the 3rd day I asked him "Do you have to go out?" and he responded. Less than a week later his response was more emphatic. He now spins in a circle and barks at me before heading for the door.

I've housebroken 5 dogs this way and have helped others do it as well.
Good luck and have patience. That is the key. Remember your dog just wants to please you and do what you want, he just doesn't understand what that is yet.

After the 15 min. are up, remove BOTH food and water. Leave him in the crate. About 1/2 hour later, ask him if he has to go out (or whatever you want to use). Put his leash on and take him out to the spot he went before (where you want him to go). Give him 5 minutes that's all. If he pees or poos, PRAISE. After the 5 minutes are up bring him back in. If he only did one (poop or pee) he goes back in the crate for another 1/2 hour to hour. Take him out every hour until he does both. When he has done both (you know he has to because he ate and drank) then he gets 1/2 hour free time outside the crate to play supervised.
If you can't watch him while he's loose put him back in his crate.
After the free time is over he goes back into his crate with some toys. At next meal repeat this. Last thing before you go to bed take him out again. Bring crate to your room and go to bed. The next day you start all over again but this time his free time after he poops and pees can be lengthened to 45 minutes. The next day you can give him an hour. Remember you have to keep an eye on him. When you get past an hour, every so often ask him "Do you have to go out?" (or whatever you are asking)

What's going to happen is he's going to connect you praising him madly when he does his business outside with your asking him that question and he'll begin responding to the question because he knows what's going to follow. Sometimes that first response is slight. My 9 month old's first response was to just to walk away, circle past the door and return to me. Now he stares at me intensely and then barks once and then runs to the door and jumps on the bells I have there. It's a neat moment when you get that first response. You can actually see the little light go on.

If he has an accident during his free time just cut back the time you are allowing him. Don't give him free access to water until he's letting you know when he has to go. My poor pup had the idea before he had the muscular control. He'd let me know and then as he ran to the door, sometimes he'd pee. He'd be so upset! It was harder convincing him it was ok and that it wasn't his fault than it was to housebreak him.

Yes he will spend a lot of time in that crate at first but it's a safety zone. You know he'll try to hold it in as long as possible and when he has to go he'll have more incentive to let you know quickly since he doesn't want to go in his crate. It took my pup 3 days to get the concept. On the 3rd day I asked him "Do you have to go out?" and he responded. Less than a week later his response was more emphatic. He now spins in a circle and barks at me before heading for the door.

I've housebroken 5 dogs this way and have helped others do it as well.
Good luck and have patience. That is the key. Remember your dog just wants to please you and do what you want, he just doesn't understand what that is yet.

After the 15 min. are up, remove BOTH food and water. Leave him in the crate. About 1/2 hour later, ask him if he has to go out (or whatever you want to use). Put his leash on and take him out to the spot he went before (where you want him to go). Give him 5 minutes that's all. If he pees or poos, PRAISE. After the 5 minutes are up bring him back in. If he only did one (poop or pee) he goes back in the crate for another 1/2 hour to hour. Take him out every hour until he does both. When he has done both (you know he has to because he ate and drank) then he gets 1/2 hour free time outside the crate to play supervised.
If you can't watch him while he's loose put him back in his crate.
After the free time is over he goes back into his crate with some toys. At next meal repeat this. Last thing before you go to bed take him out again. Bring crate to your room and go to bed. The next day you start all over again but this time his free time after he poops and pees can be lengthened to 45 minutes. The next day you can give him an hour. Remember you have to keep an eye on him. When you get past an hour, every so often ask him "Do you have to go out?" (or whatever you are asking)

What's going to happen is he's going to connect you praising him madly when he does his business outside with your asking him that question and he'll begin responding to the question because he knows what's going to follow. Sometimes that first response is slight. My 9 month old's first response was to just to walk away, circle past the door and return to me. Now he stares at me intensely and then barks once and then runs to the door and jumps on the bells I have there. It's a neat moment when you get that first response. You can actually see the little light go on.

If he has an accident during his free time just cut back the time you are allowing him. Don't give him free access to water until he's letting you know when he has to go. My poor pup had the idea before he had the muscular control. He'd let me know and then as he ran to the door, sometimes he'd pee. He'd be so upset! It was harder convincing him it was ok and that it wasn't his fault than it was to housebreak him.

Yes he will spend a lot of time in that crate at first but it's a safety zone. You know he'll try to hold it in as long as possible and when he has to go he'll have more incentive to let you know quickly since he doesn't want to go in his crate. It took my pup 3 days to get the concept. On the 3rd day I asked him "Do you have to go out?" and he responded. Less than a week later his response was more emphatic. He now spins in a circle and barks at me before heading for the door.