Puppy Care Cavalier King Charles Puppies

Puppy Care

Feed 1/4 - 1/2 cup of food 2 - 3 times a day (when adult 1/3 cup x 2 a day)
1/4 - 1/2 of a vitamin and sprinkle Omega oils and Missing Link on food once a day each.
(For adult dog only: If front teeth get "wobbly" sprinkle powdered calcium like Mezotrace on food once a day. )
Cookies are for reward only!!!! After potty, after sitting on command etc…Dogs get fat too!
Never ever give a dog people food. A Cavalier in particular has a very sensitive stomach and will throw up. If it's sick and won't eat dry dog food, cook some plain eggs, or boiled (bone free) chicken and rice or serve it canned dog food. But only until it gets it's appetite back. Dry food is much better as it keeps their gums clean. Wet and cooked food gives them bad gums. When it gets older she may enjoy occasional fresh berries, carrots, avocado or fruit like banana as a treat. That's it. And don't give a Cavalier dog bones or other "dog" treats unless they're "Nylabones", as bones and rawhide can rip up their insides or break their teeth. Be careful your dog never eats chocolate, cleaning products, poinsettias, ivory and other deadly plants and products around the house (especially during the holidays).

Bathe: once every, every other week with gentle dog shampoo.

Crate train: keep dog most of the time in the crate until it's house trained. Let it run around indoors or outdoors only for 15 -30 minutes after peeing and pooping, for exercise. You may want to keep it on a leash and/ or a play pen to control it. Keep in crate over night. If it cries, bang on the crate and say NO! It'll quit after a few times - it's heart breaking, but if you baby and spoil the puppy it'll never stop crying and will become an unruly brat. It'll learn to love the crate as it's private home or house. When you're sure the puppy can hold it overnight, you may keep it in your bed if you wish.

Teach puppy what it can and can't chew on. Let it know it has it's chew toys and you have yours (furniture, shoes, etc….) It won't take long. Give it an old shoe that smells like you, a soft toy for your sofa, a wooden toy for chairs…etc….Cavaliers love cashmere sweaters…..

Grooming: trim nails every 2 - 3 weeks, trim paw hair once a month, and brush every few days. No other hair, needs or is supposed to be trimmed. Brush teeth every week.

Vet visits: at 12 weeks she needs her 2nd set of shots and at 16 weeks the last round of shots. Wait until it is 5-6 months old for the rabies shot. Spreading them out reduces and risk of side-effects. Rabies gets redone every 3 years and the rest annually. You should go to the vet ASAP, for it's first check up and 12th week shots.
When you go to the vet for check up and shots, get your dog "micro-chipped". Engrave the "chip" number, it's rabies shot # and Phone # on it's dog tag. That way you always have proof on the dog how to identify it and that it has had it's shots (comes in handy when traveling, especially overseas). And all pounds, vets and pet stores scan dogs, so if it's stolen or lost it can be retrieved faster.
NEVER leave a Cavalier tied up out side a store. It is not your average breed. It's considered British Royalty, is rare and very special. People know how expensive they are and will steal it.

Training: Go to dog training school to learn how to train your pet. The more disciplined you are with the puppy the prouder and happier you will be in the future with your dog. Keep all commands, reprimands and rules the same every time and make sure all in your household knows what these are. Otherwise dog will get confused and become ill behaved.

Exercise: Cavaliers, just like other dogs need to exercise. A playful romp in the yard or park, or a walk every day, is important. If you don't have time for an "exercise walk" take it with you shopping and running errands. Cavaliers are small dogs that don't need a lot of exercise but can. Don't hesitate to get your Cavalier used to hiking and such. They can hike for a couple of hours, as long as it's not too hot. So even though Cavaliers are "lap dogs", make sure it gets its exercise to keep healthy. It'll prevent otherwise common ailments in Cavaliers such as weak hips, and heart problems that mostly stem from inactivity.

Supplies:
Crate
Food and water bowls
Food
Vitamins ( multi, and Omega)
Shampoo
Brush
Flee comb
Flee medication (in summer only, if you have too, it can cause cancer)
Collar and leash
Training leash about 15 feet.
Pooper-scooper
Dog bed (or your bed)
Toys for play and chewing on (one soft, one wood, a plastic chew bone, a rope toy and an old shoe should do it)
Play pen (optional, but makes your life easier going through puppy hood and fence comes in handy at other times)
Nail scissors
Hair scissors for paw hair.