Arundell Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
THE FIRST FEW DAYS
At first, a little pup will miss their litter mates and first human family. It is perfectly normal for a pup to take a few days to settle into their new home. Lots of cuddles will make them more comfortable. Young pup take lots of naps throughout the day, and you should let them follow their natural routine with this. Teach your children the difference between puppy 'sleep time' and 'playtime'.
TOILET TRAINING
You can start toilet training as early as you wish. Whenever your pup wakes up, or has a meal or a drink, take them outside and praise them when they urinate. Your pup wants to please you, and will soon get the idea. You will probably find this method most successful from 10-12 weeks onwards, when your pup is instinctively ready for toilet training himself.
CARE AROUND VEHICLES
Please be extremely vigilient with your pup around cars. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are fearless little dogs and generally not too scared of noises. For this reason, they are unfortunately not afraid of vehicles and somtimes seem to have no road sense. If they get into your driveway, they will happily stand wagging their tails rather than get out of the way of your reversing car. If they get onto the road, they will run around chasing the big metal machines.
SECURE FENCING
It is also crucial to have secure fences over, under or through which the pup cannot escape. Adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can jump over a metre and clamber over wire and timber fences. They can squeeze through small holes and dig underneath fences as well. They will be motivated to do this by their desire to follow if you have just left the house, or for the instinctive fun of chasing a cat or a bird. They are not being naughty; they are doing what comes naturally to them. It is up to you to make your fences secure so your pup is safe inside them. It may be appropriate to leave your pup in a smaller pen or enclosure than your back yard, when you are not there.
CAR TRAVEL
Cavaliers are usually good car travellers, and are especially happy to go on holidays with you. You should get your pup used to travelling in the car in a pet carrier, as they need to be restrained securely when the vehicle is moving. If the pup is used to the carrier, he will not be stressed if you need to go somewhere out of the usual, such as to the vet in it in an emergency.
COAT CARE
Cavaliers do not shed a lot of hair, although this increases depending on the season and the thickness of the coat that nature has given your particular pup. A weekly brushing with a gentle brush is a nice bonding time for you both and usually sufficient to keep knots at bay. Remember to check for knots behind the ears and under the tail. You can cut these out with scissors if necessary. It is also sufficient to bathe your pup every two or three weeks. More frequent bathing may cause the skin and coat to dry out.