Anathea, I would suggest you ask yourself these questions: Will the cavalier still be a priority once the new baby arrives? Just down the street from me this past summer a beautiful yellow lab was the only "child" in the family until baby entered. The dog had been trained in obedience and was an inside dog. Then as soon as the daughter could crawl the dog started playing with the child which alarmed Mom so the dog was kept in the kitchen until it got in the way. Then baby number two came along and husband built a dog house with a chain attached to the dog collar. The dog scared mom even more because he had grown too big to be around the children and he wanted to play with them and she did not have the time or energy to supervise the dog and the children. So, the dog was placed outside to live chained to the dog house with about 5 feet of chain. This backyard had been fenced in for the dog initially to play unchained but now it was more important to have the swing set and sand box without the interference of the family pet. I tried to educate them about further positive training, using a baby gate to separate the children from the dog yet have the dog inside to be a part of the family that had been his family for first two years prior to arrival of children. I was especially concerned since he had no shade from the 92 degree plus humidity weather and saw how he had dug under the fence to create some comfort from the heat with cool dirt. She said she was going to find a good home for him now that he had become too much to bother with since the children took so much of her time and she wanted to protect them from him jumping up on them.I offered to find a good home and two days later they took him to the local shelter since so many concerned neighbors asked about him being left alone all day in the heat. I can only hope he was placed well the second time. This unfortunately happens to often to a family pet to make room for a growing family. I hope I have not offended you because this breed is wonderful with children; adults need to supervise them when they are together. Each family member needs to use the same positive training tools to keep consistancy to achieve a well behaved companion for all to enjoy for years to come. Please just make sure you and your husband will still have the time to share your life with the family pet once the children arrive. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is so loving, bright, and easy to live with if you train using positive reinforcement with treats and praise. Since they are spaniels, they cannot be trusted off lead so a fenced yard to play in and walks on a leash are a must. My dogs stay indoors in my house except when I am home and they have almost an acre fenced in to play and chase the cats, squirrels, etc. When I leave for business, they are crated since they cannot be trusted not to chew the mahogany furniture or my book bindings! I also take mine for walks on the beach, downtown and the neighborhood to keep them fit. If I am having a large number of guests and they need to get away from all the excitment, they go inside their crate. It is like their den/bedroom; safe and quiet. I also feed mine in the crate to see who isn't eating to alert me to potential problems or bitch coming in season ahead of schedule. I also protect them from flying out of a car window if I have to slam on brakes unexpectantly by crating them when I travel to dog shows or a visit to the vet.
The books I would recommend you read before getting your new puppy are: "The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in North America" by Barbara Garnett-Smith now Barbara Garnett-Wilson. email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] "Purely Positive Training:Companion To Competition" by Sheila Booth "Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson 1-800-775-2665. A direct book service. Newsletters: "Dog Watch" by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine 1-800-829-5574 "The Whole Dog Journal" a monthly guide to natural dog care and training send a check for $29.00 to The Whole Dog Journal, PO Box 420235, Palm Coast, FL 32142 Go to www.ckcsc.org to learn about breed history, health issues, code of ethics, expelled breeders and a list of breeders,etc. Also, the akc parent club for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a web site for additional information and a list of members. www.ackcsc.org I hope this is of some help to you in your decision to add a pet to your family and specifically, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Patricia Powers Pratt Cavaliers Beaufort, S.C. [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Anathea B. Waitekus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Saturday, October 27, 2001 5:20 AM Subject: [CKCS-L] New to list, plan to get a Cavalier--I have MANY questions :) Hello, My husband and I have been looking for a toy breed, a friendly, affectionate dog, easy to train and willing to go on long walks, occasional hikes and likes to swim. I am nervous about our Cavalier, when we get one, running away or into traffic. This leads me to my first question. How have you dealt with your Cavalier's love to run? protected fenced area large enough for them to run and play Is there any sort of training or socialization techniques that help prevent this? see list of books. The running issue is my biggest concern. It is inherent in the breed because they are spaniels! Do you have any suggestions for helping our dog adapt to big get togethers? crate them part of the time, if they get overwhelmed but usually the more the merrier... they love everybody! I am most concerned with his side of the family as they are not dog owners and I am extra cautious with introducing a dog to his side of the family, as they may only accept a well behaved dog. Personally I grew up in a family of dog owners, I always had a dog (labrador) growing up and so did all my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc...so family get togethers on my side of the family are more accepting to a dog misbehaving etc. Simple, use puppy class and positive obedience class to get a well behaved companion; no use of chokers, using intimidation or harsh corrections. Refer back to book list. Also, my husband and I don't have children, but may have a baby in a year or so, has anyone on this list dealt with introducing their cavalier to a new baby in the house? My husband and I have been thinking about getting a dog for years and right now happens to be a great time as we have time to train and socialize the dog. We used to think we would get a dog after having a child, but getting a dog before having a child seems more practical. If you will still have time to play, feed, walk, enjoy, etc. your basic obedient trained companion and will include him in all the family activities then spend the time now to shape and love your wonderful cavalier. If you won't have as much time and it spends more hours in a crate or yard with very little time with the family, then I would wait to add a dog after the children are 7 years of age to be fair to the dog. A weather question, we live on the coast in New England. How do Cavaliers like the snow and beach? Most love it... one dainty girl hates getting her feet wet when snow begins to melt to slush and pottying in the rain is sometimes a challenge. Prefers to hold out until rain slacks off! What is the best method for cleaning the Cavalier's teeth? Soft baby brush or doggy brush with CET chicken flavored dog toothpaste from vet Finally, are there any sort of training techniques you recommend for the Cavalier? Any books on training that you have found helpful? Refer to positive training book list above Any toys you suggest (I am starting a collection of toys already)? I am interested in agility training, not for competition, just for fun. White rope tied in knots until they shredd it then continue under supervsion only and throw away small pieces. All my plastic toys get pulled a part fairly soon after arriving so I take metal squeek part out and let them still carry and chew on torn toy. I have unrecognizable basketball and a snake they still love to carry and chew on. The milky looking raised bumps dental dinosaur by Nylabone; not the clear plastic one is a favorite. Four inch beef bone hollow inside to stick a little peanutbuttter for a treat. Otherwise, they chew their bone for pure pleasure while I read a book. You will have to experiment with toys to find out how aggressive a chewer he is. Thank you in advance for your help, Anathea & Ray ========================================================= >"Magic Commands": >to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL >to start it up gain click here: >mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL > > E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. >Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html > >All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author. > ========================================================= "Magic Commands": to stop receiving mail for awhile, click here and send the email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20NOMAIL to start it up gain click here: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?body=SET%20CKCS-L%20MAIL E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] for assistance. Search the Archives... http://apple.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ckcs-l.html All e-mail sent through CKCS-L is Copyright 1999 by its original author.
