New Blenheim Cavalier
Discussion
So we picked up Charlie at 3 months old and had him at home now for a month.
Settled in lovely, the toilet training wasn't too much of an issue as we have tiles down throughout the house. However, after a while it has become a pain and the wife isn't too happy about cleaning up his droppings as and when he chooses to drop.
Didn't take long for him to learn his name and now we've started to crate train him. Probably should have started this straight away but I was reluctant to use this method as I've never had to train a puppy before, always house trained rescue dogs in the past.
I think we've had it fairly easy as from day one he has recognised his bed as the place to rest and chillout. Also the very nature of these dogs seems that he can be bonkers anytime you want him to be, but if we relax he his happy to relax.
We have a large cage for him, with a big bottle feeder, placed his bed inside and he seems to have no problem with getting in the crate once his business is done or we need to head out for a while.
He was happy on the first night being left in it all night, say 10pm to 5.30am
I'm typically awake around 5.30 and take him out the front straight away, we've now started to make progress with the business seeming to be done in the first couple of minutes.
So that he still gets the attention he craves, he shares the sofa with us in the evenings, it's too high for him to jump down from just yet, so when he starts pacing we know it's time to take him out.
I'm not sure how long to keep working the crate, if we stop too early does he regress and just start dropping presents through the house? Or how long before we can stop watching every move he makes when roaming?
He's a lovely little chap and is wonderful to be around.
Settled in lovely, the toilet training wasn't too much of an issue as we have tiles down throughout the house. However, after a while it has become a pain and the wife isn't too happy about cleaning up his droppings as and when he chooses to drop.
Didn't take long for him to learn his name and now we've started to crate train him. Probably should have started this straight away but I was reluctant to use this method as I've never had to train a puppy before, always house trained rescue dogs in the past.
I think we've had it fairly easy as from day one he has recognised his bed as the place to rest and chillout. Also the very nature of these dogs seems that he can be bonkers anytime you want him to be, but if we relax he his happy to relax.
We have a large cage for him, with a big bottle feeder, placed his bed inside and he seems to have no problem with getting in the crate once his business is done or we need to head out for a while.
He was happy on the first night being left in it all night, say 10pm to 5.30am
I'm typically awake around 5.30 and take him out the front straight away, we've now started to make progress with the business seeming to be done in the first couple of minutes.
So that he still gets the attention he craves, he shares the sofa with us in the evenings, it's too high for him to jump down from just yet, so when he starts pacing we know it's time to take him out.
I'm not sure how long to keep working the crate, if we stop too early does he regress and just start dropping presents through the house? Or how long before we can stop watching every move he makes when roaming?
He's a lovely little chap and is wonderful to be around.
Edited by Jakarta on Wednesday 18th March 04:39
I would continue with the crate as long as he is happy. You may get to a stage where you just leave the door open and he naturally gravitates towards it.
Our pup never got on with a crate, fine while we were in the room but if we went out or upstairs used to hate it. Battered the thing, (halfway across the room) until he got the door open!
We tried restricting him to the kitchen and dining room while out. But soon learnt to leave all the internal doors open on the ground floor, (except the hall and stairs) we were all happy with this arrangement. Now he's allowed everywhere, when we're out he's in the living room and can peer out of windows front and back. At night he stay's in the living room and sneaks upstairs in the small hours, coming downstairs again around 6-7am or whenever we get up.
Our pup never got on with a crate, fine while we were in the room but if we went out or upstairs used to hate it. Battered the thing, (halfway across the room) until he got the door open!
We tried restricting him to the kitchen and dining room while out. But soon learnt to leave all the internal doors open on the ground floor, (except the hall and stairs) we were all happy with this arrangement. Now he's allowed everywhere, when we're out he's in the living room and can peer out of windows front and back. At night he stay's in the living room and sneaks upstairs in the small hours, coming downstairs again around 6-7am or whenever we get up.
Got home late last night and sadly he'd pee'd in his crate. Changed out the bed for a soft mat, and then this morning the same.
Both in the wash and no harm done, so just a minor setback.
I've told the staff to make sure that when the night security chap gets there, and if we're not home for him to be kept outside with him as company.
Hopefully that should reduce the time he spends in the crate, and also in the house alone.
Both in the wash and no harm done, so just a minor setback.
I've told the staff to make sure that when the night security chap gets there, and if we're not home for him to be kept outside with him as company.
Hopefully that should reduce the time he spends in the crate, and also in the house alone.
A bit of a success story last night. Went to bed around 11.30 and crated Charlie in our bedroom. 3am a little squeak from him, so I walk him to the front garden straight away where he duly completes both parts of his business and then trots back with me to his crate.
So at least now he's learning to let us know if he needs out.
Slight fail this morning though, 7am I let him out for a few minutes before breakfast, just as he walks back in the house he lets go with a little puddle.
Ho hum, still a way to go.
So at least now he's learning to let us know if he needs out.
Slight fail this morning though, 7am I let him out for a few minutes before breakfast, just as he walks back in the house he lets go with a little puddle.
Ho hum, still a way to go.
Stick at it, we've had our black and tan since Jan 2nd and she's settled right in.
We still crate her as and she loves going in there. She cried for about 10 minutes on the first night but soon calmed down. She went to sleeping from 10pm to 7am in a few days, generally dogs wont 'mess' where they sleep so the odd puddle in the crate will soon stop.
They're clever little dogs for sure! I think ours picked up toilet training in about a week and she never actually had a crap inside thank god!
We still crate her as and she loves going in there. She cried for about 10 minutes on the first night but soon calmed down. She went to sleeping from 10pm to 7am in a few days, generally dogs wont 'mess' where they sleep so the odd puddle in the crate will soon stop.
They're clever little dogs for sure! I think ours picked up toilet training in about a week and she never actually had a crap inside thank god!
He's still young allow up until 6 months really before most toilet training established. As long as improvements occuring week by week that's what counts.
Just continue to be consistent and keep at it, even once he appears to have cracked it, keep up the vigilance as they can quickly relapse!
Just continue to be consistent and keep at it, even once he appears to have cracked it, keep up the vigilance as they can quickly relapse!
I get the feeling he's getting better. Regular trots out the front door. If we're out of the house we leave his cage out in the front porch are and he can roam the garden.
I was keeping him on the sofa with me whilst he was in the house as any spare minute he had he would squeeze one out or leave a puddle. This seems to have eased off now and we can safely leave him on the floor without watching him like a hawk.
We just have to keep up with the regular trips out the front of the house.
No more accidents in the cage, he seems to genuinely enjoy being in there, even though he know the door is getting locked he trots himself in there and lays down straight away.
I'm away from home for 2 weeks now, hopefully the wife will keep up with the progress and perhaps when I get home I'll never have to mop up a puddle again?
I was keeping him on the sofa with me whilst he was in the house as any spare minute he had he would squeeze one out or leave a puddle. This seems to have eased off now and we can safely leave him on the floor without watching him like a hawk.
We just have to keep up with the regular trips out the front of the house.
No more accidents in the cage, he seems to genuinely enjoy being in there, even though he know the door is getting locked he trots himself in there and lays down straight away.
I'm away from home for 2 weeks now, hopefully the wife will keep up with the progress and perhaps when I get home I'll never have to mop up a puddle again?
What superb dogs. My sister had a boy from the first litter, a girl from the second, then we adopted the mum.
Had her coming on 2 years and she is all I ever want in a dog. Such a big personality, intelligent, and only demands belly rubs. Loves going for walks but will quite happily stay inside when rainy.
Pups were fine training. Took around 6 months to perfect. And all are great off lead.
It's a shame about the inherent heart problems. I feel the key is to keep the weight off and regular exercise. Don't be fooled by people saying they are lap dogs. They will all easily do 10 miles.
Had her coming on 2 years and she is all I ever want in a dog. Such a big personality, intelligent, and only demands belly rubs. Loves going for walks but will quite happily stay inside when rainy.
Pups were fine training. Took around 6 months to perfect. And all are great off lead.
It's a shame about the inherent heart problems. I feel the key is to keep the weight off and regular exercise. Don't be fooled by people saying they are lap dogs. They will all easily do 10 miles.
I run with the Hash House Harriers, and whilst some of my runs may be a bit long and fast for him, he joined the wife on a 7km run last Saturday. He seemed to love the start trying to keep up with the faster runners, but slowed down in the middle when the grass got a bit long for him and scared him a little.
Still full of energy when he got back after 80 minutes.
Maybe when he's a bit bigger I'll bring him on a faster run. I just need to be happy that he'll keep up with me when off the lead.
Will post some photos from my phone in a mo
Still full of energy when he got back after 80 minutes.
Maybe when he's a bit bigger I'll bring him on a faster run. I just need to be happy that he'll keep up with me when off the lead.
Will post some photos from my phone in a mo
Definitely care needed with excessive running, they have long tongues, short nose and frequently elongated soft palate add that to hereditary heart conditions, this does not make them the best running partners.
Walking is fine (as long as not in heat)
Also ne aware they are a breed susceptible to Syringomyelia.
Walking is fine (as long as not in heat)
Also ne aware they are a breed susceptible to Syringomyelia.
My vet had no real advice regards exercise. He just said treat as normal.
What that is I don't know.
But we try get out twice a day for a walk around the park. Then at weekends 5 miles or so.
Mine has the slightest murmur. He says ungradable. The vet however has heard it only twice. And both times were after surgery (spayed and teeth out).
On sone regular check ups it can't be heard. He is a cardiologist.
She has good food and I give her omega rich fish oil tablets.
What that is I don't know.
But we try get out twice a day for a walk around the park. Then at weekends 5 miles or so.
Mine has the slightest murmur. He says ungradable. The vet however has heard it only twice. And both times were after surgery (spayed and teeth out).
On sone regular check ups it can't be heard. He is a cardiologist.
She has good food and I give her omega rich fish oil tablets.
Unfortunately I believe it is now impossible to get a cavvy without a heart murmur as the ones without one have now died and the only ones left to breed from all have them. Please correct me if this is wrong I've just heard one or two clinicians mention it as a flippant remark so I never pressed them for scientific evidence.
I'm not sure that is necessarily true. I know most of the other health problems have been bred out.
Mine had full heart and eye certificates.
I know the sire whom is the father of my sisters pups,my dogs pups, had extensive cardio tests. Echo grams etc.
They seem to be very popular in our village. And most are overweight. This must have an adverse effect on their hearts.
Loves her beds
And beer froth!
Mine had full heart and eye certificates.
I know the sire whom is the father of my sisters pups,my dogs pups, had extensive cardio tests. Echo grams etc.
They seem to be very popular in our village. And most are overweight. This must have an adverse effect on their hearts.
Loves her beds
And beer froth!
GokTweed said:
Unfortunately I believe it is now impossible to get a cavvy without a heart murmur as the ones without one have now died and the only ones left to breed from all have them. Please correct me if this is wrong I've just heard one or two clinicians mention it as a flippant remark so I never pressed them for scientific evidence.
Ours has been checked and is clear, we were very careful where we got her from and waited a long time for the right breeder.We were always tempted by the 'pets4homes' ones due to cost but waited and spent significantly more with a KC Assured breeder with fully health tested parents. No dog will be 100% guaranteed to never have anything wrong with them its just a case of making sure you reduce the risk as much as possible.
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