A Care Guide For Your New Puppy

Congratulations!!! If you're reading this, then you may have just adopted a beautiful new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from Furever CavaliersTM! Your life is about to change in so many wonderful ways. Adopting a new fur baby can be so rewarding and wonderful. It can also be a source of stress at times. What you do with your pet in these first few months at home can determine how they behave as an adult. We have worked hard the first 8 weeks of your puppy's life to lay a solid foundation and pave the way for a trainable, adaptable, loving new addition. Now it's your turn to give your very best these next few months (but especially weeks 8-16) to train your puppy how he/she should behave in your home. Below I will share a few helpful tips that have worked well for our family. We always recommend doing your own research and consulting with your veterinarian to decide what works best for you and your puppy.

1st Three Days

SLEEP

The initial three days after bringing your puppy home are crucial for their adjustment. Most importantly, your puppy will need plenty of rest. Never wake a sleeping puppy. Provide a safe and comfortable sleeping area—using a kennel is highly recommended.

LIMIT VISITORS - KEEP YOUR PUPPY HOME

Your puppy is experiencing significant changes—new environment, unfamiliar people, different scents, and the absence of their mother and siblings. To help your puppy adjust, it's best to limit visitors. Allow your puppy time to bond with you and your family before introducing them to others.

ESTABLISH RULES - OFFER POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Begin setting clear rules and boundaries from day one. If you prefer your puppy not to sleep in your bed or be on the couch, start reinforcing these boundaries immediately. Ensure everyone in your household understands and agrees on these rules. Consistency is key—use the same commands and routines across the board. While your puppy may not understand human language, they will learn commands quickly when they are consistently applied.

Training Your New Puppy!

Teaching Commands

Redirecting your puppy’s behavior rather than using discipline is the most effective approach. Remember to offer plenty of praise! Your puppy will quickly learn that good behavior leads to rewards. In the beginning, it's advisable to use your puppy's food as treats, as they have only been on solid food for 2-4 weeks. Overfeeding with external treats can lead to digestive issues. After a couple of weeks, you can introduce training treats to enhance your sessions.

Start by conducting short training sessions of about 10 minutes, repeating them 2-3 times a day. You'll be amazed at how quickly your puppy learns! Numerous resources, including books and apps, can assist you in this process. We recommend "Raising the Empowered Puppy" by Jeanette Forrey and "How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond" by Cesar Millan. Additionally, the free "Puppy Pocket School" app is a valuable tool available in your app store.

Consistency and positivity are essential to your puppy's training success!

Managing common puppy behaviors: Biting & Barking

When it comes to managing undesirable puppy behaviors, barking and biting are often the first that come to mind. While those little nibbles may seem cute at first, they can quickly become painful. It's important to discourage biting from the start—especially when it involves your hands, face, shoes, or clothing.

If your puppy bites, calmly but firmly say "no," and turn your body away from them. This mimics how dogs naturally communicate when they don’t want to engage in play. By turning their back, they signal disengagement, and you can do the same. Avoid shaking your hands or continuing to interact, as your body language may suggest you're encouraging more play, even if you're saying "no" verbally.

There are many effective training methods available, and we encourage you to explore what works best for your situation. Consistency is key when correcting these behaviors.

As your puppy matures, barking may become another behavior to manage. Although Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not naturally guard dogs or particularly territorial, they may bark at the doorbell or while playing. However, if your Cavalier barks excessively, it could be a sign of anxiety. In these cases, it’s helpful to research training techniques or consult with your veterinarian to address the issue early.

Effective Potty Training for your new puppy

When bringing a new puppy home, it’s normal to experience a few accidents in the house. However, there are steps you can take to minimize these incidents and successfully potty train your puppy. We highly recommend crate or kennel training as part of this process. Keep in mind that the crate should never be used as a form of punishment. Instead, it should be a calm, positive space where your puppy feels safe and comfortable. Adding a familiar blanket with the scent of their mother or littermates can help ease the transition.

From day one, establishing a consistent schedule is key to successful potty training. As soon as your puppy wakes up from a nap, take them outside to the designated potty area. Use a specific command, such as "Go Potty," and repeat it until your puppy begins to eliminate. As they pee or poop, continue using the command to reinforce the behavior. Once they finish, reward them with enthusiastic praise—“YES!” or “Good Girl/Boy!”—and immediately give them a treat. This reward should be given within 10 seconds of them going potty, so make sure to have treats handy during each trip outside.

After your puppy has both peed and pooped, they’ve earned some supervised playtime. It’s important to never leave your puppy unattended during this time. After about 30 minutes to an hour of play, return your puppy to their kennel for a nap. Keep in mind that young puppies require a lot of sleep, and often, a “naughty” puppy is simply an overtired one. Once your puppy wakes up, repeat the process to reinforce the routine.

Kennel Training

Why we Use kennel training

At Furever CavaliersTM, we believe kennel training is an essential part of raising well-adjusted puppies. A kennel provides a safe, secure space for your puppy when supervision isn’t possible, allowing them to feel comfortable and protected. Over time, the kennel becomes your puppy’s den—a cozy spot they’ll often seek out on their own for rest or quiet time.

We recommend 30" metal crates for both puppies and adult dogs. These crates feature two access doors for convenience and include a divider that can be adjusted as your puppy grows, ensuring they always have the right amount of space for comfort and security.

Making for puppy's kennel a comfortable space

Creating a comforting environment in your puppy’s kennel is key to successful kennel training. While your puppy is still potty training, ensure the kennel offers just enough space for them to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. Dogs naturally avoid soiling the area where they sleep, so if the kennel is too large, section off any excess space. If there’s room for your puppy to relieve themselves in one corner and sleep in another, they may do so.

At first, use a cheap blanket or an old towel in the kennel, which can be easily washed or discarded if accidents happen. Once your puppy is fully potty trained, you can replace the towel with a durable, washable kennel pad. Many puppies also enjoy having a soft blanket to snuggle with for extra comfort.

Establishing a routine for your puppy

Just like babies, puppies thrive on routine. During their early months, puppies are still growing and require a significant amount of sleep—often more than you might expect. Ensuring your puppy gets adequate rest can help prevent unwanted behaviors such as mouthing, nipping, stress, and even digestive issues. A good rule of thumb is for every 1–2 hours of awake time, your puppy needs 4–5 hours of sleep. And remember, never wake a sleeping puppy!

A helpful routine to follow begins first thing in the morning by taking your puppy outside to go potty. Keep a piece of kibble or a treat handy, and be sure to reward them immediately when they successfully go potty. Afterward, bring your puppy inside for breakfast. For the first week, we recommend hand-feeding your puppy. This promotes bite inhibition, strengthens the bond between you and your puppy through trust and respect, slows down their eating, and helps with self-control and focus. After the first week, meal times can double as training sessions—rewarding your puppy with their food reinforces positive behaviors. A hungry puppy is a focused and motivated puppy.

After breakfast, it’s time for play! Allow your puppy 30 minutes to an hour of supervised playtime. If you can’t keep a close eye on your puppy or when playtime is over, it’s time for a nap in the kennel. Following this cycle of sleep, potty, play, and nap will help your puppy develop good habits and stay well-rested.

As a general guideline, puppies can hold their bladder for the same number of hours as their age in months. For example, a 2-month-old puppy can hold it for 2 hours, and a 3-month-old for 3 hours. However, once your puppy reaches adulthood, they should be let out every 6–8 hours. At night, a 2-month-old puppy can typically hold it for 4 hours, though expect to wake up with them 1–2 times during the first 2–4 weeks.

Food

Recommended dog Food for Cavaliers

With so many options and information available about dog food, choosing the right brand for your Cavalier can feel overwhelming. At Furever Cavaliers, we recommend a few trusted brands that have been endorsed by our veterinarian. However, it's important to remember that every dog is unique, so always consult your own vet to ensure you’re meeting your dog’s specific nutritional needs. Here are a few brands we recommend:

Hill's Science Diet
Iams
Royal Canin
Purina Pro Plan
Eukanuba

These brands offer high-quality, well-balanced formulas to support your dog’s overall health and well-being.

AKC Recommended Feeding Guide

Months 1-3

During the first few months, your puppy should be fed a high-quality puppy food to support healthy growth and development. Avoid feeding adult dog food at this stage, as it won’t provide the specific nutrition your puppy needs. Puppies in this phase should be fed four times a day with routine portions at set times.

Months 4-6

As your puppy continues to grow, reduce feedings to three times a day. Around three months, your puppy should begin losing some of its "puppy pudginess" and potbelly. If they still have a chubby appearance, continue feeding puppy-sized portions until their body matures and becomes more lean.

Months 6-12

At six months, reduce feedings to twice a day. If your puppy is spayed or neutered, their energy needs will decrease slightly. Be mindful of any weight gain after this procedure, and adjust portion sizes if necessary. It’s generally recommended to keep your puppy on puppy food until they are at least one year old. For any specific nutritional concerns, consult your veterinarian.

1 Year +

Most adult dogs thrive on two meals a day. Pay close attention to your dog’s body condition, rather than strictly following portion sizes or leftover food. Their activity level will also affect how much they should eat. Keep in mind that obesity in dogs, like in humans, can lead to various health problems. To promote long-term health, it’s best to limit table scraps as much as possible.

These guidelines are general recommendations from the AKC. Always consult with your veterinarian for advice tailored to your dog’s individual nutritional needs.

Grooming

Hair and Hygiene for cavalier puppies

Cavalier puppies do require some grooming, and establishing good habits early will help your puppy grow accustomed to it. While their coats take a few months to fully grow, starting a regular grooming routine right away will make the process smoother as they mature. We recommend using high-quality dog shampoo and conditioner, as we do for our pups. Bathing your puppy every 1–3 weeks, or as needed when they get dirty, is ideal. However, it’s important not to bathe them more than once a week to avoid stripping their coat of natural oils.

Your Cavalier puppy will also need regular brushing. Initially, their short coat is easy to manage, but introducing them to brushing early on will make it easier as their hair grows and tangles form. Once fully grown, daily brushing is recommended to maintain a healthy, tangle-free coat.

Cavaliers generally do not require haircuts. It’s best to let their natural coat shine, especially the beautiful fur on their chest, legs, tail, and feet. The only areas where trimming is recommended are the pads of their feet and around the rear for sanitary reasons.

Ear Care for your cavalier

Your dog’s ears should never have a foul or yeasty odor. Healthy ears are pink and may have a light layer of pale yellow earwax, which is a normal part of the body’s natural self-cleaning process. Not all earwax is harmful. We recommend cleaning your dog’s ears every 2–4 weeks using a gentle, alcohol-free dog ear cleaner—this one works well.

If you notice your dog’s ears are red, or if there is dark brown or black discharge, or your dog is frequently shaking their head or pawing at their ears, these may be signs of an ear infection. In such cases, we advise contacting your veterinarian for further evaluation and treatment.

Nail care for your cavalier

It’s recommended to trim your Cavalier's nails every 3–4 weeks. Before going to their new homes, our puppies will have already received a couple of nail trims. When they are very young, we use human nail clippers, but as they grow older, we recommend switching to clippers designed for dogs, such as these.

If you’re new to trimming dog nails, consider having a groomer or your veterinarian do it for you initially. If you prefer to learn how to do it yourself, numerous helpful how-to videos are available on YouTube. Be cautious when trimming, as cutting too short can cause bleeding. In such cases, having styptic powder on hand can help stop the bleeding quickly.

All our puppies have their dewclaws removed shortly after birth, resulting in only four nails to trim on each leg. While daily walks can help naturally file down your dog’s nails, it's essential to check them regularly to ensure they don’t become overgrown.

Puppy Health Guidelines

Hips and Exercise

Protecting your puppy's hips is crucial to guard against hip dysplasia. One essential guideline for exercise is to limit it to 5 minutes for every month of age. For instance, a 5-month-old puppy should receive about 25 minutes of exercise per day. We recommend breaking walks into two shorter sessions rather than one long walk to prevent overexertion.

Additionally, it's advisable to restrict your puppy from climbing stairs until they are at least 3 months old. Avoid allowing them to jump on or off furniture or in and out of vehicles, as their joints are still developing. Excessive jumping can lead to loose joints, increasing the risk of hip dysplasia later in life. It's best to minimize jumping until your puppy is fully grown, around one year of age.

Maintaining a healthy weight is another effective way to reduce the risk of developing hip dysplasia. Research indicates that lean dogs are less likely to experience this condition.

These recommendations are general guidelines. For specific questions regarding your puppy's health and activity, please consult your veterinarian.

Deworming

Your puppy will have been dewormed at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks old. Following this initial schedule, they will require another dose at 12 weeks and then continue with monthly deworming until they reach 1 year of age. After their first birthday, you can choose to maintain monthly deworming with chewables or consult your veterinarian about the new ProHeart 6 vaccine, which provides protection for a full year.

Vaccine Schedule

At Furever Cavaliers, we vaccinate all our puppies between 6 to 8 weeks of age. To help you keep track, here is a recommended puppy vaccination schedule. We ask that all new puppy parents take their puppy to the veterinarian within 72 hours after bringing them home for an examination. Then continue with the recommended vaccinations between 10 to 12 weeks and 14 to 16 weeks. For more information on puppy and dog vaccines, please visit the American Kennel Club (AKC) website.