Most common questions and answers:
What is your visitor policy?: We have a NO visitor policy for any reason! This is to ensure our puppies safety and health. From birth until they have received ALL of their puppy vaccinations and their Rabies vaccine, they are extremely susceptible to contagious diseases or parasitic infections due to their weak immune systems. Our job is to keep them safe. These germs are easily spread from dog to dog, through humans and onto our dogs/puppies. Visiting someone's litter could simply kill all of their babies just by you contaminating our environment with a virus such as; Parvo, from you simply walking in an environment that had been contaminated. We also ask that you understand, this is our personal home and these are our pets and babies! We are not a kennel or have an outdoor facility. We ask you to respect our wishes for our safety. We have multiple photos and videos of our home on our Facebook page (The Only Cross Lake King Cavs) for you to check out your babies environment. We update buyers with weekly photos and video throughout the entire adoption process. These are listed on our Facebook page as well.
At what age can my puppy come home? As long as your puppy has been cleared and healthy through our veterinarian, is fully weaned and eating and drinking on his/her own with proper weight gain, they will be able to come home at 8 weeks old. Never before 8 weeks old. This is neither ethical or safe.
What should I focus on in the first weeks and months of my puppies life with me to ensure they are the most socialized, well rounded and happy puppy? These ages are crucial in proper socialization, and training of your puppy. I expect all of my homes to have their puppies in a basic puppy training course. You need to be trained as well as your baby. Positive reinforcement is key. Yelling or getting angry at your puppy will not help and certainly not train them for their future needs. All dogs, regardless of the breed, gender, etc. are instinctual. They have certain traits naturally. As responsible owners we need to ensure our babies are being taught the correct manners and behaviors that are acceptable. It is our job to properly do this. Spoiling your sweet pup will seem so natural and easy but always keep in mind, sometimes spoiling is teaching them very bad manners that can definitely affect them as they grow. If the behaviors are left uncorrected this could turn into aggression. No, the CKCS is not known for this, but I have seen this happen when a puppy is left untrained, over spoiled or put into extremely chaotic environments during their normal fear periods in life. (8-12 weeks and 6-8 months.) These times are crucial to ensure you are doing all of the right things for your dog. We have partnered with an Amazing training school ... Baxter & Bella. Please check them out and be sure to use my coupon code for 25% off!
What type of food should I feed my puppy? Your puppy will be eating Purina Pro Plan shredded blend, chicken and rice. He/she will come with a sample of this food if you plan to slowly transition him to another brand. Keep in mind this must be done gradually to avoid upsetting his/her stomachs. Is there a brand of food I do not recommend? I do not use nor recommend feeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels any grain free diets due to the research and effects it has had on their hearts. Always choose a high quality diet and follow the recommendations for feeding guidelines on the back of your bag as all are different.
What does it mean that our puppy will be “pellet trained’? All of my puppies are introduced to a litter box that contains NATURAL (no added scents) pine or alfalfa pellets at approximately three weeks of age as part of their potty training. This is a fairly new and highly successful means to make your pups potty training easier and much more sanitary than the traditional “potty pads”. All puppies will be trained to use their litter boxes and they will be willing to do this for their lifetime, if this is something that you would like to continue. Pellet training is used in addition to outdoor potty time. It is meant to be in a dog's crate for when they are asleep or unattended so they have easy access to a clean potty area if we are not available to get them outdoors. I am yet to have a home not thrilled that their babies have this skill. The amount of “thank you for this!” I have received are countless. This really creates a much more enjoyable “puppy period” for us and our babies. If I choose to continue with pellet training, where do I purchase the pellets? Pine or alfalfa pellets are available at most farm and tractor stores, pet stores and even hardware stores. They are very reasonable, costing usually under $7.00/40 pound bag. Simply put some in a small litter box and scoop it as they use it. I would fully empty and clean out the box on a weekly basis. Yes, this can be done with your traditional outdoor training and used as a nice back up during. Some choose to keep using this for the lifetime of their dog.
What supplies should I have? A crate, a bed, a food dish and water dish or bottle, a litter box and pellets if you choose to continue this method, a leash and harness, toys that are safe for a little one including something to chew on the food they are currently eating and fresh water available at all times. You will want to have supplies for grooming as well. A brush, shampoo, nail clippers or grinder, toothbrush and doggy toothpaste and I enjoy tear stain remover to clean around their eyes, and safe and gentle ear cleaner to clean inside the ear. We use a cotton wipe to then remove any excess cleaner to keep the inside of the ear as dry and clean as possible. This breed is prone to ear infections due to the long ears and fur- always keep their ears as dry and clean as possible.
Will my puppy know how to drink from a water bottle if I choose that over a water dish for their crate? Yes, all puppies will know how to drink from both water bottles and standard dishes. I do enjoy the water bottles as they can not be tipped over and your pup left without water.
If I chose to have my puppy microchipped, what does this mean? Microchipping is a safe way for you to forever identify your dog. It is a small chip placed under the skin and is scannable at vets offices, shelters, etc. if your pup were ever to get away, stolen, etc. Once scanned their identification number is produced from the placed chip. This number will track your puppy back to you for a safe return. I include this service for my puppy owners, but you will be responsible for registering the chip in your name once you have your new baby. This is a fast and simple online process and it lasts the lifetime of your dog. This paperwork and reminder will be included in their folder.
What type of shampoo can I use on my new puppy and how often should I bathe him? When the puppies are young, I prefer to use a human baby shampoo as it is very easy on their delicate skin/coats. It also will not sting if you were to accidentally get this into their eyes. Unless your baby is obviously soiled or has gotten into the mud, I would limit the washing as it may dry their skin. Daily brushing and quick wipe downs are great!
Can I take my puppy to the dog parks, stores, etc.? Please keep in mind your new baby is still in a fragile stage as far as their immunities go. They will come with only their first set of their three required sets of vaccinations, meaning they have very low immunities built up and protection against Parvo, viruses, germs, etc. Also, your pup cannot receive his/her rabies vaccination until 12-16 weeks of life. I always recommend waiting to expose them to such heavily contaminated areas until they are up to date on all of their shots to ensure the best protection you can offer them. It is sometimes hard as a new puppy is so exciting but please remember protecting them and keeping them healthy is always our number one priority!
Will my puppy be used to a crate/kennel? Your pup will always be exposed to a puppy crate/kennel. They will always sleep in one and be in one when left unsupervised. This is a safe place for your new baby and not a punishment. The first few days will be tough. Though they are used to a kennel this will be the first time they will be alone without their littermates. Please remember to give them the “smells like home/mom” blanket that
I will include in their go home bags as this will help with the transition and give them comfort.
At what age do you recommend spaying/neutering our puppy?? Due to this being an extremely controversial subject, I would ask that you as individuals, research this topic and discuss it with your own personal veterinarian to determine at what age you are comfortable with completing the procedure but prior to 1 year per your contract. Recent research shows that waiting for the puppy to mature more may be the best option. Please be sure that until you have done so, you are taking all appropriate steps to keep your puppy from producing any litters! Also, be sure to send me a copy of the spay/neuter paperwork as per your contract.
I am still confused, what shots do I need for my new puppy? Your new puppy will only come with its first set of shots due to its age. It is a 5-1 vaccination. You will be given the proof to bring to your veterinarian and will need to schedule their second set of immunizations and their third, along with their rabies vaccination at 12-16 weeks of age. I do not recommend giving the Lepto vaccine due to amount of reactions that have been recently reported with this breed. You will have to request your vet to use just the 5-1 and no Lepto. I personally do not give Bordetella either, for this same reason. Please discuss this with your vet. You should wait approx. 3 weeks between each vaccination and do the rabies separately so they do not have two given at once to limit any possible reactions/pain.
What is your visitor policy?: We have a NO visitor policy for any reason! This is to ensure our puppies safety and health. From birth until they have received ALL of their puppy vaccinations and their Rabies vaccine, they are extremely susceptible to contagious diseases or parasitic infections due to their weak immune systems. Our job is to keep them safe. These germs are easily spread from dog to dog, through humans and onto our dogs/puppies. Visiting someone's litter could simply kill all of their babies just by you contaminating our environment with a virus such as; Parvo, from you simply walking in an environment that had been contaminated. We also ask that you understand, this is our personal home and these are our pets and babies! We are not a kennel or have an outdoor facility. We ask you to respect our wishes for our safety. We have multiple photos and videos of our home on our Facebook page (The Only Cross Lake King Cavs) for you to check out your babies environment. We update buyers with weekly photos and video throughout the entire adoption process. These are listed on our Facebook page as well.
At what age can my puppy come home? As long as your puppy has been cleared and healthy through our veterinarian, is fully weaned and eating and drinking on his/her own with proper weight gain, they will be able to come home at 8 weeks old. Never before 8 weeks old. This is neither ethical or safe.
What should I focus on in the first weeks and months of my puppies life with me to ensure they are the most socialized, well rounded and happy puppy? These ages are crucial in proper socialization, and training of your puppy. I expect all of my homes to have their puppies in a basic puppy training course. You need to be trained as well as your baby. Positive reinforcement is key. Yelling or getting angry at your puppy will not help and certainly not train them for their future needs. All dogs, regardless of the breed, gender, etc. are instinctual. They have certain traits naturally. As responsible owners we need to ensure our babies are being taught the correct manners and behaviors that are acceptable. It is our job to properly do this. Spoiling your sweet pup will seem so natural and easy but always keep in mind, sometimes spoiling is teaching them very bad manners that can definitely affect them as they grow. If the behaviors are left uncorrected this could turn into aggression. No, the CKCS is not known for this, but I have seen this happen when a puppy is left untrained, over spoiled or put into extremely chaotic environments during their normal fear periods in life. (8-12 weeks and 6-8 months.) These times are crucial to ensure you are doing all of the right things for your dog. We have partnered with an Amazing training school ... Baxter & Bella. Please check them out and be sure to use my coupon code for 25% off!
What type of food should I feed my puppy? Your puppy will be eating Purina Pro Plan shredded blend, chicken and rice. He/she will come with a sample of this food if you plan to slowly transition him to another brand. Keep in mind this must be done gradually to avoid upsetting his/her stomachs. Is there a brand of food I do not recommend? I do not use nor recommend feeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels any grain free diets due to the research and effects it has had on their hearts. Always choose a high quality diet and follow the recommendations for feeding guidelines on the back of your bag as all are different.
What does it mean that our puppy will be “pellet trained’? All of my puppies are introduced to a litter box that contains NATURAL (no added scents) pine or alfalfa pellets at approximately three weeks of age as part of their potty training. This is a fairly new and highly successful means to make your pups potty training easier and much more sanitary than the traditional “potty pads”. All puppies will be trained to use their litter boxes and they will be willing to do this for their lifetime, if this is something that you would like to continue. Pellet training is used in addition to outdoor potty time. It is meant to be in a dog's crate for when they are asleep or unattended so they have easy access to a clean potty area if we are not available to get them outdoors. I am yet to have a home not thrilled that their babies have this skill. The amount of “thank you for this!” I have received are countless. This really creates a much more enjoyable “puppy period” for us and our babies. If I choose to continue with pellet training, where do I purchase the pellets? Pine or alfalfa pellets are available at most farm and tractor stores, pet stores and even hardware stores. They are very reasonable, costing usually under $7.00/40 pound bag. Simply put some in a small litter box and scoop it as they use it. I would fully empty and clean out the box on a weekly basis. Yes, this can be done with your traditional outdoor training and used as a nice back up during. Some choose to keep using this for the lifetime of their dog.
What supplies should I have? A crate, a bed, a food dish and water dish or bottle, a litter box and pellets if you choose to continue this method, a leash and harness, toys that are safe for a little one including something to chew on the food they are currently eating and fresh water available at all times. You will want to have supplies for grooming as well. A brush, shampoo, nail clippers or grinder, toothbrush and doggy toothpaste and I enjoy tear stain remover to clean around their eyes, and safe and gentle ear cleaner to clean inside the ear. We use a cotton wipe to then remove any excess cleaner to keep the inside of the ear as dry and clean as possible. This breed is prone to ear infections due to the long ears and fur- always keep their ears as dry and clean as possible.
Will my puppy know how to drink from a water bottle if I choose that over a water dish for their crate? Yes, all puppies will know how to drink from both water bottles and standard dishes. I do enjoy the water bottles as they can not be tipped over and your pup left without water.
If I chose to have my puppy microchipped, what does this mean? Microchipping is a safe way for you to forever identify your dog. It is a small chip placed under the skin and is scannable at vets offices, shelters, etc. if your pup were ever to get away, stolen, etc. Once scanned their identification number is produced from the placed chip. This number will track your puppy back to you for a safe return. I include this service for my puppy owners, but you will be responsible for registering the chip in your name once you have your new baby. This is a fast and simple online process and it lasts the lifetime of your dog. This paperwork and reminder will be included in their folder.
What type of shampoo can I use on my new puppy and how often should I bathe him? When the puppies are young, I prefer to use a human baby shampoo as it is very easy on their delicate skin/coats. It also will not sting if you were to accidentally get this into their eyes. Unless your baby is obviously soiled or has gotten into the mud, I would limit the washing as it may dry their skin. Daily brushing and quick wipe downs are great!
Can I take my puppy to the dog parks, stores, etc.? Please keep in mind your new baby is still in a fragile stage as far as their immunities go. They will come with only their first set of their three required sets of vaccinations, meaning they have very low immunities built up and protection against Parvo, viruses, germs, etc. Also, your pup cannot receive his/her rabies vaccination until 12-16 weeks of life. I always recommend waiting to expose them to such heavily contaminated areas until they are up to date on all of their shots to ensure the best protection you can offer them. It is sometimes hard as a new puppy is so exciting but please remember protecting them and keeping them healthy is always our number one priority!
Will my puppy be used to a crate/kennel? Your pup will always be exposed to a puppy crate/kennel. They will always sleep in one and be in one when left unsupervised. This is a safe place for your new baby and not a punishment. The first few days will be tough. Though they are used to a kennel this will be the first time they will be alone without their littermates. Please remember to give them the “smells like home/mom” blanket that
I will include in their go home bags as this will help with the transition and give them comfort.
At what age do you recommend spaying/neutering our puppy?? Due to this being an extremely controversial subject, I would ask that you as individuals, research this topic and discuss it with your own personal veterinarian to determine at what age you are comfortable with completing the procedure but prior to 1 year per your contract. Recent research shows that waiting for the puppy to mature more may be the best option. Please be sure that until you have done so, you are taking all appropriate steps to keep your puppy from producing any litters! Also, be sure to send me a copy of the spay/neuter paperwork as per your contract.
I am still confused, what shots do I need for my new puppy? Your new puppy will only come with its first set of shots due to its age. It is a 5-1 vaccination. You will be given the proof to bring to your veterinarian and will need to schedule their second set of immunizations and their third, along with their rabies vaccination at 12-16 weeks of age. I do not recommend giving the Lepto vaccine due to amount of reactions that have been recently reported with this breed. You will have to request your vet to use just the 5-1 and no Lepto. I personally do not give Bordetella either, for this same reason. Please discuss this with your vet. You should wait approx. 3 weeks between each vaccination and do the rabies separately so they do not have two given at once to limit any possible reactions/pain.