How to Train Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are toy spaniels, 15 to 18 pounds as adults with long, feathery hair, floppy ears and big, brown eyes that melt your heart. Not accepted into the American Kennel Club until 1995, they have always been bred as companion dogs. "Cavaliers adore their owners, naturally want to please them and are very intelligent, so they are generally easy to train," says Melody Groos-Leonard, long-time Cavalier breeder and owner of Covenant Cavaliers in Santa Margarita, Calif.

Things You'll Need

• Dog collar
• 6-foot leash
• Dog treats
• Dog toys
• Plastic bottle with some rocks inside

Instructions

Leash training

1. Put the collar on for short periods of time daily until your dog can ignore it. This usually only takes a few days. Make sure you can fit two fingers between the collar and the dog's neck so it isn't too tight.

2. Clip the 6-foot leash onto the collar and allow your dog a few minutes of supervised freedom with the leash dragging along and repeat this for several days. If she becomes annoyed, distract her with a toy. When she can ignore the leash, she's ready to walk.

3. Hold the leash and walk, inviting your dog enthusiastically to come with you. Remember not to jerk or pull but to encourage with upbeat words, treats and positive attention.

4. Stop moving every time your dog pulls or tugs on the leash. Say nothing. Don't even look at your dog. He will probably come toward you for some of that positive attention Cavalier King Charles Spaniels thrive on. Give him the attention and walk on, stopping every time he pulls or tugs.

5. Spend an hour a day training your Cavalier on the 6-foot leash, providing chew toys when she becomes restless. Sit or do chores with your dog on the leash. She will learn to relax on leash and to stay nearby when you are busy as well as sitting or walking.

Sit

1. Pet your dog only when he sits when training your Cavalier to "sit." Use the word "sit" whenever you see your dog sit and reward him with affection. Continue for several days.

2. Command your dog to "sit" when she's walking. If you have reinforced the behavior enough already, chances are your dog will sit. Be ready with a treat and affection. Do not repeat the command if your dog does not sit. Continue to watch your dog and when she sits say "sit" and reward with positive attention.

3. Choose to say either "all right" or "okay" when your dog gets up from a sit and your dog will learn that word means freedom.

Deter

1. Shake the empty plastic bottle with the rocks inside and make an impersonal, not loud, "eh" when your Cavalier does something you don't want to encourage such as nosing in the garbage or urinating on the floor, Norma Moffat, author of the book "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel," recommends.

2. Ignore behaviors that don't require deterrence but that you want to discourage such as barking. Do not look at your dog, say nothing, and turn away from your dog. When your dog stops the undesired behavior reward her with positive attention and a toy.

3. Supervise all free time when training your Cavalier and distract him with positive attention, a treat or a chew toy when he does something you don't want him to do such as bothering another pet or chewing on the furniture. When you can't supervise free time, place your dog in an enclosed area where he can't get into trouble.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid aggressive behavior from other dogs. "Most Cavaliers are totally friendly and will usually run up to strange dogs with their tails wagging furiously and wanting to play, absolutely clueless that the other dog may not want to play and instead perceives it as a threat and will attack it," Groos-Leonard says.

• "If they are treated harshly and/or roughly," Groos-Leonard warns, "they will become timed, shy, nervous, pathetic animals and will never develop into the loving, trusting, happy companion with the wonderful 'Cavalier Personality' that is the endearing hallmark of our breed."

• Always keep your Cavalier on a leash unless he is inside your home or in your fenced yard. Cavaliers will chase other animals, a bike or even a leaf.

References

• Melody Groos-Leonard; Covenant Cavaliers; Santa Margarita, California
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; Norma Moffat; 2006

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish