Blacklash Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

16/08/2024

WHAT IS MANDING?

❤ G i v i n g p u p p i e s a v o i c e ❤

Manding is a part of the Puppy Culture programme that we follow. It is a polite way for a puppy to ask for something (instead of jumping up or barking or crying, like some dogs do).

It is something they learn to do, and not something we ask them to do (eg a request such as "Sit, Drop etc).

This is a good article if you want to learn more:

https://journal.iaabcfoundation.org/manding-puppies/ #:~:text=Manding%20is%20the%20concept%20that,other%20pleasurable%20things%2C%20like%20food.

An IAABC Foundation Publication

13/08/2024

MANDING PRACTICE CONTINUES

We only started practising yesterday. Already today, Kit is quietly sitting at the front of his pen, when he wakes up and waiting for food. I have been treating him when I see this behaviour and also practising at meal times.

13/08/2024

🔊🔊 SOUND SOCIALISATION 🔊🔊

6 week old Kit is snoozing while I'm in the kitchen with the blender going.

We're exposing him to as many different sounds as possible, so that he'll stay calm in noisy places.

We listen to real sounds, as well as using sound recordings, apps and CDs for noises we don't have at home.

12/08/2024

❤ Manding training began for Kit today.

❤ This concept from Puppy Culture is about communication; about "giving puppies a voice".

❤ Puppies learn that by manding, they may access good stuff (eg me, treats, pats, attention, play etc), instead of barking, crying or jumping up.

❤ Sitting quietly is not something they HAVE to do, it's more of a polite way for a puppy to ask for something.

More info here: https://shoppuppyculture.com/blogs/blog-posts/manding-failure-and-emotional-learning

12/08/2024

🏞At 6 weeks, we start puppy socialisation off our property. Kit has only had 1 vaccination so that means we need to plan our outings carefully to minimise the risk of disease.

❌The socialisation period doesn't wait for puppies to be fully vaccinated. If puppies are not socialised before 12 weeks, they start becoming fearful and that means an unhappy dog.

🕰It's therefore important to get puppies out to experience the world, during this crucial time. The clock is ticking!

SOCIALISATION IN LOW -v- HIGH RISK AREAS

✅One of the first walks we did this week was around the outside of our yard. Our own dogs frequent this area and are vaccinated therefore I consider this a low risk outing for Kit.

🐕🐕🐕🐕🐕With puppies, we avoid places where there are lots of unfamiliar dogs (eg dog parks, dog shows and places where lots of dogs gather).

🐶Socialisation to other dogs is done with dogs we know are safe and that means vaccinated and that they are behaviourally safe (eg they looooooove puppies).

👩‍🍼Kit is carried for most of our walk. When we go to town he is in a crate (eg at the vet, in the car or places where he needs to be kept safe). We also use a puppy stroller on outings.

😊Carrying Kit means he can look and listen and take in new smells from the safety of my arms. He is safe and secure and we can make sure his experiences are positive. ❤

11/08/2024

Kit and his snuggle buddy. 💓🐷

11/08/2024

RAISING CONFIDENT PUPPIES ❤

We have been introducing a new item or experience to Kit every day from 3 weeks and this continues through to the 12 week mark.

❓Why are we doing this?

💙Getting Kit used to novel items is important in building his confidence, so that he will grow up to be a happy and resilient dog. Bringing novelty to puppies helps them to understand that new things are no big deal.

💙Puppies who are exposed to novelty during their early weeks explore the world around them with a healthy curiosity, not fear.

💙The Startle-Recovery process builds resilience and that makes for a well adjusted dog. And that's why we are doing this for Kit. ❤

09/08/2024

Some excellent tips here on safely socialising puppies before they are fully vaccinated.

Handling all parts of a puppy such as their mouth, looking in their ears, touching paws and inbetween legs etc really pays off at the vet clinic, groomer or being handled and judged at dog shows.

Kit's first vet visit today was easy because he was comfortable being touched all over his body. Our vet always thanks us for the work we put in early on. It's not just good for the puppy, it makes *their* job so much easier!

09/08/2024

Kit had his first car trip today to go to the vet. He travelled in the crate with his Mummy and slept the whole way!

He was a good boy being examined for his health check. He also had his first vaccination and microchip and got lots of custard treats for being such a good boy! Gotta love these kiddie pouches for puppy treats.

Thankyou to our wonderful vet, Dr Adele Hewett, for giving Kit such a happy first experience. She gave us some fabulous feedback on how calm and easy he was!

08/08/2024

We upgraded Kit's puppy pen at the beginning of the week to give him more space to play. The whelping box has gone and in its place an open crate with comfy bedding.

We started toilet training him when he began toddling, so he has been keeping his bed and play area clean and dry ever since. ❤

This week we have also been continuing the weaning process and that's going very well. He is eating 4 meals a day now and eating a good variety of proteins, green tripe, soft edible bones and other whole foods such as eggs, yoghurt and goat's milk. We are adding new foods to his repertoire every couple of days.

08/08/2024

A great new resource for puppy owners from the Puppy Culture team. We have very comprensive puppy packs to support our puppy families, but we are always looking to improve them too. We will be including copies of these booklets in future puppy packs. ❤

Description Expert guidance for puppy owners, covering everything you need to know to be your puppy’s advocate. Presented in an easy to read format, with eye-catching infographics and illustrations. Features 12 steps to Puppy Advocacy quick reference infographic 11” x 8.5” 20 pages Full color ...

07/08/2024

Kit at 4 weeks. 🥰

06/08/2024

Sorry for the lack of updates over the past 10 days or so - our internet was down and now finally fixed, thankfully.

🥩🥣🍗 WEANING TO SOLID FOOD 🥓🥣🥚

Our singleton puppy, Kit, is now 5.5 weeks old. He is in the process of weaning and we are introducing him to new foods every couple of days. All our Cavaliers are raw fed for life and so we start that process at weaning.

So far Kit has eaten:

🐂Beef mince
🐖Pork mince
🦃Minced turkey frames
🐓Chicken hearts
🐦Quail pieces (including bone)
🐔Chicken frame pieces
🐇Rabbit pieces (including bone)
🍶Yoghurt
🐐Goats milk

Here are some of Kit's meals over the past week or so. He's doing very well!

25/07/2024

I am a big strong boy now! 💪Here I am looking like a proper puppy, instead of a black furry slug! 🤣🥰

24/07/2024

We are never too young to learn about cuddles on the couch! After all, it is the natural habitat of the Cavalier haha 🤣💝

24/07/2024

Most people know that our beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were named after King Charles II. History tells us that he was seldom seen without two or three or more at his heels.

The breed books in the Cavalier Gift Shop, link in comments, will tell you more - remember all profits are donated to Cavaliers - Rescue, Health, and Welfare.

24/07/2024

Our Yummy Mummy, Alice 💙🤍🖤🤍💙

23/07/2024

TEACHING PUPPIES THAT NOVELTY IS GOOD

After having a few textured, bumpy surfaces over the last few days, Kit is trying out a new shiny, flat surface to walk on. He's walking very well now, so he was ready! He also lay down with Alice to nurse on it. 💜

The best thing about introducing novelty in the whelping box is that the puppies are being reinforced by something good happening at the same time. Nothing is better to a puppy than mother's milk and her familiar smell and touch. Thankyou to our beautiful Mummy, Alice! ❤

22/07/2024

GOOD AFTERNOON FROM THE WHELPING BOX

Today's novel item is a crinkly mat - this is actually a 🐈cat toy, but it's perfect as a new surface for Kit to walk on, as it makes a noise as well.

Kit hit another developmental milestone today, with his ears opening, so he can now hear! Sounds will form an important part of our socialisation programme.

21/07/2024

🖤🧡 Our beautiful baby boy.

21/07/2024

3️⃣ WEEKS OLD

For now, the whelping box is Kit's world. It will be a while before he goes anywhere, so we are bringing the world to him. 🥰

Socialisation has begun and we are introducing a new item to Kit each day. Today the new surface is bubble wrap - bumpy side up for texture and grip. 💪

We are keeping the floor clear so he can practice his toddling and toileting easily.

20/07/2024

21 DAYS OLD: ❤💙❤SOCIALISATION BEGINS (3-12 weeks)

Today marks the start of the most important part of Kit's life: the beginning of the Socialisation Period. What we do with Kit over the coming weeks will shape the adult dog he will become. My job as a breeder is to prepare him for the big wide world, wherever life takes him.

🎹Each day between now and week 12, we will introduce a new item to Kit or give him a new experience. These will include new items to look at, new surfaces, new sounds, new people, new animals and new places.

🌏These new experiences will help Kit to become a well adjusted puppy, who faces the world with confidence and a healthy curiosity; a true enrichment seeker.

🔸️🔷️🔸️SOCIALISATION WEEK 1🔹️🔶️🔹️

Because Kit is learning to walk, I am introducing a new surface for him today. These are silicon pot holders, so are soft and grippy - perfect for practising little steps.

20/07/2024

21 DAYS OLD: ❤💙❤SOCIALISATION BEGINS (3-12 weeks)

Today marks the start of the most important part of Kit's life: the beginning of the Socialisation Period. What we do with Kit over the coming weeks will shape the adult dog he will become. My job as a breeder is to prepare him for the big wide world, wherever life takes him.

🎹Each day between now and week 12, we will introduce a new item to Kit or give him a new experience. These will include new items to look at, new surfaces, new sounds, new people, new animals and new places.

🌏These new experiences will help Kit to become a well adjusted puppy, who faces the world with confidence and a healthy curiosity, a true enrichment seeker.

🔸️🔷️🔸️SOCIALISATION WEEK 1🔹️🔶️🔹️

Because Kit is learning to walk, I am introducing a new surface for him today. These are silicon pot holders, so are soft and grippy - perfect for practising little steps.

19/07/2024

💙🤍💙Our little wombat needed a bigger container for his weigh-ins, so we've upgraded to a lunch box. He kept tipping the scales over! 🙈

19/07/2024

🪱🪱🪱Today Kit had his first puppy worming treatment. We also treated his mother, Alice, with an all wormer. All our dogs are wormed regularly, but nursing mothers and puppies need doing more frequently.

🪱Worms lie dormant in the tissues of female dogs, sometimes for years and are activated during the birthing process. 😱 These parasites then make their way to the mammary glands where they enter the milk and make their way to their new hosts. 🪱 Pretty ghastly really!

🪱Kit will be wormed fortnightly up to 8 weeks, then the treatments can be more spaced out.

19/07/2024

DAYS 16-20

💙🤍TOILET TRAINING BEGINS🤍💙

☆♡☆How we set good foundation skills☆♡☆

We started to change the whelping box for Kit last week. We prepare for toilet training early because the earlier we do it, the more success we have. When puppies get to practice keeping their bed clean, they keep it clean!

Helping Kit to understand that the bed is for sleeping in and the 'other' space is to toilet, comes naturally to him. We help the process in 2 simple steps by:

* 1️⃣adding a bumper bed to define the nest
* 2️⃣adding a large wee pad that butts right up to the bed

Because Kit is learning to walk, we keep the wee pad area free of "stuff". This gives him plenty of space to toddle around unencumbered.

When I see issues arise with breeders whose puppies aren't "getting it", it's typically because:

🚫the toilet area is too small, compared to the bed area
🚫the toilet area is too far away from the bed
🚫no clear space in the toilet area (eg covered in toys)
🚫the flooring is the same level eg flat vet bed so no definition as to where the bed ends and the toilet starts.

A few tips for success:

✅Make it easy
✅A simple layout (bed on one half, wee pad on other half) works well
✅Take it slowly, so puppies understand
✅A flat surface is best to start
✅For easy climbing, I have the bed higher than the toilet area, as they naturally step down.
✅Upgrades and changes are made incrementally (eg to a litter tray or turf mat)

Here are some pictures of the past 3 nights after introducing the designated sleep nest/toilet areas.

In the coming days, I will change the set-up to a litter tray. Watch this space!

17/07/2024

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17/07/2024

Drink, sleep, grow. Repeat.

17/07/2024

Kit snuggling with Quackie Chan 🥰😂

15/07/2024

Kit 17 days old.