Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy Training Manual
From 8 Weeks
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: reward calm settling and grow independence in small, kind steps.
29 chapters · English / 中文
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: reward calm settling and grow independence in small, kind steps.
Breed profile
Training group
Toy and companion dogs
Origin
Originated in England as a companion dog.
Shoulder height
30–33 cm
Weight
5–8 kg
Coat
Long, silky coat with long ears
Coat care
Build early, cooperative acceptance of routine coat and ear checks, brushing, gentle ear lifting, paw handling and standing on a stable non-slip surface.
Drive keywords
Living closely with people · Gentle social contact · Human attention
Handling practice
Condition routine long-ear checks as voluntary handling: brief ear touch, gentle lift or look, marker, reward and release before the puppy turns away. · Practise brushing and parting the silky coat in easy body areas on a stable non-slip surface, adding a new area only while the puppy remains loose and willing.
General reference range only; individual dogs vary considerably.
05
Development has a clock
The 8–16 week window
Between eight and sixteen weeks, the puppy is learning what is safe, ordinary and worth avoiding.
You cannot pause this developmental period. The goal is not maximum exposure; it is carefully controlled experience at an intensity the puppy can process.
Development timeline
0–3 weeksNeonatal period
Basic sensory and physical development.
3–8 weeksDog-to-dog socialisation
Early dog-to-dog learning begins with littermates and stable adult dogs and continues after the puppy goes home.
8–16 weeksHuman and environmental socialisation sensitive period
Build calm, positive or neutral associations with ordinary life.
About 8–11 weeksFirst fear period
One intense fright can create a durable fear memory.
4–6 monthsTeething
Chewing needs increase as adult teeth replace puppy teeth.
6–12 monthsAdolescence
Expect a second fear period and a temporary “selective hearing” phase.
Sleep requirement
18–20 hours every day at eight weeks
Sleep loss often intensifies frantic biting, zooming and difficulty settling. Use scheduled, protected naps; see Chapters 7 and 19.
Attention span
2–3 minutes, 4–6 times a day
Several tiny successful sessions teach more than one exhausted 30-minute session.
Training with FluffyWA
Day school, board & train and private sessions are quoted after a chat, and boarding or daycare can be booked online with live prices.
