Frequently Asked Questions
Important things to have ready when I take my sweet puppy home?
Puppies will need some important things when you get to your new home. There are some must haves and some nice to have things that can make transitions much easier. I'm hopeful this list will give you some information so you can choose what works for you and your new puppy!Our Amazon links earn us 1-4 cents on the dollar we use to give back to Cavalier Rescue.
There are lots of things to get for your new dog, but if you purchase one of our puppies, we will send these items home with you:
Starter supply of Royal Canin Small Puppy Kibble
XS harness and leash (so you may buy a size small-as the next size up)
blanket and toy from us for scent training and comfort (we recommend you scent a small blanket and send to us at four weeks for us to train with and this will also come home with you in addition to our blanket and plush toy)
a folder with your bill of sale, important AKC paperwork for limited registration, vet records from 4, 6, and 8 week visits and vaccines, breeder birth and deworming records,
Doggy tooth brush and Thunder Pups Farm fridge magnet for easy contact information for your dog
Food and Water bowls for Spaniels. We love the food and water bowls that help keep long ears cleaner. There are some inexpensive options and some really beautiful ceramic bowls that you can find for your puppy.
We love these Spaniel Bowls! https://amzn.to/3Yie0Kc
These are really beautiful, on my wish list: https://amzn.to/3YiOyEn
This is the puppy water dispensor we use the large size and bungee it to the side of our baby playpen, it comes with a wire bungee to connect to a crate. They can't spill it out so this is a lifesaver: https://amzn.to/3AhjGdH
a Harness and a Leash. Please don't attach a leash to a collar, it can be painful to your dog and cause neck and spine issues. Think about the cute backpacks we put on our children that have a little leash attached so your toddler can't get away from you. Those don't go around your child’s neck. Our seatbelts cross our bodies and don’t go around our necks, why because they would hurt us vs save our lives. Note to folks who get a Thunder Pup Cavalier-I will give you a harness and leash for your puppy so you can purchase the next harness they will grow into.
Link to our favorite Voyager Harnesses:we love both of these - Push: https://amzn.to/4djmrcv Mesh:https://amzn.to/4cY0oIJ
Link to our favorite Leashes with a handy pooper pick up bag https://amzn.to/3LFPBH5
High quality Puppy Kibble. We give a starter supply of Royal Canin Puppy Kibble for small breed dogs. This is the dog food we suggest you keep your Cavalier on for the first 15 months. Do not give treats to your puppy until after 8 months of age, you may use kibble as training treats. Once your Cavalier is 16 months or older you may want to graduate them to Royal Canin Adult Kibble for Small Dogs. If you would like a Royal Canin discount coupon, email me and I will send you one!
an appointment with your veterinarian! When you pick up your puppy at 8 weeks of age, S/he will not have completed every immunization they need. They will be current on their vaccines, but you will need to follow up to get them checked by your vet as soon as possible. I will be asking how that went and what your vet had to say about the health of your new puppy. They will be due for vaccines again at 12 weeks. It’s important you confirm that your puppy is gaining weight and doing very well. Have a budget for your puppy health checks. After age two you will need to budget for dental cleaning annually and we do recommend you brush your puppies’ teeth to continue their socialization with tooth cleaning. (See our FAQ above on grooming your Cavalier).
Safe Toys. Cavalier Puppies do well with rope toys and Kong toys for rough chewers. There are durable toys that can go in your freezer to help with teething pain. Stay clear of bully sticks and nylon toys, they can ingest pieces of nylon and you may find yourself praying for your dear puppy at the veterinary surgical center. I do recommend that you get a snuggle buddy. This is a toy puppy that has a heartbeat insert. This helps to comfort your puppy who is missing all their litter mates and Momma. Holding your puppy and letting them rest on you is a wonderful way to bond too! But when you cannot be there to hold your new baby, let them have their snuggle baby for comfort.
Snuggle Puppy is a must have:https://amzn.to/3LEFbr8
We love all the Kong toys! Here are several options: https://amzn.to/3SpPlQl https://amzn.to/4fkGPfg
When your puppy has lost all baby teeth they can have other dental chews, we like these deer antlers for teeth cleaning: https://amzn.to/4crEBI9 and our vet suggests one of these chews a day for the sprinkle on food sachets for adult dogs:https://amzn.to/3WTcLz3
Rag toys are safe as long as you remove them if/when they start to come apart-with all toys you'll want some supervision.
A special puppy blanket. You need to bring this to me when you come to choose your new baby Cavalier at four weeks of age. I will keep your blanket with Momma and the puppies, and it will have their scent on it. You will get your blanket back to use for your puppy when you take them home with you. The puppy blanket should stay with your puppy unwashed for at least the first 5 days. You can spot clean it of course but it’s going to give so much comfort to your baby to have your home and their new safe space smell familiar. Dogs have a wonderful sense of smell. This is one way to show you love your new baby, to take the time to bring a little blanket that we know will make them feel better about transitioning to a new home and new life. This can be a little blanket you already have, or you can get one new, it really doesn’t matter if it’s fancy or not. It matters that it will smell like Momma, sisters, brothers and home.
You don't have to buy a blanket. You can get your scent on an old towel and bring that to me, It will have the same effect. So if you are on a budget, don't buy new. But if you are excited and want to have a special puppy blankee, we love these-we've even got some with personalization on them and our dogs knwo which ones are theirs-they are very special to our babies: https://amzn.to/3yg6NQm
A Safe area. As much as we love our new puppy, there are times we need to be able to put them down and have them safely in a space where they cannot get into trouble. Puppies like to chew, if you don't want nibbles to your furniture, walls, windowsills...well just look at my house... give them a safe area. A crate is for overnight sleep, it’s not a safe play area. I recommend getting a baby fence/play area used on Facebook market or at a yard sale. These are easy to bend over to pick up your puppy and they can be cleaned with Clorox wipes and then rinsed and stored in case a puppy or baby comes over and you need a convenient safe space again. Here is a link to one option on Amazon but save for your vet budget and buy used-baby gate off Facebook Marketplace: https://amzn.to/4fgHr5B
You'll want some washable potty pads to put under the puppy's safe space. These come in all sizes and guess what if you get the flu, they work for people too! Don't use the paper ones, they can be shredded and ingested by your dogs. I have two large ones that cover my floor under the entire safe space and then I use smaller ones on the top so it’s easy to remove any puppy 'business' and clean up. You want to keep your puppy’s area safe and clean. These are great and we have multiple sizes, so sharing a few links. We put the large one to protect the floor then put smaller ones on top we can replace and wash as we go:https://amzn.to/3WjO2DB https://amzn.to/3SlRLPG
Grooming tools-Toenail clippers; a soft detangling brush; a metal comb; a Mars dematting grooming rake; a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste. Do not use floride toothpaste on your dog. Also make sure to read all ingredients for the toxic list. Xylitol is toxic to your doggie. https://amzn.to/3y1hGWg
You'll need your common sense and always feel free to ask me questions. I do not suggest taking your puppy out on your lawn until after they have had their 12-week immunizations. It’s a great way for your puppy to get parvo or coccidia. They really should not be running around outdoors or on the floor of your vet’s office until the puppy is 13 weeks old. They are not fully immunized yet. Hold your puppy when you take him/her to the vet until they are fully vaccinated. Ask your vet to give vaccines in front of you please. Wonder why that is important? Puppies wiggle. The last thing you want to happen to your wonderful new family member is for the vet tech to go show her off to all her friends at the office and have someone, God forbid, drop your precious puppy. Treat them like you would your own infant and watch over them all the while. Your vet will appreciate that you are a cautious pet protector. I understand some people may prefer to start potty training early. I suggest waiting until 12 weeks. If you just cannot do that, then carry your puppy outside. Put them down where you want them to go. If they go, praise and give a piece of Royal Canine kibble and pick them right back up and take them indoors. After 13 weeks you run around that yard with them and have a wonderful time.
Your vet should offer you a monthly flea and tick preventive medication for your puppy until they are large enough to get something quarterly like Bravecto Chews or Frontline. Watch out for the side effects of these and all medications. You'll also need Heartworm prevention Sentinel. A note of caution, you still need to have well checks with lab work to test for heartworms and other parasites. The heartworm prevention vendor will cover treatment expenses if your dog tests positive.
Here are a few things that are nice to have but not must haves:
a heating pad if it’s winter and your floors are cold. Monitor to make sure the puppy cannot get burned and has room to move away from and off the pad. https://amzn.to/4fjCoBn
a secure dog car seat you will connect to a Harness (not a collar please) https://amzn.to/4d12k2Y
dog crate https://amzn.to/46lPREw
Calming dog bed or Orthotic Sofa are our favorites https://amzn.to/4fjOdHH
puzzles and interactive toys https://amzn.to/3Wm8eF0
toy box, for this link, scroll down to see the dog toy containers there is even one you can personalize-so cute https://amzn.to/3Ym28qM
stain and odor remover-I recommend My Dog Peed, it helps completely remove the odor from pee and poo and other even human 'natural' disasters. Do not let your dog ingest this or any other cleaning product. https://amzn.to/46shgVE
When to Spay and Neuter your Cavalier?
Please read this article: https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/vets-corner/neutering-spaying-right-age-dog/
Training Tips
Content contributed by Sher Miller, thank you!
A few things that the everyday dog owner should know when getting a puppy or dog.
The training starts the second you bring the dog home
All puppies and dogs need to be crate trained. The crate should be a place to rest the body and mind. Should never be used as a punishment. Feed some of the puppies meal in the crate and use some of the food for training.
Too much freedom inside the home before the puppy can handle it is one of the biggest and most common mistakes people make. Do not let a puppy or untrained dog roam your home unsupervised. Keep the puppy in immediate view, use a long leash, or crate if you can’t have your eyes on the dog. Freedom is given in small doses as the puppy can handle it without getting in trouble. The goal is to create the behavior you want, not constantly correcting the puppy for what you don’t want. With that being said, puppies must be corrected for unwanted behaviors. Peeing and pooping in the house or crate can’t be corrected. That’s your fault. A puppy is like an infant. They can’t control peeing and pooping like an older dog. Take your puppy out often and get on a consistent schedule. No water or food after 6 or 7pm.
Use food/Royal Canin Puppy Kibble to train, not other 'treats' to avoid a picky eater later on. The basics should be taught and practiced daily. First teach the puppy to follow the food. Meaning nose goes to your hand and you allow the dog to push trying to get the food as you slowly move the hand away from puppy allowing the puppy to follow nose pressed to hand. Start using a reward marker like Yes or a clicker. Mark then open hand to give the food. Meaning the verbal must come first, then the reward.
You MUST have a language dedicated to your dog that your dog can learn by you being consistent and applying meaning to the words you use. Your dog MUST know what yes means, but also MUST know what NO means. If nothing comes after those words, yes equals reward for good, no equals correction for bad, your dog will never give meaning to either. Your dog’s name is not a command, or correction. NO should not be your dog’s middle name.
The way you live with your dog inside the home creates the dog, good or bad. If you are with your dog you are training. Are you training for good or are you training for bad. If you have a dog you are a dog trainer. That simple.
Your dog is a dog, not a human child. Constant unearned affection is a killer and creates an unhealthy addiction for both dog and owner. Your dog will love you unconditionally but will never respect you unless you give it reason to.
Your dog does not need dog friends. Your dog doesn’t need to play with other dogs, they need to play with you. Learn to play like a dog understands it. It’s the most powerful motivator and relationship building activity available to you. Mastering food to teach behaviors and mastering play to enhance behaviors and relationship is vital.
The foundation of the basics are a must. A few things that your dog MUST be taught. No exceptions:
First, the most basic of basics, your dog must learn how to be still in any situation. If your dog can’t be still around any distraction, you will never have control.
• Recall
• Sit
• Down
• Walk nicely on leash
• Out, meaning release anything in your mouth
The place command is fine but actually a newer thing in training and usually over used as doggy jail, to suppress and control the dog due to a lack of obedience. People focus on place but can’t teach their dog to Out. It’s a problem
Learn how positive reinforcement works, and learn to use it properly, not like the big box stores use it. Learn how to utilize negative reinforcement. Paired with positive reinforcement, it’s an incredibly powerful way to create a well trained dog. Very few actually understand punishment so we won’t get into that
This is just the Reader’s Digest version. A small glimpse of what is needed to get started. Getting a puppy is a ton of work. You’re raising a dog not a puppy. What you think is cute at 8 weeks won’t be at 1 year.
Enjoy the process, but training is not optional. If you can’t commit to training and raising a dog properly don’t get a dog. Get a cat.
A dog is a living, breathing, emotional(in their own way) being. Treat them with respect and compassion. Everyday they wake up thinking it’s going to be the best day of their life. Don’t let them down. They think you’re an amazing human. Try to be what they think you are. They’re not here long. Enjoy them to the fullest while you can because it goes fast and you’ll regret not doing so when you had the chance. HAPPY TRAINING
What about Grooming our Cavaliers?
I see a lot of questions about how to groom a Cavalier.
Cavaliers just need brushing combing and a trim on the bottom of their paws. That is so they don’t slip on slick surfaces like your hard wood floors. I use a detangling brush a metal comb and a grooming brush for matts. No need for electric clippers, scissors work as well. They do not need any other haircuts. Some people trim the ears to give a blunt cut. Others prefer a Puppy Cut. There is nothing wrong with that if that is your preference.
They need their toenails kept trim with special attention to ensure dewclaw nails are also clipped. Interesting fact….Most Cavaliers that still have dewclaws, only have them on their front paws. But check them all! Dewclaw nails if left uncut can grow into the skin and be painful.
We should not over bathe our doggies. I bathe mine quarterly unless we get into mud puddles or something very dirty. The oils in their skin and hair helps them regulate their body temperature. It also helps their coat shine. We never want to get water inside our Cavalier’s ears as they are prone to infections if they do get wet. Many female doggies can have a hooded vulva which can trap moisture and cause soreness on their precious lady bits if they are not dried well. I like the mane and tail shampoo. It doesn't strip the oils and give a dog dry flaky skin. Most human shampoos are not good for your doggie. Now, Dawn will work great if you want to kill fleas as a one time use. Just follow that with a gentle pet shampoo for the second wash. So don't over bathe and dry really well especially ears nooks and crannies. Be careful using a hairdryer. They can burn skin and hair. Keep it on a cool air temperature and let their disdain complete you. Even though my dogs are used to all this they prefer to run and roll on the beds and carpet rather than let me blow them dry. So being the pushover I am, I lay out towels and let them do that and use the blow dryer on cool very sparingly to finish drying them.
Wash your dog quarterly and dry them well, brush and comb daily and the only real grooming is the toenail and foot pad fur clipping. You can do those yourself and save up your vet budget for emergency and dental care.
We socialize our puppies by playing with their teeth with a toothbrush and their feet with a toenail trimmer and brush and comb their ears. This makes them associate these things with loving care. They lie back and enjoy their spa treatment.
I think if we need to focus a bit more caring for our Cavalier’s teeth vs their coats. We can save money on grooming to afford anesthesia based dental procedures and teeth cleaning. And we’ll save more of their teeth if we brush them.
If we want longevity toothbrushing and dental cleanings are a great investment of time. Save your money, groom at home, add teeth brushing and you’ll easily be able to afford annual dental cleanings after age 2-3.
When should we Spay or Neuter?
Why are health tested AKC Registered Cavalier Puppies expensive?
Content contributed by Rivershyre Cavaliers, thank you!
To address a subject that seems to always have many opinions and none of them are the same! Pricing puppies! This is not an easy thing to do and some of us wish we could afford to give them away but not unless we win the lottery! To help put things in perspective this is how it really is!
First we as Breeders have the experience of buying breeding stock Cavaliers that are of the highest quality bloodlines and pedigrees as well as health background.
I know I have between six thousand to eight thousand in my breeding Cavaliers. Remember we have to pay for full registration. We have to perform genetic testing and ensure we do not pass on any poor traits that may lead to health conditions. We do OFA and CHIC Certifications which are done annually for each breeding dog. And...
Now care for these beauties for two years before we can breed them. Easily another five thousand for food, Vet care, flea and tick and heartworm medicine. Anything else they need.
Now the breeding and it's not always that easy Females that don't want to breed then possibly AI (artificial insemination) which doesn't always take and cost us about $250.00 each time. Now care while pregnant and vitamins as well as Vet care. Now if C-section is needed then as much as three thousand dollars if it's necessary another expensive cost and if and it usually is in the middle of the night even more.
Puppies arrive now you're taking time hours of no sleep up every one to two hours checking on babies to make sure they are nursing well. If you have a weak one you're hand feeding and incubating with oxygen up even more hours. I figured out once we have puppies normally around 56 days 58 days. We're up at 6:00 am and don't go to bed until 10:00 pm. So 16 hour days so around 900 hours of work while puppies are getting to eight weeks old. Now even if you say oh no way you work all those hours well maybe not every minute or hour but you're home bound and can't go anywhere for those weeks not anywhere because who would you trust with your babies to care for them the way you do?
So we haven't talked about supplies after puppies come let's see laundry everyday, birthing needs, puddle pads, food for mother and puppies after weening, bath products and Vet visits and we go three times before they leave.
Now you sit down and think about answering an ad for a puppy for sale! It screams Puppy Mill or Backyard Breeder because I am a Breeder now nine years just in Cavaliers and I just told you my experiences and there's no way I could sell our Cavaliers for that I would go broke!
So if you want a healthy beautiful Cavalier please buy from a reputable Breeder who loves the breed as much as we do.
There are wonderful people breeding these gorgeous creatures and I have met a lot of them! They give of themselves every day to make the breed better for you!
If you think about it you can't buy a good diamond for less than $3000.00 and believe me it won't ever love you like a cavalier will!
Cavi Kisses to Everyone and have a wonderful weekend!
Why are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels such a highly recommended breed?
No one explains this better than the American Kennel Club, please see these articles on our fabulous breed!
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/7-facts-cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel-history-behind-the-breed/
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/
Our Vet Recommendations on Preventatives for your Puppy
Its Important to get your puppy in for well care once they are home with you. Pups are not fully immunized for several months and so do not have full protection from parasites and other concerns. We suggest that you go right away to ensure all is well.
Local folks may want to have continuity of care for their puppy and may seek out Integrity Vet in Simpsonville where one of our vets, Dr. Dan Moore will be happy to continue care for your Thunder Puppy!
Integrity or your Vet can start heart worm, flea and tick preventive medications when the time is right. He suggests Sentinel and Bravecto for pets.
Are your dogs AKC Registered?
Yes, all Thunder Pups Farms puppies and dogs are sold with AKC Limited Registration. Limited Registration allows the owner to participate in AKC events. Limited Registration means the dog is not a breeding dog, and should not be bred. If you breed a dog with limited registration, your puppies will not be registered dogs.
If a breeder wishes to purchase a Thunder Pup Cavalier for breeding purposes, please understand that we come from a rescue background and generally do not plan to sell Full Registration and grant breeding rights to our dogs. If you have a compelling case for wanting to breed to disucss, you can reach out and we are happy to discuss your program with you. We also offer full stud services for breeders.