Cavalier Talk

We feed our adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach
#1 ingredient is Salmon
High levels of omega fatty acids, plus zink for healthy skin and coat.

Our Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are fed twice a day about the same time every day. They are each fed in their own crate so they do not have to worry about another Cavalier getting their food. It is not good for dogs to woof down their food and Cavaliers already have a tendency to be quick eaters by nature. When they are being fed they are given about 20 minutes before they are then let outside. If one of the Cavaliers has not eaten then I go ahead and put them outside and make mental note that a meal was skipped. Usually by the next feeding they are eating again. Sometimes if a dog has an upset tummy they will refuse to eat for 24 hours and this does allow their system to clean itself out so it is their natural nstincts kicking in when they refuse to eat sometimes. I always allow my Cavaliers to go 24 hours without eating if they choose not to eat, but they must still be acting happy and with clear eyes and not obviously looking like they are sick. If they do not look well and refuse to eat then they need to go to the vet to be checked out.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can become very picky eaters very quickly if you feed them snacks, table scraps or attempt to change their food or add stuff to entice them to eat. They are smart dogs and would much rather eat people food over their dog food if they realize they can get their way. It is always best to find a good dry dog food and feed them regular feedings each day without in-between snacks.

If you want to give snacks then I recommend making them be training time snacks. We teach our Cavalier King Charles Spaniels conformation procedures as well as obedience so our special snacks are saved for our one-on-one time training. Training is actually something all our Cavaliers go nuts over. When I bring the leash out and begin taking each Cavalier individually for their one-on-one time they all know exactly what is happening and each one wants to be first. I use vienna sausages as my snacks and I just break off a tiny piece each time they accomplish a task I have asked them to do. Even if you are not training your Cavalier for any special events it is still always nice to know your Cavalier can sit, stay, heel, lie down, and come when called. Therefore, you should always have some basic training that can be done every few days giving you one-on-one time where you can give your Cavalier a snack without teaching him to beg at the table and refuse to eat his regular meals. By working for snacks the snacks are not just free food, which helps your Cavalier realize the difference between snacks and mealtime (mealtime becomes the free food). I also keep small cow knuckle bones in each crate. The Cavaliers love to grind their teeth on them and they naturally help control tarter build up. I am very scared of rawhide bones and greenies as dogs can easily choke or ingest a piece that is too large to pass through their intestines which can lead to a life and death emergency situation.

Always stay aware of your dog’s weight and adjust your food accordingly if you begin to see over or under weight. It is very normal to need to adjust their intake from time to time.

For more information on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com