I Feel Sorry For The Neighbor's Golden Retriever...

Max is such a handsome dog.

I'm sure he's an entirely good natured and kind fellow as almost all of his breed certainly are...

The problem is that Agatha, who's declared herself the matriarch of Foxglove (she'll be nine her next birthday) has decided that he is a potential intruder and threat to the current litter of puppies,

(more likely, she thinks he may be a potential threat to her biscuit tin with it's vast assortment of doggie goodies).

She spends an inordinate amount of time sitting staring out the mudroom window, hoping to catch a glimpse of the interloper (who is the meekest of dogs by the way), I have to laugh at the little drama that unfolds. he seems enthralled with the puppies and anytime they are out for a romp he tries to visit), I see him up on the hill behind our house, gazing wistfully down at the babies...

Suddenly Agatha spies him and launches like a tiny tigress defending her young,,,

"WOOF WOOF WOOF"

goes she, racing up the the dividing fence and sliding to a stop she shouts warnings and threats as Max beats a hasty retreat up to the safety of his back yard where he lies rather mournfully in a sad golden heap.

Max lies in a sad golden heap.

Well satisfied with herself, little miss trots over to the babies (who have watched all this with great interest),.  

She touches noses with them as if to reassure them all is well

(of course they never had any doubt) 

"Yes, you're safe now" say's she "I've dispatched that bad dog from next door". 

Back into the mudroom she trots to resume her vigil.

"One can't ever be too careful" says she.

Ruby loves her new home.

Here is a picture of her in a sweater that is too big.

Oh she is so sweet and smart she has not had any accidents in the house. She knows what to do when I tell her to go potty. She runs around in fast circles. She has so much energy and goes from toy to toy.

She is trying to play with my cockapoo but Lola is a little sad about the new cute puppy. I think they will get along great eventually.

Ruby went to the vet today and did great she is tiny - only 3 1/2 pounds. No wonder her xxsmall coat is a little big. She is eating a ton so she should grow fast. She loves her drops and the vitamin wafers.

A note from Lanetta

Buddy graduated from his puppy class yesterday, can you believe Buddy has been with us for 2 months now?

He is doing great and we love him more every day.  He really is a good boy and perfect match for our family.  I told my husband I don't think he's a lap dog, he's a shoulder dog because he'd rather lay on us with his head over our shoulder than curl up on our lap.

He's still a puppy & has tons of energy, and he & Drew run in the backyard often.  We're only a few blocks from Drew's school, so we walk and Buddy loves to go with us.  He is so well behaved even in the chaos when they all get out in the afternoon.

He tries to say hi to everyone he sees, but will stay focused when walking on a leash.  We still have so many people ask what kind of dog he is and tell us how cute he is. 

Thank you for a wonderful puppy,

Lanetta Rowley

Praise from Kelly

We have Benji!  He is adorable and everyone is in love!  He is so playful and happy.

The girls didn't want to let him go to sleep tonight. We've already been to Petsmart and are official dog owners :)

We've attached a picture of the girls with their new love.

Thanks again.  We love him so!

A note from the Kapoors

We cannot thank you enough for Snow Bunny (now Zoey). She has integrated beautifully into our family and is a source of joy everyday. Kudos to you for terrific crate training - she arrived that way and to date makes zero fuss with her crate and is already 90% house trained in the span of a few short weeks since we have had her. She accompanied me to the Caribbean a couple of weeks ago and was awesome to travel (in cabin) with.

Just as your site says - she thinks everyone she passes by has come to meet specifically with her - he has a super personality and everyone in the family loves something different about her. She just has so much to offer and a massive fan following already. 

What can I say - Thank you for Zoey and for your continued support and responsiveness on numerous topics/questions that I have solicited your advice. 

Warmest Regards,

The Kapoors (DC metro area)

The Importance of Grooming for Cavachon Puppies

Cavachon puppies come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they all have in common is that they love to be groomed. Here’s why grooming is so important for your Cavachon puppy and some tips on how to start. 

Maintaining a Healthy Coat

Cavachons' hair is thick and wavy, so regular brushing is essential to keep it smooth and free of tangles and matting. Brushing your Cavachon at least a couple of times a week will help keep your dog's coat smooth and free of knots. Not only will this make your Cavachon look great, but regular brushing will also help prevent matted fur from causing discomfort and skin issues. If your Cavachon has curly or wavy hair, it’s a good idea to consider investing in a good quality slicker brush, or comb.

Preventing Skin Problems

Grooming isn’t just about taking care of your Cavachon’s fur—it’s also about keeping your puppy’s skin healthy. Using a gentle dog shampoo every few weeks can help get rid of dirt, allergens and excess oils. However, it’s important to remember that too many baths can strip your puppy of natural oils, which can lead to dry skin and irritation.

Trimming and Maintenance

Regular grooming also includes trimming your Cavachon’s fur, especially around its eyes, ears and paws. Maintaining these areas clean and tidy not only makes your puppy look better, but it also helps prevent infections and other problems. If you’re not sure about trimming, it’s a good idea to ask a professional groomer for help. You can also look for tutorials or even edit videos online for free to make your own grooming guides.

Final Thoughts

Regular grooming can help keep your puppy’s coat healthy and free of matting, help prevent skin problems, and build a strong bond with your puppy. Whether you groom your puppy at home or take them to a professional groomer, the time you spend grooming your puppy will be worth it when your puppy looks and feels its best.

The Compliant Puppy

You can read in their faces if you are a student of all things “DOG”, a puppy’s expression and manner will give you much in the way of direction in the path you need to take in your role as pack leader to your new little canine charge.

Of course I’m passionate and raise the Cavachon, not only for their beauty which is much of their draw for me I’ll admit, but what led me to this breed above all other’s is what I call a soft nature or a compliant personality which makes the average dog owners life so very much easier when it comes to raising a loving family companion.  We all lead such busy lives and some breeds of dog while delightful in many ways, are so much more strong willed than many people are willing or able to cope with.

Compliant puppies take a lot less in the way of correction than more strong willed puppies, comparing say a Jack Russel Terrier or perhaps a Beagle, both may be great dogs but will absolutely require a lot in the way of structure and direction on your part to ensure that the energy that they typically would have vented chasing rabbits or assisting in the hunt, doesn’t turn into chewing your new wool rug or favorite pair of sling-backs!

That being said, if you’ve followed this blog very long at all, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of loving but firm ownership and training, it’s easy to spoil compliant puppies (look at that precious face of baby puppy girl above) if you’re not careful, you’ll lean heavily toward the affection and love side of ownership but neglect the structure and firmness that make for a superb companion dog. Love them with all your heart, but remember to love them enough to lead them as well.

The Strong Willed Puppy Grrrr!

Well I must qualify that a bit, I’ve worked with so many breeds over the years, a “strong willed” Cavachon puppy is a far cry less difficult to deal with than say a strong willed Rottweiler puppy!  That being said, in every breed, even a breed as generally laid-back and sweet natured as the Cavachon, there are individual puppies in a litter who are just a bit more precocious, yes, a bit more strong willed, and you as puppy owner and trainer, need to know how to train your particular puppy. For those who would be students of the dog and learn how to live with them more effectively, you need to access where your puppy fits as far as his temperament goes?  If you watch carefully he’ll give you numerous clues to find the path to being the loving but firm owner this puppy needs.

If your corrections are often ignored, you might have a strong willed puppy. (OR you might not be giving proper corrections, given with the right timing, given with the right amount of energy, the right tone of voice etc we’ll discuss all of that in an upcoming article). An easy way to decide where your puppy falls on the line between compliant and strong willed is to look for how he carries his ears and tail, especially when you are disciplining him.

Are his ears held high on his head? Is his tail high in the air and waving? Probably a sign that your little munchin will need a bit more firmness and you’ll need to carefully watch that you are the pack leader, not the follower which he’ll happily prefer. Compare this adorable little Ruby Cavachon puppy with his more soft natured sibling,,, see the ear set?

The soft expression (rather a sweet forlorn I’m trying to be a good puppy” look), our red head above is equally adorable, but looks more ready to chase the cat if you’re not quick to teach him the boundaries he needs to be a truly good dog!  Not to worry, both puppies (especially in THIS breed), with care and wisdom will end up at the same place, but your journey will be a happier one for both of you if you acquire the skills to train your puppy effectively from the very beginning.

Keeping the Peace

If there’s already a canine companion in residence when your new bundle of puppy love arrives, there are steps you can take to keep everyone happy and get new family members off on the right paw!

Essentially, you must allow time for friendships to develop, even between your feline family members, you’ll be surprised at the level of affection that will come if you basically let your new puppy and his older “siblings” have a bit of supervision, but not too much well meaning interference.

You’ll want to keep things safe of course and if your older dog or cat shows signs of losing patience with your puppy, it’s time for a time out, literally, send everyone to their corners so to speak, try not to force introductions, let advances be made gradually and without rushing anything, you’ll be amazed at the bond that will grow given time and loving supervision as needed.