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Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Just Hard to Train?
I recently got a 3 year old King Charles Spaniel and she pees on the carpet all the time. I have had many other breeds and never had any problems training them, but she is a "space cadet". She is sweet but doesn't seem to "get it". She is also hyper. I love her, but the peeing is out of control. I cage her when I am gone and walk her every three hours, but she still just goes when she wants to. Any opinions or help with this?
We adopted an 18 month old King Charles she is the most loving dog we have ever had . After almost 6 months her accidents inside are to often . She goes outside however she will go inside a few times a week . She never lets us know to go out and it's not when we are at work it's when we are home . Doing laundry doing dishes eating dinner she just walks out of sight for a minute she comes back with a toy or just walks back in room . We go into where she was and it's either poop or pee . She knows it's wrong because when we see it I get her and bring her to the accident and tell her bad and no she puts her ears flat tail between her legs and sits there with that look like she is going to cry . The people who had her said she was house trained ? Again when we are out she is really good if we're out awhile sometimes she has an accident but rarely . It's when we are home I just don't know what to do ? She is the sweetest dog with such a huge loving heart but this in the house thing We need help !!!
The key is catching her in the act of squatting and before she starts peeing. Yeah, all of about half a second! That's why you need to set her up for an accident. Another poster brought up a good point about keeping her on a leash while she's in the house with you. Just tie the leash to your belt loop and go about your business. Either that, or use baby gates to confine her to the room you're in and watch her like a hawk. I had a dog with the same issue and she was so darn sneaky. The second my back was turned - BAM! Too late!
Once you set her up and have your eyes peeled, you have to tell her "No!" the second she begins squatting. Too early or too late and she won't understand why you're telling her "no". Only say it once, and then get her outside. Say nothing until the second she squats to pee, then heap on the praise.
Since she's used to a doggy door, is there any chance you could have one installed? That was the best thing we ever did when my husband and I were both working. We have a metal door that goes to the back yard from our family room, and hubby just cut the hole right through it and installed the door in about an hour. The only drawback is if it rains - then you get mud to clean up, but that's a lot easier than pee and poo. Of course, you could always put the door cover over the door if you get some really wild weather.
You also mention she's hyper. Does she only get walked outside for short times to eliminate? Since she's obviously a high-energy pup, she really needs some serious exercise to burn off the excess. When you take her out, do you allow her to run all around you and do whatever she wants? If so, that will only add to the hyper behavior. Since she's a show dog, she already knows how to walk politely on the leash, so keep that reinforced every time you take her out. She likely needs 45 minutes of walking away from her territory at least once a day, and preferably twice a day.
Once you set her up and have your eyes peeled, you have to tell her "No!" the second she begins squatting. Too early or too late and she won't understand why you're telling her "no". Only say it once, and then get her outside. Say nothing until the second she squats to pee, then heap on the praise.
Since she's used to a doggy door, is there any chance you could have one installed? That was the best thing we ever did when my husband and I were both working. We have a metal door that goes to the back yard from our family room, and hubby just cut the hole right through it and installed the door in about an hour. The only drawback is if it rains - then you get mud to clean up, but that's a lot easier than pee and poo. Of course, you could always put the door cover over the door if you get some really wild weather.
You also mention she's hyper. Does she only get walked outside for short times to eliminate? Since she's obviously a high-energy pup, she really needs some serious exercise to burn off the excess. When you take her out, do you allow her to run all around you and do whatever she wants? If so, that will only add to the hyper behavior. Since she's a show dog, she already knows how to walk politely on the leash, so keep that reinforced every time you take her out. She likely needs 45 minutes of walking away from her territory at least once a day, and preferably twice a day.
Sometimes with show breeders, they don't always properly potty train the show dogs.
Ah, pet stains on carpets. Ok, I've tried several methods, and this by far works the BEST! First of all, get a black light. It shows all urine stains not visible to the human eye. You can get one at PetSmart, and they're not expensive.
For fresh stains: The most effective to remove a stain is when it just occurred...get to it when it's still wet, and before it reaches the padding underneath. Use fresh papertowels and/or newspapers to soak up as much urine as you can. Do not scrub or press down hard on the carpet, because this will only force the urine into the carpet and padding. Once, you've soaked up as much urine as you can, spray an pet enzymatic cleaner. I prefer Spot Shot, not the aerosol can, but the spray bottle. Spray on the area, and spray outside the area. Let it soak for a few second, then use fresh paper towels to soak it up...gently massage, again do not press down or rub hard. Then rinse the area in cold water and use more fresh paper towels (you might as well buy them in bulk) to soak it up. After it dries, go over with it using the black light...the area should be nice and clean.
Now this is really important. Whatever you do, do not use a steam cleaner or heat of any sort. The heat will actually permanently bond the urine stain onto the man made fiber of the carpet.
For Dried stains: This is harder. You would have to use an enzymatic cleaner, and let it soak for awhile to break down the bond...rinse with cold water, and use fresh paper towels to soak it up. You can rent a wet/dry vac (the industrial kind works better than cheap kind for consumers) and force clean, cold water onto the stain.
If you have already gone over a stain using a chemical cleaner, then you'll have to get the area clean again before using another enzymatic cleaner... the reason is the enzymatic cleaner will have to break down the other chemicals that are on top of the urine stain.
Now, if you have already gone over the stain with a steam cleaner and the stain is still there after trying the method above, then count it as a loss. It's been permanently bonded to the carpet fiber. The stain that keeps popping up means that the stain actually penetrated to the padding below. In both cases, you'll have to replace the carpet and padding.
Ah, pet stains on carpets. Ok, I've tried several methods, and this by far works the BEST! First of all, get a black light. It shows all urine stains not visible to the human eye. You can get one at PetSmart, and they're not expensive.
For fresh stains: The most effective to remove a stain is when it just occurred...get to it when it's still wet, and before it reaches the padding underneath. Use fresh papertowels and/or newspapers to soak up as much urine as you can. Do not scrub or press down hard on the carpet, because this will only force the urine into the carpet and padding. Once, you've soaked up as much urine as you can, spray an pet enzymatic cleaner. I prefer Spot Shot, not the aerosol can, but the spray bottle. Spray on the area, and spray outside the area. Let it soak for a few second, then use fresh paper towels to soak it up...gently massage, again do not press down or rub hard. Then rinse the area in cold water and use more fresh paper towels (you might as well buy them in bulk) to soak it up. After it dries, go over with it using the black light...the area should be nice and clean.
Now this is really important. Whatever you do, do not use a steam cleaner or heat of any sort. The heat will actually permanently bond the urine stain onto the man made fiber of the carpet.
For Dried stains: This is harder. You would have to use an enzymatic cleaner, and let it soak for awhile to break down the bond...rinse with cold water, and use fresh paper towels to soak it up. You can rent a wet/dry vac (the industrial kind works better than cheap kind for consumers) and force clean, cold water onto the stain.
If you have already gone over a stain using a chemical cleaner, then you'll have to get the area clean again before using another enzymatic cleaner... the reason is the enzymatic cleaner will have to break down the other chemicals that are on top of the urine stain.
Now, if you have already gone over the stain with a steam cleaner and the stain is still there after trying the method above, then count it as a loss. It's been permanently bonded to the carpet fiber. The stain that keeps popping up means that the stain actually penetrated to the padding below. In both cases, you'll have to replace the carpet and padding.
Thanks. I never scold her. She is so sensitive she is devastated if I am upset with her. She is a great dog and if I can manage to fix this, she will be wonderful. Do you know of anything at all that take stains out of the carpet? I am afraid I am going to have to replace the carpet. regular steam cleaning just doesn't work. I will try your suggestions. Thanks so much!
Thanks so much for the suggestions. She is the most loving dog I have ever had. She was a show dog and was bred and then retired. I got her then. I don't think she ever got the housebreaking training. They had a doggie door and she just went out when she wanted. I will try the leash idea and get the Nature's Miracle. Do you know of anything that removes potty stains from carpets? I had the rugs steam cleaned, but the spots just magically reappeared a few days later (not her fault this time;-).
2 Comments
Hydrogen peroxide Is a miracle!!! It takes away the smell and the stain. I squirt it directly on the stain and have a Bissel green machine I use to suck up all of the pee and hydrogen perioxide.
Hydrogen peroxide Is a miracle!!! It takes away the smell and the stain. I squirt it directly on the stain and have a Bissel green machine I use to suck up all of the pee and hydrogen perioxide.
I think Cavalier King Charles are just beautiful with great personalities!
I would treat her potty training as if she is still a puppy...put her on a schedule or routine. I agree with April2 about the frequency that you would have to take her out and after which activity (sleeping, eating, playing, etc).
I'm not sure if you already know this or not, but if she has an accident, don't scold her. Just take her outside and then clean up the mess as quickly as you can. Use lots of praise when she potties outside. It also helps if you designate a potty area outside.
If she doesn't potty when you take her outside, then take her back into the house and confine her again (or keep her on a leash). With patience, she'll make the associate that she can only potty outside and not in the house.
I would treat her potty training as if she is still a puppy...put her on a schedule or routine. I agree with April2 about the frequency that you would have to take her out and after which activity (sleeping, eating, playing, etc).
I'm not sure if you already know this or not, but if she has an accident, don't scold her. Just take her outside and then clean up the mess as quickly as you can. Use lots of praise when she potties outside. It also helps if you designate a potty area outside.
If she doesn't potty when you take her outside, then take her back into the house and confine her again (or keep her on a leash). With patience, she'll make the associate that she can only potty outside and not in the house.
Where did you get her? Sometimes if you adopt an animal from a shelter or rescue group, they will have issues with potty training. You may just need to work with her. Do you leave her all day? This could make it harder to train but not impossible. I'd crate her when you're gone. When you're home you can try putting her on a leash and taking her everywhere with you in the house until she's potty trained. This is one way to potty train. Take her out after she's eaten and drank, when you get home, first thing in the morning and right before bed. To start off with, you might want to take her out every hour or so. Also get some Nature's Miracle for the carpet stains. If she keeps smelling the pee, she'll keep going back to it. I've always heard that King Charles Cavalier dogs were very intelegent and make good family pets. I think with a little training and patience, she'll make a great pet! :)
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