When training always remember that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (puppies/dogs) respond best to positive reinforcement. Do not yell at your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) and if you feel frustrated call it a day by ending on something simple and positive and then try again tomorrow. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (puppies/dogs) can feel your tension so do not even try to pretend with them. Always use positive reinforcement like treats, verbal comments like "good boy/girl", and I like to use the under the chin quick pet at times as well.

There is a process to training. The key is to get your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) to perform the action and at that exact moment you give the command for the action, then praise your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) and reward with a treat. After a while, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) will associate the action with the command.

Train Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Puppy/Dog) to Heel

Heeling is when your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) walks calmly on your left with his head next to your left heel. Once trained, he will be at your heel whether you are walking, running or stopped. He will not be trying to run ahead or off to the side, and he will not be yanking as hard as he can at the leash to pull you along.

Attach a leash to a choke chain collar, and put the collar on your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog). Give him a few minutes to relax and get used to the collar. When he tries to walk too far away, just stand firm and let him see that he can't go any farther. He may try this a few times. Don't yank on the leash but do talk to him and pet him, and he should soon figure out that the collar will not bother him if he stays near you.

While training your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog), your praise is his reward. Praise him every time he does the correct thing, even if you had to force the correct thing to happen. The more he hears "good boy" or your clicker, the more he will try to do the correct thing so he can hear even more praise.

With your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) on the left side of you bring the leash up into your left hand and across to your right hand holding the leash with both your left and right hands. The leash will be held tightly in your right hand, and let the leash stay loose in your left hand. Heeling is always done with a loose lead. Corrections are made by giving a quick tug with your left hand. Now, with your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) on the left side of you, say "heel", give the leash a quick tug as you step off with your left leg, and say "good boy" (click) as soon as he starts moving. Keep walking - different directions - different speeds - all the while saying "heel" with a quick tug of the leash and saying "good boy" (click) every time he stays with you. You might have to tug "heel", tug "heel", tug "heel", three times or so before he gets near your heel area and you say "good boy"(click). If his mind starts to wander, his attention will go back to you the first time you make a turn and he doesn't. Left turns are great - walk almost into his head, kind of pushing it and him with your leg while saying "heel" and "good boy"(click). It won't take long at all for him to realize that he has to pay attention to where you are at all times. This is the essence of heeling - paying attention. After he seems to be getting the hang of go straight and making left turns, throw in a right turn. He will not be expecting this, and he will probably need to tug "heel", tug "heel", tug "heel" before he gets to hear "good boy"(click).

Keep this first session down to about 20 minutes of actual heeling. Finish up with an extra happy and excited "good boy" (click) and lots of petting and hugging. This is the signal that this session is over. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) has a very short attention span. You will need to have a heeling session once or twice a day for 15 minutes everyday for the next week to get him to remember what to do.

Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) may get the hang of this early and improve more and more each day. Or, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) may be one of the tougher ones and will need a full week - or even two - to really catch on. If your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (puppy/dog) is one of the "slower" ones to catch on, it may actually be that you are not being consistent enough, or not saying "good boy" (click) like you really mean it, or you are not tugging hard enough to get the message through. It may not be his fault.