September 2006
Edited by Judy Wright
GET
THE VACUUM OUT!
As the central heating goes on for the coming season, it's time to pay a little more attention to the housework! At this time of the year, dormant eggs of fleas and other little nasties hatch out and start to look for suitable hosts to hitch a ride (and a feed), from.
The areas of the carpet around the edges of the room are the most likely places, so pay particular attention. You might even buy one of the 'Household' flea protection sprays that are made for the purpose.
Of course, it's no good doing any of the above if you don't first check over the dog and make sure he is not showing signs of fleas…get a fine 'flea' comb, and work around the base of the tail with it, also behind the ears, in the very fine hairs there; if you see anything resembling 'grit', then he has a flea or maybe a lot of them!
Touch the 'grit' with a piece of dampened tissue; it will turn browny/red…it's dried blood, where the flea has fed from the dog.
Regular flea treatment is highly advisable using a suitable preparation from your vet…nothing bought 'over the counter' works very well, better to pay a little extra for the right stuff
As the central heating goes on for the coming season, it's time to pay a little more attention to the housework! At this time of the year, dormant eggs of fleas and other little nasties hatch out and start to look for suitable hosts to hitch a ride (and a feed), from.
The areas of the carpet around the edges of the room are the most likely places, so pay particular attention. You might even buy one of the 'Household' flea protection sprays that are made for the purpose.
Of course, it's no good doing any of the above if you don't first check over the dog and make sure he is not showing signs of fleas…get a fine 'flea' comb, and work around the base of the tail with it, also behind the ears, in the very fine hairs there; if you see anything resembling 'grit', then he has a flea or maybe a lot of them!
Touch the 'grit' with a piece of dampened tissue; it will turn browny/red…it's dried blood, where the flea has fed from the dog.
Regular flea treatment is highly advisable using a suitable preparation from your vet…nothing bought 'over the counter' works very well, better to pay a little extra for the right stuff
EXERCISE.
I
receive quite a few E-mails from people who ask how much exercise a Cavalier
needs. It seems a very simple question, yet the answer is usually quite
long!
Cavaliers are very sporty little dogs, and as long as they are fit and healthy they will really enjoy long walks, in fact some will walk until you, the owner are ready to drop!
I know this from personal experience as some years ago, I set off with my two super fit Ruby boys to walk the entire length of the Ridgeway long distance path; we did it to raise money for one of the Cavalier Club projects, and achieved a goodly sum. BUT … at the completion of the walk, my feet were so blistered and sore that I was unable to wear shoes for the next three weeks! The dogs were completely unphased by the whole thing.
In their case, fitness was the key. We had increased the length of the daily walks over a period of time until we were walking long distances each day. Not all dogs get good exercise, and it's these that cause me concern.
If you want to go for long romps, do make sure that you build the dog slowly up to it, over a period of time.
Young puppies should not walk long distances at all, a quick trundle around the block will do for starters, again, increasing the distance as the young dog grows and gets stronger.
Old dogs should not be walked too far either, and no dog that has a heart or other health problem should have long exercise … some exercise is beneficial though, but never in the heat of the day.
Cavaliers should never be exercised by running with you whilst you jog, and not ever by you riding a bicycle! That has to be the quickest way to kill a dog of any age … if you don't kill it by over exertion, you'll probably run over it!
Cavaliers are very sporty little dogs, and as long as they are fit and healthy they will really enjoy long walks, in fact some will walk until you, the owner are ready to drop!
I know this from personal experience as some years ago, I set off with my two super fit Ruby boys to walk the entire length of the Ridgeway long distance path; we did it to raise money for one of the Cavalier Club projects, and achieved a goodly sum. BUT … at the completion of the walk, my feet were so blistered and sore that I was unable to wear shoes for the next three weeks! The dogs were completely unphased by the whole thing.
In their case, fitness was the key. We had increased the length of the daily walks over a period of time until we were walking long distances each day. Not all dogs get good exercise, and it's these that cause me concern.
If you want to go for long romps, do make sure that you build the dog slowly up to it, over a period of time.
Young puppies should not walk long distances at all, a quick trundle around the block will do for starters, again, increasing the distance as the young dog grows and gets stronger.
Old dogs should not be walked too far either, and no dog that has a heart or other health problem should have long exercise … some exercise is beneficial though, but never in the heat of the day.
Cavaliers should never be exercised by running with you whilst you jog, and not ever by you riding a bicycle! That has to be the quickest way to kill a dog of any age … if you don't kill it by over exertion, you'll probably run over it!
*************
TAILPIECE.
TAILPIECE.
THE
RIDGEWAY.
The Ridgeway Path is an ancient green track that runs from Wiltshire on into Berkshire, and finally to Buckinghamshire, a distance of 130 miles. It is a very ancient track.
My two Ruby boys, D'Oyly and Fred and I were dropped off half way along the Ridgeway at a place called Streatley. The plan being to walk to the Wiltshire end, and then return to the start, this would be the same as walking the entire path mileage wise. As I've said, we were all pretty fit!
The plan was to sleep under the stars, and to carry sufficient food and water to last us two and a half days; everything was in a rucksack! It was August and the forecast was good. Folks at home knew vaguely where I would be and at what time! I had good maps, and so all was set for our great adventure.
The first few hours were spent gently climbing on the track that led up onto the very top of the chalk downs, we passed fields, and apart from one other person walking in the opposite direction the Ridgeway was ours! There were distant isolated houses, and little villages here and there. The Skylarks were high in the sky…sheer bliss.
We walked on long past the hour that I had originally planned…this was a mistake!
Eventually, with dusk falling fast, we stopped; I could see the lights of Swindon across to the left. I felt very tired, removed my boots, and after some food, the dogs and I all lay down beside an old set of harrows beside the track and eventually fell asleep. In the morning I woke at about 5.00am…my feet had swollen! The dogs were fine. We ate, and after a bit of a struggle getting my boots on, we set off.
The
great White Horse, cut into the chalk at Uffington looked huge as we paused
to take a photo. We called in at 'Wayland's Smithy', said to be a magical
place; it is an old Burial Mound, where, if you were lucky, Wayland would
re-shoe your horse whilst you slept! It was quite eerie. The dogs were
really eager but I was suffering with my blistered feet! We strode on
to the end of the track…nothing exciting, quite close to the old A4, (The
Bath Road, or as it used to be known, 'The Great West Road'…how much nicer
than just a number!)
'Waylands'
Time to retrace our route, and time to make a small detour to have tea
with the Club's President; she spoiled the dogs rotten, and fed me cream
scones and lovely cups of tea! Then it was time to get back up onto the
Ridgeway and homewards. I was very aware that my feet were getting very
sore, and perhaps foolishly, decided to press on; we were so far ahead
of schedule, I felt we could make it back to the rendezvous without having
to sleep out for a second night. The dogs were absolutely fine!
We trundled along, passing the racehorse gallops of Kingsclere, where lovely 'chasers were out in strings, with the great racing stables dotted around in the valleys below; truly spectacular walking…But I was in agony!
Every now and then we would come to a cattle trough and the dogs would leap in, they were absolutely in their element! I longed to take my boots off and dunk my poor feet, but knew if I did, the boots would never go on as my feet were so swollen!
We sat and ate the rest of our rations, and I fell asleep for a short time, and then rose very stiffly for the final lap!
Leg weary and really tired, I was towed down the hill off the Ridgeway track by the dogs to the place where we had started from…there was a telephone box, so a quick call to a very surprised husband…he arrived a good hour later with friends bearing champagne!
We had done it! When they arrived, it was almost dark, I was sitting against a fence with my boots off; through my socks it was pretty evident that I had dreadful blisters…and the dogs?
Well, they got home and were flying up and down the garden chasing this and that as if they had done nothing! We had walked 130 miles in 2 days!
The following morning, they were up and ready for their morning walk, and off they went with my husband for two hours in the woods…I stayed happily in bed for another hour and then slowly manoeuvred my aching body to the upright position. I was unable to wear proper shoes for the next ten days… Never Again!
Do Cavaliers like long walks? OH YES!
We trundled along, passing the racehorse gallops of Kingsclere, where lovely 'chasers were out in strings, with the great racing stables dotted around in the valleys below; truly spectacular walking…But I was in agony!
Every now and then we would come to a cattle trough and the dogs would leap in, they were absolutely in their element! I longed to take my boots off and dunk my poor feet, but knew if I did, the boots would never go on as my feet were so swollen!
We sat and ate the rest of our rations, and I fell asleep for a short time, and then rose very stiffly for the final lap!
Leg weary and really tired, I was towed down the hill off the Ridgeway track by the dogs to the place where we had started from…there was a telephone box, so a quick call to a very surprised husband…he arrived a good hour later with friends bearing champagne!
We had done it! When they arrived, it was almost dark, I was sitting against a fence with my boots off; through my socks it was pretty evident that I had dreadful blisters…and the dogs?
Well, they got home and were flying up and down the garden chasing this and that as if they had done nothing! We had walked 130 miles in 2 days!
The following morning, they were up and ready for their morning walk, and off they went with my husband for two hours in the woods…I stayed happily in bed for another hour and then slowly manoeuvred my aching body to the upright position. I was unable to wear proper shoes for the next ten days… Never Again!
Do Cavaliers like long walks? OH YES!
If you have any questions about owning a Cavalier
then click on the envelope to email Judy who will only be too pleased
to try and help you.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
Material Copyright © 2006 The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club