Better Cavs

Better Cavs Using the Puppy Culture program,
the proof is in the puppy. Hi, my name is Julie, and I am a boutique breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

I am proud to say that I do the very best I can for the litters I have by bringing them through the Puppy Culture Breeding Program and you can tell because the proof is in the puppy. I have created this group to adopt out new puppies, share pictures, stories and ideas that may help your journey with you baby a little easier.

I was in a position to help this organization by donating a largebag of Royal Canin dog food and another lovely follower...
17/09/2025

I was in a position to help this organization by donating a large
bag of Royal Canin dog food and another lovely follower also did, as a thank you to me for helping her out.
They do a lot of great work, do you know who does this kind of help on your area?
I also take donations on my website to help people with training or good causes like Hearing Dogs.
Go to www.bettercavs.co.nz if you would also like to help.

Rescue, Rehabilitate, Educate, The Dog Rescue Project

17/09/2025

These dogs really are everywhere.
They are often mislabeled as friendly by the guardian/owner as that is how they are seen by them.....They barge right in to "play" with other dogs the second the lead is taken off, before then they are straining, bursting out of their skin to get to whatever they are desiring at the time....and allowing dogs to do this is half the issue.

This behaviour has been rewarded by the "play" and fun of interacting.....Why would they behave any other way around other dogs?
They are not friendly.
Dogs do not consider these dogs friendly either.
Why?
These dogs take no time to assess the situation, their energy is off the charts and they immediately assert themselves into play, and demand interaction from other dogs.

They cannot read cues, or they completely ignore them when given by other dogs.
Reading other dogs play styles is non existent.
Focusing on you or redirecting is impossible.
There is absolutely no impulse control or emotional self regulation.

These dogs are often seen at a dog park running from dog to dog in a hyper aroused state and they often have an almost manic appearance, all of this causes fights, injury, stress and is a direct causation of reactivity occurring in either dog.

I have used the term "socialisation" but socialisation is NOT play....it never was....it is about calmly accepting other dogs exist through controlled exposure.
That calmness allows self regulation, allows reading cues from others and impulse control is practiced.
As a society we have a twisted view that socialisation means dogs play with all other dogs....and they should get on.
The reality of TRUE socialisation is the opposite.

If you do have a dog that has these issues...you can help (but if you reach out to a good behaviour modification trainer, you will save yourself years and years of issues).

Teach engagement with you in ever increasing distractions.
Practice and learn calmness....it is a skill.
Manage the environment for calm and limited exposure at a distance....and reward calm.
Praise and reward when they look away from the other dogs....that IS praise worthy.
Mental enrichment with these dogs helps everything.
Learn the body language of your dog (and others).

You are not alone in struggling with this behaviour, it is very common.
Take a chance that your dog CAN behave in a different way, they just need to be shown how by you or a great trainer.

Limit where and when they can practice this behaviour......and most important dog parks and meeting endless other dogs will do nothing but fuel all of this behaviour.













She thinks itโ€™s an extension of my lap and my chair. Oops.
16/09/2025

She thinks itโ€™s an extension of my lap and my chair. Oops.

13/09/2025

๐—”๐—™๐—ง๐—˜๐—ฅ ๐—›๐—ข๐—จ๐—ฅ๐—ฆ ๐—ฆ๐—˜๐—ฅ๐—ฉ๐—œ๐—–๐—˜ โ€“ ๐—ช๐—›๐—”๐—ง ๐—ฌ๐—ข๐—จ ๐—ก๐—˜๐—˜๐—— ๐—ง๐—ข ๐—ž๐—ก๐—ข๐—ช

Did you know our after hours service runs from:
๐Ÿ•• 6pmโ€“7:30am on weekdays
๐Ÿ•• Friday 6pmโ€“Saturday 9am
๐Ÿ•• Saturday 12pmโ€“Monday 7:30am

During this time, our full daytime team of 25+ staff reduces down to just 2 vets who are on call, working overtime to look after emergencies. Because of this, an after hours consultation is usually about double the daytime price.

Example: If you get home at 4pm during normal business hours and your pet doesnโ€™t look well, please call us then โ€” donโ€™t wait until after hours. Daytime consults are more affordable, and youโ€™ll have the whole team and full resources available.

๐—”๐—ณ๐˜๐—ฒ๐—ฟ ๐—ต๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐˜€ ๐—ถ๐˜€ ๐˜๐—ต๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐˜‚๐—ฟ๐—ด๐—ฒ๐—ป๐˜ ๐˜€๐—ถ๐˜๐˜‚๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€, ๐˜€๐˜‚๐—ฐ๐—ต ๐—ฎ๐˜€:
โค๏ธBreathing difficulties
โค๏ธContinuous vomiting/diarrhea
โค๏ธSeizures or collapse
โค๏ธTrouble giving birth
โค๏ธSerious accidents or injuries

Weโ€™re proud to offer this service to our clients and with your help we can make sure pets get the right care at the right time.

When you need our afterhours service - simply call our normal phone number (06) 7584006 - leave a message and a vet will call you asap.

๐™‹๐™ก๐™š๐™–๐™จ๐™š ๐™ฃ๐™ค๐™ฉ๐™š: ๐™‰๐™š๐™ฌ ๐™‹๐™ก๐™ฎ๐™ข๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™‘๐™š๐™ฉ ๐™‚๐™ง๐™ค๐™ช๐™ฅ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™Ž๐™ฉ ๐˜ผ๐™ช๐™—๐™ฎ๐™ฃ ๐™‘๐™š๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐˜พ๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™˜ ๐™ง๐™ช๐™ฃ ๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™™๐™š๐™ง ๐™ฉ๐™๐™š ๐™จ๐™–๐™ข๐™š ๐™–๐™›๐™ฉ๐™š๐™ง ๐™๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง๐™จ ๐™จ๐™š๐™ง๐™ซ๐™ž๐™˜๐™š.

11/09/2025
09/09/2025
06/09/2025

Should I crouch down?
Some will say "Yep", it makes us less threatening.
I tend to say "Nope".
Worried, anxious, stressed dogs can react in ways we "can't" predict.
Those sweet puppy dog eyes, yearning for love.
They are more than likely yearning for space and for this situation to be over with.
When we push them, want to hug them and take away their discomfort we can come from a place of wanting desperately to make things better for them.

We tend to rush this.
We also tend to look at them through our human rose tainted glasses.

Crouching down in front of or in the vicinity of a stressed dog puts your centre of gravity off balance.
it's another second or two before you can react to anything that may be about to occur.
We also tend to crouch way to close.

So for me.
I keep actions slow and deliberate (without being unnatural).
Lot's of space is given (where possible)
I make sure I give them options to leave (I don't block the exits).
Weirdly, I tend to mimic others movements in the household (wee thing that I notice works well over the years).
I offer calming signals to them.
No direct eye contact and I don't approach.

This is the fastest way I know to help anxious dogs.

I don't want confliction.
It's connection I really want.

05/09/2025

Good sleep is often hard to come by, especially in todayโ€™s stressful world. But studies suggest that women may find their deepest rest not beside a partner, but beside a dog. The reason lies in the steady comfort and security dogs bring to the bedroom.

Dogs are naturally attuned to their owners. Unlike human partners who may toss, turn, or snore, dogs tend to align themselves with a womanโ€™s bedtime routine. Once they settle in, they remain still for long stretches of the night, minimizing sleep disruptions. This stillness creates the kind of calm environment that allows women to slip into deeper sleep cycles.

Thereโ€™s also an emotional layer at play. The quiet breathing of a dog, the warmth of its body, and the knowledge that itโ€™s standing guard instill a sense of safety. For women, this reassurance eases the mind, reducing nighttime anxiety and lowering stress hormones that can otherwise keep them awake.

The takeaway is simple yet profound: women arenโ€™t just choosing companionship when they let their dog sleep in the bed. Theyโ€™re choosing comfort, emotional balance, and the possibility of waking up more refreshed. Dogs, in their quiet loyalty, have become unexpected healers of our most basic needโ€”rest. ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ’ค

31/08/2025

โœจ Gorgeous Ruby Cavalier Girl Coming Available! โœจ

Sheโ€™ll be about 8 months old when she returns midโ€“late September ๐Ÿ’–
Sheโ€™s been happily homed with a family including children and cats, so sheโ€™s well socialised and gentle.
She will be offered at a special rate for families who already have one of my pups.
Up to date photos to come.

๐Ÿ“ž Call to reserve her forever home!ab

Hi everyone! ๐ŸพFor those with one of my pups from this year, some new (and sometimes challenging!) stages are either here...
31/08/2025

Hi everyone! ๐Ÿพ

For those with one of my pups from this year, some new (and sometimes challenging!) stages are either here or just around the corner. ๐ŸŽ‰

๐Ÿ“ฉ Iโ€™ve sent out emails with survival tips on:
โ€ข ๐Ÿฆท Losing baby teeth & getting adult teeth โ€“ this usually starts around 4โ€“6 months and finishes between 6โ€“8 months.
โ€ข ๐ŸŽญ Adolescence โ€“ starting anywhere from 6โ€“18 months, when your sweet puppy may test boundaries and show their โ€œteenage attitude.โ€
โ€ข ๐ŸŒธ First season (for the girls) โ€“ often between 6โ€“12 months, though it can vary.

If you didnโ€™t receive the email and would like the info, just send me a message and Iโ€™ll make sure you get it. ๐Ÿ’Œ

Hang in thereโ€”youโ€™ve got this! These phases are completely normal, and Iโ€™m here if you need extra support. ๐Ÿ’•

๐Ÿ‘‰ Has anyone else found tiny puppy teeth on the floor, survived a teenage tantrum, or noticed their girl acting a bit โ€œgrown upโ€? ๐Ÿ˜‚ Share your storiesโ€”I think we could all use a laugh (and reassurance weโ€™re not alone)! ๐Ÿถ

26/08/2025
25/08/2025

Now they are fully vaccinated I had Alice and another wonderful lady who is retired to take the puppies around the local park to go through some lessons and take them to somewhere unfamiliar.
This is when they have finised and were able to run around for a bit because we knew they would come when they were called.

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Bell Block
New Plymouth
4312

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