The only Cross Lake King Cavs

04/26/2025

TheOnlyCrossLakeKing Cavs announcement:
We are expecting puppies on May 18th! Emersyn x's Jameson and they produce Blenheim and Tri Colors. We are very excited for our upcoming litter as I have been having puppy fever! 🐾🐾

Send a message to learn more

04/16/2025

04/08/2025

Tips & Tricks

The simple things that make all the difference!Does your puppy pull and lunge toward other dogs or people? Does he bark at the sight of someone or something? Ever feel like he goes from zero to sixty in two seconds and you don’t know what to do?



You are not alone. Some dogs are what we call “reactive,” meaning they overreact to specific stimuli in their environment. There are several tips and tricks to help retrain your dog in these circumstances to feel better and, hence, behave more appropriately. Remember our tip of thinking about what you want your dog to do, instead of what you don’t want them to do? That comes into play here.



Instead of my dog barking whenever they see something that triggers them, I prefer to have them look at me. So I start by thinking, “How can I train my dog to give me this behavior instead?” I use my marker word “YES” (or a clicker works well too) to mark and reward every time my dog looks at something that might be a trigger. Let’s say your neighbor is walking down the sidewalk, and you know this causes your dog to bark. I would start a good distance away with my dog on a leash and a bag of high-value rewards, preferably not facing the person head-on but to the side.



NOTE: Make sure you are far enough away to keep your dog under threshold or the point where he starts to react. Your dog must be under the threshold to start this training. Usually, this means creating distance between you and the object.



The second my dog looks their way, I mark, “YES” and give a food reward. Repeat this 10-20 times so your dog knows that looking at the trigger is getting them the food reward. Your dog will start looking at the trigger, then back to you for the next food reward. This is exactly what we want!! Step two is to wait to mark until your dog looks at you for the food reward. Now we have an “autowatch” where your dog starts to automatically look at you when he sees a trigger.



This may not be achieved in one session. You will need to start with one trigger and generalize the behavior to other triggers. Each time you change triggers, go back to step one where you food reward them for looking at the trigger. Once you get to the “autowatch” or the point where they look away then look back to you for a food reward, you start marking and rewarding the look at you, not the object. By looking away, your dog learns an alternative behavior (one that gets rewarded) for dealing with his anxiety and can replace his old behavior with a more rewarding one.



There are many methods of helping dogs who are reactive, with this “LOOK AWAY” game being one. For more ways to help your dog, check out our training program at www.baxterandbella.com.



Happy Training,

Amy

03/04/2025

Tips & Tricks

The simple things that make all the difference!

Does your puppy pull on leash when going for a walk? Are you that person frantically trying to keep up with your pet who has decided they are in charge of walks?



Today I’m going to teach you a great game called “Stop & Go” with a slight modification. This is how you play. Put your puppy on leash and prepare to go for a walk. Start moving in any direction you choose. The second your puppy puts tension on the leash, stop. Yep, do NOT move. Plant your feet and do not budge or allow your dog to drag you, not one inch. Wait until your puppy turns back toward you as if to say, “Hey! Why aren’t we moving?”



As soon as they put slack back on the leash, continue walking. Your dog wants to go somewhere and walking is the reinforcement. Teach them that you only move if there is slack in the leash. If they feel pressure on their collar, forward movement stops immediately. As a modification to this game, when your dog puts tension on the leash, turn the opposite direction. Circle around, make a figure eight. Do NOT go in the direction of where they were pulling - go the opposite way. This is best done in an area, not on a sidewalk so if your dog is pulling - get off the sidewalks for now.



At first, this may take time as your puppy learns that pulling does NOT work to get them where they want to go. Be persistent and your puppy will catch on that to move they must walk with slack in the leash.



Remember to stay consistent; once you start this game, you must always use it. It will do no good to let your dog pull sometimes, but then expect them not to at other times. Don’t confuse your pup! I recommend bringing along tasty food rewards to reinforce them when they are walking next to you in what we call the “Kitchen Area.” Every so often give them a food reward if they are walking nicely by your side. Also, forget going around the block for now. Start with your driveway, the path to the mailbox, or a neighbor’s house first. Then build up more and more distance when your patience and pup can handle it! Mix up the walk by changing directions, turning in circles, zigzagging, speeding up, slowing down, etc. Happy walking...with no more pulling!



Happy Training,

Amy & Team

02/14/2025

Happy Valentine's Day to me! ❤️ Welcoming my new Shih Tzu to Cross Lake King Cavs. Welcome "Cash". Sending all his puppy l🩵ve!

01/28/2025

Crate training can be a game-changer for you and your puppy—but it’s not always easy to know where to start. Here’s a step-by-step guide to making crate training a positive and stress-free experience:



1️⃣ Create a Welcoming Environment

Your puppy’s crate should feel like their personal sanctuary. Line it with soft bedding, add a couple of their favorite toys, and toss in a treat or two. Consider placing the crate in a quiet spot where your puppy feels safe but still part of the family.



2️⃣ Introduce the Crate Gradually

The key is to build trust. Start by leaving the door open and letting your puppy explore the crate on their own. Use treats or kibble to lure them inside, and praise them when they step in. Remember: this is about creating positive associations.



3️⃣ Short and Sweet Sessions

Begin with short crate sessions while you’re at home. Sit close so your puppy doesn’t feel alone. Gradually increase the time they spend in the crate, always rewarding calm behavior.



4️⃣ Stick to a Routine

Puppies thrive on routine, so incorporate crate time into your daily schedule. Use the crate for naps and bedtime to help your puppy understand it’s a place for rest.



5️⃣ Practice Patience and Persistence

Your puppy might whine or bark at first. Resist the urge to let them out immediately; doing so reinforces the behavior. Wait until they’re calm, then open the crate. Consistency is crucial for long-term success.



6️⃣ Make Leaving and Returning Low-Key

When leaving your puppy in the crate, keep your goodbyes short and sweet. The same goes for greetings when you return. This helps reduce separation anxiety.

Crate training takes time and patience, but with these steps, your puppy will come to see their crate as their happy, safe place.

For more help with crate training, take our Crate class inside our Member's area. We also walk you through the process in our FIRST WEEK TOGETHER learning module. For FREE help, subscribe to our YouTube Channel .



Happy Training,

Amy & Team

12/31/2024

RESERVED ❤️🎉