MotherKing

Huh - Harry just ate the zip off the front door panel (fly mesh) of his soft crate. Decision is made, must get a metal crate. Went to Bunnings yesterday to the gardening section as recommended - nothing there to that description unfortunately either. Will keep looking.

Hi JulesLovsCavs, this is the doggy tent that I've been refering to. As I've been recommed by many DOLites here recentlyt to get a crate, I've been wondering if there would be any advantage to the one I've already go so I have been experimenting for the last few days at home. Harry seems to like the doggy tent (soft crate if you like) however when the zip is up, he is not so keen, so its function as a "crate" doesn't really work as he would soon tear down the flymesh I fear. With a proper metal crate I can feel confident to walk away without him doing any damage to the crate, so I have just sent OH to Bunnings - had to twist his arm mind, the man loves any excuse to go there!! I will also post up some photos later today that I took yesterday when we got out all our camping gear on the front lawn to check everything, make repairs etc. The kids and Harry had a ball and all the neighbours kids were busting to come and play "cubbies" too. We had 5 cubbies in all - 2 tents, toilet/shower tent, doggy tent, and gazebo. Looks rather bizarre on the suburban front lawn but it gave me more confidence that Harry will enjoy himself. I have never seen him have such fun without out the front. It's always such a drama with him dashing off. Using the new tie-out of 5m and peg to ground he had a ball. Have just come back from morning walk on retracta lead too - didn't know the GSD obedience class used the same park (about 50 beautiful classy looking dogs!) but all went very well surprisingly.

Thanks NoodleNut - very useful. Pics speak a thousand words. And hey - Harry was only desexed just last fortnight so I know what that's like! A bit more of an op for a female tho I believe. And, may I say how adorably gorgeous and fluffy and cuddly your Noodle is. I have never really seen a dog like that before, she is special. ... and as I'm in Perth, I'm always the last one up (its only 11pm here). Have a great w/end.

Far out - I thought I had problems with "Dirty Harry". Sorry to say it, but all these tales of woe have helped me enormously - I'm not alone!! Yeah!! Everyone keeps telling me my dog is the most mental thing they're ever seen. I can now prove there are more just like him! So, thanks :-) Now - how do we fix it again?

Ok - have been reading all the great advice on this issue. I've noticed some of the crates people put their small dogs in are huge. I had already purchased a carrier/dog tent but is that too small? The function is the same but is it worth looking for a larger crate - is the reason so they can run around in it, or toilet in it perhaps? I don't think I've got it clear in my head the main reasons for the crate/vs doggy tent I guess. I may be missing something sorry I'm a bit of a dumb blonde :-)

Thanks JulesLovesCavs and NoodleNut - you've steered me in the direction of the cage. I had avoided these but noted them in some old puppy training books. Didn't think I needed that with this little pup but perhaps I was too naive. I have purchased a collapsible "tent" that works to confine but there is not space to toilet or move about. I had thought that woudl be sufficient coupled with a tether system of some sort, but your idea of a large crate could be ideal. He has shown a love for the doggy tent which is a positive start. They do like sleeping inside enclosed areas that's for sure! Thanks once again, you'll hear from me soon I'm sure.

Ohhh thanks for all the votes of confidence. I am feeling more positive about it now just seeing how you all cope. I know I would feel too much guilt not taking him but was beginning to wonder if I was crazy doing this with such a young pup. I'll be sure to pop back and tell you how it all went, show pics etc. I am in truth quite excited by the idea! But - I've never used a crate. Do they fold flat to pack in the vehicle? The big one in the pic looks enormous but certainly a great idea. Do I get these from the pet store?

Hi there - my pup is called Harry also. He is a Cavalier King Charles and I had to laugh as I read your post from top to bottom. About midway I was thinking, shall I post a reply and tell her that all good things must come to an end? Then I read about the sock episode. Your story is just like mine. Perfect puppy for about 1 month - then whammo - my Harry, is now nicknamed "Dirty Harry". He is totally mental. We work from home so he is with us 24/7. We are an online publisher and have a shop so there are often new books and things within easy snatching reach. If its not chewing on the edge of a book rather quietly, he is sneaking into rooms and bringing out barbie dolls, dirty knickers, socks, and just about anything that he can fit into his mouth. He will only respond to my "Ah!" and glare, immediately dropping stolen item but if kids try it, he just goes yippee chase time! and tears around the house. I have just put up a post about him - and my current dilemna, which is taking him camping. All I wish for you is lots of luck with your Harry.

We recently purchased a puppy for the kids. He is a Cavalier King Charles spaniel. He is now 7 months old. Later this month we are heading off on a 4 week trip - beach camping at Sth Lefroy, Ningaloo. This is private property (beachfront - no facilities), dogs allowed. It is very remote and is a great opportunity for us to let Harry have a great time with us in the outdoors however the problem is that my dog is still a crazy, mental puppy and now as we near the departure I am having second doubts about my ability to cope with him running off and getting into mischeif for 4 long weeks. Let me explain that we do this sort of camping quite often and I have young kids - 4 and 7. Last trip the youngest was 2 at this same spot so I know what I'm in for. I have prepared for this for a long time, and I think I've got just about everything covered (dog tent, tie up pole, water-less shampoo, desexing, microchipping etc). Does anyone have any advice, comments, previous experience camping with a Cavalier puppy that is not a lap dog by any stretch of the imagination... think chews everything in sight, dashes off to chase birds, rabbits, cats and dogs - very bold, shy of nothing at all but a total sook at night (sleeps at the foot of our bed - up on it, not on the floor mind you). Am I the mental one? Kids will be heartbroken if we don't take him but perhaps that is better than the dog getting hurt or me losing the plot on our holiday. Tell me your thoughts and experiences.

Thanks everyone, good comments I've found useful here. I was interested to see which way the advice would swing... apply deterants/separate. For today, we have of course commenced separation but I'm still hopeful that eventually we will be able to work towards training Harry to not touch the rabbit. He is very mouthy at the moment so those ears must have been just too tempting! I didn't scold him as I didn't catch him do it, but he seems to be aware he did something to the rabbit that we didn't like.

Hi all, Harry, my 16week Cavalier KC, was initially interested, but aloof, but now obsessed with our pet rabbit. Baxter the rabbit is male, not dexsexed, big, but less than a 1 year old. He has a hutch but he prefers to roam in our backyard and we like him to eat the grass etc. He can't get out and has a great time. So, he has been mostly "free range" up until the puppy arriving. Baxter has also been a bit of a sratcher, biter and thumper almost anti-social, preferring to run and hide than play with people. He would also be rather aggressive when put in his hutch, biting the hand that fed it etc. But when Harry arrived, Baxter changed - he was very inquisitive and passive and we were all surprised to watch a new friendship blossom and soon enough, we've found over the last 3 weeks since we've had Harry that we have 2 friendly animals and our relationship with Baxter the rabbit has changed immensely. We can all pick him up, hug him etc and he will happily allow us to pet him. A few weeks ago they started playing chasings, and it become apparent that Baxter was the more submissive. Then we noticed Harry was licking Baxter's ears (with quite a fever), then he started chewing the ears and removing a bit of hair, still Baxter the bully as we've often thought of him can stick up for himself so we figured he liked it in a sort of strange way, but now Harry can catch this rabbit at any moment, he is on top of him and really getting into the ears and back of the neck. Yesterday he started barking at the Hutch when I put Baxter in for a break and just today, I found that Harry has completely chewed off all Baxters fur on his neck and ears almost to the point of breaking the skin - I fear the next stage is Harry will eat Baxter. What do I do??? I thought Cavaliers would not go for a rabbit as they aren't a hound, I'd read they have a tendency back in their lineage to go for birds, but he ignores the birds that come to the bird feeder on the lawn but that rabbit - he must have given him a sense of fresh meat perhaps? What do you suggest????