Dear Golden: It is always difficult to lose a beloved pet after so many years. One of the most healing things you can do for you and your family is wait a while before getting another puppy. The best use of this “in between” time can be used to celebrate your most recent pet while researching your next pet. Tackle this task of getting a new pet, not as a replacement for the Golden, since no pet can replace another, but as a new chapter in your pet owning life.

As for the Cavalier as a breed, they are from the toy group and have very similar traits to the larger Golden. According to the official breed standard, Cavaliers are an, “active, graceful, well-balanced toy spaniel, very gay and free in action; fearless and sporting in character, yet at the same time gentle and affectionate.”

The breed makes an excellent companion and is easily transported because it’s smaller than the Golden. And they come in a variety of colors versus just a variety of Golden shades. Don’t forget to look at your lifestyle too to make sure that there are enough hours in the day to deal with a puppy. Remember it’s been 10 years since you had a puppy and we often forget the tremendous amount of time we spent with the youngster.

Looking For A Breeder

The first place to look for a responsible breeder is on our website at www.akc.org. There you can learn about Cavaliers under the Breeds section and also access the “parent club” or national breed club for a list of breeders in your area. The parent club’s web site is www.ACKCSC.org. If you prefer an older dog or adult, you can also access the breed’s purebred rescue contact information. And you can also research AKC litters available as well as tutorial on how to find a responsible breeder through the Online Breeders Classified section of our website.

Additionally, you could look on our web site for training classes in your area with our handy search engine. That might also put you in touch with All-Breed clubs in your area that might have Cavalier breeders as members.

Dear Lisa: We have a four-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog. We still are having trouble house training her. She also has this terrible habit of eating her poop when she is outside - not inside - she also eats the poop of our Golden Retriever. She doesn’t poop in her crate but she pees and poops when she is out of it in the house. We say go potty when she is outside but sometimes she will come right back in and go poop in the house. Please help! – Berner Bowel Behavior

Dear Berner: It sounds like there are several issues going on here from inconsistent potty behavior to copraphasia (or eating feces). The puppy is still young enough and impressionable enough to start the whole housebreaking process over.

First order of business to get her to do her business where you want is to put her on a leash. Put her on a leash when she comes out of her crate, keep her on the leash when you take her outside, and keep her on the leash when she comes back into the house so she can’t dash off to do her duty elsewhere while you’re not looking.

When you take her outside to relieve herself, create an area just for that sole purpose. Always take her there, and continue to reinforce with what you’ve already been doing which is say “go potty.” Don’t forget to bring treats along to reward when then deed is done. Then bring her back in the house and put her in the crate to prevent her from soiling inside. Then go back outside and pick up the poop so she won’t find it as a snack later.

Behavior Is Key

Both of these issues are nothing more than training her to have a new behavior or habit. Just like humans, the more you reinforce the habit, the more likely it is to stick. Once she begins to learn she only poops in one place, she’ll always get a treat when she’s done, and that she’ll be in crate for a while afterwards (to prevent house soiling) she’ll put it all together.

Make sure all members of your family are sticking to the new routine for the puppy. If one member does things differently, it will confuse her. Hold family meetings to discuss that the puppy needs and you’ll find in no time that with everyone on the same page, success will be yours.

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.