Science-Based Approach from Birth to Departure

We believe that a well-balanced Cavalier king Charles starts with a well-prepared puppy.
That is why we follow a structured, progressive and science-based socialisation protocol, inspired by the official recommendations endorsed by the EU Platform on Animal Welfare.

This protocol is an integral part of our breeding philosophy. It ensures that every puppy leaves us confident, curious, emotionally stable and ready for family life

Why Early Socialisation Is Essential

Puppies go through a critical learning window between 3 and 12 weeks of age.
During this sensitive period, their brain is developing rapidly and they form long-lasting associations with:

• Humans
• Other animals
• Sounds, sights and textures
• The home and outdoor environment

Positive experiences during this time help puppies grow into calm, adaptable adult dogs, while insufficient or negative exposure can increase the risk of fear, anxiety or behavioural difficulties later in life.

Our role as breeders is therefore not only to raise healthy puppies, but to actively shape their emotional and behavioural development.

Steps In Our Socialisation Programme

Our socialisation plan is age-appropriate, progressive and individualised, and is integrated into the puppies’ daily routine from birth until they join their new families.

1. Early Handling & Human Contact

From the very first days, puppies receive gentle, positive handling:

• Daily short handling sessions adapted to age
• Stroking, lifting, gentle examination of paws, ears, mouth and tail
• Calm, reassuring contact in the presence of the mother

As puppies grow, interactions increase in duration and variety.
They are introduced to many different people (men, women, different appearances and ages, including supervised children), always in a calm and positive way.

This early and repeated human contact helps puppies feel safe, relaxed and confident around people.

2. Gradual Exposure to the Home Environment

Puppies are progressively habituated to everyday life experiences they will encounter in their future homes:

• Household sounds (voices, TV, vacuum cleaner, keys, phone ringtones)
• Visual stimuli (different clothing, hats, sunglasses, bags, umbrellas)
• Objects and movements (pushchairs, suitcases, bicycles)

All exposures are introduced gradually, paired with positive experiences such as feeding or play, and never forced. Puppies are always free to retreat if they feel unsure.

3. Environmental Enrichment & Exploration

To encourage curiosity, coordination and confidence, puppies are raised in an enriched environment, including:

• Different floor surfaces (tiles, carpet, grass, concrete, textured mats)
• A wide variety of safe toys (chew toys, rolling toys, soft toys, sound-making toys)
• Play structures suitable for puppies (ramps, tunnels, boxes, low platforms)
• Regular access to safe outdoor areas from around 5 weeks of age

Puppies are also encouraged to explore new spaces beyond their main living area, helping them adapt easily to change.

4. Social Experiences with Other Animals

When appropriate and safe, puppies are gradually introduced to:

• The scent of other dogs or cats
• Calm, healthy, vaccinated adult dogs
• Visual contact with other animals in the household

All interactions are closely supervised, positive and adapted to the puppies’ age and confidence level.

5. Early Learning & Daily Routines

As puppies mature, we gently introduce:

• Individual play sessions with humans
• Reward-based basic learning (coming when called, sitting on request)
• Wearing a collar for short periods
• Grooming routines
• Early toilet habits (separate areas for sleeping, playing and toileting)

These experiences help puppies develop self-confidence, frustration tolerance and learning skills, while keeping sessions short and enjoyable.

6. Preparing Puppies for Transition to Their New Home

Before leaving us, puppies are carefully prepared for change:

• Short, positive separations from littermates
• Familiarization with a transport crate
• Gentle exposure to car journeys

Each puppy leaves with a detailed socialisation record, allowing new owners to understand what their puppy has already experienced and how to continue this work at home.

Our Commitment as Breeders

By following this protocol, we commit to:

✔ Respecting each puppy’s emotional needs
✔ Preventing fear-based behaviors through positive learning
✔ Raising puppies who are confident, adaptable and family-ready
✔ Supporting new owners with guidance and transparency

Socialization does not stop when a puppy leaves us — it continues with their family. Our goal is to give every puppy the best possible foundation for a happy life.