Hi,
I'm new to this site, although I've spotted it a few times while browsing.

I have a few questions, but first I'm going to tell you about the dog I have questions about.
I got a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy in August, called Charlie. He's 5 months old now, very playful and loyal; he sleeps in my lap, plays nicely and has an excellent temperament with my 2 year old baby sister and my 3 year old cousin and my 1 year old cousin.
Although they all play very rough with him, he has never ever snapped or growled or 'went' for someone.
So he's pretty much a perfect little pooch.

But he does have a few problems, or at least I notice:

1. He eats very little, though he is not stick thin he should gain a bit of weight in my opinion. He used to not eat at all, and when I went on the floor to encourage him to eat he simply crawled into my lap, and I got a spoon and spoonfed him. He would only eat it like this and if it was tinned dog food, not pellets as I wanted to feed him as it was supposedly better for him. Then in a month he would eat pellets and dog food mixed, and now he will only take two or three mouthfuls and be done, although the other day I stayed with him to make sure he'd eat and he ate all of it. How can I get him to eat? It really makes me mad that he won't eat

2. Sometimes he'd start 'gasping' for breath if he got excited, nervous or something. It sounds really hoarse. I usually get him to stop by crouching beside him and stroking him and speaking softly, "It's alright.... shh... calm down, you're alright...you're alright..." Why is he doing this and how do I get him to stop?

3. The vet says he has an 'overbite'; his upper muzzle is longer than his lower. I don't think so, here are some photo's of him; does he have an overbite?



















When he was younger, around the time we first got him:









Here are some of Charlie with his friend, another Cavalier called Tilly, my friends dog. Again, in these pictures he is still the same age as when we first got him:








Please help!

Thank you,
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