Sinead

Hathersage The Violet Hour with new baby

Kathie Fowler

Napa, California, USA

Puppies

To see photos of my latest litter click here.

People commonly tell me that they are not interested in show quality puppies, that pet quality is fine. As far as I'm concerned, ALL puppies are pet quality because their primary role is to be a family member. But champion dogs are champions for a reason - not just because they are beautiful but because their temperament is exemplary and they are, hopefully, in the prime of health. These are the qualities you want in a puppy, and any breedings I undertake are designed to favor the odds for producing those qualities.

Here is some info that might be helpful for those looking for a Cavalier.

1. In the US, the dog should be registered with the AKC and/or the CKCSC (original, parent club of the breed in the US). They might also be UKC reg. for the owner to participate in obedience or agility, but beware of ones ONLY UKC registered or the illegitimate registries like the Rare Breed, Continental Kennel Club, FIC, North American Purebred Dog Registry, Krystle Kennel Club, Dog Registry of America, APR, or others cropping up every day.

2. Do not deal with someone USDA registered. These are commercial breeding farms, commonly referred to as puppy mills. Do not buy from a pet store. They are almost always supplied by puppy mills, no matter what they say. It is against the Code of Ethics of the Cavalier Club to sell to a broker or pet store, or to supply a dog for an auction or raffle.

3. Buy the breeder first and then the dog. You want someone experienced and knowledgeable whom you will be comfortable with for the lifetime of the dog. They should be there to answer questions, help with training, etc. They will want to know of any problems you are having and will require you to notify them if you are unable at any time for any reason to keep the dog.

4. Ask as many questions of the breeder as a reputable one will be asking you - where the puppies were raised, what the breeder did to socialize them, what clubs the breeder belongs to, why this particular breeding was done, what good points these dogs have, what their bad points are. If the parents are not being shown (and winning!) ask who evaluated them as breeding quality - besides the breeder!! Be comfortable with the answers you get.

Ask many questions BEFORE deciding whether to even go meet a breeder/see puppies so you don't make an impulse purchase (which is what keeps dogs in pet stores.)

5. Be sure and see certificates of health testing on parents. The appropriate ones for Cavaliers are:

HEART - The latest research presented at the International Heart Symposium in May 98 says sire and dam should be at least 2.5 years of age and heart cleared by a CARDIOLOGIST within the previous year (not just regular vet). THEIR parents should still be heart clear at age 5. Mitral valve disease is a major concern in the breed

EYES - Sire and dam should have a current (within the last year) CERF (Canine Eye Registration Foundation) test by an OPHTHALMOLOGIST (this also cannot be a regular vet).

PATELLAE - Luxating, or slipping, patellae, or kneecaps, are a common problem in toy breeds, including Cavaliers. A (regular) vet needs to check sire /dam before breeding. Certification can also come from the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation of America)

HIPS - hip dysplasia DOES happen in small dogs. Approx. 11% of Cavalier x-rays submitted to the OFA show hip dysplasia and since the really bad ones are never sent in, they estimate as much as 1/3 possibly have HD. An x-ray is taken by a regular vet and sent to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals for a grading of excellent, good, fair, borderline, or degrees of dysplasia. A regular vet does NOT read the x-ray - it must go to the OFA. The OFA website has some excellent info and you can check the status on any dog who has passed (assuming the owner has sent in the results).

6. If possible see the parents, or at least the mother. Be sure the mother has a good temperament. She will influence the puppies more than the father.

7. The Cavalier comes in four accepted colors - Ruby (solid red), Blenheim (red and white), Black and Tan, and Tri color (black and white with tan markings). They are 12-13 inches at the shoulder and 12-18 lbs. They are indoor, in your face dogs, and YES, they lick and they DO SHED

8. Red flags - "I have any color, male or female available right now," "The whole litter is show quality," "The testing is not reliable," "If you don't trust my word, I don't want to deal with you," "My line has no problems."

9. Good reading - Cavalier books by Barbara Garnett Smith, John Evans, Bruce Fields, Sheila Smith, and an excellent one by D. Caroline Coile (the last a small paperback). Other good ones, not specifically Cavalier, are "How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With" by Rutherford and Neil, "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons, "Super Puppy" by Peter Vollmer and "Social Graces" by Margery West.

10. Contacts: Cavalier Rescue (for a shelter, found, or pre-owned Cavalier) Linda Kornhi at cavlady@mindspring.com. There are also regional chairs. Check out the web sites for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club USA at www.ckcsc.org. or Cavaliers of the West at www.cavaliersofthewest.org, or the Bay Area Cavalier Club at www.backcsc.org.

Why a spay/neuter contract?

Sometimes people who are buying a puppy want to know if they can breed it when it gets older. They don't understand why the puppy is only available on a spay/neuter basis. Below are some FAQ's that may help to clarify the reasons why a reputable breeder will not allow his or her puppies to be bred. If you find a breeder who sells puppies without a spay/neuter clause, beware. They are almost certainly breeding without regard to the health of the breed.

Q I am paying a lot of money for this puppy. Why don't I have the right to breed it?

A. The purpose of breeding is to improve the breed. Understanding how to do that takes years of study. It requires knowing what the breed standard is, and recognizing how well any given dog fits the standard and where it falls short.

Breeders who don't take the time to learn the breed standard can harm the look and health of the breed. You only have to look at puppy mill stock to see how much the look can change, even in one generation. Disregarding the terrible problem of breeding dogs with health problems (because they are never health tested), Cavaliers bred without regard to the breed standard can lose the qualities that make them unique, i.e., soft expression, large round dark eyes, small size, long silky coat, etc

Q. What makes a Cavalier worth breeding?

A. Determining the breed worthiness of a Cavalier is both art and science. Breed type, structure, temperament, health and markings are just some of the considerations weighed by an experienced breeder. Much is determined in the show ring, which is the main venue for evaluating breeding stock, and a serious breeder is always involved in showing. There are also health tests the dog must pass to be considered for breeding.

Q. If I start showing the dog, and it passes all the health tests, can I then breed it?

A. It isn't that simple. There is a learning curve that needs to be followed which takes time. Serious breeders have spent years studying the breed, training puppies for the show ring, examining pedigrees and learning from others. That being said, it is possible that the restriction from breeding could be lifted at some point in the future if the puppy buyer meets certain requirements. These would include (but not be limited to) demonstrating a sincere commitment to learning about the breed by:

a) Attending meetings of COTW and the Bay Area Cavalier King Charles Club (BACKCSC) or whatever Cavalier club may be available in your area.
b) Attending the health clinics and seminars that these clubs sponsor
c) Enrolling in a handling class to learn how to show a dog
d) Attending dog shows on a regular basis to either show the dog or just observe
e) Testing for heart, hips, eyes and patellas at the appropriate time by the appropriate board-certified specialists to determine if the dog is physically sound enough to be bred.
f) Scrupulously following the CKCSC,USA Code of Ethics.