18/09/2022
This is a long post.....
So, I am very worried and extremely concerned that the latest dog fad is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - often confused with the entirely separate breed the King Charles Spaniel. I am deeply saddened by the Queen's passing but doubly concerned that now we have another King Charles, the dog breed of the same name will become the must-have breed. I urge anyone considering a Cavalier or King Charles spaniel to please do your homework and buy only from reputable and knowledgeable breeders. As often the case with faddy breeds the market gets saturated with puppies from less that reputable breeders (KC registration of a puppy does not equal a quality puppy whose parents have been thoroughly health tested) ASK QUESTIONS of breeders selling CKCS and KCS puppies. Are both mum and dad fully health screened, can they tell you what tests they have had and show you the certification for those tests, Ask more specific questions such as:
How long has the breeder been involved in this particular breed?
How knowledgeable is the breeder about this particular breed?
Can they educate you about the breed's disadvantages - especially genetic predisposition to health
problems and characteristics like shedding, slobber, dominance, inter-dog aggression, etc. that may make
owning the breed a challenge?
What is their goal in breeding?
Is their goal consistent with your vision of an ideal pet? If they are breeding for "health and temperament,"
have them explain exactly what they mean. Their idea of ideal temperament and yours may differ
dramatically. If their goal is to produce their next show dog, have them explain how that will translate into a
good pet for you. Ear-set and tail carriage mean nothing if the dog they produce bites your children or dies
of cancer before his fifth birthday.
Does the breeder have any old dogs on the premises?
How long have their own dogs lived, and from what have they died?
How many breeds is this person breeding?
How many litters does the breeder have in any given year?
Are the breeder's dogs kennel dogs or house pets?
Will the breeder provide you with the names of their veterinarian and several past purchasers to serve as
references?
What kind of guarantees does the breeder offer?
Does the breeder expect to sell you a puppy with strings attached?
At what age does the breeder send puppies to their new homes? This should be at 11-12 weeks no sooner.
What does the breeder do to socialize their puppies?
What does the breeder do for a living?
Has the breeder or will the breeder allow you to temperament test the litter?
Cavaliers are, in my opinion, the best breed in the world...but they are not perfect, they need time, patience socialisation, habituation and training. They don't come out of the box ready for anything. Cavaliers are needy dogs, they need company and do not suit full time workers, do not be fooled they are small friendly dogs, left alone they can be noisy and very destructive. A bad breeder can not only sell you an unhealthy puppy that will possibly die young and cost a huge amount in vet bills, but without putting in time and effort into the raising of the pups from birth they will also be selling you a whole plethora of behavioural problems.
Remember if you want quality then you will pay a premium. You deserve the best puppy for your heard earned money.
If you choose to buy a puppy from a reputable and quality breeder, this breeder is responsible for every puppy's health. This breeder will skip holidays, miss sleep, and most of his or her personal home space has been transformed into space for their dogs. The truly passionate breeder, who loves what she breeds, puts all her life's blood into it. Not only for puppies that are sold, but also for every customer who owns a piece of their heart and is now a member of their large family. This does not take into account puppies/dogs that may be getting sick or need extra help to thrive. Breeders worry about their babies after leaving and take them back without question.
Since a dog is never ′′ just a pet!!! he is the legacy of the breeder, a little boy's best friend, a protector of a little girl, therapy for elderly, a member of the family, someone's whole world!!!
All very true- and TIME - there is a tremendous investment of time- away from family, friends, social events and even work- the work that pays the bills and the mortgage. Time to sit by the litter(s) - time to respond in depth to the questions, time to socialise the litter, playing or walking, training and teaching, time to do laundry, pooper scoop, disinfect, prepare meals, you get the drift..
Please folks, if you have got this far into my post, only buy from a trusted breeder who can fulfil the many criteria above....there are many of them out there but twice as many who are not. Please choose wisely.
