Hi
DH, DD and I are all very keen to add a dog to our family - DH has owned before but I'm a novice and though we are all crazy about springer spaniels I don't think we're the right sort of people to have one! They are wonderful but I can't commit to quite that level of exercise, physical or mental!!
We're starting to research King Charles spaniels as we have met several lovely ones and they seem like a lovely friendly, good-natured breed, perfect for our family, our lifestyle and our size of house etc.
However I am discovering that many are prone to a genetic heart condition (?) and there is no way I can take on a puppy if there is a concern they will have serious health problems and die young - I couldn't do that to the puppy! Not much of a life for the poor thing :( We have already talked DD out of a pug because I gather they have terrible breathing problems. I want to put the idea of a King Charles out of her min RIGHT NOW if it'll be the same story on the health front!
However I am also discovering that the Kennel Club have very recently started to try to do something about this issue and that they are starting a scheme to try to limit the possibility of a puppy being born with the genetic defect in their heart.
Does anyone (FAR more knowledgable than me!!) know where I could find out more than I can simply read on the Kennel Club website etc? Are there certain very careful breeders you can speak to, who take this seriously and are trying to improve the breed's health?
Basically, does anyone know any more, and/or are there any KC Spaniel owners out there who might be able to tell me their experiences?
It's early days for us but we want to be sure we're doing everything we can to get a healthy puppy and with regret we would steer clear of a lovely King Charles if the risk wasn't extremely limited.
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King Charles spaniels and heart condition
31 replies
HepburnKNotA · 13/09/2019 11:05
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