Cavalier King Charles

[Orkneys]

Not 100% on a dog but I'd like a cavalier if I did. I know about health problems. Can't seem to find a reputable breeder puppy farms Yes. Can anyone recommend one? as I say I'm not a 100% just looking into it for now.

Whilst I like them many of the ones we meet have health issues so you are right to be cautious. Try owners clubs, might be a rescue group?

I wouldn’t tbh. Cav heart, hips and brain issues. They often die young, and will cost you thousands in insurance premiums and vet bills.

They’ve been bred so badly for human tastes and it’s horrendous. I don’t know why you’d support that. The breed shouldn’t be allowed to die out, but they should be breeding for health, rather than what we deem ‘cute’.

I would 100% recommend them. I have one, she's gorgeous and friendly and has come from tested and healthy parents, she is also very healthy - not a single issue so far and she's 7. The only thing I would say about them is that I thought not being a terrier type dog that she wouldn't go for small animals and she's forever chasing birds in the garden and our original plan of getting a cat is out too as she chases those too! But she's so gorgeous. Please don't consider anything other than a highly reputable breeder, even if you have to travel halfway across the country.

We have one also, they are the most amazing little dogs - I agree with pp about the pray drive, they are defiantly spaniels! Although mine isn't bothered about cats atall. I would recommend champdogs and breed clubs with regards to finding a reputable breeder with the all important dna tests and heart scans (champdogs is where mine came from, im not sure what its like now though) They don't 'all' have health problems (some do ofcourse, but there are many that don't...) they don't 'cost thousands to insure' but I would just make sure its a lifetime policy not a yearly one.

I've done my research maybe to the point of obsession so I know what I'm getting. Their health does concern me but as I say in my post I'm not looking for puppy farmed dogs I'm looking for a reputable breeder.

I so wanted one but gave up as I realised the search to find a breeder would be almost impossible.
I would start with the breed club and the rescue group and work from there.
I think it's a real tragedy as they are such lovely dogs.

My understanding is that there aren’t tests that can be done on the parents to ensure puppies are healthy. Syringomyelia? So I wouldn’t.

@Orkneys

I've done my research maybe to the point of obsession so I know what I'm getting. Their health does concern me but as I say in my post I'm not looking for puppy farmed dogs I'm looking for a reputable breeder.

How can you tell the difference between a reputable breeder or puppy farm?

Recommendations? PFs pay people to recommend them.
Dogs brought up in a home? PFs use family homes as a front
Health tests? As @Wolfiefan says there aren’t all the tests to prove your pup is healthy.
KC registration? Means nothing. Puppy farmers KC register their dogs.

KC reg means nothing other than pedigree.
Not healthy.
Recommendations. Just because the person who recommends loves their dog very much it doesn’t mean the poor bitch isn’t churning out litter after litter. Or isn’t one of 50 breeding bitches.

@GrimDamnFanjo

I so wanted one but gave up as I realised the search to find a breeder would be almost impossible. I would start with the breed club and the rescue group and work from there. I think it's a real tragedy as they are such lovely dogs.

I know that's why I'm not a 100% sure how do you know a good breeder from a bad i suppose. Such a shame they are lovely dogs I've wanted one since I was little.

@Wolfiefan

My understanding is that there aren’t tests that can be done on the parents to ensure puppies are healthy. Syringomyelia? So I wouldn’t.

This is what concerns me. It's the luck of the draw i suppose.

You won’t get rational advice on that breed on here I’m afraid.

Not immediately telling someone that ‘omg!! Such a lovely dog’ and pointing out the downsides of this breed isn’t irrational, it’s repairable pet ownership.

*responsible

Where in the uk are you? I know someone in my village who occasionally breeds and does well at crufts with hers. She is quite sought after

I have a cavalier, and have owned them my whole life. The unfortunate thing with the breed is good decent breeders are few and far between so they have been mass puppy farmed and they are all over gumtree etc.

I have seen all of my dogs family/bloodline as she still has members of the family living with the breeder. The health problems are an issue, however mine has been fully checked with no inherited problems arising. Yes there is no guarantees however my dog is happy, in no pain and has regular checks with the vet. Just to make all that clear before anyone jumps on me!

@ArcherDog

You won’t get rational advice on that breed on here I’m afraid.

I ignore the ones that are obviously looking for a argument It's my choice and it's not been to bad. I've seen worse threads so think I'm doing well

@Ridingthegravytrain

Where in the uk are you? I know someone in my village who occasionally breeds and does well at crufts with hers. She is quite sought after

I'm in the West Midlands

@Glitterb

I have a cavalier, and have owned them my whole life. The unfortunate thing with the breed is good decent breeders are few and far between so they have been mass puppy farmed and they are all over gumtree etc.

I have seen all of my dogs family/bloodline as she still has members of the family living with the breeder. The health problems are an issue, however mine has been fully checked with no inherited problems arising. Yes there is no guarantees however my dog is happy, in no pain and has regular checks with the vet. Just to make all that clear before anyone jumps on me!

I think I'm quite clued up on puppy farms so I wouldn't even entertain them. No way I'd buy off gumtree or any selling site I've been keeping a eye on the kennel club and I thought someone on here might know a decent breeder. They are beautiful Glitterb, I know I probably shouldn't due to the problems but maybe I'll get lucky like some do and I think they are worth it.

Cavaliers have lovely temperaments and are usually great family dogs.
Re the heart problems - try to make sure the parents have had full Doppler Echo rather than just auscultation (that is, they've had a full ultrsound heart scan, not just listened to with a stethoscope).

Auscultation was the standard heart test for years, but Echo is a vastly more reliable way to check for heart problems in breeding dogs.

There is a newish heart testing scheme for this breed based on using Echo, which is voluntary, but hopefully more reputable breeders will get on board with it.

Details on the heart testing scheme here: www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/getting-started-with-health-testing-and-screening/heart-scheme-for-cavalier-king-charles-spaniels/

If you're in the UK, there is also a list of participating cardiologists on that page, if there is one based near you perhaps they will be able to recommend participating breeders (not sure if they can, but it might be worth a try anyway)

@Alfaxan

Cavaliers have lovely temperaments and are usually great family dogs. Re the heart problems - try to make sure the parents have had full Doppler Echo rather than just auscultation (that is, they've had a full ultrsound heart scan, not just listened to with a stethoscope).

Auscultation was the standard heart test for years, but Echo is a vastly more reliable way to check for heart problems in breeding dogs.

There is a newish heart testing scheme for this breed based on using Echo, which is voluntary, but hopefully more reputable breeders will get on board with it.

Thank you for the advice.

@Alfaxan

If you're in the UK, there is also a list of participating cardiologists on that page, if there is one based near you perhaps they will be able to recommend participating breeders (not sure if they can, but it might be worth a try anyway)

Brilliant. Thank you.

There is a screening program for syringomyelia it requires both parents to have MRI scans. Like hip dysplasia it is not a guarantee of disease free pups, but it is attempting to breed from the healthiest individuals to gradually reduce the incidence in the breed. Any CKCS breeder who is on the KC assured breeder list will have to carry out this testing and heart testing - full participation in health schemes is a requirement of membership to the assured breeder program.