Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Choosing a Breeder

Choosing a reputable breeder is very important. Since it is almost impossible for you to know what the puppy you are buying will grow up to be physically and in temperament, you must put your trust in the person from whom you are purchasing your puppy. There are three (3) options open to you in choosing this person.

The Serious Hobby Breeder

The very best choice. The serious and dedicated hobby breeder regards his/her dogs as even more than a hobby. The true enthusiast does not expect to make a profit. When someone is involved in dogs for the enjoyment of each individual animal, for participating in any of the many aspects of “dog activities”, and for the challenge of producing the finest animals possible, the result is superior. These breeders acknowledge responsibility for each and every puppy produced, and stand behind every dog they have bred.

This breeder will health test dogs to ensure they are making the right decisions when breeding with their dogs. They should be heart, eye and patella tested by specialists in each field not by a regular vet. Your choice of breeder should be from the ranks of the serious hobby breeder. It is an interesting fact that poor quality puppies from pet shops and backyard breeders are often sold for the same price, and sometimes even more, than those purchased from the serious hobby breeder.

Pet Shop or Puppy Dealer

The worst choice. It is against the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club’s Codes of Ethics to sell puppies to pet shops or dealers. These puppies are sold purely for profit with little or no effort put into gaining knowledge of the breed and what the possible health problems are within the breed are, they will more than likely say there are none and there is nothing to be concerned about. These puppies are aimed at the impulse buyer who sees a cute puppy and buys it without thought. They may be sickly and not have been well cared for during the important first few weeks of life. These dogs are often sold for the same or a higher price than serious breeders would ask, and yet you will be in most cases purchasing a poor quality pup.

Backyard Breeders

Also a poor choice. This is the person who owns a pet Cavalier and thinks it would be “fun” to have puppies, that it would be a great experience for the children, or that the bitch should be bred once before she is spayed. Even worse, perhaps the breeding occurred just to make money. Usually this breeder knows little about the “breed standard” or history of the breed, and still less about care. The casual breeder does not have annual Mitral Valve Disease Checks by a specialist nor Eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist. The backyard breeder is not aware of breed problems, and usually doesn’t care. The backyard breeder’s only goal is to produce puppies, and when the “fun” is over, to sell them quickly.