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Breeder Questions
1. Is the Cavalier breed called, "the ultimate snob dog?" Back to top.
Yes, an article appeared in Town and Country Magazine a few years ago. The title referred to the attitude of owners, not the Cavaliers. It was mentioned that Monarchs, Presidents, Captains of Industry and Movie Stars own Cavaliers. Further, the fact that the original breed club shunned AKC recognition for many years, keeping its own registry, (thus critically limiting the Cavalier gene pool in the U.S.) and that puppies are sometimes hard to find contributed to the title. Further, prospective puppy buyers are often surprised by the "third-degree" administered by certain breeders trying to determine their suitability to owning a Cavalier.
2. Are Cavaliers good with children? Back to top.
The Cavalier is excellent with children. Their tendency to interact with their owners makes them an especially close friend and confidant for a child. They enjoy playtime and activity. Children, of course, need supervision to be certain that the child does not hurt the dog.
3. Are Cavaliers good with seniors? Back to top.
Retirees, or "empty nesters," find the companionship, temperament, small size and easy maintenance ideal. More than one woman has mentioned that a Cavalier resting on her lap or in the crook of her arm is almost as peaceful as holding a (human) sleeping infant. More than one active senior with a Cavalier has experienced the receipt of two invitations for a Cocktail Party/Get Together-one addressed to the Senior and one to the Cavalier.
4. What people do well with Cavaliers?
The Cavalier has been the companion of choice to high stress people for 400 years. Many crowned heads of England had one as a companion as a child, as did many in the Dutch court. More recent celebrities who own or have owned Cavaliers are Ronald and Nancy Reagan, William F. Buckley, Ms. Frank Sinatra, Candice Bergen, Robert Wagner & Natalie Wood and many others. The Cavalier has a calming effect on many people. Stress reduction/relaxation can be noticeably felt when a Cavalier curls up peacefully on a lap.
5. If we both work would a Cavalier be right for us?
If you both work and are gone 9-10 hours a day this is not the dog for you. The Cavalier is a companion dog and does not do well when left alone. It must have companionship and interaction to be mentally healthy. The dog cannot be kenneled for your convenience. If you work a full time job and no one is home, possibly you should wait until your schedule changes before you look for a Cavalier. You would not enjoy the dog and the dog can't enjoy you. This is just something else to look forward to with retirement.
6. How long do Cavaliers live?
The average life span of a Cavalier is 10-14 years. This is a very big decision when purchasing a pet. They live a long time and need stability as much as you do.
7. How much does the average Cavalier weigh?
The AKC Standard calls for Cavaliers to weigh from 13-18 pounds, although it's common to find them as small as 10 pounds and as large as 20 pounds or so.
8. Are Cavaliers easy to house train?
Yes! With basic techniques, consistency, patience and love, it's a rather fast process. This is an owner thing and this ball is in your court. I have found crate training to be the most effective if done properly.
9. Do Cavaliers bark a lot?
As a rule, Cavaliers are not barkers. Some do sound off when someone comes to the door or they see a squirrel that taunts them outside. They are definitely not "yappers".
10. Do Cavaliers like walks?
Absolutely. They love walks. They are good jogging companions. Just not too far and not too long. Cavaliers like lots of naps just like the Irish like lots of tea! As puppies, its usually 20 minutes playtime and then a two hour nap.
11. Are Cavaliers outside dogs?
Cavaliers do love going outside but they are not an outdoor dog.
12. Are Cavaliers good with cats and other pets?
Most definitely! Cavaliers are quite affectionate and will cuddle with any warm-blooded body that will allow them to do so.
13. Are Cavaliers good guard dogs?
No. While the Cavalier will alert his owner to an arrival of someone new, they seem to regard all strangers as friends they haven't met yet. Although a noisy greeting may be enough to ward off a prowler, it would be difficult picturing anyone being scared off by a Cavalier.
14. Do Cavaliers travel well?
People who travel often find it easy and pleasant to take the Cavalier along. Their strong desire to be with their owners makes them willing travelers. Their size and personality contribute to their welcome at "dogs allowed" hotels, marinas & campgrounds.
15. What are the grooming requirements for a Cavalier?
The Cavalier does require regular grooming. A great deal of time and effort is not necessary if the dog is brushed and combed thoroughly at least once a week. Cavaliers do shed, particularly in spring and fall, but a little all the time. Nails should be clipped and the hair between the pads trimmed once a month. No other trimming is necessary (or allowed) in the show ring. The ideal brushes to use are the softer slicker brushes or a pin brush (not nylon or plastic) and a metal comb. Knots and tangles are kept to a minimum if the Cavalier is free of parasites and is combed regularly. Brush out all knots and tangles before bathing.
Cavaliers are naturally clean dogs. Too much bathing dries out the skin and haircoat so certainly do not bathe more than once a week. Don't use human shampoo on dogs. Rinse thoroughly. A human blow dryer (not on hot) and brushing at the same time works well for drying. Keep blower moving so any one spot does not get overheated.
Commercial preparations are made that will help remove tear stains under the eyes. Keep eyes clean and dry. Vaseline applied to the dog's nose occasionally will keep it from getting dry and rough. A vet should be consulted if the condition becomes severe.
16. What medical problems do Cavaliers have?
For the most part Cavaliers are quite healthy dogs. There are a few problems which are known to appear in the breed: heart murmurs, cataracts, and Subluxating Patellas.
MVD - Mitral Valve Disease
What is it?
This condition, is also known as endocardiosis, chronic degeneration valvular disease, chronic valvular fibrosis and acquired mitral and/or tricuspid regurgitation or insufficiency, is by far the most common heart disease of dogs, accounting for about 75% of all heart disease cases in dogs. The disease becomes increasingly prevalent as dogs get older, and affects predominantly the smaller breeds. In the past, it has mostly been reported in Miniature Poodles, Miniature Schnauzers, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds and small terriers. Unfortunately, the Cavalier has shown the disease at a much younger age, however, not all of these dogs will die or even become ill because of the disease.
What goes wrong?
Over a period of time we see progressive deterioration of the heart valves. The most commonly affected is the mitral valve, on the left side, followed by the tricuspid valve (on the right) and the aortic valve (on the left). The normal flexible thin valve leaflets become gnarled, fibrous and thickened, and their restraining tendons also thicken and sometimes rupture. The result is an incompetent leaky valve which allows progressively more and more backflow. In it's most severe state, up to 80% of the output from the heart may be leaking back through the valve (termed regurgitation) leaving only 20% moving forward. As a result, the heart chambers enlarge, the heart muscle works harder and eventually the muscle may fail. In some cases, the thin-walled atrial chambers may rupture, and in others the valve tendons give way, both having disastrous (ie fatal) consequences.
What are the symptoms?
In the early stages, you (the owner) will not be aware that anything is wrong. However, your veterinarian will be able to hear a swishing, turbulent sound, called a murmur, which tends to get progressively louder as the valve leak worsens. In severe cases, the murmur may be felt as an odd "buzzing" sensation on the dog's chest wall, usually louder on the left side. In the later stages you begin to notice the dog tiring with exercise, breathing more rapidly, and sometimes coughing: a cough which is usually soft, but occasionally harsh and more evident at night or early morning, and possibly there may be collapsing or fainting. If the right side of the heart is affected more, you may notice a pot - bellied appearance as fluid accumulates. If one of the earlier - mentioned disasters occurs, your dog will be found dead, or collapsed in a desperate condition, coughing up pink or blood - tinged froth. However, this is uncommon: most cases progress slowly over a period of months to years.
17. Where did you get your Cavaliers?
We acquired our fur kids from a variety of countries. Some are imported from Hungarian, French, and Cesky lines, and some are bred in the U.S. from imported U.K. and Irish parents. Why so diverse? Generally speaking, a hybrid is quite healthy and strong, so we are applying this principal to our Cavaliers. We are not trying to produce hybrids as far as the Cavalier breed goes, but rather, by breeding one completely different, unrelated line to another, lines that originated from several different countries, we are in a sense creating a hybrid line of purebred Cavaliers; lines that would normally have never been brought together. We would like to add that we are importing only Cavaliers that come from proven, successful breeders.
18. Do you have a kennel or are your Cavaliers raised in your home?
Even though some people think we're totally insane, <S> our fur kids do their eating, sleeping, playing, and everything in between, in our home along with our six home-schooled children. We also have two dog doors for easy access to our fenced back yard. Our puppies are all born in the master bedroom cuz they're worth it. <S> At about one month of age we move them to the main living area. Here they get held numerous times a day by numerous people - two adults, two teenagers, one middle school girl, two grade school children, and even a toddler/preschooler. The pups come pre-conditioned to noise and expect lots of attention, lol.
19. What steps do you take to ensure the health of your Cavaliers?
For starters, we would like you to visit our Holistic Health page. This will give you an idea of our firm philosophy regarding health and nutrition. We feed only all-natural foods and use food based vitamins, macro and trace minerals, and probiotics on a daily basis. We use homeopathic remedies whenever possible. We do all this in order to protect and support our Cavaliers' immune system. Additionally, our Cavaliers get regular check-ups, specifically to screen for some of the more common maladies that affect Cavaliers. We take care of our Cavaliers as well as we care for our own children.
20. What does your health guarantee cover?
Our puppies go to their new homes with a freshly acquired health certificate. Our health guarantee is covered in our contract. You may view our contract by clicking here.
In addition to a 72 hour guarantee against contagious diseases, with the exception of parasites that were undetected at the time of health certification, our contract states:
"If within one (1) year from the date of acquisition, a puppy is found and certified by a licensed veterinary specialist to have a life threatening hereditary disorder, and if Seller is notified within two (2) business days of the veterinarian’s determination, Seller will replace the puppy with one of equivalent value when the next litter is available. Complete health records, diagnostic tests, and their results must be provided to Seller in order to qualify for a replacement. "
"In the event of the death of the puppy within three (3) years from its birth due to Syringomyelia (SM) or Mitral Valve Disease (MVD), the seller shall replace the puppy with another of equivalent value when the next litter is available."
Why a strict 72 hour guarantee against contagious illnesses? Because Parvo virus and other illnesses can be contracted and incubated in as little as 3 days.
21. Do you microchip your puppies?
This is not something we automatically have done. However, we can have our vet microchip any puppy that is adopted for a $35 fee, which is what it costs us.
22. Do you provide a suggested vaccination schedule?
Yes, we do. (Please see our Vaccinosis page.) We follow the recommendations of Dr Jean Dodds, which states:
Dr Jean Dodds: "This schedule is the one I recommend and should NOT be interpreted to mean that other protocols recommended by a veterinarian would be less satisfactory. It's a matter of professional judgement and choice."
Age of Pups & Vaccine Type
9 weeks MLV Distemper/Parvovirus only (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy)
12 weeks MLV Distemper/Parvovirus only (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy)
16-20 weeks MLV Distemper/Parvovirus only (e.g. Intervet Progard Puppy)
(Total of 3 doses ONLY first 3)
24 weeks or older, if allowable by law, Killed Rabies Vaccine
1 year MLV Distemper/Parvovirus only booster
1 year give 3-4 weeks apart from Dist/Parvo booster) Killed 3 year rabies vaccine
MLV=modified-live virus
After 1 year, annually measure serum antibody titers against specific canine infectious agents such as distemper and parvovirus. This is especially recommended for animals previously experiencing adverse vaccine reactions or breeds at higher risk for such reactions (e.g., Weimaraner, Akita, American Eskimo, Great Dane). Another alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes. This option is considered an unconventional treatment that has not been scientifically proven to be efficacious. One controlled parvovirus nosode study did not adequately protect puppies under challenged conditions. However, data from Europe and clinical experience in North America support its use. If veterinarians choose to use homeopathic nosodes, their clients should be provided with an appropriate disclaimer and written informed consent should be obtained.
I use only killed 3 year rabies vaccine for adults and give it separated from other vaccines by 3-4 weeks. In some states, they may be able to give titer test result in lieu of booster.
I do NOT use Bordetella, corona virus, leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines unless these diseases are endemic in the local area pr specific kennel. Furthermore, the currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today.
I do NOT recommend vaccinating bitches during estrus, pregnancy or lactation. Do not vaccinate during times of stress such as: surgery, travel, illness or infection.
23. What food and/or supplements do you recommend?
We have recommended foods listed on our Nutrition page.
You can learn about the supplements we use and recommend on our Holistic Health page.
24. At what age do you let your puppies go to their new home?
We take this on a case-by-case basis. It is usually somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks of age.
25. How much are your puppies?
The cost of our puppies varies depending on the pedigree, markings, and gender of a particular puppy. Please feel free to email or call to inquire on the specific cost of a puppy you may be interested in. For more info regarding pricing, please click here.
26. May I come to your home to view the puppies?
Even though it appears suspicious, we have learned not to let people come to our house to view the pups. :-( They can bring in things like Parvo on their shoes, unknowingly. Parvo can even stick to tires! A breeder friend of ours in Waco had both Parvo and Distemper brought into her home this way. She lost a number of puppies. :-( Another friend of ours who lives in the area used to let people come to her house and view her puppies. One day she left to run some errands and when she got home, much to her horror, all her fur kids were gone! Lastly, a couple of years ago in San Antonio, a woman let a man and his daughter come to her home to view a puppy. The woman was kidnapped and murdered! Sheesh!
We have six kids at home and will do everything we can to protect them in these times, not to mention protecting our Cavaliers and our possessions. We feel having numerous strangers come to our house is just too dangerous. We are always happy to send pictures and answer any questions you may have. We can also meet you somewhere convenient if you would like to view a puppy that is old enough to be taken out, as well as the pup's parents. We want to extend our sincere apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
27. How do I reserve a puppy?
Before we can accept a holding deposit on a puppy, we need to ask a favor of you - can you please fill our our questionnaire and tell us briefly a bit about what kind of living arrangements the pup would have? ...and a bit about your family? Kids? Other pets? Is someone, either two-legged or four-legged, going to be around the pup most of the time? Once this is established, you can arrange to send a holding a deposit for the pup of your choosing by sending 1/3 of the total cost of the pup. We will give you mailing information.
28. What forms of payment do you accept?
We can accept a a money order or cashier's check. This needs to be mailed with a delivery confirmation, please. This way you will have delivery confirmation of your down payment when it arrives and we will will have a tracking number. As soon as we receive the tracking number we will put your chosen pup on hold.
Another option is to send a bank draft. This usually goes through on the same day it is sent. We will send you our account information if this is what you prefer.
I'm sorry but we no longer accept PayPal due to an experience with credit card fraud. To learn more about the problems with PayPal you can visit Rip-OffReport.com and view all the complaints against them by clicking here.
29. What do the shipping costs cover?
The shipping costs cover the health certificate, the airline approved crate, the fuel surcharges, and the actual air fare.
30. What proof will I have that I sent you money toward the purchase of a Cavalier?
If you send a cashier's check or money order, be sure to save your carbon copy/receipt. You will also get a receipt from USPS for the delivery confirmation fees.
If you send a bank draft, your bank will have a record of how much was sent and which account it was sent to.
31. Do you provide a written contract for the puppy purchaser?
Yes, we sure do. You can view our contract by clicking here. We will have additions to our contract when we begin to place some of our pups with full registration priviledges.
Drop us an email or give us a call if you have more questions! 830-200-9570
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This page was last updated: 11/17/2007
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