Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: An Owner’s Guide. Nick Mays

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       When you go the breeder’s house to view a litter of Cavalier puppy and choose the right one for you, make sure that you inspect their eyes, ears and teeth very carefully. If the puppies don’t appear healthy, walk away.

       Be prepared to be quizzed

      A good breeder will ask you plenty of questions, too, so be prepared, don’t be affronted and answer them honestly. A responsible breeder will want to make sure that you are a suitable potential owner and will ask questions about where you live, who shares your home, your working hours, other pets, previous dog ownership experience and why you want to own a Cavalier in particular.

       Visit the breeder

      The breeder might suggest that you visit a show and meet their show dogs. This gives you an opportunity to see how their dogs behave in public and react to other dogs and people. Arrange to visit their home or kennels, so you can view the mother and litter together, and check the conditions in which they are kept. It is not advisable to buy a puppy without seeing at least one parent beforehand and checking their health and temperament. It really is a case of ‘what you see is what you get’, and if you have any doubts about the parent dog, don’t buy a puppy.

      The puppies should be housed, ideally, in the breeder’s home where they can be socialized and exposed to a range of people and household activities and noises. The surroundings should be clean and pleasant. If you are not happy with the puppies’ environment and the way in which are are cared for, then walk away and find another breeder.

       Observe the puppies

      Watch the puppies carefully and how they react to you. When you approach a puppy, is he timid with his tail between his legs, or bold and ‘up front’, wagging his tail enthusiastically? Some puppies are naturally shy of strangers while others are more exuberant and curious, but a cowering, overly timid puppy is best avoided.

       Check the puppies’ health

      Look at a puppy and judge whether he is lethargic or lively. Is he clean around his hindquarters? Do his ears, eyes and nose look clean and free of any discharge?

      A healthy puppy should have pink gums, and should not object to you taking a look in his mouth, although it’s in a puppy’s nature to have an exploratory nip with those sharp little new teeth. Are the gums overly pale? If so, the puppy may be ill or even suffering from anaemia. All puppies should have sweet, rather sickly breath – typical ‘puppy breath’. – so unless it smells particularly bad, don’t worry too much about it.

       Which sex?

      Temperament-wise, there should be no difference between a Cavalier bitch and a dog, although some experts think that dogs are more territorial while bitches tend to be more temperamental. All dogs, just like humans, have their own individual personalities, irrespective of their sex. However, as a bitch matures, she will have regular seasons (when she is sexually receptive), and at these times, be careful when you are walking her in public places and protect her from the unwanted attentions of male dogs. Usually, this means that for two to three weeks she will be confined largely to home – and you have to be prepared for dealing with the bleeding that accompanies a season.

      So unless you intend to breed from your bitch, the best thing is to have her spayed (neutered) as soon as she is old enough. Ask your vet for advice. Some breeders and vets recommend that you allow her to have one clear season before she is neutered, whereas others maintain it makes no difference.

      Spaying is a responsible option, not only to avoid any unwanted litters but also from a health point of view, as un-spayed bitches, especially older ones, can sometimes get infections, such as pyometra, which is a potentially life-threatening condition.

       Cavaliers are very sociable dogs, especially with their littermates. Watch the puppies to see how they interact with each other.

Paperwork

      When you decide to go ahead and buy a puppy, your breeder should provide you with a proper pedigree certificate for him, listing his parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, etc., as well as his Kennel Club registration document. They will be able to advise you on having it transferred into your name once you become the dog’s owner.

      At the time of collection, you should receive a contract of sale, which should include a ‘buy back’ agreement clause, whereby the breeder agrees to take the puppy back if he is found to be suffering from any serious health problem within a reasonable period of time following the sale. Read the contract carefully to make sure this is included.

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