So I'm hoping, in the next few months, to add a CKCS to our household menagerie once I come across a reputable breeder or suitable rescue. I've always wanted a dog, and from doing my research I think a Cavalier will be perfect for us

Has anyone had any experience with these lovely animals? Any tips for a first time dog owner?

I have no tips, as I was 6 last time I had a full time dog, but I know a couple of friends with rescue ckcs and they are gorgeous animals to have as pets. They are friendly and generally safe animals to have around children and old people. One of my friends dogs is severely traumatized and very shy, but she is still a very gentle animal, she is just very wary of strangers. She was an ex breeder from a puppy farm, never shown any love or affection, and was to be put down unless someone took her on.

I know plenty of dog owners on here should have some good advice for you, they are a lovely pet and a great choice for most people if you want a loving companion

Exactly My Mum is quite severely disabled and couldn't cope with a pushy, boisterous dog, and since my 2 cats were here first the newcomer would have to be small animal friendly. Couple that with only a medium size house and garden and wanting sometihng small and cuddly and CKCs seem like the perfect breed

Adorable, friendly, and sweet!

But . . . an absolutely shocking percentage of them have heart problems. According to Wikipedia, all the current CKCSs are descended from just six dogs, which is probably the root of the problem.

Quote::

Nearly all Cavaliers eventually suffer from disease of the mitral valve, with heart murmurs which may progressively worsen, leading to heart failure. This condition is polygenic (affected by multiple genes), and therefore all lines of Cavaliers worldwide are susceptible. It is the leading cause of death in the breed. A survey by The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom showed that 42.8% of Cavalier deaths are cardiac related. The condition can begin to emerge at an early age and statistically may be expected to be present in more than half of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels by age 5.

So, be prepared for complications and definitely get pet insurance if you get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. And definitely make sure the parents are at least 2.5 years old and have been tested for MVD (the heart disease). Temperament-wise I think they're very nice dogs.

I would suggest a small, cute mutt if you're looking for a dog with less health problems.

Edit: You can also read the review of the breed on "Your Purebred Puppy"--a great and very frank website that reviews purebred breeds of dogs:

www.yourpurebredpuppy....niels.html

I've had 2 Cavaliers Molle wich I grew up with and Tiffy who I got from a horrible woman that did'nt even realise the dog was dying D:
fortunately she'll well today, and a happier breed than CKCS can't be found
They respond extremely well to positive encouragement <3
congrats on getting one!

I've never owned one, but ALL of my experiences with CKCS have been very positive! They are so incredibly sweet <3

I've worked in vet hospitals, and yes, the CKC is definitely one of the most gentle, family-friendly breeds, right up there with Golden Retrievers.

Do keep in mind that, at the end of the day, breeders are still trying to sell you something, so always take anything they say with a grain of salt. And if the breeder offers you a discount on a puppy in exchange for stud or breeding services (i.e., the breeder breeds your dog and then gets to keep the puppies), DON'T DO IT. I've known lots of people who regretted getting into this situation. Once you buy the puppy, you don't want the breeder telling you what to do with your own dog. Believe me, it's all much more hassle than it's worth, especially if there end up being medical problems with the pregnancy and birth (which is also more likely in smaller breeds).

Ask around to find a reputable breeder; maybe a local vet has a client who breeds them. Good luck!

Usually sweet dogs with a tendency to be obese. They have a VERY short life expectancy for their size (mostly due to the already mentioned heart problems). Average can be as low as 9 years. It seems all breeds of dogs are actually having much shorter lifespans lately though.

Never had that breed but they are certainly adorable. As a dog owner though, the most important thing to stress is training. It's really important and so many issues can be prevented if the dog is well trained.

kaoskat wrote:

Never had that breed but they are certainly adorable. As a dog owner though, the most important thing to stress is training. It's really important and so many issues can be prevented if the dog is well trained.

(nods vigorously) Yes, definitely true! And if no one in your family has ever owned a dog before, then training can be tricky, like "the blind leading the blind." You won't really know how to train a dog if you haven't had much experience with them before. I've seen people spend hundreds on the "perfect puppy" only to give up in frustration and give up the dog later because it's more work and not as much fun as they thought it would be. Also, keep in mind that smaller breeds tend to take longer to housebreak than larger ones. If this is your family's first dog, then it might not be a bad idea to get a dog that's a few years old and has had some training. Retired breeding dogs are actually perfect for this, because they've been trained by experienced handlers. I know, I know, everyone always wants a puppy. But puppies are a ton of work; there are serious advantages to getting an adult pet, and you'll have a better idea of what their health and personalities will be.

They are a fantastic soft and friendly breed but they have serious health issues...genetic health issues so even good breeders can suffer from this - for a breed with such well known issues I would recommend pet insurance

Most breeds have a breed club which should hold a puppy or a rescue register - and normally if you get in contact with them you ll get someone on the phone who has owned the breed for a significant period of time and can give you advise. My family owned and bred various terrier breeds for decades and have always been involved in our local and national breed clubs for just as long. Even though we dont breed or show anymore, my mum still gets a few calls every week from people just looking for advise or information - like most people she is always happy to help. You could try the same in Ireland for CKCS - I know they have an Eire Club. If you decide on a puppy going through the club "should" mean they will pass you on to reputable breeders and likewise they will normally be aware of the rescue situation in your are and if anyone is looking for a new

Good luck!

Good advice, hathorcat! Hope I didn't sound too offensive when I said that you should take what breeders say with a grain of salt, because they're still basically trying to sell you something. Unfortunately, I had to deal with some not-so-good breeders during my vet tech days; it got kind of frustrating.

kellyponyfeathers wrote:

Good advice, hathorcat! Hope I didn't sound too offensive when I said that you should take what breeders say with a grain of salt, because they're still basically trying to sell you something. Unfortunately, I had to deal with some not-so-good breeders during my vet tech days; it got kind of frustrating.

Oh gosh...I completely agree with you - even some of the most high profile breeders dont have the interests of the puppy first and foremost as they should have...its horrible but you get naughty breeders in any species, any breed.

I am honestly just speaking from personal experience...my great grandfather started breeding and showing in the 1890s...and my gran then mum and dad, my aunt and then me and brother all followed into dog showing...so we were born and raised to put the animal above the person when it came to advise and homes...BUT...I know things like the fact my mum can still to this day tell you where every puppy she has bred and sold for over 30 years went to live is not as common in as many breeders as it should be.

I will say that the breed club is the best place to start rather than going to a random breeder...but thats just because I know my Grandma, Chairman of our local club, and my friends involved in other breeds would never pass on details of any breeder that they didnt know or trust or were sure had all their genetic ducks as much in a row as possible!

Oh dear, just had my first encounter with a 'breeder' ._.; I enquired about a litter of rubys ready to go mid February and from the sounds of it her and her monther in law happened to have a male and a female Cavalier and just decided to stick them together... She had no idea about Cavalier-specific health checks for their hearts or eyes and both parent dogs were under 2 - a big no-no since later health issues wouldn't have appeared yet!

To top it off, the parent's were called Bella and Edward... I thanked her for her time and quickly hung up the phone. Sigh.

*dies at "Bella and Edward"* Oh man.

Kudos to you for taking the time to find a responsible breeder! It's not easy, is it? I once was thinking of getting a labrador puppy and searched for a responsible breeder . . . it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. (In the end I put it off and later got . . . a cat. LOL!)