LadyMoondancer wrote:

*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!)

Tell me about it. I actually smacked my hand against my forehead after I hung up...

I've sent off emails for various litters advertised as well as to a couple of local rescues and the Northern Ireland CKCS Club puppy registry so we'll have to see how it goes.

I don't know how things work in IReland, but in the US reputable breeders hardly advertise puppies ever. They advertise their kennels in dog magazines and on the club site for the state or country for their breed. As far as their puppies go, they keep a waiting list well before they are born.

Remember with a small breed with health concerns, try for a breeder who keeps them 12 weeks and does not ship puppies. Letting them go too young and shipping are red flags.

Here's a club site you might look into to find breeders www.thenorthernkingcha.../index.htm
There's a different one that is the Northern Ireland club for cavaliers but the site hasn't been updated in some time. If you look on a dog's championship name if you look up show dogs, the full name usually has the kennel name in it. You can plug the kennel name into a search engine and see if it comes up with anything.

Thanks for the info, HavACrumpet.

I've been in touch with a Kennel Club Assured breeder who has a litter of 5 week old black and tan females, as well as a tri-colour 1 year old female available. I'm in the process of arranging a visit to their smallholding an hour or so away, so we shall see!