Cavalier Talk

When a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeder goes about deciding the placement of each Cavalier puppy there are some considerations that must be taken into account. The ideal companion (pet) Cavalier puppy needs to go to a home that matches well with the puppy’s temperament. A Cavalier breeder must consider the general health of an adoptive family, the family members ages, the type of home and yard or walking arrangements required for the Cavalier puppy, the location of the home whether it be in a big city or out in the country, and then the lifestyle of the family as far as activity level and how often traveling will come into play. Your Cavalier breeder is the only one that knows the real temperament of each puppy and you will need to place your confidence in the knowledge your Cavalier breeder has learned through previous placements of similar situations. Concentrate on the specific temperament of each Cavalier puppy in the litter and allow your Cavalier breeder to help you find your family’s perfect match.

The “show potential” Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy is hard to predict. A Cavalier breeder can only pick out what might be promising later on, but even the most seasoned Cavalier breeder cannot state positively that a puppy is destined to become a champion. Charisma is one quality that must be developed as the Cavalier puppy ages. Pat Hastings wrote a book titled “Tricks of the Trade” and has developed a wonderful DVD to help aid breeders in evaluating a litter properly for structural weaknesses. All puppies will have structural weaknesses and there is never going to be a pick of the litter. The overall balance of the puppy as a whole is how a puppy should be looked at and not each individual fault. Here at Cruisin Cavaliers we go through Pat Hastings approach to evaluating our litters at eight weeks of age. However, Cavaliers go through several stages of development during their first year. Topline’s can go array, muzzles can loose their fill, they can become too leggy, and even loose their bite. Owners can become overly worried during this rapid period of change and awkwardness. Once they begin to come back into their own and the owner sees a glimpse of hope on the horizon the battle of coat not being long or tail may be carried too high in a posturing position most of the time. Many other troubling situations can set in not to mention the training that must be done as well. Creating a show dog doesn’t really begin with purchasing a show prospect because the way a Cavalier puppy is raised can influence the outcome of your show ring results.

For more helpful information about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels please visit our website at www.cruisincavaliers.com