LockeStar Cavaliers | Health Testing: CHIC and MRI

Finding a Cavalier

Notes

The average pet Cavalier puppy will cost between $2,500 and $4,500+

Never buy a puppy from a pet store and be wary of ads in the paper or online.

Don't be surprised if it takes you over a year until you get a puppy.

Good things come to those who wait (and research)!

Begin Your Research

Make sure you have a conversation with each breeder during your research and find out why they do things the way they do. Don't go forward with a decision unless you are comfortable with the way the he or she handles all aspects. It is too easy to get suckered into cute puppy photos and then later regret your decision because the breeder you picked did not health test!

Where can you find good breeders? Start by attending some dog shows in your area. Finding a breeder that at least shows their dogs helps eliminate the common Back Yard Breeder (breeders who aren't making distinct selective breeding choices/only breed for hobby) or worse, Puppy Mills (breeders who only breed for money).

If you can't attend shows, look up local Cavalier clubs (such as the Cavaliers of Puget Sound). Email and call these people, ask questions, expect to be asked questions in return, and visit their homes if you can!

Why are Back Yard Breeders (BYBs) risky to purchase from?

1) You risk the health of your pet.

BYBs are very common. They usually breed dogs as "pets" and most take good care of their dogs and love them very much, however, they very likely don't test their stock to the extent as they should, such as visiting specialists like cardiologists and opthamologists, and likely aren't testing for every known genetic disorder like Syringomyelia or Episodic Falling Syndrome.

2) You risk getting a dog that does not look or act like a typical Cavalier.

BYBs almost never show their dogs, as it is viewed as only a sport for dog snobs. However, without showing, it is easy for each generation you breed to drift away from the breed standard: what the breed should look and act like.

Here are some good questions to ask breeders:

How old is the sire (father) and dam (mother)? Can I see their cardiologist heart certificates? Do they have CHIC numbers?

Do you show your dogs in Conformation? If not, why?

What clubs are you a member of?

Can you tell me why you planned this litter, what were you expecting from it?

Can you tell me about your views on health problems in Cavaliers and what you do to prevent them?

What is your view on CM/SM and MRI scanning breeding stock?
- Not all breeders agree on whether or not MRI scanning is a benefit at this point. Breeding two scanned clear parents can still result in affected puppies.

RED FLAGS

The breeder cannot answer the above questions, or you are uncomfortable with any answers given.

The breeder becomes offended at any question you ask. No question is a bad question.

Puppies are allowed to go home under 8 weeks of age (recommended is 10 - 12 weeks).

Health documents are not available. NEVER take anyone's word that a test has been done unless you see a hard copy of the results or a listing on OFA.

Puppies are sold cheap, usually less than $1,000. This is often a warning sign of a puppy mill or a BYB and it is likely expenses are not going into important things, like health testing.

The breeder's dogs are not registered with the AKC and/or CKCSC, which are the ONLY acceptable registries for Cavaliers in the USA.

Too many dogs to handle and not enough people to care for them - with so many dogs how much attention and socialization do you think your puppy will get? Not to mention, how clean is the environment they live in?

Females have litters every heat cycle, or are under the age of 1yr (recommended 2.5yrs) or over the age of 8yrs (per CKCSC Code of Ethics).

The breeder pressures you into making a quick decision or tries to get you to buy multiples.