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

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.

       A good-quality chewing toy will help your Cavalier puppy to develop strong, healthy teeth as well as alleviating teething pain.

       These Cavalier puppies are happy in a secure outdoor pen in the garden, equipped with a water bowl, where they can play in safety while you are busy doing other things.

      Ask the breeder what arrangements they have made, if any, about your puppy’s vaccinations (see page 103). If he is being sold at over nine weeks of age, then the breeder should have initiated at least one of the two essential inoculations against infectious diseases. The puppy will need his second inoculation at around 11 weeks, which, most likely, will be your responsibility. Similarly, he should have been ‘wormed’, i.e. treated against worms and other parasites (see page 106), at least once or twice before coming to live with you. You should also ask the breeder about tests carried out for genetic problems within the breed (see page 100).

      A good breeder should include puppy insurance as part of the sale package. This usually provides cover for any health problems and other eventualities covered in the policy during the first six weeks from point of sale. After this you must make your own arrangements, either with the same pet insurance company or another of your choice.

       Preparing for your puppy

      You now need to give some thought to preparing for your new puppy’s arrival. You will need to buy some essential items, including the following:

      • A bed or basket

      • Bedding or blankets

      • Food and water bowls

      • Suitable food (which the breeder will advise you about)

      • A collar and lead

      • Some suitable toys, with no small parts that can be swallowed

      • Some chews (puppy-sized) to help prevent damage to furniture or slippers

      • A dog pen, or crate, can be a useful investment and will be your dog’s ‘own place’, not so much for confinement as a safe area where he can reside and not get under your feet if you are busy and moving things around. Equally, it’s a place of solitude for him.

       Puppy-friendly home

      You will also need to make sure that your house and garden are puppy-friendly.

      In the house, check the following:

      • There are no small areas into which a puppy could crawl and get stuck

      • No electrical wires are lying around – puppies like chewing them, so invest in some cable protectors (available from DIY and electrical stores) to tidy away TV and other electrical appliance wires

      • Children’s toys and small ornaments are out of reach, as a puppy likes nothing better than to chew things, and they could cause severe health problems if swallowed

      • Cupboard doors should always shut securely, especially those containing sharp items or cleaning materials

      • Child gates or special dog gates should be fitted in doorways or at the top or bottom of stairs; attach some strong wire mesh to the gate to prevent the puppy sticking his head between the bars and getting stuck.

      You also need to survey your garden and make it escape