This really is a wonderful forum. I am so grateful for your kind thoughts and wishes about my Blenheim Sam, who passed to the rainbow Bridge on Friday.
I was a member of this group about 4/5 years ago, when much of the bad breeding practice was first coming to light and the first TV programme was aired about the awful damage that had been done to some pedigrees (I now have a new user name as I forgot all my log in details!).
After my first ruby Oliver died at a heartbreaking 5 years of age, I was determined to find a pup which had been bred following all the guidelines. Using my local Cavalier Society, I was advised by the senior person to use a breeder who was also on the committee. The sire/father was very young and the mother had no heart or SM certificate. They laughed when I asked to see one. Karlin was absolutely brilliant at the time, as these individuals (one lady in particular) were known to her, and she supported me in the decision to turn away from this litter. I located a breeder in Yorkshire who had followed all the guidelines and my little Billy, thrives and long may he x
What I would like to ask you, is how is the breed doing? I could not contemplate getting another Cavalier for a long time, but my heart is heavy at the pain Cavalier owners go through. Am I right in thinking that Cavaliers have so many health issues (most of all the high % of heart disease) because of some breeders greedy breeding practise in the past (young dogs/ flawed dogs/ too closely related dogs etc)...and then more recently some breeders blindly continued (as that TV programme showed, a winning dog who was used for breeding with SM)...are there signs that Cavaliers are living longer? Are there signs that they are less troubled with problems? I have been out of the loop and would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Are there breeders who are winning the battle...or is that a 50 year programme??
I was a member of this group about 4/5 years ago, when much of the bad breeding practice was first coming to light and the first TV programme was aired about the awful damage that had been done to some pedigrees (I now have a new user name as I forgot all my log in details!).
After my first ruby Oliver died at a heartbreaking 5 years of age, I was determined to find a pup which had been bred following all the guidelines. Using my local Cavalier Society, I was advised by the senior person to use a breeder who was also on the committee. The sire/father was very young and the mother had no heart or SM certificate. They laughed when I asked to see one. Karlin was absolutely brilliant at the time, as these individuals (one lady in particular) were known to her, and she supported me in the decision to turn away from this litter. I located a breeder in Yorkshire who had followed all the guidelines and my little Billy, thrives and long may he x
What I would like to ask you, is how is the breed doing? I could not contemplate getting another Cavalier for a long time, but my heart is heavy at the pain Cavalier owners go through. Am I right in thinking that Cavaliers have so many health issues (most of all the high % of heart disease) because of some breeders greedy breeding practise in the past (young dogs/ flawed dogs/ too closely related dogs etc)...and then more recently some breeders blindly continued (as that TV programme showed, a winning dog who was used for breeding with SM)...are there signs that Cavaliers are living longer? Are there signs that they are less troubled with problems? I have been out of the loop and would be interested to hear your thoughts.
Are there breeders who are winning the battle...or is that a 50 year programme??