A new club for cavalier owners

[Margaret C]

Cavaliers are the most wonderful family dogs but they have a great many health problems and for some years now there has been a great deal of discussion about the best way to ensure they have a healthier future.

Although over 80% of Cavaliers are bought by pet owners, the only Cavalier owners consulted by the Kennel Club and other associations are breeders that belong to the KC registered clubs

The ten cavalier clubs are mainly run by show breeders for show breeders and most make no provision for those that enjoy other activities such as agility and obedience. With just one or two notable exceptions they offer very little to those with companion cavaliers nor do they offer much in the way of easily understood health information, detailed puppy buying advice or support and advice for those with sick dogs.

For a while now there has been a feeling that there should be a recognised club for owners of pet cavaliers, a club that could represent the overwhelming majority of cavalier owners when decisions are made that will affect the health of the little dogs we buy as part of our family.

There are knowledgeable and experienced pet dog owners that have owned numerous Cavaliers for many years, and nursed sick and elderly pets through the distressing inherited health conditions so common in our little dogs. These are cavalier owners that could "tell it as it really is" and add a great deal of honest common sense to the debate

So a small group of us have decided to set up a new club, just for companion cavalier owners, with the idea of bringing together some initiatives that are already ongoing and, with suggestions from all of you, introducing some new ideas.

We hope to enhance owners' enjoyment of their pets by encouraging small groups to meet up & organise training sessions and fun days.

We want to set up a website that will celebrate the fun of owning a cavalier and the achievements of the dogs in whatever they do, be it mini agility, heelwork to music or Good Citizen training, but will also give up to date advice on puppy buying and raise awareness of health issues. We want to point people to where they can get support & information about sick dogs and of course we would want to continue to raise money for health research.

As we want to have a voice to represent the thousands of Cavalier pet owners with the Kennel Club and other organisations, we are following KC guidance on "the Formation of a Society" and intend to apply for registration as their first single-breed Companion Club.

There will be an advert in next week's Dog World, as required by the KC, and Dogs Today will have something about our plans in their news page.

Our inaugural meeting will be held at the Kennel Club Building at Stoneleigh Park, near Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 2LZ, at 11am on Thursday 17th November and we do hope that those that can will come and join us in deciding just how we want the club to be run.

Anyone interested in more information is welcome to contact me by PM. Visitors to the forum can always email me at mareve-ckcs@ntlworld.com

[Brian M]

Hello margaret

It will be interesting to see its aims and the people behind it,I can think of a certain two maybe a poss three.
And if one misses the announcement in these publications how will we know further develpments .Do you also
not think recently the show scene and the pet owners are moving closer and if so would a new club be needed
now.

Rgds

Brian

[Jay]

I have been a member of a local AKC Cavalier club for many years. However, many of us felt that the needs of the pet owners and performance dog owners was not being met. Cathy T. and four others have put together a club similar to the one that you are starting. We have had two meetings, one social and one educational. The turnout has been fantastic.

I am excited about the one that Cathy has started. Our first club meeting had a canine cardiologist as a guest speaker. He did echos on two dogs, one was one of mine, Monty. Monty has a congenital heart defect and gets monitoring echos done about every other year. It was really interesting to see the echo being done. Monty was wonderfully behaved during the entire procedure. I felt so much more comfortable knowing that the people there would see Monty as the wonderful dog that he is and not compare him to "show quality" dogs. I really hate that terminology because it implies that show dogs are somehow "better". When asked, I typically say my dogs do not compete in conformation events. However, we do compete in performance events and give lots of love.

Good luck with your new club. I really feel that there is a need for clubs for people who want to learn more about selecting a breeder, keeping their dogs healthy and finding fun things to do with their dogs. I know there are more people out there with these interests than are those who choose to show their dogs for conformation. I have no issue with people who show in the conformation ring. It is just not what I want to do. I am sure there are people out there who are not one bit interested in agility....it really is and should be a matter of choice.

J.

[Sabby]

Hello margaret

It will be interesting to see its aims and the people behind it,I can think of a certain two maybe a poss three.
And if one misses the announcement in these publications how will we know further develpments .Do you also
not think recently the show scene and the pet owners are moving closer and if so would a new club be needed
now.

Rgds

Brian

A Club like this is needed, I am sorry to say Show scene and pet owners moving closer together? Did I miss something?
Like Margaret says there will be an advert in next week’s Dog World, let’s see how many people going to complain and moan about this idea.

[ByFloSin]

Margaret,

Would it not have made sense to hold the inaugural meeting at Stoneleigh to coincide with the Midland Champ Show on Sunday 27th November at Stoneleigh. I am sure you are aware, and if not, you should be, that the majority of show people regard their dogs as pets and companions first and show dogs second? I am sure that the Midland Club would have welcomed the new initiative had they been given the opportunity to consider the merits of it.

Hello margaret

It will be interesting to see its aims and the people behind it,I can think of a certain two maybe a poss three.
And if one misses the announcement in these publications how will we know further develpments .Do you also
not think recently the show scene and the pet owners are moving closer and if so would a new club be needed
now.

Rgds

Brian

I would have liked to have heard about it in advance of the announcement too. Being one of those who has Cavaliers as pets and three with health problems it might have been nice to be asked to contribute some expertise, particularly as I seem to be probably the only person on this Forum with three years first hand experience of dealing with Curly Coat/Dry Eye Syndrome.

[RodRussell]

... I am sure you are aware, and if not, you should be, that the majority of show people regard their dogs as pets and companions first and show dogs second?

Oh, yeah. I've heard that often in the USA. Too bad most don't practice what they preach.

... I am sure that the Midland Club would have welcomed the new initiative had they been given the opportunity to consider the merits of it.

If any conformation club liked the idea, why isn't it doing it already?

[HollyDolly]

Can you please tell us the names of the members in your group.

I agree with Flo's post, there are many members on here
who have vast experience in the health problems of Cavaliers.
And their imput would be invaluable. But I do not agree that
all show people regard their dogs as pets when so many are
shipped abroad to continue their showing there and mate as
many bitches as possible.

Nanette

[pkt89]

What is the name of your local club? I am in southern California and would like to know more about it?
Thanks
Kitty

I have been a member of a local AKC Cavalier club for many years. However, many of us felt that the needs of the pet owners and performance dog owners was not being met. Cathy T. and four others have put together a club similar to the one that you are starting. We have had two meetings, one social and one educational. The turnout has been fantastic.

I am excited about the one that Cathy has started. Our first club meeting had a canine cardiologist as a guest speaker. He did echos on two dogs, one was one of mine, Monty. Monty has a congenital heart defect and gets monitoring echos done about every other year. It was really interesting to see the echo being done. Monty was wonderfully behaved during the entire procedure. I felt so much more comfortable knowing that the people there would see Monty as the wonderful dog that he is and not compare him to "show quality" dogs. I really hate that terminology because it implies that show dogs are somehow "better". When asked, I typically say my dogs do not compete in conformation events. However, we do compete in performance events and give lots of love.

Good luck with your new club. I really feel that there is a need for clubs for people who want to learn more about selecting a breeder, keeping their dogs healthy and finding fun things to do with their dogs. I know there are more people out there with these interests than are those who choose to show their dogs for conformation. I have no issue with people who show in the conformation ring. It is just not what I want to do. I am sure there are people out there who are not one bit interested in agility....it really is and should be a matter of choice.

J.

[Margaret C]

Hello margaret

It will be interesting to see its aims and the people behind it,I can think of a certain two maybe a poss three.
And if one misses the announcement in these publications how will we know further develpments .Do you also
not think recently the show scene and the pet owners are moving closer and if so would a new club be needed
now.

Rgds

Brian

Hello Brian,

I do think that in many ways the show breeders and pet owners are coming together, but I would think there is still a need for a club that focuses on the interests of non-show owners.

The aims, objects, and the rules of the club will be discussed at the meeting. It will be for those interested in being members to decide exactly how it is run, although there will be a working document drawn up to aid discussion.

As we are following KC guidelines on setting up a Society, in the hopes of eventually applying for registration, there are certain things we have to include and that makes it a rather wordy document.

At the moment the draft aims and objects of the club are as follows:-


To promote the health, welfare and enjoyment of Cavalier KC Spaniels:-

• By encouraging owners and breeders to maintain high standards of welfare and act in a responsible manner towards the breeding of their Cavaliers.
• To have a voice to represent thousands of pet owners with the Kennel Club, other Cavalier Clubs and other organisations.
• To provide up to date, comprehensive web based information on breed health issues, breeding guidelines, specialists, and health screening clinics. Raise awareness of breed health issues at public events.
• To aid research into health and temperament problems, work with specialists, organise health clinics and seminars, organise tissue collection scheme.
• To fund raise for research, health screening, and tissue collection.
• To assist buyers in locating sources of healthy puppies and to campaign for the establishment of regulations requiring that puppies come from fully health tested parents.
• By offering support and advice for owners of health compromised dogs.
• By enhancing owners’ enjoyment of their Cavaliers and the quality of life of their dogs by means of social contacts and events.
• By organising such other activities that may be found to be desirable or necessary to achieve the objects of the Club (Companion Dog shows, fun days, etc.)

[Margaret C]

Margaret,

Would it not have made sense to hold the inaugural meeting at Stoneleigh to coincide with the Midland Champ Show on Sunday 27th November at Stoneleigh. I am sure you are aware, and if not, you should be, that the majority of show people regard their dogs as pets and companions first and show dogs second? I am sure that the Midland Club would have welcomed the new initiative had they been given the opportunity to consider the merits of it. .

Hello Flo,

We would have preferred to hold the meeting at a weekend, but the meeting rooms were not available then, and it had already been decided that the choice of a KC owned venue would be a good indication of our intention to try for KC registration.

I do not however think that a meeting for a pet owners' club would have tempted many of those attending a Championship show away from their ringside viewing.

We do not anticipate holding conformation shows but will welcome anyone from the show world who would want to join. There are many people that enjoy a day out showing their pets that would hopefully find the new club has something to offer them.

I would have liked to have heard about it in advance of the announcement too. Being one of those who has Cavaliers as pets and three with health problems it might have been nice to be asked to contribute some expertise, particularly as I seem to be probably the only person on this Forum with three years first hand experience of dealing with Curly Coat/Dry Eye Syndrome.

Flo, this is the advance notice. We would all be delighted if you want to contribute to the club, your experience with your special needs cavaliers will be invaluable.