Kate H
Well-known member
I collected Oliver (Moonvale Apache by Shenlyn) from his breeder in Yorkshire in August 2002; he was a year old. The breed standard lists the characteristics of a Cavalier as ‘sporting, affectionate, absolutely fearless’ and temperament as ‘gay, friendly, non-aggressive and with no tendency towards nervousness’, and that is a pretty good description of Oliver. He was the colour of a chestnut, a bit chunky but well muscled, and he met life head-on. In his young days I showed him with moderate success – his highest achievement was Reserve Best of Breed at an Open show, judge Margaret Carter! He loved learning, so we did competition obedience together, again with moderate success. He retired from competition on a high, winning Class B in the obedience section of the UK Toydog Championship Show at the age of 10. He led a busy life: one year he helped out on the health table at the Cavalier Club Ch. Show; we did Discover Dogs for 2 years at Crufts; he was a PAT dog for 5 years, visiting a home for people with dementia; he travelled with me on buses and trains, the London underground, ferries and boat trips to the Farne Islands.
Visiting friends, renting a cottage or, latterly, camping in a tent, we holidayed together from Cornwall to Kelso, the Somerset coast to Dumfries, Kent to Chester, North and East Yorkshire to Shropshire. For many years we visited the Northumberland coast and when Oliver’s legs began to go, we switched to the gentler Norfolk coast. Nothing fazed him and he behaved immaculately wherever he was – except that he seemed to think he had an official position as a cleaner, making sure that no food was left on the floor in buses and trains!
Oliver was not a cuddly dog, he was independent and adventurous, a companion rather than a furbaby. From when I first had him, I now recognise that he had signs of CM/SM – squinting in the fluorescent lighting at shows, friendly to other dogs but quietly walking away if they got boisterous, a restless sleeper, frequently changing position. He was diagnosed with CM/SM at the age of 6, with a small syrinx but severely dilated ventricles which gave him chronic headaches. With medication he was able to lead his normal life, and he took part in four trials at the RVC to give data for research or trial pain relief. In his later years he was almost completely deaf and his hind legs began to become paralysed, until the day arrived when everyone felt he needed release.
RIP Oliver, my good companion.
Visiting friends, renting a cottage or, latterly, camping in a tent, we holidayed together from Cornwall to Kelso, the Somerset coast to Dumfries, Kent to Chester, North and East Yorkshire to Shropshire. For many years we visited the Northumberland coast and when Oliver’s legs began to go, we switched to the gentler Norfolk coast. Nothing fazed him and he behaved immaculately wherever he was – except that he seemed to think he had an official position as a cleaner, making sure that no food was left on the floor in buses and trains!
Oliver was not a cuddly dog, he was independent and adventurous, a companion rather than a furbaby. From when I first had him, I now recognise that he had signs of CM/SM – squinting in the fluorescent lighting at shows, friendly to other dogs but quietly walking away if they got boisterous, a restless sleeper, frequently changing position. He was diagnosed with CM/SM at the age of 6, with a small syrinx but severely dilated ventricles which gave him chronic headaches. With medication he was able to lead his normal life, and he took part in four trials at the RVC to give data for research or trial pain relief. In his later years he was almost completely deaf and his hind legs began to become paralysed, until the day arrived when everyone felt he needed release.
RIP Oliver, my good companion.