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Surfing For A Cavalier Breeder
How to Decipher Breeder Web Sites Thanks to the Internet, prospective owners have unlimited new sources when it comes to looking for a Cavalier breeder. In addition to sites specializing in behavior, care, training, and even help determining which breed is right for you, many breed clubs now have sites available that provide incredible sources of information when researching Cavaliers.
Looking for a breeder on the Internet can be a very tricky process. It is important to know the differences between the responsible breeder, and the irresponsible breeder. These differences frequently appear in the way their websites are designed. The responsible breeder's website will be designed to showcase their dogs. We created this site to showcase our homebred Champions. We wanted to display their photos, pedigrees, and accomplishments, both for other Cavalier breeders as well as those interested in the breed. The irresponsible breeder's website will be designed to sell puppies. Irresponsible breeders breed for money. Their primary interest is not to share information about their dogs, but to sell their puppies. For them, a website is just another way to advertise a litter, not unlike a classified ad. Where Should You Start Looking For Your Cavalier Puppy?
One of the best places to start your online search for a puppy is through the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, which is the AKC Parent Club for the breed. You will find a Breeder Referral section to help you locate a responsible, ethical, breeder in your area. www.ackcsc.org All-breed "puppy finder" websites (i.e. puppyfind.com, nextdaypets.com, etc) are not the best place to start your search. These sites are primarily used by puppy mills and unethical breeders. What To Look For When Surfing Cavalier Sites? Because of the differences in intent, breeders sites can have a slightly different feel, depending on what kind of breeder you are dealing with. When you type "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeders" into a search engine and start digging through the results, the following questions can help you determine what kind of breeder the site represents. Most Importantly....What do they do with their dogs?
Does the breeder mention showing their dogs? Are there show photos of Champion dogs? Do they mention genetic health problems in Cavaliers? Do they follow the recommended health testing for hearts, eyes, hips, and patella's as explained on our health page? Irresponsible breeders do not perform the recommended health testing on their dogs. Because, they are not educated, they do not want to spend the money, or they simply do not care. A responsible breeder will mention OFA (Orthopedic Foundation For Animals) clearances against hip displaysia, heart, eyes (CERF) and patella's. Many breeders are now falsely stating on their websites their dogs hips and patellas are certified. Always verify the results on the OFA website...NEVER TAKE THE BREEDER'S WORD. If the breeder makes excuses for not having their dogs tested, realize that they are doing just that: making excuses.
Do they post pedigrees? If so, what do they look like? Ethical breeders post pedigrees so that other breeders can see the background on their dogs. The fact that they do so shows knowledge and interest in their dogs ancestry. A breeder who does not list pedigrees either does not know his dogs background, or doesn't think it is important. If pedigrees are posted pay close attention to them. Do the dogs have champion titles? If the pedigree does not contain champions or kennel names the pedigree is most likely based on generations of irresponsible or even puppy mill (pet store) breeding... which means that the breeders have no idea what health problems exist in their dogs ancestry. It is important to beware of breeders who claim their dogs come from "champion lines"....if those champions do not appear until the 4th generation back, you are most likely dealing with someone who is trying to capitalize on the fact that their dogs eventually go back to responsible breeders. Who knows what health and temperament problems have been introduced since then? Details of the individual dogs on a breeders website can offer telling information. When reading information posted on the dogs pay close attention to items such as age, and the number of times the dog has been bred. Ethical breeders will not breed a dog before the age of two (whether male or female), because hips cannot be certified against displaysia until two years of age.
You may also want to take note of how many males are in their kennel compared to females and how many litters these males have sired. Unethical breeders very often have one to three males and a "harem" of females, as it is very easy to use one male to impregnate several females. Very often one male will be the sire of two or more "upcoming", or already whelped litters. Beware of breeders who use an "alternative" registry to provide "papers" on their dogs. Changes in AKC registration requirements have made it difficult for unethical breeders to comply. Irresponsible breeders and puppy mills are no longer able to meet registration requirements, and are looking for a cheaper way to make their dogs seem "legitimate". This has led to the use of for-profit registries, which will grant "official registration" to any dog. These registries do not require proof that the dogs they register are purebred...in fact, many of them will register mixed-breeds. Click here to learn more about "alternative" canine registries. You may be thinking "Well, what difference does all this make? Why should I be concerned if I only want a pet? Hopefully, by now, you have an understanding of what separates the responsible breeder from the irresponsible breeder. Basically, it is a dedication to the breed itself, rather than a dedication to selling puppies. Dedication to the breed results from and in turn prompts a desire for knowledge: and knowledge is the best thing you can ask for when looking for a puppy. The knowledge of a good breeder will ensure that your puppy will be well socialized and healthy throughout its life. It will ensure that if you ever have questions about training, behavior, or the breed in general, you know who to turn to throughout your dog's life. It will also ensure that, for whatever reason, your dog will always have a home to go back to...throughout its life. One of the great things about the Internet is that it provides unlimited access to information of all kinds. As a result, irresponsible breeders advertising through websites have ample access to information from responsible breeders, and because of the public's growing understanding of ethical breeding practices, they often feel as if they need to "compete" with the responsible breeders claims. They have to make themselves seem "legitimate". You will often see irresponsible breeder and puppy mill sites who advertise themselves as "professional breeders". These are the types of breeders you should avoid. The same applies to "USDA licensed" or "regulated' breeders. The United States Department of Agriculture regulates the care and breeding of "stock, such as cattle, chickens, and puppy mill dogs. If a breeder requires USDA regulation, it simply means that they mass-produce dogs. Also, beware of sites who boast about the fact that their breeding dogs are "our beloved pets" or that their puppies are "raised underfoot", as if these things were major selling points. These things are a given with an ethical Cavalier breeder. For a responsible breeder, dogs are more than pets. They are show dogs and companions. They do more than simply hang around the house and have a litter every year, they are a MAJOR part of our lives! So, to sum it up:
Irresponsible breeders create websites to sell their puppies. Responsible breeders create websites to celebrate their devotion to their dogs! |
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