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What is a Responsible Breeder?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has become so popular that irresponsible “breeders”, with little or no knowledge or time in the breed, are popping up like mushrooms everywhere breeding the Cavalier for profit only. Most are not concerned about testing the parents for hearts, eyes, hips and patellas before breeding. They may say they health test but are unable to provide you copies of test results. For every reputable and knowledgeable dog breeder, there are many who are decidedly not! The Internet is filled with professional looking web sites fronting what can best be described as “commercial or “puppy mill” breeders. Beware of flashing “Puppies Available” banners on the front page and sites with photos of puppies and no photos of the sire and dam of the puppies.
Breeding healthy, sound puppies with good temperaments, and seeing them go to loving new homes, is a very rewarding experience. Responsible breeders spend many hours studying pedigrees, finding breeding lines which have been tested and cleared of major hereditary diseases, attending dog shows, and speaking with other knowledgeable breeders, in order to find a sire which best compliments their bitch. They select a sire which could potentially improve her weak points and consolidate her strengths, in the puppies which their combined genetic material will produce. Years of acquired knowledge, the ability to assess a dog or bitch objectively, and a desire to produce Cavaliers which are healthy and match the Breed Standard as closely as possible, is a responsible breeders goal. If you have any questions about whether a person is a responsible breeder or a puppy mill or backyard breeder, look for these things: Do they show their dogs and have proven the quality of their dogs by aquiring a championship title on their dogs? Do they breed only to advance their breeding program and for their love and devotion to Cavaliers? Are they breeding to further improve their breeding program, not just to provide puppies for sell? Are they members in good standing with national, regional, and/or local dog clubs. Is the breeder knowledgeable about MVD, Syringomyelia, and other potential problems within the breed? Does the breeder ask you lots of questions? Questions about your lifestyle, family, experience with dogs and other pets, etc. Some breeders require you to have a fenced yard with secure fencing for the puppies protection. Is the breeder concerned enough about the welfare of the dog to promise to take it back (no matter how old) if you are unable to keep it? Does the breeder believe it is important to keep in touch with puppy buyers for the life of the puppy? Will the breeder be there for you to answer questions about health, training, grooming, feeding, etc, for the lifetime of the puppy? Does the breeder test all dogs used in their breeding program for hearts, eyes, and patellas yearly and have OFA certification on hips before breeding? If hips are OFA certified this information will be listed on the OFA website. Does the breeder provide you with copies of these test results? Does the breeder offer a health contract? Is the breeder regonized as a "Breeder Of Merit" by AKC. This program honors breeder/exibitors dedicated to producing healthy dogs by following the recommended health testing of the parent club, The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club (ACKCSC). The answer to all questions above should be YES! Please use caution when looking for a breeder on the Internet. When you look at websites, remember that websites can be slick and fancy.This does not mean the breeders are honest, ethical, responsible, or involved in the breed in ways other than breeding. Many of them breed purely to sell puppies. Here are some things you can watch for which will give you an indication of whether the breeder is one you would purchase a Cavalier from. DO NOT look further on a website if: The breeder includes nothing on the website that discusses the health problems in the breed. Claims they have never had SM, MVD, or other health problems in their dogs. Shows only the call name of their dogs, such as Charlie, Molly and so on. Any breeder who is a student of the breed identifies their dogs by the formal, registered names, as well as the call names. Does not list pedigrees. Responsible breeders will do all they can to avoid health, physical and temperamental problems by researching pedigrees and are proud to let people know the pedigrees of their dogs. None of their dogs on the website are finished Champions. This means that they do not show their dogs. Does the breeder claim puppies are from "Champion lines"....look instead for Champion sired or Champion parents. All Champion lines means is there is a dog somewhere in the puppy's family that was a Champion...it says nothing about the quality of the parents. Has photos of puppies for sale or shows photos with a "SOLD" sticker across some of them. Responsible breeders would never advertise specific puppies for sale as they would want to talk to you first to find out more about you and your family. Does not belong to any national, regional, and/or local breed clubs. Watch out for breeders who tell you they belong to AKC. No person can be a member of the American Kennel Club (AKC). AKC is a registering body only. Is willing to sell or ship the puppy to you under 10 weeks of age. Ethical breeders do not allow puppies to leave its mother or littermates until 10-12 weeks of age. Takes credit cards, Pay Pal and/or requires a large non-refundable deposit on a puppy, has "Buy Now" or "Add to Shopping Cart" buttons. Responsible breeders require a deposit only after they have met you in person and have agreed to sell you a puppy. Does not state that the puppies are raised in a home invironment. Kennel raised puppies tend to have temperament problems. Makes statements such as "Lovingly raised in our home with kids" and has multiple breeds. How can they lovingly raise so many different breeds in their home with kids? Does the breeder always have puppies available? Do they describe their dogs as being "angels, cutie-patooties" or similar words. Provides a written health warranty that guarantees against genetic defects which states you must return the puppy before the breeder will give you another dog. This only guarantees the breeder that he/she will not have to replace the defective dog because who would give back their dog after a year or two? If the guarantee states you will get your money back, how can this happen if you are unable to contact the breeder? Often these breeders do not return your phone call. Can not provide documentation for health testing or provides documents which are not within the last 12 months. When talking or corresponding with the breeder, you find that the dogs never see a Board Certified Cardiologist or Ophthalmologist or regular vet for patella clearances. It is highly unlikely they would have OFA certification on the hips. Many un-ethical breeders are now claiming on their websites that they are testing their dogs for hearts, eyes, hips and patellas as recommended by breed clubs. This is why it is so important to verify the proper health testing has been done on the parents. DO NOT TAKE THE BREEDERS WORD FOR IT! Always has puppies available. Has puppies available in several breeds. Has mixed breed puppies available. Has puppies available without registration papers or charges a higher price if you want the registration papers on the puppy. Sells puppies on "full" or "open" registration. Claims puppies are from an "accidental breeding" and registration papers are not available. How do you know the puppies are purebred? Imports puppies for resale in the USA. They are called puppy brokers, importers, or middlemen and are no different from the pet stores. Click here to see an example of a puppy broker website. To visit other sights just change the state. Example click here. There is no such thing as a responsible, ethical breeder who sells puppies to anyone for resale. Puppies are registered with FIC, ACA, APRI, CKC, APR, etc. These are "puppy mill" registries. The breeder should have access to AKC and/or CKCSC registration, unless they have been suspended for a violation. For more information on other registries click here. Your selection of a reputable breeder is the most important step you can take in ensuring a better chance of getting a healthy, temperamentally sound puppy and one who has a better than average chance of staying that way. Please do not get caught up in the "I just want a pet" as an excuse to purchase a puppy from someone other than a responsible breeder. Responsible breeders are trying to be sure that any Cavalier that they breed is a wonderful, well adjusted, healthy companion- whether or not the puppy is destined for the conformation ring. Do not short change yourself into believing that "pets" are supposed to be inferior in expected quality of life to a dog that competes in conformation. Remember, ANYONE can be a breeder (even a puppy mill owner or puppy producer is a breeder!); what you want is a reputable, responsible, experienced breeder. All puppies are cute and adorable...but will they stay that way? It cannot be stressed enough that the selection of a reputable breeder is the most important step you can take to ensure a healthy, wounderful pet. We hope you will find this information helpful in choosing a breeder for your Cavalier. Please feel welcome to contact us if we can help you locate a responsible breeder near you. |
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