21/04/2026
Things to consider when looking for your new fur baby
There is so much fear-based information around Cavaliers right now that it can leave prospective owners feeling overwhelmed and confused.
For me, the most important thing is honest, balanced information.
There are different levels of health testing, from important basic testing through to gold standard testing such as MRI for Syringomyelia (SM). All testing has value, but none of it can promise that a puppy will never have a problem later in life.
DNA testing for conditions such as Curly Coat/Dry Eye and Episodic Falling is very important. It is also important to understand that testing for any condition in previous generations is not a guarantee that later generations will be unaffected, and owners should not assume the actual parents of the puppy they are buying have had every possible test.
The same applies to other issues breeders watch carefully, including heart, eyes, hips and patellas. These problems may not be present for years so not even the breeder can say with certainty if it is a new line to them. Some lines are known for certain problems, but you still cannot guarantee what may or may not happen years down the track. In some cases, it is also difficult to know with certainty what is genetic, what is environmental, and what may be influenced by how a dog is raised, exercised, and managed.
This is where open communication between breeders matters. It helps possible problems be tracked honestly through lines, rather than people being pulled into fear or competition.
I do not think people always realise that genuine breeders are often either not making money at all, or making very little, especially once you consider the amount of time, care, and work that goes into raising puppies properly.
When I brought home my first Cavalier, I did not know what the gold or even the basic standard was. I simply brought home my beautiful boy, and if I had focused only on everything that could possibly go wrong, I may never have bought him at all. He gave me 15 amazing, problem-free years.
So here is my strong opinion: let breeders focus on choosing the best breeding pairs they can and being honest about what has and has not been tested. As an owner, do not get so lost in everything that could go wrong that you miss the joy of choosing a puppy you love.
For me, raising a well-socialised, balanced puppy is just as important, because you can have excellent health testing behind a puppy, but if they struggle to cope with the world around them, that can become a major issue in itself.
So I can and do share what owners can do to help limit future problems, but your job is to choose your puppy, love them well, and be the best parent you can be, so that whatever life brings, they are in the very best hands.
This was my darling Dobbie, loved and missed forever. He changed my life and inspired me to breed more little gems to be loved and cherished.
Giving them the best start we can is such a gift. While they are a lot of work, they are also a lot of fun, and we always miss them when we do not have any.
