Okay, now let's talk for a moment about a very important issue. Choosing a pet for your family should be a meaningful process, certainly not one to be taken lightly. This isn't supposed to be a spur-of-the-moment decision, and it's certainly not the time to be bargain hunting. Hopefully this new dog will be a cherished family member for 10 to 12 or more years; and will bring joy, love, fun, and snuggles to your family.
Unfortunately there are numerous "breeders" (and sometimes brokers and/or importers) that bring puppies into the world with nary a thought to health or quality of the puppies, nor the emotions of the family, but rather do their breeding only for the purpose of adding cash to their wallets. Dogs found in pet shops, and often dogs imported from a few European countries solely for resale, are usually from puppy mills . These are horrible situations for the breeding animals, and they do not produce puppies that are emotionally or physically healthy. Do your family a huge favor and do not even consider a dog from those circumstances. Don't purchase it thinking that ‘saving' the puppy will help. It will help only that one dog, but perpetuates the vicious cycle for the parents - and future generations. And the probability is that you've spent a lot of money on an unhealthy dog that will continue to cost many hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars over its short lifetime.
The breeder that you should seek would be the serious hobbyist; the reputable breeder that carefully screens his or her dogs for good health, the correct temperament, and conformation (dog shows are where we keep our true bearings in keeping the Cavaliers looking like Cavaliers. The breed standards were written for a reason!). Certainly Mother Nature throws the occasional curve-ball, but we increase the odds of having healthy puppies by screening the parents, and each preceding generation. Bare minimum with the Cavaliers is the testing of the hearts (that done by a Veterinary Cardiologist). Although there are those of us that also check for patellas and hips, and an annual eye exam (done by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist), there are many Cavalier breeders that do not feel the need to do so. What health testing to do is a highly personal decision with each breeder; but you, as a puppy buyer, should consider this when choosing a breeder to work with.
One of your first steps should be to develop a relationship with a breeder; and then help the breeder learn as much about you, your family, and your lifestyle as possible so that he or she can guide you in choosing (or even better: to choose for you) the right puppy for your family. Not all breeders do temperament testing, or spend the time to carefully observe the personalities of the furry little guys and dolls - these are important aspects when you consider that a puppy will ideally fit into your family without major adjustments on your, or puppy's, part. A good breeder should be able to pick the puppy for you based on what he or she has learned, and what he or she knows of his puppies. Tis folly to pick a puppy based solely on it's color, markings, or even gender! This is where the relationship, the trust, with the breeder pays dividends for many years.
Please peruse my dog pages and the links on this page, especially those for the Cavalier clubs and information specific to this breed. Being well-informed is very important. Good luck in your quest!
