FINDING THE RIGHT BREEDER

Many families choose to adopt from a neighborhood shelter or rescue; however healthy Cavaliers are frequently impossible to find since they are rarely surrendered. Once all other options have been exhausted in your search for a Cavalier puppy, it's time to determine what type of breeder you want to work with . . .

Many people are asked if they want to work with a "reputable breeder" or an "ethical breeder," but they have no idea what those terms mean or how to tell what type of breeder you may have already spoken with. We've seen many poorly bred puppies sold to unwary purchasers for the same price as or more than well-bred pups, so our first tip is simple - price alone is not an indicator. We hope this blog post will assist you in identifying the breeder you want to work with, have already contacted or may have purchased a dog from.

Even though we are aware that there are always exceptions to the rule, these three groups comprise the majority of breeders:
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1. THOSE WHO CUT CORNERS FOR COST - Some breeders, often called "backyard breeders," - might not know any better. In contrast, others do know better but want to boost their profit margins by slicing costs associated with their breeding programs. These breeders can be recognized by their refusal to provide their dogs or puppies with any care that would be expensive. Breeders in this group frequently exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:

1. Their breeding parents' DNA has not been analyzed.
2. They do not have their breeding parents' annual eye, heart, hip, or patella checks.
3. The puppies did not receive thorough veterinary examinations.
4. They are breeding pets who aren't AKC registered.
5. Feeding their puppies and pets inferior food.
6. They never turn down a transaction (will sell to anyone) and rarely conduct interviews with potential families.
7. They sell their entire litter to brokers or puppy shops, no questions asked.
8. They keep more pets than they can comfortably accommodate in their home. 
9. They know that once a family falls in love with a puppy, they won't exchange it for another; so they offer no health warranties or warranties with little to no guarantee.

2. THOSE WHO OVERBREED - These breeders may come under Category #1 and overbreed their dogs as well (i.e., puppy mills), or they may present as respected breeders but overbreed their female dogs repeatedly to boost earnings. Always ask a potential breeder how many litters the female has had and how many she will have. These breeders often draw higher-quality buyers and have higher prices, but they disregard the best interest of the mother to maximize their profits. With regards to this particular breed, experts are in agreement that having more than four litters in a lifetime can be bad for the female's health and shorten her life. 

​3. BREEDERS WHO PRIORITIZE QUALITY OVER PROFIT - This is the gold standard in breeding and what the majority of customers are looking for. These breeders who don't have to breed their dogs to make money, they do it because they genuinely adore the breed or breeds and enjoy sharing them with carefully vetted families. Here are a few methods to recognize these breeders:

1. The breeder is delighted to provide registrations, proper health certifications, and their dogs have undergone DNA testing.
2. They don't breed pets with inherited diseases. They immediately discontinue breeding a dog in their program if a health problem is found, regardless of what it would entail for their financial situation.
3. They will never sell to a broker or retailer.
4. They do not depend on breeding to provide for their family's needs and have other sources of income. Breeding with integrity isn't really that profitable!
5. Their dogs have vet & vaccination records, a vet reference, and plenty of client references in addition to being usually healthy (there will always be the rare issue that is out of anyone's control).
6. They only own a small number of dogs and are familiar with each of them. If their program is more extensive, they may house and care for their animals via Guardian Homes or other methods.
7. They provide high-quality food and inform you about optimal puppy nutrition.
8. They are pleased to demonstrate their animals' lack of neglect by letting you see their parents, pedigrees, and records, and their animals don't exhibit any signs of mistreatment.
9. Both their breeding pairings and their offspring have received the correct socialization and don't exhibit any behavioral, anxiety- or fear-related disorders at an early stage.
10. They never permit their pets to be given away or placed in shelters without their consent.

We hope that this blog post, together with our other resources, will assist you in identifying and locating the breeder you wish to collaborate with. Searching for the least expensive puppy, working with a broker or "rescuing a puppy" from the pet store are all risky propositions when purchasing a Cavalier. Should you need a referral to a breeder in your area, please check out our blog posts on recommended breeders or shoot us an email at [email protected]. 

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