Royal Flush Cavaliers - The Longest Standing Breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in New England
- Episode 1 - PROCURING A CURE -

As a breeder I am regularly contacted for my opinion on situations that are large and small.  Many of these situations are medical related and I want to touch on that today. There are a lot of breeders that make their opinions about supplements, spay, neuter and vaccinations available to the public on their website and social media pages.  I have made my position clear on our website and often times when a client calls I have to refer them back to their vet.  I know that's not what they want to hear but I am their breeder and not a doctor.

An excerpt from a professional article on Web DVM:

"... from the moment I saw her puppy, she disagreed with my recommendations for immunizations for core vaccines for diseases endemic in our area, the vaccine protocols, when to start the vaccines (all of which are set by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association – based on constant research) because her breeder had a different opinion." 

"Her breeder also told her to make sure the dog has at least 2 heat cycles before spaying her because she needs the hormones for proper development. I asked my client if this breeder had any veterinary medical training whatsoever and she said no, but she really knows the breed and has a very good reputation, and is just a lovely person.  The sad part here is that the breeder is of course dead wrong about the spay.  This has been heavily studied in recent years, and every study has concluded that the spay procedure has no negative affect on the growth, development and health when before the first estrus cycle.  I never advocated for spaying dogs before 6 months of age anyway because doing so can increase the risk of urinary incontinence in middle age."

In my opinion, a breeder (who is not also a veterinarian) that offers advice on vaccinations, surgery, microchips, treatments or any other medical related topic is being completely reckless. Giving such imperious advice does nothing but complicate things for your vet who is trained, and worse, can present a possible danger in a situation that could escalate because of it.  If you have any medical related concerns, big or small, please contact your vet to make sure you are making the best decision you can and following appropriate protocols.  A breeder that doesn't want to answer these questions isn't being difficult, they are being responsible.
- Episode 2 - COACHING YOUR CAVALIER -
episode 2

From the AKC to the ASPCA, the Humane Society to highbrow dog expert Cesar Millan, politics aside, there is one thing that they all agree on: crate training is a good thing.  Crate training helps provide a structured environment to assist with proper house training.  It encourages calm and control during development and establishes routine.  The crate keeps teething puppies safe from potential hazards around the home including poisons, choking hazards and electrical cords, while providing senior dogs their own sanctuary where they can rest without being disturbed by kids and other dogs in the home.  A crate isn't just beneficial at home, it transports your baby in your car, with some now being 5 star crash test rated by the Center of Pet Safety.  Properly done, the crate door can be simply left open while at home and your dog will go to it without any coaxing to take a nap, enjoy a snack or just stash their toys.  We advise clients to fence in their yards when considering a new puppy because a fenced in yard is also along the same idea as a crate: a contained area where your puppy or dog is kept safe and secure.  In my 30+ years of experience in both breeding and training my dogs, I have not and would not encourage anyone to forgo crate training their puppy or dog.

Have you crated trained yours?  Let us know!
- Episode 3 - CULTIVATING THE CONSUMMATE CHARLES -

Today we want to get your input on the training technique(s) that worked best for your baby.   Though there are many programs, there are essentially four training techniques and one will always be the foundation of the one you are considering or implementing.   These four techniques are:

Positive Reinforcement * Negative Reinforcement * Positive Punishment * Negative Punishment

In my experience, I have always found that consistent, positive reinforcement training has always worked best for our dogs.  Cavaliers are smart, sweet, sensitive beings that are highly emotional and intuitive.  By connecting the action you want to a specific reward that the puppy wants, your puppy will quickly learn the connection.

You are your puppy’s leader, protector, and best friend. Though people like to offer opinions, you need to make sure you aren’t following any harmful advice.  Any type of punishment like yelling or jerking, is cruel and ineffective, and can be particularly harmful to puppies who have no other life experiences to counterbalance a negative experience like that.  It is also ineffective to isolate your dog so do not use the crate as punishment.  The crate should always be their safe place where they can seek rest and refuge.

Remember that dogs are social animals. If you want your puppy to be happy and healthy, you need to ensure they have socialization. You also need to provide them with a solid foundation to ensure no serious issues arise. Although you have to set boundaries when they are exhibiting negative behavior, a consistent program of positive reinforcement will yield great results and a happy dog too.

So what type of training did you use?  We'd love to know and share with the others!
- Episode 4 - COPIOUS OR CRAZY -

As the saying goes, Cavaliers are like potato chips because one is never enough.  Jokes aside, we want to discuss just how many Cavaliers is too much - for you?  The Cavalier and its ancestors have been a companion animal since the dawn of their time.  Always frolicking with their namesake King Charles, and preserved in historical paintings, there's even a 16th century prescription written in Olde English for Queen Elizabeth I where she was directed to keep one of them (aka a “comforte dog”) on her lap to treat a cold. That's because it's always been known that these adorable "lap warmers" simply love being around people.

Cavaliers are not only great pets, they are smart, obedient, easy to train and loving in nature, so they make an excellent choice to be active in a therapy dog, service dog, or emotional support animal capacity too.   They are a breed that crave constant companionship and can become lonely and anxious when left alone for long periods.  Although they do great together, it's best in small groups because they don't really thrive in large packs.  Now you might say: Aren't all dogs descendants of wolves and therefore inclined to adapt to a pack-like mentality? Not in my experience, and recently a team of scientists found that Cavaliers are actually the breed that is furthest removed both physically and characteristically from wolves too.  Although we are allowed to have almost a dozen dogs on site, we have six that live with us full time.  In addition to ours we have almost two dozen that are currently a part of our extended family thanks to the wonderful folks that actively participate in our In-a-Home Breeding Program TM.  We feel that the two of us can adequately attend to the individual needs our dogs with this number, while caring for visiting moms and puppies, handling stud service requests, and taking in the occasional rescue case too.  There is always something going on here and it's almost never limited to just ours. 

In the past we had twice as many, but having 12 dogs meant many 18 hour days to ensure that they were getting all of the attention and care that they needed.  Keep in mind that we were also a lot younger then and had teenagers around to occasionally help with sofa naps in front of the TV, and occasional walks.  Being older now it stands to reason that we had to slow things down (at least a little bit) because as some of you know it has never been solely the breeding program and the dogs.  Though active with the dogs for decades, we have been active with real estate too, purchasing dozens of properties over 25 years.  The last two years saw a slow in real estate so we began an interest in expanding our love for Cavaliers.  We have new trademarks and branding and have also started a new Cavalier-exclusive online store.  Spending so much of our lives with the dogs, the better part of 2022 was poured into writing a book on Cavaliers which will be published soon.  Although still interested in continuing the breeding program, we are equally interested in sharing my experience and love of Cavaliers through the book and ongoing enterprises.  We want to make sure that we always have enough attention for everyone and everything.

We are asked about numbers by past clients, prospective clients, and member of our In-a-Home Breeding Program TM, so today we want to bring this question to you:  How many is too many?  All things considered, think about your baby/babies with their adoring eyes and need for your love and attention.  Now imagine five, ten, fifteen of them or more and ask yourself what your number would be.  Do you feel that you and/or your family could adequately meet the unique needs of this breed and each individual dog?  It's not just about meeting basic needs of attention, food and shelter because we all know that a Cav requires so much more.  I think our continued limit will remain at six, because we also have to consider our other visitors too, all of which need to be showered with attention.  As time goes by I have learned so much, not just about my limitations with age but more importantly about how uniquely wonderful each individual Cavalier is.  A dog's time on earth is so limited which is we developed our breeding program.  The program doesn't just give our clients a dog, it gives our dog a life, a life filled with attention, love and joy.  A life in a home where they are showered with attention and not in a kennel were they have to fight for it with a dozen+ other dogs.  We get a small window to give them our best and they deserve it.  It is a privilege to be able to spend our life with them, as I'm sure you will all agree. 

So we know that they are dependent on human companionship.  While it might seem that having a lot of dogs could be fun, we have to also consider the downsides since having too many dogs can have detrimental effects on both the dogs and their owners.  As the number of dogs in your home increases, so does the possibility of bacteria, viruses and illness.  When you have a lot of dogs, it's a full time job keeping your home clean, not to mention the added costs for food and veterinary care.  A group of dogs require lots of space for them to sleep, run and play.  As the number of dogs in a household rises, so does the incidence of behavioral problems. The larger the pack, the more diluted the owner's attention becomes which will almost always complicate the social dynamics of the group.  It's easy to see how any of these can make the life of the dogs utterly miserable.

So there we have the pros and cons of having a large or small brood. 
No judgement.  All things considered, we want to hear from you on what your magic number is.
- Episode 5 - EXHIBITS FOR EVERYONE? -

Throughout my breeding career there have been requests by some to be a part of the birth when their puppy is being born.  This has never been (nor will it ever be) an option because of the risks and danger associated with it.  Responsible breeders would never allow or encourage a policy like that which would subject the mother dog to unnecessary stress, and fragile newborns to opportunity for infection. Today we will cover some of the many reasons why this is not a good policy.  If you have further questions on how dangerous a policy like this is, we encourage you to address them with your veterinarian and to get his/her opinion on the matter.

Having visitors in during a birth can be dangerous for both the puppies and the mother dog. It is important for the mother dog to have a safe, quiet space to give birth and care for her puppies. Disturbances and stress during labor and the early weeks of a puppy's life can have detrimental effects on the health and well-being of both the mother and the puppies in the short and long term.

One of the dangers of exposing newborn puppies to the public is the risk of infection. Puppies are fragile at birth, they cannot regulate their own body temperature and have weak immune systems which make them more susceptible to diseases and infections.  Allowing the public into their  space increases the likelihood of exposure to virus, germs and bacteria, all of which can result in illness or death.  In addition to the risk of infection, exposing newborn puppies to the public can also be stressful for the mother dog too.

During labor and the early weeks of a puppy's life, the mother dog is responsible for providing warmth, nutrition, and protection for her puppies. She needs a calm, quiet and familiar environment to do this effectively. Changes, disturbances and stress can interfere with her ability to care for her puppies and may even lead to her reject them.  Besides illness, creating an uncomfortable environment can have a long-term detrimental effect on the emotional well-being of the puppies too.

It is important for owners to provide a safe and tranquil environment for their dogs to give birth and care for their puppies. This will not only protect the puppies from infection and stress, but it will also allow the mother dog to bond with and care for her puppies without complication or interference. If you do need to expose your puppies to the public, it is important to do so only when absolutely necessary and in a controlled and limited manner to minimize the risk of infection and stress. Overall, it is best to wait until the puppies have a good emotional foundation and their first round of vaccinations and before exposing them to the public.

What are your (or your vet's) thoughts about this topic?  We'd love to hear from you!

- THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT -
If you have a question or concern that you would like discussed here,
please feel free to email to us: CavalierSociety@outlook.com for consideration.

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