We are seriously considering buying a Cavalier King Charles puppy from a breeder who is listed on this site as a member.  They have an Affix which is registered with the Kennel Club. However, I know that the KC don't 'police' registrations and existing members properly and unscrupulous breeders can be and are listed too!  I am just wondering if there is any way I can discover whether or not this particular breeder is a reputable one with a good line?  I have done an internet search but no results were found for the Affix other than a link back to this site.   I know that this could mean that they are relatively new breeders but not neccessarily unscrupulous.  Can you help?

A breeder needs knowledge and experience to produce happy, healthy pups who will be an asset and not a liability to your family for the next 12 years.  You could ask what health tests have been done for the dam and sire.  Moonmaiden will be along later to tell you what are the current, relevant tests for Cavaliers.
You could also ring the secretary of their local Cavalier Club and see if they are members, and see if mentioning their name brings praise or a sharp intake of breath!

I've just looked at the list of pups available and some are certainly better bred than others .......
Definitely start by asking about heart testing - a MUST for the breed.

Thanks for your reply!  I have already asked questions to do with papers, health certificates etc and have been told that all their pups are vet checked at 6-7 weeks, kc registered and we will get papers, insured for 6 weeks with the Kennel Club and that we'd get a puppy pack including food and a lifetimes worth of after care.  So, it sounds absolutely perfect BUT I want to be 100% sure before I say a definate yes.  I have sent an e-mail to the Breed Clud Co-ordinator asking if he can give me more info.

peewee

P.S.  There has been no mention of a deposit which my local Breed Rescue Club Secretary said to be very wary of

P.P.S. They have invited us to their home to see the bitches too - they don't have stud dogs but use someone's whom they 'recommend' on their website and give details of.

So have parents and grand parents been checked by a Cardiologist and have clear certificates?  The Kennel Club insurance is only valid once you transfer the pup into your ownership, as far as I am aware - I use Petplan which means that my pups are covered from the minute that they leave me.  Are they keeping one of this litter to show (they will have taken time and trouble to chose a healthy, quality mate) or have they produced a litter of pups to sell?

I don't take deposits because I would rather that people changed their mind (if they are going to!) BEFORE they take the puppy home and not take it just because they didn't want to lose their money.

(I've sent you a private message - look top right)

Peewee
vet checked at 7 weeks is not sufficient ...you should insist on seeing health test results(certificates) for required health tests.Not my breed so you need to be pre armed with knowledge of acceptable health tests results
Archer

The very least the parents should have is a current certificate(done with twelve months of the date you see it)& a current clear heart certificate & they should both be over 2 1/2 & perferably over 3 years of age. If the dogs are younger I would not touch the puppies

They should also both be MRI scanned for Syringohydromyelia(SHM) if the parents are not scanned clear they I would require in writing a statement that there have been no cases of SHM on either side of the pedigree from the breeder. If they state their dogs have no lines to SHM dogs I'm afraid they are not telling the truth as every Cavalier in the UK has at least one line to either a carrier or an affected dog(it does not mean the parents have SHM or are carriers) & I would look elsewhere. If you look on my dogs website(via the link on my profile)you will see the breeding of my beautiful boy who has SHM(his father had SHM & his mother is a carrier BTW)& it is not puppy farm or pet breeding, but some of the top dogs in the UK. We are considering getting another Cavalier & have a possible breeder in mind who like us is aware & concerned about the total health of the breed

I personally would expect & prefer both parents to be hip scored for HD-but HD is not a particular problem in Cavaliers

I don't obviously wish to discuss any dogs other than my own & their pedigrees on the open forums

MM I tried to view the pedigrees on your site but the links aren't working -nothing happens when I click. Tried in 2 different browsers.

I've put a link that works on the site map now Marianne I don't know why the links have stopped working  Argh off to redo all the graffix !

Thanks.

Thanks for your advice.  With the help of Val we've already sussed that the breeder is not the one for me.  Its not that I don't believe their animals to be healthy but obviously with us having some concerns then its best to not even go there so we're steering well away.

Heart and eye tests should be easy to find from a reputable breeder.Hips are not done routinely as it is not considered by some to be as important in a toy breed .In an ideal world both parents should be MRI scanned too. As yet this is not an ideal world, puppy buyers hoping to find a pup from such a mating may be looking for an impossibly  long time, better chance of finding hen's teeth! After having researched the breed and its problems , decide if the breed is still for you.
Then find someone who is informed about the breed and answers your questions honestly and who you feel you can trust and insure your new pup.

I always think that if the breeder asks you lots of questions about your situation and how you will care for the pup etc. thats also a good sign