Responsible Breeders
A NOTE FROM THE WRITER 
Dogs have been an important and highly valued member of the family for centuries. This page will hopefully assist you to recognise responsible breeders. Breeders are governed by State Law which varies in each state. You as the consumer needs to stay informed of any proposed changes to breeding laws, otherwise the next time you go to buy a puppy, you may find very few available which always drives up the purchase price. The following piece has been provided by Bronwen Gordon, who volunteers her time to help support the general public about all sorts of matters in our breed. With much thanks.
RESPONSIBLE BREEDERS
A quality breeder will feel responsible for every dog that they own and every puppy that they breed, and will put a lot of time, effort and money into ensuring that their dogs maintain optimum health for as long as possible.
Puppies bred by responsible breeders will have been well socialized and health checked, fed on good quality food, and kept with their mothers for an appropriate length of time, and not sold on too young.
Under the rules of Dogs Queensland, puppies under the age of 8 weeks of age should not be rehomed.
Puppy buyers should do their homework carefully to ensure that the names on the breed certificate that is issued for their puppy is a true and correct one in every respect.
A caring and conscientious breeder will also be extremely particular when it comes to rehoming their puppies, so please be prepared for lots of questions about yourself and your lifestyle, your home environment, as the breeder wants to ensure that the puppy is matched with the person who is the right one for them.
IS A CAVALIER THE RIGHT BREED FOR YOU?
Before deciding on any breed of dog, you need to do some research to determine whether it is the one best suited to your family and lifestyle.
You also need to become aware of any features of that breed that may not suit you or your family, a dog that sheds for example is not a good idea if you can’t
abide the thought of dog hair in the house, or if you have someone who is severely allergic to that kind of hair.
Cavaliers for example will shed- all year round, so please factor that into your decision making before taking one on.
Cavaliers are also dogs who are happiest if they have company, so again if you work long hours away from home maybe that is the wrong breed for you.
Cavaliers are not the breed that you would leave out in the back yard- so if you are not prepared to let it live inside with you then please consider another breed.
HEALTH TESTING
You also need to be aware of any potential health issues in the breed so that you can ask the relevant questions about this when talking to the breeder.
Conscientious breeders of cavaliers take their breeding dogs to the cardiologist to check for heart murmurs, and if heart clear the dog will be issued with a heart clear certificate. Only a cardiologist can issue these certificates, they cannot be certified by the local vet. Only heart clear dogs should be then used for breeding. Your breeder should also be able to tell you the heart history of the puppy’s ancestors.
There are also eye tests that can be done through a veterinary eye specialist, and an eye clear certificate will be given if the dog is eye clear for the conditions it is tested for.
Other tests that are carried out are DNA tests to check for Dry Eye, Curly Coat and Episodic Falling, and the responsible breeder will conduct these tests prior to breeding their dogs.
Since the beginning of 2019, Dogs Queensland has made it mandatory that every puppy in a litter that is to be placed on the main or open register has to be DNA tested for parentage along with both parents of that puppy, to verify that that puppy is actually the offspring of those parents. Once the test has been carried out the breeder then receives documentation from the testing laboratory to confirm that these puppies are the true offspring of those parents. The puppies cannot be registered with Dogs Queensland and certificates cannot be issued until this test has been carried out.
Please also be aware that even with health testing, problems can still arise, as the dog is a living creature and there are no absolute guarantees. Be wary of anyone who tries to tell you otherwise- as dogs, like humans may develop health issues as they age that are not able to be tested for.
A final note from me:
Reaponsible breeders provide an environment for their dogs that is safe. Cavaliers can be quiet the hunters and as the breed feels no danger the fun of the chase can quickly turn to tears. Responsible breeders try to balance all the areas related to breeding in their attempt to raise enriched puppies and older dogs, whilst providing good animal husbandry and training.
Further reading
