Gretel

They do moult fairly constantly but it is fairly easy hair to remove from carpet and furnishings. I've never had a Cav with diabetes and not personally known any. Temperaments are much the same. I have girls and they are very loving but some of my friends swear their boys are more affectionate I look after quite a few boys and they are lovely too. A good, soft slicker and/or bristle pin brush for the coat. Some are more barky than others. Generally they are not big barkers but I've rehomed a couple who'd been left home alone and were barking a lot and being destructive. A couple of mine bark when they play :D Ears are no great drama. I only clean them if they need cleaning. I think a lot of the time mucking about with them actually causes more trouble. If you are introducing moisture into the ear it can start trouble. Check the ears weekly and if they need a clean do it. They do need brushing, of course, and particular care behind the ear to make sure there is no matting. Ears can be protected when the dogs are eating by a snood and mine have a spaniel bowl for their water so their ears don't get wet when they drink.

SM is in the breed and there have been cases in Australia. I've had Cavaliers nearly 30 years and I have not had one that I even suspected of having SM (touch wood!). It is a horrible disease but I don't believe it is as prevelant as MVD.

QUESTIONS 1. What is my relationship with the breed? (ie breeder, first time owner etc) Exhibitor and breeder and have obedience trialled. 2. Where and why was the breed first developed? They are a companion breed and want to be with their people Their 'sporting ancestors' show up quite regularly with many chasing and hunting birds! 3. How common is it in Australia? They have become more and more popular to the detriment of the breed. 4. What is the average lifespan? Taking into account MVD I would estimate the average lifespan to be around 10 years. Many do get to their teens but many die earlier. 5. What is the general temperament/personality? They should be happy, friendly and show no aggression or timidness. 6. How much daily exercise is needed for the average adult? Cavaliers can be very active. They do enjoy a walk. Some can be fairly sedentary and others can spend time chasing birds and digging. 7. Is it a breed that a first time dog owner could easily cope with? Yes 8. Can solo dogs of this breed easily occupy themselves for long periods? Cavaliers were bred as a companion. They do best not being left alone for long hours. If people need to be away from home with work having two can be a good idea so they have each other to play with. 9. How much grooming is required? Depends a bit on their coat. A good brush through at least twice a week will suffice for most but their ears can need more grooming. 10. Is it too boisterous for very small children or for infirm people (unless the dog is well trained)? They are good with children but it is important children are supervised and taught how to treat them as a Cavalier will generally not retaliate if they are being hurt. 11. Are there any common hereditary problems a puppy buyer should be aware of? Mitral Valve Disease, luxating patellas, hip dysplasia, cataracts and Syringomyelia 12. When buying a puppy, what are the things you should ask of the breeder? (eg what health tests have been done (if applicable) and what is an acceptable result to those tests so the buyer has an idea of what the result should be) The parents should be heart tested by a cardioligist and a certificate should be available for you to see. Patellas are checked by a vet so there is no certificate as such. An opthamoligist can check eyes and certify the parents to be clear of eye problems. SM can only be diagnosed by an MRI which is very costly and not widely used by breeders at this stage. Unfortunately, the rise in popularity of these lovely dogs has brought with it a lot of unscrupulous breeders who are in it to make money and have no intentions of breeding to improve the breed. Ask about the breeders history in the breed. Do they show? How are their pups raised? A good breeder should be very happy for you to meet the pups mum. Many bitches are sent away to be mated so you may not be able to meet the father.

Awww she is so sweet Baby beagles are adorable!

Can I ask why you don't want to desex?

Oh how very sad And what a shock for her family!

Yes I had a very piggy girl who inhaled food and the one thing she would not eat was roo. I was very surprised.

Do butchers mince chicken frames? I would have thought the mince would be 'meat' rather than chicken coming from a butcher?

Do you know what is in the dog mince?

Yes I wish mine would One of my girls has had a soft monkey for three years and it's only lost it's nose but my others are destroyers They just wreck their favourites though!

Our platypus is now disabled. Can three legged ones still swim or does she need a prosthetic (sp?)?

Hmmmm ummm let me think about it......... NOPE! FD thanks for the heads up on Clipper World. I never would have thought to look there for meds.

I bought some not long ago and it made for an interesting dinner..... I shall be much more careful about crating in future! One girl had dropped part of hers and ended up picking it up and finishing it on the lounge Ewwww! They did enjoy them.

Yes that's what I thought too. I make sure all my pups are fed individually in the last week or so before they go to their new homes.

I was offered it at North Richmond not long ago (well the dog was - not me :rolleyes: )

The time frame is actually 13 months after the injection as it works 12 months in advance and the monthly tablets work one month in arrears. I have just done this with my two under instruction from my vet. Thanks

BARF

I have two adult boys here to rehome. They had heartworm vaccinations last year when they had their yearly vaccinations. I don't like the heartworm vaccinations and would prefer they don't have them again but how do I swap them over? They aren't due for vacc until later in the year but I'd like to know how to go about it so I can tell the new owner. Is it just a matter of once the year is up start them on monthly treatment again? TIA

:rolleyes: What a beautiful soul you were lucky enough to have some time with.

Have PMed you

Yes please do be sure you can cope in an emergency.... Anything can happen with a pup! Making sure you stick to the diet the pup is used to is important so you don't upset his tummy. So I wouldn't try cutting costs on food. So long as he has a warm, comfy bed it doesn't need to be fancy and you have the puppy pen sorted. You can pick up soft toys at op shops very cheaply. Feel them to make sure they are not bean filled though and check the eyes and nose etc. Bowls are not expensive. You will have vacinations and worming etc to pay for, possibly a vet visit. Many breeders like you to take the pup for a check up soon after you get them to have your vet check them over.

Okay I am not usually a Pei person but she does look seriously cute

Ain't that the truth!

I feed chicken hearts and chicken livers Having bigger dogs you may prefer bigger. When I'm having lambs fry (yum!!!) I cut up what I want from it and the dogs get the rest. I have found one of mine will not eat raw liver or hearts. I think it must be the texture that puts her off. She'll pick it up and mouth it and then spit it out with a look of disgust Raw eggs are good too. Mine love them.

I've just started giving my girls fish. I was feeling a bit aprehensive so started out with whitebait. They loved it but it was a bit expensive....