Hi all,

I have owned Cavaliers for nearly 25 years and planning on mating my beautiful CKCS next month (subjest to clear health checks). Some details:

She will be 2 yrs 6 months next month and this will be her first litter.
She was bred from heart and eye tested mature parents (Mum was 4, Dad was 6).
She was heart checked last week a cardiologist vet and found to be clear.
She was litter screened as a pup and is free from MRD.
She is being eye screened next week under the KC/BVA scheme.
She is being MRI screened for SM next week at Chestergates.
Stud is over 5 and has passed all above health checks.

I feel I am doing all health checks I can, I have a waiting list for this litter. Problem is with the current health problems in the CKCS I can't decide whether it's ethical to bring another CKCS into this world. All the above cannot guarantee healty pups. My head is hurting with this, on one hand they are such a beautiful breed, but they do suffer??

Opinions welcome

The healthiest dogs in a breed are the ones to breed from, and yours will have had as many checks as possible.
The only way to improve a breed is to breed from the best and healthiest.
If you can say that your dog is one of these, then the choice is really yours.
I know of people who, with a minor breed, have had to breed from less than perfect dogs because of the gene pool being small. The best were bred from and the breed is now beginning to show signs of improvement.

I had thought of getting involved in the Cavalier breed and started studying kennels and lines 5 years ago . . . and for me the decision was easy to forestall purchasing a show prospect until EBVs are up and running. I couldn't imagine what I would do if I was in the breed already. When EBVs are available, even with all the risks, I know I'll still want "in". As I live in Canada, and very few MRIs are done in North America, that will probably mean travelling to get a pup, which further complicates things expense wise, so we'll see.

It is a moral dilemma, but if those with knowledge of lines and who are conscientious all pull out, all the breed will have will be the commercial breeders.

It would be probably best off to leave your decision until after your girl's MRI scan. At that point, if the sire planned is an "A" and so is your girl, the greatest chances are that the pups will not be threatened by symptomatic SM. I know that this is not an absolute and that IS the dilemma.

Good luck next week on the health checks . . . I imagine it will be gutwrenching waiting for the results.

Firstly congratulations on doing everything you can to ensure healthy pups ! - secondly don't forget that if good responsible breeders stop producing pups then buyers will have no choice but to go those that do NO testing etc - yours is an incredibly popular breed and the demand for pups will remain far better that there are caring ethical breeders doing their best to increase the number of clear lines available than levaing the breed to those that are only in it for the money !.

Sounds like you are doing everything right, its nice to see that, especially in such a breed (as we all know what can happen to Cavaliers). So long as the rest of her test results are good, and you are willing to give lifetime aftercare with puppies and take back any that need rehoming, then I don't see why you shouldn't breed.

Any pics of your girl? They are so beautiful!

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Photography

Bless you all for your replies and thank you, your opinions have really, really helped I'll let you know the outcome of the tests next week, and try to upload some pics of Lou in the mean time. Thanks again.

Well........... the results are in and she passed her KC/BVA eye test and scanned 'clear' of SM I have it on good authority that 50% of cavs taken on the low cost breeder programmes are scanning positive for SM - I feel quite blessed!

Comfortcreature I think you are wise to wait until the EBV's are up and running!

Forget about your waiting list, don't let that put extra pressure on you. Your waiting list people will find a puppy elsewhere if you decide not to go ahead.

I think it is up to you to decide if you could cope with some of your pups having a CKCS related disease, as that is the worst case scenario for you. Can you cope emotionally? Can you cope with the pet owners in their distress? and potential anger? Can you cope financially?

If you can, then go ahead and breed, if you feel that you cannot, then don't.
You have done your best getting all the tests done but as you say it is not 100%, BUT neither is anything in breeding.
The best laid plans......

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Lauren

Don't Shop Adopt! - Stop Puppy Farming

Battery Farmed Dogs Campaign (Puppy Farming)

your girl is fine - you've checked everything you can so as an owner of a cav you would be just what I would look for in a breeder
it would be a real shame for this breed to die out - they are the friendliest dogs I've ever come across - its dogs like yours that will hopefully help the breed to survive
I have a 2.5 yr old cav who has very mild Sm - so can see it from both sides -I wouldn't be without her and as it's mild luckily it doesn't cause her any pain - she's just a bit "odd" at times

i would be thoroughly impressed if i was buying pups off you to hear the extensive testing to try and ensure the pups are given the best chances before they were even conceived!

i agree with others on this thread. people will keep breeding whether good breeders such as yourself decide to or not.


if you do i expect to see lots of pictures

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