Spaniel club bites back over 'in-breeding' accusation

3:20pm Friday 20th August 2010 in News By Dan Hearn

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

A DOG club last night defended its breeding policy as it prepares for its international championship show at Blenheim Palace.

Animal rights group Peta has accused the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of causing suffering to the dogs by promoting in-breeding.

But the group denied the accusation, claiming health and welfare are its “highest priorities” and accusing puppy farmers of causing genetic problems in the breed.

Thousands of people from around the world will head to Blenheim next weekend for the start of the club’s annual two-day Championship Show.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are listed as “at risk” after years of in-breeding resulting in some animals suffering heart disease and a condition which leaves the dog’s skull too small for its brain.

The BBC has refused to broadcast the world famous dog show Crufts unless 14 breeds are banned, including the Cavalier.

Peta – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals – says the breeding practices responsible must be stopped.

Policy adviser Alistair Currie said: “People who care about dogs as dogs, rather than their appearance or breeding lines, would stop the in-breeding and put health above human fancy.“ “Whether it’s for inner city ‘status dogs’ or fancy breeds like the Cavalier Kings Charles, it’s dogs who suffer and it needs to be banned outright.”

Club chairman Sheena Maclaine said the breed rules were “historic”.

She added: “Club members are responsible for a very small proportion of puppies that are bred, with the majority produced by puppy farmers and commercial breeders.

“The club has no way of controlling or influencing these people.

“On the other hand, we continually revise guidelines for ethical breeding, as new information becomes available from veterinary research specialists.”

Comments (10)

3:38pm Fri 20 Aug 10

peapoddy2 says...

People who buy inbred pedigree dogs and hence create a demand for them are as much to blame as the breeders. Why spend hundreds, sometimes thousands on some pooch with genetic problems when the dog shelters are full of lovable (often mongrel) dogs. It is crazy to breed puppies when thousands of healthy dogs are put down each year. So shame on you, both dog breeders and dog buyers!
People who buy inbred pedigree dogs and hence create a demand for them are as much to blame as the breeders. Why spend hundreds, sometimes thousands on some pooch with genetic problems when the dog shelters are full of lovable (often mongrel) dogs. It is crazy to breed puppies when thousands of healthy dogs are put down each year. So shame on you, both dog breeders and dog buyers! peapoddy2

4:45pm Fri 20 Aug 10

Lord Palmerstone says...

So the ones on the left are mum and dad and the picture on the right is the puppy? Absolutely terrifying, this inbreeding.
So the ones on the left are mum and dad and the picture on the right is the puppy? Absolutely terrifying, this inbreeding. Lord Palmerstone

5:10pm Fri 20 Aug 10

Cavalier Pet Owner says...

May I join in this discussion by saying that the Cavalier Breed is in Dire Straights at the moment because of Two Huge Health Problems Afflicting Cavaliers,Syringomye
lia a Neurological Problem and MVD a Heart Condition.
With the Syringomyelia Problem ,to help with this Insidious Disease, some Cavaliers are Operated on and have Screws put into their Heads .With the MVD Problem ,50% of Cavaliers have a Heart Murmur at 5-6 years of age, and Heart Researchers say that this is no better than it was 18 years ago.

The Cavalier Breeders cannot blame all this on the the Puppy Farmers ,because in 1983 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel CLUB's Cardiologist carried out Surveys on Cavaliers 'at Cavalier Shows, and was dismayed at how wide -spread their Heart Problem was. Those were Cavalier Club Members 'Cavaliers ,not Cavaliers from Puppy Farms!!.

I really do believe that the Cavalier Show to be held at Blenheim Palace is no more than a Public Relations Exercise just to Blind the Cavalier Buying Public to Hid from them the Terrible State the Cavaliers are in with those Health Problems.

The Orginizers of the Show say it is to Celebrate the Cavaliers ,how can this be said when many Cavaliers are suffering from Syringomyelia and dying at a young age from MVD Heart Trouble.
May I join in this discussion by saying that the Cavalier Breed is in Dire Straights at the moment because of Two Huge Health Problems Afflicting Cavaliers,Syringomye lia a Neurological Problem and MVD a Heart Condition. With the Syringomyelia Problem ,to help with this Insidious Disease, some Cavaliers are Operated on and have Screws put into their Heads .With the MVD Problem ,50% of Cavaliers have a Heart Murmur at 5-6 years of age, and Heart Researchers say that this is no better than it was 18 years ago. The Cavalier Breeders cannot blame all this on the the Puppy Farmers ,because in 1983 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel CLUB's Cardiologist carried out Surveys on Cavaliers 'at Cavalier Shows, and was dismayed at how wide -spread their Heart Problem was. Those were Cavalier Club Members 'Cavaliers ,not Cavaliers from Puppy Farms!!. I really do believe that the Cavalier Show to be held at Blenheim Palace is no more than a Public Relations Exercise just to Blind the Cavalier Buying Public to Hid from them the Terrible State the Cavaliers are in with those Health Problems. The Orginizers of the Show say it is to Celebrate the Cavaliers ,how can this be said when many Cavaliers are suffering from Syringomyelia and dying at a young age from MVD Heart Trouble. Cavalier Pet Owner

6:20pm Fri 20 Aug 10

geographica1 says...

It is true the breed has two serious health problems (like many other pedigree breeds) - dedicated health conscious breeders and pet owners are working their butts off to help fund research and that is in part what this weekend is about as well as a celebration of the breed.
The puppy farmers will never come to heel, nor will they test and of course many new owners want a puppy on the cheap and so the problems are perpetuated.
The poster from Thankerton doesn't even own a cavalier and hasn't done for several years.
Anyone wishing to see how much effort is being made by club can see here ..
http://www.thecavali
erclub.co.uk
It is true the breed has two serious health problems (like many other pedigree breeds) - dedicated health conscious breeders and pet owners are working their butts off to help fund research and that is in part what this weekend is about as well as a celebration of the breed. The puppy farmers will never come to heel, nor will they test and of course many new owners want a puppy on the cheap and so the problems are perpetuated. The poster from Thankerton doesn't even own a cavalier and hasn't done for several years. Anyone wishing to see how much effort is being made by club can see here .. http://www.thecavali erclub.co.uk geographica1

3:47am Sat 21 Aug 10

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon says...

Cavalier pet owner. I have just watched the video of "Walk Of Life" 5 times, and I can't see a dog anywhere. Are you sure it was Dire Straits they were in and not Genesis?
Cavalier pet owner. I have just watched the video of "Walk Of Life" 5 times, and I can't see a dog anywhere. Are you sure it was Dire Straits they were in and not Genesis? Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

9:34am Sat 21 Aug 10

Cavalier Pet Owner says...

Could I answere the Post about the Cavaliers and Puppy Farmers.

The MVD Heart Figures are mostly from Data of Cavaliers taken at Cavalier Shows, I don't think there will be many Cavaliers from Puppy Farms at Cavalier Shows.At the recent Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club 's AGM ,there was a Proposal put, that only the Cavaliers who were Health Tested could win the Cavalier Club's Trophie's ,it was flung out.

Yes ,we do not own any Cavaliers , but have Cavalier Pet Owners for over 30 years ,and have lost some of our Cherished Cavaliers at a young age from MVD , that was why I got involved in the Cavalier MVD Problem, I have collected around 400 Cavalier Pedigrees of Cavaliers suffering from Heart Trouble and passed them onto a University Researching the Problem .

I have also collected the Ages of Long Lived Cavaliers 12 years upwards along with their Sires and Dams that I found out about, the List of around 2,000 Names is held at the the Kennel Club Library in London, so I don't think not having a Cavalier now, should stop me from being being involved with the Cavaliers' Health Problems. Perhaps I should also mention ,that because of the Lack of MRI Scans being sent to AHT from Cavalier Owners , it was said at a Recent Syringomyelia Seminar ,they are now more involved with the Labrador Breed.This Research is to try and find an answer to the Problem of Syringomyelia in the Cavalier Breed.This Syringomyelia Disease is a Horrible Disease, as a Result of the Operation some Cavaliers have to have because of it they have to have Screws put into their Heads.

The only way for those Two Serious Health Conditions to be improved in the Cavalier Breed,,is for Cavalier Breeders to Health Test their Cavalier Breeding Stock,and for Prospective Buyers of Cavaliers to see a Certificate from the Cavalier to Prove that this has been done.Also what might help, is if a Cavalier developes a Disease known to be in the Cavalier Breed ,and the Cavalier Breeder has not Health Tested their Cavalier Breeding Stock for the Disease ,then that Cavalier Breeder can be taken to Court, that I am sure would Focus a Few Minds !!!
Could I answere the Post about the Cavaliers and Puppy Farmers. The MVD Heart Figures are mostly from Data of Cavaliers taken at Cavalier Shows, I don't think there will be many Cavaliers from Puppy Farms at Cavalier Shows.At the recent Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club 's AGM ,there was a Proposal put, that only the Cavaliers who were Health Tested could win the Cavalier Club's Trophie's ,it was flung out. Yes ,we do not own any Cavaliers , but have Cavalier Pet Owners for over 30 years ,and have lost some of our Cherished Cavaliers at a young age from MVD , that was why I got involved in the Cavalier MVD Problem, I have collected around 400 Cavalier Pedigrees of Cavaliers suffering from Heart Trouble and passed them onto a University Researching the Problem . I have also collected the Ages of Long Lived Cavaliers 12 years upwards along with their Sires and Dams that I found out about, the List of around 2,000 Names is held at the the Kennel Club Library in London, so I don't think not having a Cavalier now, should stop me from being being involved with the Cavaliers' Health Problems. Perhaps I should also mention ,that because of the Lack of MRI Scans being sent to AHT from Cavalier Owners , it was said at a Recent Syringomyelia Seminar ,they are now more involved with the Labrador Breed.This Research is to try and find an answer to the Problem of Syringomyelia in the Cavalier Breed.This Syringomyelia Disease is a Horrible Disease, as a Result of the Operation some Cavaliers have to have because of it they have to have Screws put into their Heads. The only way for those Two Serious Health Conditions to be improved in the Cavalier Breed,,is for Cavalier Breeders to Health Test their Cavalier Breeding Stock,and for Prospective Buyers of Cavaliers to see a Certificate from the Cavalier to Prove that this has been done.Also what might help, is if a Cavalier developes a Disease known to be in the Cavalier Breed ,and the Cavalier Breeder has not Health Tested their Cavalier Breeding Stock for the Disease ,then that Cavalier Breeder can be taken to Court, that I am sure would Focus a Few Minds !!! Cavalier Pet Owner

3:32pm Sat 21 Aug 10

geographica1 says...

According to recent figures only 2% of the dogs registered with the Kennel Club are shown and you are using data from these dogs and condemning the breeders of these dogs. Drive these folks away and you will wipe out the breed because puppy farmers are never going to test. Don't you have anything to say about the unspeakable cruelty that goes on in these places or is it just cheap shots at 2% of show breeders. Anyone can collect pedigrees myself I find fund raising much more satisfying.
According to recent figures only 2% of the dogs registered with the Kennel Club are shown and you are using data from these dogs and condemning the breeders of these dogs. Drive these folks away and you will wipe out the breed because puppy farmers are never going to test. Don't you have anything to say about the unspeakable cruelty that goes on in these places or is it just cheap shots at 2% of show breeders. Anyone can collect pedigrees myself I find fund raising much more satisfying. geographica1

5:38pm Sat 21 Aug 10

Cavalier Pet Owner says...

I am surely am most upset at the conditions that Dogs are kept in in Puppy Farms,but what I am trying to explain ,is that the Data for Cavaliers for MVD Figures is mostly from Cavaliers who are Heart Checked at Cavalier Shows ,and I would think that there would not be many Cavaliers from Puppy Farms at Cavalier Shows. I am not making any cheap shots ,just mentioning ,that at the CKCS CLUB's AGM, the figure that was given was ,50% of Cavaliers have Heart Murmurs at 5-6 years of age.How would there be Cavaliers at Cavalier Shows who had been Bred in Puppy Farms.That is the Data I am using ,it is on the CKCS CLUB Web- Site, in a Report from the AGM.It is nice to know that the Researchers have found the Cavaliers' Pedigrees of Cavaliers suffering from MVD that I have collected , useful,not just here in Britain but in other Countries.

Are you saying that all the MVD Problem has come from the Puppy Farms, surely not, when the evidence is there to Prove that most of the MVD Data Figures has come from Cavaliers at Cavalier Shows.
I am surely am most upset at the conditions that Dogs are kept in in Puppy Farms,but what I am trying to explain ,is that the Data for Cavaliers for MVD Figures is mostly from Cavaliers who are Heart Checked at Cavalier Shows ,and I would think that there would not be many Cavaliers from Puppy Farms at Cavalier Shows. I am not making any cheap shots ,just mentioning ,that at the CKCS CLUB's AGM, the figure that was given was ,50% of Cavaliers have Heart Murmurs at 5-6 years of age.How would there be Cavaliers at Cavalier Shows who had been Bred in Puppy Farms.That is the Data I am using ,it is on the CKCS CLUB Web- Site, in a Report from the AGM.It is nice to know that the Researchers have found the Cavaliers' Pedigrees of Cavaliers suffering from MVD that I have collected , useful,not just here in Britain but in other Countries. Are you saying that all the MVD Problem has come from the Puppy Farms, surely not, when the evidence is there to Prove that most of the MVD Data Figures has come from Cavaliers at Cavalier Shows. Cavalier Pet Owner

6:36pm Sun 22 Aug 10

geographica1 says...

Who pays for these tests at the Breeders Shows? where does the money come from for this subsidised testing ? not from Puppy Farmers thats for sure, no from the 2% of show breeders you continually attack whilst ignoring the unspeakable cruelty that some cavaliers are kept in on Factory Farms. I am now going to do what everyone else on the Internet does when they come across your interminable posts and that is IGNORE YOU!
Who pays for these tests at the Breeders Shows? where does the money come from for this subsidised testing ? not from Puppy Farmers thats for sure, no from the 2% of show breeders you continually attack whilst ignoring the unspeakable cruelty that some cavaliers are kept in on Factory Farms. I am now going to do what everyone else on the Internet does when they come across your interminable posts and that is IGNORE YOU! geographica1

9:57am Tue 24 Aug 10

Cavalier Pet Owner says...

If I could finish off my Posts on this Subject, because of the Blenheim Palace Show ,now the Cavalier Pet Buying Public are aware of the Two Serious Diseases Afflicting the Cavalier Breed, MVD Heart Trouble and Syringomyelia ,and should only buy from Cavalier Breeders who are Health Testing their Breeding Stock for those Conditions,and ask to see a Health Certificate to Show that the Cavalier Breeder is doing this. Also to ask from the Cavalier Breeder if the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeding Guidelines are being followed as Recommended by the CKCS CLUB for those Two Health Problems in Cavaliers.

Not to Breed from a Cavalier before 2.5 years of age ,and the Health Status of the Grand-Parents are known about at 5 years.

If the Cavalier Breeder is not following those Breeding Guidelines, then the Prospective Cavalier Buyer should go to a Cavalier Breeder who does.

This is the only way that the Cavalier Breed can be helped out of the Mess it is in now with their Health Problems.
If I could finish off my Posts on this Subject, because of the Blenheim Palace Show ,now the Cavalier Pet Buying Public are aware of the Two Serious Diseases Afflicting the Cavalier Breed, MVD Heart Trouble and Syringomyelia ,and should only buy from Cavalier Breeders who are Health Testing their Breeding Stock for those Conditions,and ask to see a Health Certificate to Show that the Cavalier Breeder is doing this. Also to ask from the Cavalier Breeder if the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeding Guidelines are being followed as Recommended by the CKCS CLUB for those Two Health Problems in Cavaliers. Not to Breed from a Cavalier before 2.5 years of age ,and the Health Status of the Grand-Parents are known about at 5 years. If the Cavalier Breeder is not following those Breeding Guidelines, then the Prospective Cavalier Buyer should go to a Cavalier Breeder who does. This is the only way that the Cavalier Breed can be helped out of the Mess it is in now with their Health Problems. Cavalier Pet Owner

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