Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

[Deerie me]

I'd wait too. Loki is two and isn't done yet and we don't have any unmanageable problems so I would wait if you can. He isn't done because I don't want to limit our options regarding showing him as he is turning into a nice dog.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Loki is a good boy, and he is manageable, and you do know what you're doing. I'm so glad you are keeping the breeding options open for Loki. He and Idun make a beautiful couple.

[Phyrie]

Of course, Tracy hasn't said a THING about breeding our dear Loki, but showing him. That shows she's a very responsible owner. If the experts in the dog showing community agree with her (and us!) and award Loki his championship, she MAY consider breeding him. But she recognizes that you don't just breed a dog 'cuz you like him, or think he's swell. He needs to be qualified as a perfect example of Deerhound, or at the very least, have many traits that are valuable in the Deerhound gene pool. Same goes for Idun. Or any purebred dog, for that matter. And THAT'S what responsible dog breeding is all about...

Jeez, Tracy, can you imagine a whole house full of Deerie puppies?? *boggle*

Phyrie

[Deerie me]

Completely ***boggling****. They have big litters. There were ten in Loki's litter and twelve in Idun's. If they did well enough in the show ring and Idun's coat came right we would only consider breeding either of them under the guidance and scrutiny of Idun's breeders who have become friends. It's a big deal with a huge amount to consider such as, not breeding in confirmation faults, not breeding in potential health issues, keeping the gene pool as large as possible, studying blood lines etc. We wouldn't go anywhere near it without an expert's tuition.

[Phyrie]

'Natch! You're a smart cookie, as we all know! I still would love, love, love to hear posts from you regarding a HERD of Deeries gallumphing through your house. It would be priceless!! No, it would come at price, wouldn't it? The price of furntiture, clothing, peace and quiet, carpeting....

Still, it would be exciting!

Phyrie

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

The thought of a litter of Deeries is a lovely thought. I remember our Wolfie pups, and the litters were very large, and there is a great deal of work involved, including a special bed for whelping. When I was about 17, we had a litter of Wolfies arrive while my parents were in Europe We had a person staying at the house and between the two of us, we managed to tend to 10 puppies.

They are so much fun around 4 weeks when they start trying to run

Tracy, your post about breeding should be a "sticky" or whatever they call those things that are a "Must Read"

[Deerie me]

It would be exciting and the sort of excitement I am not ready for ...............yet.

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

...not just yet perhaps

[FELIX, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel]

Hello all,

I decided to cancel the appointment for Felix's neuter appointment.

I do! I do! If I had a choice, and I could stand the lifting, marking and general obnoxiousness, I would wait until my Cav was two. If I couldn't bear it, I would try to stretch it to one year old. Kiba's umbilical hernia expanded suddenly at ten months, and needed surgery, so we decided to neuter him at the same time, to save a later anaesthetic. I regret it. I would much rather my boy had his full bone growth before neutering. That's my opinion. There are lots of studies being done that you can look up, and form your own opinion, of course.

I will say this, though. A vet might tell you that you can neuter an animal at eight weeks. It's their job to help prevent animal overpopulation, and sometimes they are not up on all the latest studies. Your vet may be right in that it's "safe" to neuter an animal that young, but it doesn't mean it's "best" for him. See what I mean?

Some breeders won't send you the paperwork on your dog without proof of speutering. Some even insist that you do it before six months, so you won't sneak in a breeding before the surgery! Most purebred pets are sold with a non-breeding contract, with which you may not be required to speuter, but you may not breed. Any breeding will result in a huge monetary penalty, and your resultant litter are NOT registrable. This helps prevent ignorant, but possibly well-meaning owners from indiscriminately breeding their dogs without knowing what the hell they are doing! I am NOT qualified to breed Kiba, and wouldn't dream of attempting it, even were he capable...

So, in summary, wait as long as you can stand it. Beware that the little bugger will lift his leg, and if you don't correct him, and stay on top of it, he may embarrass you at Grandma's house. Not to mention the humping, marking and other obnoxious behaviours. But they ARE manageable, if you are dedicated, especially with a small dog. I don't know how you manage a Rottie who wants to hump Grandma, but that's a whole different dog...

Phyrie

Felix is not exhibiting any obnoxious behaviors, although he will hump from time to time...

I decided since marking, etc. is not a problem, the vote is still out on the impact of neutering on growth, I can't make up my mind, and I am confident it will NOT hurt him to wait.... he can enjoy his first Christmas in peace! I am thinking perhaps this spring some time, when he is a bit older. Thank you all for your comments!

Felix and I

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

If it's any consolation, Henry is going to be scheduled for his surgery early in the new year. As you said, there is no obnoxious behaviour other than "teen angst" and playing with their parts, so what's the rush. Oliver was marking things, very purposefully, as well as his other issues, so it was clearly time.

Henry is still a happy little gus, who isn't frustrated...yet. I'm glad you've decided to follow your heart with Felix. Good for you! I'm taking a "wait and see" approach with Henry, but he will be neutered by the time he is 1.

Keep us posted!

[FELIX, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel]

Hello all,

Felix is now 7 months old and 14.6 lbs. He is gaining weight very slowly and is long and somewhat petite.
The vet has ruled out physical causes/illnesses at his point and it seems he is just a really picky eater
and a small little guy. We are having lots of food drama because of his pickiness- he will eat almost everything besides his food.

He worries me!

Just curious: at 7 months, what size was your Cavalier?

With thanks,

Felix and I

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Felix is a good size for 7 months! He should be long, skinny and lanky...that's how young Cavaliers look. (Take a look at Henry in my Winter Wonderland thread and see if Felix looks like him...it's in the General Section.) I wouldn't worry about Felix being a picky eater. He sounds like a healthy weight for his age. A full grown Cavalier should weigh between 15 and 18 pounds, and Felix is only 7 months. Phyrie has some wonderful tips on toys and different methods of feeding that make it a game, thereby giving you a chance to bond more, stimulate Felix's mind and know precisely how much food he is consuming.

Oliver was the same and if you look at Oliver now, he certainly is not skinny and lanky but his medication plays a big part in that. Oliver was very svelte until he was 3 at least.

Now that we are into the new year, and Henry is 8 months old, I am still in no hurry to have him neutered. I want him to continue to fill out, broaden his chest and develop a little more. He is not marking anything "indoors" yet, nor is he humping thankfully. I am taking a wait and see approach, and you may wish to do the same with Felix.

Being flexible is a terrific asset to have raising puppies (and children). It sounds like you are doing very well.

[FELIX, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel]

Oliver and Henry's Mum,

I took a quick look at your pictures of Henry, which made me feel much less concerned. Felix looks very similar to Henry in size, long and skinny, although Felix may be a bit longer. In my neighborhood, there are several Cavaliers we see at the dog park, however, they are all much older and so not a great comparison. Also, I grew up with large dogs.... and everything about Felix seems itsy bitsy, except his personality

I would LOVE tips about making feeding a game! Right now, after much trial and error, Felix is eating Evangers wet food and Merrick Puppy Plate dry food. These two were the only two foods he showed much interest in, however, he will eat any type of treat and if he was allowed he would eat people food (he will go after anything not nailed down). I don't get it!!

The dry food and water is always available, and the wet food is given twice a day. He won't eat it mixed. We gave up really strict mealtimes, because Felix would just stare at us or sit in a corner when we tried to say, here puppy, dinner! If we left the room, he followed, and when we put up a gate, he fussed and ignored his food completely, as he could see us thru the gate (we live in an apartment). He is still difficult w/ the wet food feedings.

He regulates well, and doesn't seem to be overeating...We watch how much dry food is in his bowl and when it is refilled... We hear him mostly at night munching away in the kitchen when we "aren't looking".

I am also taking a wait and see approach with Felix, as we are not having difficulties with behavior. Besides occasionally humping, he does not exhibit any other obnoxious behaviors, and so we are waiting until Spring or Summer. We can handle addressing the humping until then!!

With Thanks,

Felix and I

[Teeny83]

Deb, gave you some helpful advice

Daisy is also very petite; she weighs about 13-15 lbs and is 16 months old.
Sometimes I will put pork or beef from our table scraps in her food and she just gobbles it right up. You could try that.

I also notice that she likes the Clementine oranges, she sits and begs for them, which I think is kind of odd

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Felix...I noticed you said that the dry food is always available. I would stop that immediately. You also said that Felix wants anything human that is not nailed down.

When I brought Oliver home, his breeder gave me some home cooked meat to put on his dry food at dinner time (along with a very regimented diet to follow, including pablum with only goat's milk!). I followed it and it worked out very well. Oliver is certainly not fussy, nor is Henry.

I would suggest, particularly if you want your dog fed mostly on a dry food (which I think is better than the wet food), that you cook some meat or fish and bury it beneath the kibble. If Felix has this every day, he will feel as though he is having human food, and will also eat his kibble to get at the good stuff.

Every one will tell you that dogs don't need their meat cooked, and they are absolutely correct.

Oliver no longer has cooked meat in his food. I also used to add cod liver oil to his dry food, and he ate 4 meals a day. Of course, his diet changed at 4 months, as well as 6 months and finally at 1 year. I am following the same guidelines for Henry, mostly.

If Felix does not eat his Kibble when set down for him after 10 minutes, pick it back up. No dog will starve themselves. Felix is learning that all the time he doesn't eat his kibble, his human will start finding things that he likes more and more, out of concern. Cavaliers just act like they don't know...but they do

Phryie can give you tips on the feeding ball, as well as other games. Oliver provides Henry with enough competition that I don't need to do that.

Also, Cavaliers are prone to put weight on as they age, and if they have any health issues (like Oliver), the medication and side affects cause even more weight gain, so don't worry so much about a "skinny" pup. As long as the coat is shiny and the puppy is happy and playing, all is good