Breeder’s Story

My first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was purchased at the pet store. I know - big, huge no-no. But, at the time it was the only way I could afford one of these beauties. All I knew was I have loved their look and temperament as far back as I can remember. I did not think about researching Cavalier King Charles Spaniels...we've had dogs forever and did not do that for any dog. Well, I've learned a lot in the last almost 13 years living with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from the pet store - Suki. Suki turned 13 years old on January 12, 2025. She was diagnosed with MVD at around 6 years old was on medicine for her heart from that day on. Suki was put on the third medicine of the "triple cocktail" for MVD at age 10. My very dear Suki passed on October 19, 2025. She did not die of her heart disease…she died from a brain tumor. Suki’s last days were very peaceful. I was very blessed to have Suki for those years, but there will be a huge hole in my heart forever. My main goal is to study for whatever testing I can for Cavaliers and obtain as much knowledge about Cavaliers as I can. Suki lived a wonderful life, but I would have loved it if she could have lived years longer, and I will do anything to help that dream come true for everyone’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Unfortunately, I have had to learn about some of the diseases common to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels through some of my dogs. My Freya (6) was diagnosed with SM (syringomyelia) at 18 months old. It is a terrible disease. Freya participated in an SM study at North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina. Here is a link to the study.

I have also had to learn about MVD (mitral valve disease) to help Suki out. Some of my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels qualified to participate in a 7-year long study focusing on the shape of a heart valve at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia. Here is a link to that study.

I have made it my passion to research, learn and do whatever possible that I can to help this beautiful, loving breed be healthy long-term. We never have enough time with them no matter how old they are, but I would love to have the average age of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel be much older than it is now due to disease.