typical Grandville Cavalier pups

At Grandville Cavaliers, we believe that breeder and new puppy owner must work as a TEAM in order to achieve optimum health and longevity for each pup; Health screening, socialization, exercise, excellent nutrition, and adhering to a minimal use vaccine protocol all play a part in your pup's future wellbeing. You can read more about our club's (CKCSC) vaccine recommendations at the CKCSC website.

We adhere to the CKCSC code of ethics in all matters of breeding and puppy placement.
Parents have a DNA profile and are dual registered with the the American Kennel Club (AKC),
and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA (CKCSC,USA).

In the interest of protecting the breed, all pets leave on a restricted/limited registration,
meaning they are not to be used for breeding.

Thank you for helping us to promote repsonsible dog ownership.

Click here to join us in celebrating 10 years at Grandville Cavaliers!

In this touching video, Leila shares her favorite images
of the past 10 years raising pups.
We trust it will give you a glimpse into her heart...

 

GOALS:  BEAUTY, LONGEVITY, PERSONALITY


“I believe that the welfare of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed is of paramount importance. It supersedes any other commitment to Cavaliers whether that be personal, competitive, or financial.”
(This is the first line to our breed club code of ethics, CKCSC, USA, Inc.)

Although our hobby is showing Cavaliers in conformation, we do breed occasionally, and our greatest desire and goal is to breed happy, healthy Cavaliers, to conform to the breed standard, with beauty, personality, and longevity of the breed as our priorities.

Yes, as said in our code of ethics, the welfare of the breed is our priority. To this end, we take great care in planning a breeding, by careful health testing by board certified specialists, and breeding away from health defects, with the hopes of breeding healthier Cavaliers. Although progress has been made, and the Cavalier is a generally healthy breed, there remain potential health problems, as with any breed. The two that remain of foremost concern are Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) and Syringomyelia (SM).
Please visit www.aboutcavalierhealth.com to learn more about the breed health concerns.

Although perfection may not exist, I can at least do my very best to ensure that all the chances have been put on your side.
 

All our pups are raised as part of our family. From the womb to the hands of their new owners, our pups receive the most excellent care possible in order to get the best start in life. They receive excellent nutrition, veterinary care, socialization, and a great start to potty training, and are usually ready to go to their new home around 10-12 weeks of age. I also occasionally have older pups to place as well, and there are many advantages to getting an older puppy.

Exceptional black and tan 5 week pup, shiny fur, sparkle in eyes, happy fearless disposition...
lots of qualities to look for in a healthy, well-socialized pup raised with a family in the home.

So you might ask, “How exactly do I raise my pups, socialize them and prepare them for life and their new home?
This is a huge responsibility for a breeder and one I take very seriously.

Over the years I have learned about puppy socialization and training, and continue to learn and discover new and exciting ways to help pups grow into happy confident adults. Of course I can only plant those precious seeds of love and learning, but it’s up to you as their new owner to continue to water those seeds until they grow into all they are meant to be. What I always say: There are no “bad” doggies. They become what we teach them to be. It is up to us. Part of it is their genetic make up, but mostly it is about how they are raised from birth, and their environment. Puppies born in large commercial breeders or puppy mills for example, do not have the advantage of receiving the love, attention and proper socialization needed for proper puppy development.
It all begins even before they enter the world, with the proper care of the mommy. Lots of time and attention, good nutrition and lots of love are given. The future mom stays close to us in our home, and we follow her progression until that exciting day when her pups arrive. They are born into my hands, in my home, and I sleep with them for several nights until I know they are thriving, nursing well, and that mommy is doing great!
From day one they are each exposed to various stimuli, so that they will be ready to handle the normal stresses of the world in their forever homes.
All pups are individually handled from birth on, for several minutes daily by myself and family members. They are gently rubbed all over their bodies so that they are comfortable with being handled. This is important for grooming, trimming nails and future vet visits. Pat Hastings, in her book, Another Piece of the Puzzle, describes various stimulation exercises to be done from day 3 through 16 for 3-5 seconds each day:

1. Tickled between the toes with a Q-tip.
2. Held perpendicular to the ground.
3. Held head down.
4. Held on its back in the palm of your hand.
5. Lain on a cold damp towel.

These small stimulations for a few seconds daily help pups to better tolerate stress later in life. This handling does not replace normal handling by our family, and we all love to hold and cuddle our pups!

As they begin to toddle, I introduce various toys, chew toys, sounds (such as household appliances), and a variety of music.

Our young pups stay in our living room, not only because we love having them near us, but also because it's great exposure to all the noises of daily life--vacuum, radio, etc..., and they are often held by passing admirers!

My Cavaliers love to play with my Lab, shown here at 11 years of age and still able to pull the Tricolor across the floor on his bed!

When they are several weeks old, we begin exploring the outside world. It may be a short trip to the end of my driveway to hear passing cars, or a walk in my pet stroller or a ride in the car to school activities where they can meet lots of strangers. When the pups get a bit older, they can run and play with the adults in our yard under supervision. This is part of their socialization, learning to interact early on with the adult Cavaliers.

Later on, as time approaches them leaving our home, we begin crate training. They each spend short periods of time in a crate, which is comfy cozy with toys and a treat when they enter. The crate is never to be used for punishment, it is to remain a safe haven the pup will always be able to call his own. We highly recommend continuing crate training in their new home.
Socialization took on new meaning when I read Pat Hastings' book called Another Piece of the Puzzle. These are her recommendations I follow when I raise a puppy:

The Rule of 7’s
By the time a puppy is seven weeks old, he/she should have:

1. Been on 7 different types of surfaces--carpets, concrete, wood, grass, dirt, etc…
2. Played with 7 different types of objects--big ball, small balls, soft fabric, toys…
3. Been in 7 different locations--front yard, back yard, basement, kitchen, etc…
4. Met and played with 7 new people--children, older adults, etc….
5. Been exposed to 7 challenges--climb on/off a box, go through tunnel, climb steps…
6. Eaten from 7 different containers--metal, plastic, glass, china, etc….
7. Eaten in 7 different locations--crate, yard, kitchen, basement, laundry room, etc…

I try my best to achieve these goals before your puppy leaves my home.

 

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When we choose a puppy for you, you will receive the following:

1. Puppy care packet which includes the following: feeding instructions, grooming info, training articles, a recommended list of items you will want to purchase before pups arrival, general info on the breed and much more.
2. Excellent book to help you raise your new pup entitled: Puppy Primer by Brenda Scidmore and Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.
3. Warm fuzzy blanket with the smell of our home and litter mates.
4. Bag of their puppy food and bowl.
5. Three generation pedigree.
6. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club new membership form and code of ethics which I adhere to: www.ckcsc.org
7. Written medical records and puppy well check signed by my vet.

We will do our best to help you along your journey and answer your questions!

 

Check out Leila's article to help you prepare for and raise your new puppy:
The Puppy Parenting Journey

Bringing puppies into the world is a great privilege, and an even greater responsibility, one that I take very seriously. After raising a litter over several months, it is true they become like children to us, and where they spend the rest of their lives is of utmost importance. That is why I take the time to get to know the future family of my pup, in order to make sure I am choosing the pup that is best suited to your family lifestyle. Also, if I feel your lifestyle is not suited to this breed, I will help to refer you to another breed if I can.

Here is a little bit about this breed to help you see what I take into consideration when choosing a puppy:

Gay, friendly, non-aggressive, fearless and sporting in character, yet gentle and affectionate, are all qualities of a true Cavalier.
These qualities are what make a Cavalier not only a perfect companion, but also able to excel in agility, obedience, flyball, therapy, and much more. Here is Shay, having found the perfect home to meet her athletic abilities doing agility, and all while having fun!

Shay loves agility practice!

Cavaliers are amazingly intelligent, always ready to love you, always in a good mood, and on top of that, they’re “wash and wear.” Unlike most toy breeds, Cavaliers are for the most part calm, quiet dogs whose favorite place is on a lap!

Pretty pup enjoying lap time with our son

This breed does not do well left alone for long hours, and are not meant to be outdoor kenneled dogs. They thrive in our company, and need to be a vital part of their human family.
 

Each Cavalier is an individual and has a unique personality. Some are more lap dogs, others prefer to run and play all day. Some are more sporting and outgoing, others are a bit laid back and prefer the sofa. Some are very small, close to 13 pounds, and others may be closer to 18 pounds. These and other factors come into play when finding a home. My job is to get to know you and your lifestyle and then see which little one will fit your lifestyle best.

It all begins with an e-mail or phone call, or you can request my prospective owner application by e-mail.
Please click here to learn more about the adoption process.
 

Here are some photos of matches made in heaven!

Please visit our Happy Homes page to see more wonderful matches!

The Hannah family desiring an older pup, and thrilled to adopt their new furry child, as they call him!

If you are interested in knowing more about any upcoming litters
or about the adoption process, please e-mail me.

Click here to learn more about the adoption process.

PRESENT LITTERS

Inquiries Welcome!

Grandville Cavaliers in Action!

Click here to join us in celebrating 10 years at Grandville Cavaliers! Watch a video of some of our puppies playing!

Enjoy the videos below from our extended families. Thanks to them for sharing these fun memories.

Watch a video of a Grandville ruby puppy learning tricks!

Cavaliers love to swim, fetch, and retrieve. Watch a video as Beau retrieves his dummy with his Labrador buddy!

Check out Grandville Cavaliers Barnaby and Leia with their owners at the  Crownsville Cavalier Monthly Meet-up. They will be easy to recognize: just play the slide show and look out for the only ruby and black and tan Cavaliers! They are having the time of their life! Thank you to their amazing owners, Michael and Frances & Allen and Barbara, for offering them such a fullfilling activity!

PAST LITTERS up to 2010 Please enjoy our precious puppy album of past litters. Click on each name to view their pictures.

Copyright © 2012 Grandville Cavaliers

No photos/text on this website may be copied without authorized permission of the owner.