September 2003
Edited by Judy Wright
Can it really be true that this year is beginning to speed towards the close? It seems only a while ago that I was writing the January notes, and here we are on rapid run down to Christmas! (Oh! Yes we are!)
Don't forget to prepare for a possible bout of flea problems as you turn on the central heating! Any flea eggs that have laid dormant on the edge of the carpets will soon hatch when they have a radiator nearby. Always get your Flea treatments from your Vet, as the preparations sold there are very effective.
BEDDING.
I have had several E-Mails over the past few months about suitable beds for Cavaliers. Needless to say, the best bed of all is yours! You may have strong views about the dog sleeping on the bed with you, but most Cavaliers have strong views on the subject and feel they have an absolute right to be on it! Preferably with a nice soft pillow and silk sheets!
Most Cavaliers will find a way of getting onto your bed too! No matter what, so, if you are a new owner of our wonderful breed, the dog will usually win this particular battle!
However, for those of you who have a 'will of iron' and have won the battle, the choice is huge. You must be sure that the dog can sleep in a draught free place and raised off the floor.
You can buy baskets (Not for puppies in case they chew them)! There are very good plastic beds into which you can put a variety of soft ready made bedding, some foam filled, some will be bean bags: You can buy heated beds…really not necessary unless you dog is old and gets stiff, then they are wonderful.
The best bedding has to be easily washable and this means one of the types of veterinary bedding that are available; it looks like imitation sheepskin and can be washed and washed for years! Much easier to wash than foam filled or bean bags and the added bonus of being very quick to dry.
Never use a 'crochet type' blanket as dogs get their feet tangled in the holes.
I have had several E-Mails over the past few months about suitable beds for Cavaliers. Needless to say, the best bed of all is yours! You may have strong views about the dog sleeping on the bed with you, but most Cavaliers have strong views on the subject and feel they have an absolute right to be on it! Preferably with a nice soft pillow and silk sheets!
Most Cavaliers will find a way of getting onto your bed too! No matter what, so, if you are a new owner of our wonderful breed, the dog will usually win this particular battle!
However, for those of you who have a 'will of iron' and have won the battle, the choice is huge. You must be sure that the dog can sleep in a draught free place and raised off the floor.
You can buy baskets (Not for puppies in case they chew them)! There are very good plastic beds into which you can put a variety of soft ready made bedding, some foam filled, some will be bean bags: You can buy heated beds…really not necessary unless you dog is old and gets stiff, then they are wonderful.
The best bedding has to be easily washable and this means one of the types of veterinary bedding that are available; it looks like imitation sheepskin and can be washed and washed for years! Much easier to wash than foam filled or bean bags and the added bonus of being very quick to dry.
Never use a 'crochet type' blanket as dogs get their feet tangled in the holes.
BOOKS
ON THE BREED.
There are some really good books about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that have been written by breeders who own and love the breed.
These books are available on line from the club website: go back to the 'Home' page and take a look under "About The Breed", "Cavalier Books" for details of these. They contain wonderful pictures and the history of the breed.
There are some really good books about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that have been written by breeders who own and love the breed.
These books are available on line from the club website: go back to the 'Home' page and take a look under "About The Breed", "Cavalier Books" for details of these. They contain wonderful pictures and the history of the breed.
SOME
OTHER COLLECTABLES!
With
the very popular series that have appeared on our TV screens, such as
'Bargain Hunt' and 'Flog It', perhaps your appetite for Cavalier memorabilia
has grown. The collecting of Breed related antiques is hugely popular
with most people who show and breed dogs of any kind. The Cavalier has
a huge following and it is still possible to pick up some really nice
pieces from antique, shops, fairs and the larger dog shows.
The most highly collected are the old Staffordshire 'Pot' dogs that would have sat on Grandma's mantelpiece…. genuine pairs of these Staffordshire Dogs now command high figures when they are sold. They were originally very cheap ornaments, often given as prizes in fairgrounds. Many reproduction pairs are available and can make perfectly good ornaments if your pockets are not too deep!
My Cavalier 'won' my first one at a dog show way back in the 70's, it was a small Tri-coloured Staffordshire dog (not a pair), that a well known breeder had donated as a prize; it was the genuine article and is still a very much treasured member of my collection! They are ugly little models really, but they have a habit of 'growing on you', so beware!
With
the very popular series that have appeared on our TV screens, such as
'Bargain Hunt' and 'Flog It', perhaps your appetite for Cavalier memorabilia
has grown. The collecting of Breed related antiques is hugely popular
with most people who show and breed dogs of any kind. The Cavalier has
a huge following and it is still possible to pick up some really nice
pieces from antique, shops, fairs and the larger dog shows.The most highly collected are the old Staffordshire 'Pot' dogs that would have sat on Grandma's mantelpiece…. genuine pairs of these Staffordshire Dogs now command high figures when they are sold. They were originally very cheap ornaments, often given as prizes in fairgrounds. Many reproduction pairs are available and can make perfectly good ornaments if your pockets are not too deep!
My Cavalier 'won' my first one at a dog show way back in the 70's, it was a small Tri-coloured Staffordshire dog (not a pair), that a well known breeder had donated as a prize; it was the genuine article and is still a very much treasured member of my collection! They are ugly little models really, but they have a habit of 'growing on you', so beware!
TAILPIECE.
On the subject of collecting 'dog memorabilia'… I was driving into work one morning and as I passed the little antique shop my eye caught a glimpse of what I thought was a Staffordshire Dog…. I drove on.
That evening, on my way home my eye was again drawn to the shop window…a very brief glance told me that it was a Staffordshire dog…. I drove on.
The following morning, I left home a little early and stopped to look into the window of the shop. There were two of them, a pair of Spaniels, but not the usual type at all.
They were not as I had ever seen before: the shop was closed, so I decided to have a better look later. On my way home, I stopped and went in to see the dogs…. They were old but not made of pottery, but of a chalk base; they were heavy, yet beautifully decorated to resemble two Rubies, complete with collars, chains and lockets, because they were made of chalk and not pottery, the asking price was very reasonable…. I went home.
Over the weekend, I decided that they would be joining the household the following week.
On the Monday morning, I drove past, looking briefly at the shop…they had gone!
I was mortified; she must have sold them over the weekend! Lots of other things in the window had gone too.
I called in on the way home to ask the owner to let me know if ever another pair became available…the lady smiled. "My dear, I have removed some of the stuff from the window in order to dust it. The dogs are down here".
Not for long they weren't! She wrapped them carefully and now, all these years later, they are sitting on the mantelpiece still smiling out at me!
That evening, on my way home my eye was again drawn to the shop window…a very brief glance told me that it was a Staffordshire dog…. I drove on.
The following morning, I left home a little early and stopped to look into the window of the shop. There were two of them, a pair of Spaniels, but not the usual type at all.
They were not as I had ever seen before: the shop was closed, so I decided to have a better look later. On my way home, I stopped and went in to see the dogs…. They were old but not made of pottery, but of a chalk base; they were heavy, yet beautifully decorated to resemble two Rubies, complete with collars, chains and lockets, because they were made of chalk and not pottery, the asking price was very reasonable…. I went home.
Over the weekend, I decided that they would be joining the household the following week.
On the Monday morning, I drove past, looking briefly at the shop…they had gone!
I was mortified; she must have sold them over the weekend! Lots of other things in the window had gone too.
I called in on the way home to ask the owner to let me know if ever another pair became available…the lady smiled. "My dear, I have removed some of the stuff from the window in order to dust it. The dogs are down here".
Not for long they weren't! She wrapped them carefully and now, all these years later, they are sitting on the mantelpiece still smiling out at me!
*************
If you have any questions about owning a Cavalier
then click on the envelope to email Judy who will only be too pleased
to try and help you.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
However please remember that we are not Vets or Lawyers so questions on these topics should be addressed to the professionals for advice.
Questions and answers that are of interest to other owners may be published on this page.
This document maintained
by the webmaster@thecavalierclub.co.uk.
Material Copyright © 2003 The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club