My friend has just got a cavalier from the cavalier rescue people, he is a lovely dog but his coat has been all cut off.His hair is all curly and quite coarse, she would like to grow his coat back in but it seems so curly I think maybe this is the reason it has been cut, or is it because it has been cut it is like this.I have two cavaliers that have never been cut and the texture is much softer and silkier.Has anyone had experience of a coat like this and how to manage it?

If he has been neutered then that will also change the tecture and quantity of coat.  Most usually you get a huge under coat ans the top coat seems dry and straw like, and it becomes diddicult to manage and mats so may be why it was cut off.

Sorry I did mean to say he is entire.

Some cavaliers do have curly coats & clipping them out makes it worse, depending on what colour he is black & tans have a much heavier coats as a whole & there do seem to be a lot of pet cavaliers with poor coats-one of the penalties of breeding from dogs that do not conform to the breed standard that many pet breeders decry

She could try to improve his coat by improving his diet, I don't use any sprays to improve my dogs coats for the ring & the condition comes from within via their food, however I do use a natural conditioner(made especially for me by a herbalist/homoeopath friend) to replace the natural oils removed by shampooing

Regular brushing & combing can also improve the coat as it stimulates new coat growth by removing any dead hair.

I'm surprised Cavalier Rescue let a dog go unneutered

Thank you Moonmaiden,
                                He is a 6 year old tri-coloured dog. They actually only rang up about a dog yesterday and this morning a lady brought the dog round, spent 10 minutes with them and left the dog. I felt she did not give htem enough information about him as they were actually expecting a grilling. They are unsure what he is like at recall, all she explained was the diet. I felt this was  inadequate but he does seem to be a lovely dog. My friend does not have internet access so we may be back here for further advice. I have 2 cavaliers but I would not class myself as an experienced owner. Thankyou for any help, Wendy.

I would think about adding some Royal Jelly into his diet for his coat, but she may wish to wait for a few weeks to see what his coat looks like on a decent diet & regular grooming. I've added a link to a supplier who will supply RJ(they call it Royal Gellee)online or by phone & they are really quick usually same day during the week & no PP either ! I don't know what they have advised her to feel but as most Cavaliers are quite active dogs even when they are older(tell my nearly 5 year old who is still like a puppy) so they should have a good quality diet

I would advise her to start doing a little grooming everyday especially ears, chest, hair & leg feathering whilst his coat is fairly short & easy to do. I use Quistel on my boys when they start to drop a little coat & I use it all the time on my oldest boy as he has had a problem with his tummy & chest skin & coat & Quistel appears to have cured it & he has coat on there that he hasn't for ages & his skin is lovely & soft & supple & his coat is the same & Quistel do a lotion that can be used & left on the coat inbetween shampoos, I use this on my boy who had the yukky skin(my vet reckons it is an allergy & that the Q is easing the itch etc by invigorating the skin's blood vessels)

I wouldn't advise her to let him off lead for at least a month but she might want to use a flexi lead in any open spaces ie parks etc but not just for walking on the roads & do a lots of training on recall at home-you will know that Cavaliers love treats & they are a good way to teach recall

In my personal opinion i think once a cavaliers hair is cut its extremely difficult to grow it back but i do agree with you moonmaiden she should try the royal jelly and give it a shot i also think garlic and cod liver supplements in their diet helps.

I helped a friend abroad rescue his bitches coat after a groomer his wife took her too when he was in hospital shaved her coat off  completely :O they were so upset as she was part way to her title & only needed a bath & blow dry She did finish eventually but it took a year :(

thats horrible they must of felt so upset how many cavvies do u have?

I only have three now as we lost one four weeks ago :( They are all blenheims & we are thinking about another possibly a ruby dog as I love the deep chestnut of my dogs but we are only at the thinking about stage due to the health issues(one of my boys has asymptomatic SHM)

He was absolutely blazing & his poor wife was beside herself as she thought she would have her looking super for him when he got home :(

Do you show your dogs?

I'm no expert on curly coats, my blenheim boy has a naturally flat silky coat as per the Standard, and my tricolour puppy looks like she will also have a flat coat. But I have been told that a lot of tricolour and b/t owners hand strip their dogs' coats, this might help reduce the bulk?

The breed standard is quite clear that NO trimming  is allowed & the CKCS club is also very keen on this, the only trimming(usually called "thinning"by those who do it against the KC standard)is  of the slippers & you can see them a mile off however they do seem to get away with it

I know a good few people who have beautiful B&T & Tris & none do any stripping of the coat(these include CC & res CC winning dogs)if you handstrip a cavalier it is very very obvious to anyone who knows the breed

I've only been showing my own two boys for 4 & 2 years respectively but showed other cavaliers before this, as well as my champion beardie & champ show winning GSDs, BC & other beardies for over 40 years

Clipping cavaliers on a regular basis damages the coat permanently & the result is a fluffy curly coat, this doesn't happen if the dogs are scissored

I agree a show dog should not be trimmed or stripped - if they haven't got a correct coat it isn't right to try and fake one. But the initial post on this subject was someone whose friend had a rescue Cav with a thick coat, so presumably she is looking for ways of managing the coat without clipping it all off, but also without too much worry about KC rules!

He is already clippered off actually<"but his coat has been all cut off"> & will need lots of work to get his coat looking anything like right & also of course it will mean he will have a water proof coat for winter

The reason why cavaliers should not be clippered is that it damages the coat permanently if done frequently & clippered dogs develop a softish fluffy coat-scissored dogs don't BTW

As for colour sadly poor pigment goes hand in hand with too much white, if you like the half & half dogs who would not like mine as they are heavily marked & my older show boy's sister has produced solid ruby's(with no white markings)to a black & tan. They do have the darkest of pigment & have both done well at Championship shows under all sorts of judges as we enter the shows we like rather than under judges we think might like them

I wouldn't penalise a well constructed dog with a lot of tan, but the standard does say 'rich tan on a pearly white background', so I think you are missing something if there is no white background! We've done pretty well at champ shows too (a CC and 2 firsts at Crufts!), though I admit I ask my expert friends' advice which judges are worth entering under and which are a bit 'up the lead'. See you at Bath or Southern perhaps!!

You won the CC at Crufts this year so your boy is made up I am impressed, I must admit I am not really interested in making up my boys as one cannot be bred from(has SHM & sadly at least part of the SHM is from one of the top kennels stud dogs who of course deny it) & the other is deemed much  too small as he is withinh the 11 to 18 lbs ideal(again  as per the breed standard). BTW I've not heard the colour called tan in blenheim before is this new ? I have always been told it is chestnut, if it tan then no wonder there are so much lightl "tan" on blenheim The breed standard does call for <rich chestnut markings>doesn't it ?

Colour too me is of must less importance to soundness, construction, character & most important of all health in cavaliers, excess of white does lead to lack of depth in the markings & pigment(told this by one of the senior breeders who should know). Of course in the past the dogs were bred on the grounds of  suiting each other in bloodlines & good & bad points regardless of colour, now it seems to be use the winning dogs to win, . One of the current top dogs is heavily marked(not passing any comment on his other physical attributes or lack of them)

It is a fact that a recent CC winner has SHM(not rumour I was told by the owner)it will not be bred from as the owner is more ethical than many & is upfront re the SHM in their dogs, now which is more important that it is nicely marked or that it has SHM & has symptoms ? I now which is more important to me

You won the CC at Crufts this year so your boy is made up then I am impressed, I must admit I am not really interested in making up my boys as one cannot be bred from(has SHM & sadly at least part of the SHM is from one of the top kennels stud dogs who of course deny it) & the other is deemed much  too small as he is withinh the 11 to 18 lbs ideal(again  as per the breed standard).

BTW I've not heard the colour called tan in blenheim before is this new ? I have always been told it is chestnut, if it tan then no wonder there are so much lightl "tan" on blenheim The breed standard does call for <rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white ground>doesn't it ? I think the only colour described as tan is for the Black & Tan & Tri Colours isn't it ? Not being nit picking but have they changed the breed standard wording to allow for the lighter"tan"in some blenheim cavaliers ?

Colour too me is of must less importance to soundness, construction, character & most important of all health in cavaliers, excess of white does lead to lack of depth in the markings & pigment(told this by one of the senior breeders who should know). Of course in the past the dogs were bred on the grounds of  suiting each other in bloodlines & good & bad points regardless of colour, now it seems to be use the winning dogs to win, .

One of the current top dogs is heavily marked(not passing any comment on his other physical attributes or lack of them)

It is a fact that a recent CC winner has SHM(not rumour I was told by the owner)it will not be bred from as the owner is more ethical than many & is upfront re the SHM in their dogs, now which is more important that it is nicely marked or that it has SHM & has symptoms ? I now which is more important to me

You won the CC at Crufts this year so your boy is made up then I am impressed, I must admit I am not really interested in making up my boys as one cannot be bred from(has SHM & sadly at least part of the SHM is from one of the top kennels stud dogs who of course deny it) & the other is deemed much  too small as he is within the 11 to 18 lbs ideal(again  as per the breed standard).

BTW I've not heard the colour called tan in blenheim before is this new ? I have always been told it is chestnut, if it tan then no wonder there are so much lightl "tan" on blenheim The breed standard does call for <rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white ground>doesn't it ? I think the only colour described as tan is for the Black & Tan & Tri Colours isn't it ? Not being nit picking but have they changed the breed standard wording to allow for the lighter"tan"in some blenheim cavaliers ?

Colour too me is of must less importance to soundness, construction, character & most important of all health in cavaliers, excess of white does lead to lack of depth in the markings & pigment(told this by one of the senior breeders who should know). Of course in the past the dogs were bred on the grounds of  suiting each other in bloodlines & good & bad points regardless of colour, now it seems to be use the winning dogs to win, .

One of the current top dogs is heavily marked(not passing any comment on his other physical attributes or lack of them)

It is a fact that a recent CC winner has SHM(not rumour I was told by the owner)it will not be bred from as the owner is more ethical than many & is upfront re the SHM in their dogs, now which is more important that it is nicely marked or that it has SHM & has symptoms ? I now which is more important to me

You won the CC at Crufts this year so your boy is made up then I am impressed, I must admit I am not really interested in making up my boys as one cannot be bred from(has SHM & sadly at least part of the SHM is from one of the top kennels stud dogs who of course deny it) & the other is deemed much  too small as he is within the 11 to 18 lbs ideal(again  as per the breed standard).

BTW I've not heard the colour called tan in blenheim before is this new ? I have always been told it is chestnut, if it is now tan then no wonder there are so much lightl "tan" on blenheims as there are many shades of tan. The breed standard used to call for <rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white ground>didn't it ? I think the only colour described as tan was for the Black & Tan & Tri Colours wasn't it ? Not being nit picking but have they changed the breed standard wording to allow for the lighter"tan"in some blenheim cavaliers ?

Colour too me is of must less importance to soundness, construction, character & most important of all health in cavaliers, excess of white does lead to lack of depth in the markings & pigment(told this by one of the senior breeders who should know). Of course in the past the dogs were bred on the grounds of  suiting each other in bloodlines & good & bad points regardless of colour, now it seems to be use the winning dogs to win.

One of the current top dogs is heavily marked(not passing any comment on his other physical attributes or lack of them)

It is a fact that a recent CC winner has SHM(not rumour I was told by the owner)it will not be bred from as the owner is more ethical than many & is upfront re the SHM in their dogs, now which is more important that it is nicely marked or that it has SHM & has symptoms ? I now which is more important to me

You won the CC at Crufts this year so your boy is made up then I am impressed, I must admit I am not really interested in making up my boys as one cannot be bred from(has SHM & sadly at least part of the SHM is from one of the top kennels stud dogs who of course deny it) & the other is deemed much  too small as he is within the 11 to 18 lbs ideal(again  as per the breed standard).

BTW I've not heard the colour called tan in blenheim before is this new ? I have always been told it is chestnut, if it is now tan then no wonder there are so much light "tan" on blenheims as there are many shades of tan. The breed standard used to call for <rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white ground>didn't it ? I think the only colour described as tan was for the Black & Tan & Tri Colours wasn't it ? Not being nit picking but have they changed the breed standard wording to allow for the lighter"tan"in some blenheim cavaliers ?

Colour too me is of must less importance to soundness, construction, character & most important of all health in cavaliers, excess of white does lead to lack of depth in the markings & pigment(told this by one of the senior breeders who should know). Of course in the past the dogs were bred on the grounds of  suiting each other in bloodlines & good & bad points regardless of colour, now it seems to be use the winning dogs to win.

One of the current top dogs is heavily marked(not passing any comment on his other physical attributes or lack of them)

It is a fact that a recent CC winner has SHM(not rumour I was told by the owner)it will not be bred from as the owner is more ethical than many & is upfront re the SHM in their dogs, now which is more important that it is nicely marked or that it has SHM & has symptoms ? I now which is more important to me

You won the CC at Crufts this year so your boy is made up then I am impressed, I must admit I am not really interested in making up my boys as one cannot be bred from(has SHM & sadly at least part of the SHM is from one of the top kennels stud dogs who of course deny it) & the other is deemed much  too small as he is within the 11 to 18 lbs ideal(again  as per the breed standard).

BTW I've not heard the colour called tan in blenheim before is this new ? I have always been told it is chestnut, if it is now tan then no wonder there are so much light "tan" on blenheims as there are many shades of tan. The breed standard used to call for <rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white ground>didn't it ? I think the only colour described as tan was for the Black & Tan & Tri Colours wasn't it ? Not being nit picking but have they changed the breed standard wording to allow for the lighter"tan"in some blenheim cavaliers ?

Colour to me is of must less importance to soundness, construction, character & most important of all health in cavaliers, excess of white does lead to lack of depth in the markings & pigment(told this by one of the senior breeders who should know). Of course in the past the dogs were bred on the grounds of  suiting each other in bloodlines & good & bad points regardless of colour, now it seems to be use the winning dogs to win.

One of the current top dogs is heavily marked(not passing any comment on his other physical attributes or lack of them)

It is a fact that a recent CC winner has SHM(not rumour I was told by the owner)it will not be bred from as the owner is more ethical than many & is upfront re the SHM in their dogs, now which is more important that it is nicely marked or that it has SHM & has symptoms ? I now which is more important to me

My friends cavalier who I visited yesterday, has the most curly hair believable even on his head.She has been brushing him and he doesnt seem like he is used to it.She is still going to try to grow it in even if she has to cut it but the scalped look he has at the minute is dreadful especally his ears.He has a lot of other problems to work through as he doesnt even know his own name even though he has had this name from a puppy.He has been on his own for long periods for most of his life and now he has joined a very busy household with lots of visitors and children and his excitment holds no bounds,which is a bit of a problem, but I am sure this will calm down.Is six years too old to socialise him and learn basic things,? he still sometimes mouths things when he is excited my puppy occasionally does this but it is stopping now and he is 10 months old.

A dog is never too old to learn ;) They key word being consistency. Everyone must do the same thing so that he knows where he stands, like no one feeding from their plates, ok to give him a few leftovers but in his dish as part of his diet.

As to the mouthing I am a great believer in get up & walk away as that is what a dog would do to another dog that when OTT mouthing happens

One way to teach him his name is to use it everytime he is fed or given titbits I like to teach my dogs to give a paw for treats as puppies as well as in training just so they "work"for them

One way to get him relaxed for grooming is to use T Touch massage before & during grooming

He might have been clippered fo a long time so his coat may never be right but at least he will look better if he is regularly groomed rather than clippered

The use of a baby gate to separate him if he gets too excited might also help as he will still be able to see the people

Also no, he only got a First, though several people there (and not only people like me who are biaised towards him!) thought he should have got the CC. We only have one CC though we nearly got the Reserve twice. But he's only 3, there's still time.

You're quite right, that'll teach me to post late at night (or perhaps not, I'm doing it again now!). It is of course described as rich chestnut - I've been talking to people too much about my tricolour puppy where it is described as tan. The people at pet training were enthralled by the fluffy tan patches in the ears and behind the legs! Sorry for the inaccuracy, I've just washed him for tomorrow and can't be bothered to get up and dig out the breed standard!

Health and temperament I would say are the most important things in any dog. If a dog is showing symptoms of SM I think it is ok to show them, as long as the symptoms are not so severe that the show collar is causing pain, but not to breed from them.