Hello,

We are the proud owners of a male Blenheim King Charles Spaniel with im told excellent markings etc, he has a detailed family tree. We were told a year ago by a passer by that we should consider letting him stud but paid no attention at the time.
Now Im just looking for information on this is its is practical, what we would have to do & the advantages & dis-advantages.
We live on the Wirral.
If anyone has any information/experience could you please reply to steve.cairns@hadenyoung.co.uk

Kind Regards

Steve

This post may give you food for thought :)
There are a number of health tests recommended for your breed before breeding if one of our regular posters does not come along and take the trouble of listing them for you you can contact the Breed Club for information of that.

Before you even consider using him at stud he should be over 2 1/2 years old & have had the following tests done
1.BVA/ISDS/KC eye test(can only be done by a specialist)clear every 12 months
2.MRI scanned clear for Syringohyrdomyelia(can only be done at one of three places in the UK)
3.Heart tested clear(can be done by GP vet)
4.Hip X rayed & scored for Hip Dysplasia(X ray by GP vet scored by the BVA panel)

You should then show him to have him assessed against the breed standard & then if bitch owners approach you their bitches should also have all the about tests done & the pedigrees checked so that you do NOT line breed on both sdes of the pedigree & she too must be over 2 1/2 years old

If you use him at stud be prepared for a character & temperament change, he may start bitching all the time(ie looking for bitches to mate & trying to mate anything that moves), he may start marking(weeing)indoors, start being aggressive with other male dogs etc He could also catch infections from the bitch as well

Also having a stud dog isn't just a case of putting a dog & an in season bitch in the same area & letting them get on with it

You will have the same responsibility for any of his puppies that the bitch owners has for all of the puppies lives !

BTW Guest, Cavaliers and King Charles are very different things............!

I really dont think a passer by can be considered as an expert as to whether your dog should be used in a breeding program.