Please don't anyone have a go at me as I am just curious the code of ethics states

No bitch to be mated so as to whelp before she is 16 months old, and then only if she is considered mature enough to raise a litter of puppies.

so why is it most posters on here say 3 years or older?  My friend is expectig her first litter soon and she is only a young dog but ben tested clear.  I have waited as i am a little confused.  WWith my Labs it was easy but I mustadmit I am more wary with my cavs.

My question is who is right?

Linda

The Cavalier Club DOES recommend not breeding before 2 ½ years of age with grandparents of pups at least 5 and still clear (see URL below), but that is a guide line and not in the code of ethics. Why I don't know. There is a similar guide line as regards SM. http://www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/health/hearts/mvd.html

A young dog will most likely test clear for MVD, but has the same chance as all other Cavaliers (quite a big chance) of developing it at a later date. Anything from 4 years onwards is common. This is why making sure the dog's or bitch's PARENTS are also still clear and at least aged 5 is so important. The idea is to push the onset of MVD back as late as possible.

I expect the code of ethics was drawn up before the latest health issues re SM and their implications became an issue.

I also thought that the parents of the intended stud and brood had to be over five years old and still heart clear?

Yes Barbara that's what it says in the link I gave above. The grandparents of pups to be at least 5 and still heart clear. :) It also says when possible use a stud dog as old as possible.

Thank you all.

Linda

Its also just the nice thing to do by your bitch :)

A young dogs body shouldnt really have to go through the stress of a litter unless they are ready mentally and physically! :) :)

>My friend is expectig her first litter soon and she is only a young dog but ben tested clear.

Can I ask what she has been tested clear of ? There is no test for Syringomyelia except an MRI which will show any malformation of the skull.. This does not mean the dogs will not develop SM even if it hasn't got the malformation, but it occurs more frequently in dogs that have the malformation. No one can say that their dogs are tested clear for SM until the marker genes are\found

It is SM & MVD that should govern the age of breeding from a Cavalier, my dog who is confirmed by MRI as having SM had a ather who was under 2 1 /2 when he was used at stud & sadly he wasn't three when he was PTS due to the pain he was in & his MRI scan was inconclusive !

she has been tested for heart and eyes.

Linda

If she's under 2 years old I would hope she had a clear heart, she hasn't been MRI scanned then ?  how sad, it isn't nice seeing your dog having an episode of pain with SM

I can ony go of what I have been told

Linda

Hearts are still the biggest killer in Cavaliers so well done to your friend for getting her heart checked.
I have scanned my dogs, but that's another story (Not a topic I wish to discuss here)
I would say the best age to breed a Cavalier is 2.5 -3 years all being well of course :)

ETA: Would also like to add there are times using a dog with MVD isn't too bad - the sire of my dog had a Grade 1 but was 9 years old