Page 40 - ShowSight Presents The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

when we reward instead a dog with straight shoulders or sickle hocks.
Bites in the Cavalier sometimes give both judges and breeders absolute fits! Our Standard says that “A perfect, regular and complete scissors bite is preferred.” If we are lucky breeders, our hopeful puppy has a scissors bite from birth and never chang- es. But this breed is notorious for having its occlusion alter over many months and even years. That promising puppy may go from scissors to undershot and back to scissors again—I know of one that “came right” at the age of 5! Of course, as judges we can only judge on the day... but many judges do tend to give the benefit of the doubt to Cavaliers who are still in the Puppy classes and have a slightly undershot bite. It’s up to you. Overshot bites are rarely shown and I have never known one to improve.
Please do not expect the Cavalier to stand at riveted attention in the ring—or at least, not for very long. The Cavalier nature is to fidget and dance about—and this should not be held against them. At the same time, they should be shown on a loose lead and NOT hand stacked in the ring—handlers may get their attention with bait or toys, but bending or kneel- ing down to re-set a leg on the floor or the grass is not an acceptable way to show this breed. Please so advise those handlers who did not get the memo! Meticulous stack- ing is reserved for the table exam. Just as we want the Cavalier’s true happy nature to shine through with a wag or a dance, we also demand that he NOT NOT NOT be trimmed. No sculpting, no thinning, NO trimming! “Specimens where coat has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by artificial means shall be so severely penal- ized as to effectively eliminate from com- petition.” Dear judges—this means you! The Parent Club is so emphatic about it, a letter was sent out to all licensed judges a few years ago, imploring them not to reward trimmed animals.
The Cavalier is fun to breed, fun to live with, and believe it or not—fun to judge well. All it requires is that you appreciate the ideal of Type as defined by the Stan- dard, and expand your knowledge just a bit beyond those wise words. That genie is tameable, after all!
“PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT THE
CAVALIER TO STAND AT RIVETED
ATTENTION IN THE RING—
or at least, not for very long.”
“Just as we want the Cavalier’s true happy nature to shine through with a wag or a dance, we also
DEMAND THAT HE
NOT NOT NOT BE TRIMMED.”
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