The Other Side of the Story…….or what they chose not to show on TV.

By writing this introduction, we hope to reassure members of the public who have a Cavalier or did intend (prior to the broadcast) buying one, that the Breed is not riddled with health issues as was portrayed on the TV programme "Pedigree Dogs Exposed". I am sure everyone who watched was shocked at the contents, as it painted a very grim picture of the Cavalier and their breeders who were made to look like uncaring, money grabbing, monsters only interested in winning in competition or passing on unhealthy puppies to the general public. However, both sides of the story should have been aired and this did not happen, as the programme was very negative, one sided and focused on the worse case scenarios. Of course, to get the ratings, the programme needed to attract attention, and sensationalism certainly works in selling newspapers and getting viewers.

No one is denying that the Cavalier breed is not without its problems, just as in any breed, but the programme gave the impression that a large percentage are walking time bombs just waiting to go off, who will cost their owners a fortune in vet bills and give them nothing but pain and sorrow. Not true. The majority live long, trouble free lives giving endless pleasure. The Cavalier excels as a companion dog and most people who have had one would never change for another breed. Little was said about the money, time and effort that have been put in by the breeders and the clubs to do what is required to allow our breed to continue to thrive and live as healthy lives as possible. Hopefully this website will go some way to setting the record straight.

Some comments on the TV programme.

The boxer was filmed in the throes of an epileptic fit. Why? For the good of dogs or to make graphic TV. Epilepsy has been around for centuries, both in humans and animals. Indeed, it is said that Julius Caesar was a sufferer. Nowadays, the condition in humans and dogs is managed by medication. Following the TV programme, the owner of the boxer was stopped on their daily walk on the playing fields and told by some to have him put down. The owner says that she has had him since he was a puppy and she could never put him down. His medication is largely effective with a fit occurring about one day a month. How long did the film company hang around waiting to film a fit to occur so that it could be portrayed as "concerned TV reporting". It was no more than disgusting voyeurism, comparable to the paparazzi scrambling for photographs of the dying Princess Diana.

Similarly, while not denying the existence of the condition syringomyelia, was it necessary to drag the Cavalier around on a lead indoors to illustrate the reaction? Many caring people who are aware of the condition SM would have been screaming at their TVs "take the lead off". Why, apart from the desire to create vivid television, would someone who knows of the likely reaction do this? In other circumstances, the owner of the dog who permitted this to happen would be reported for animal cruelty. Whilst the programme dealt heavily on the view that MRI scanning is the only way to combat this concern, within the breed, opinion is still divided as to whether this is the only way to deal with the recurrence of the problem. Furthermore, this condition is not peculiar to Cavaliers but is seen in Griffons, Chihuahuas, King Charles Spaniels and other small breeds. Whilst it is complicated and undetermined how it develops and the mode of inheritance is unknown at the time of writing, the breed clubs, in particular the Cavalier clubs, for many years, and more recently the Griffon clubs, have been working hard gathering information and funding research into the matter.

A further example of the distasteful practices of the programme makers was to ask a prominent campaigner on cavalier health and longevity, for help in finding a Cavalier in the throes of dying from heart trouble. This heartless and horrendous request was refused.

The RSPCA Chief Vet could not disguise his contempt for Pedigree Dogs, describing dog shows as "a freakish garish beauty pageant" and "a parade of mutants". Many people believe the RSPCA is concerned with the welfare of animals, all animals. As 75% of the dogs in the UK are pedigree dogs, this publicly stated view causes some doubts about the society's attitude towards them. The RSPCA is a charity and its funding includes donations, legacies and, sometimes, entire estates from the pedigree dog owning population. Would you, as a pedigree dog owner wish to support a society with such a view? He uses the term mutant in a denigrating manner in referring to pedigree dogs, but then advocates the interbreeding of different breeds. To produce what? Mutants! Therefore, he is saying, "my mutants of whom I have no history of their likely size, traits, behaviour, and medical condition are better than your mutants". The other matter which appears strange about the RSPCA is that it seems very reluctant to disclose how many healthy dogs it euthanizes each year (just try asking them, and note the smokescreen they come back with).

And what of the Kennel Club's dark secret. It was said that it practised Eugenics. The comparison to and the inclusion of film of Nazi Germany was reprehensible. However, it could be viewed as the programme shooting itself in the foot. Whilst abhorring the practices advocated by the Nazi party, Eugenics in its broader sense is the science concerned with the detection and elimination of hereditary diseases and disorders by genetic examination of the parents who may be carriers of such conditions. This is precisely what the ongoing research and practices of the Cavalier Clubs is all about.

The heart specialist working with the Cavalier Club was interviewed and badgered into giving the answer the programme maker wanted about the progress or lack of it on the matter of the incidence and early onset of MVD. This was quite clearly at odds with the reports being published by the Cavalier Club.

There are a number of people around with sophisticated and powerful publicity machines whose views, although appearing well-intentioned regarding the welfare of Cavaliers, have very narrow agendas. Their views should be considered in the same way as the TV programme - with scepticism. Some of the zealots who feel breeders are not doing enough in the fight against health issues are advocating crossbreeding Cavaliers with other breeds. Welsh Springer Spaniels have been suggested. However, they come with their own set of health problems and it is unthinkable and would be a sad day if we should lose our unique, lovely breed. Sadly, expensive "designer dogs" are already becoming desirable to some, with Cavapoos, (cavalier/poodle cross) and Cavachons, (cavalier/bichons) to name but two. It is unlikely that Cavalier breeders with any standing would pursue this course and it would seem to give the green light to the mass-produced market of the puppy farms.

This website is intended to regain the confidence of Cavalier lovers who will have been as shocked at the broadcast as we all were, but the health statistics do not endorse that Cavaliers are a doomed breed. The researchers are now stating that instead of the 30,000 (1/3rd of the Cavalier population) once reported as being affected with SM it now transpires that the figures quoted referred in fact to 1/3rd of the Research samples which could perhaps equate to perhaps hundreds affected rather than the sensationalised figure mentioned in the program. Quite a difference! More information on this is available elsewhere on this website.

No one in their right mind wants to breed unhealthy dogs and pass on problems to prospective puppy owners. We urge you to read on and hopefully leave the site assured that most Cavaliers can live into old age with few health issues. Reputable, respected breeders do care and do their best in spite of what the programme tried to have you believe.