Cavalier News

On 2nd October 17 cavaliers and their people spent a lovely sunny day having fun on Hayling Island beach, followed by a late lunch in the pub.

………………………………………………………

There is a mini meet being organised at Hayling Island beach by Louise Riddiough on Saturday 10th September. Meet at 11am in the council car park on the left just before pub. If you wish to attend please let Louise know. Tel: 07841 629423 or email: lriddiough@nullsky.com For Sat Nav information postcode is: Ferry Boat Inn, Ferry Rd, Hayling Island PO11 0DG Car park details & Directions can be found at: http://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/hayling-island-beach-p478081

………………………………………………………………..

…………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………

Syringomyelia is a progressive inherited neurological disease of the neck spinal cord in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), which may cause neck pain and affects around 70 per cent of CKCS over six-years-old. Researchers at Bristol’s Vet School and the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) aim to find a pain-free method of detecting neck pain of neurological origin in dogs.  The study, funded by the UK’s largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust, hopes to improve the welfare of CKCS by enabling vets to more easily recognise when dogs are suffering from chronic pain related to syringomyelia.  Signs of the condition can vary and are often extremely subtle meaning that some cases can go undiagnosed. The study involves owner-completed questionnaires and assessment of the dog’s neck skin sensitivity with a pain-free electronic pressure device, known as a von Frey aesthesiometer, being applied to the skin, while monitoring for the dog’s behavioural response. Heather Williams, the veterinary surgeon who is co-running the study at Bristol alongside leading veterinary specialists Drs Nicolas Granger and Jo Murrell, said: “Vets, the Kennel Club and CKCS owners are keen to reduce the numbers of dogs affected by this condition, and improve treatments for affected dogs. “Early detection of neuropathic pain in dogs could prompt earlier investigation and treatment, and be used as a tool to monitor the progress in dogs already being treated.” Members of the public who own suitable dogs of any breed with neck pain referred to the University’s Langford Veterinary Services (LVS) or the RVC can take part in the study. Owners of CKCS that have previously had an MRI of the head and neck regions can also help with the research, by allowing their dogs to be ‘von Frey tested’, either at Bristol or as part of an extensive neuropathic pain study assessing several pain assessment methods at RVC, being run by RVC vets Sandra Sanchis Mora, Professor Holger Volk (neurology) and Dr Ludovic Pelligand (anaesthesia). Professor Volk said: “This is a landmark project to improve patient care. The development of this ‘bedside’ test to detect neuropathic pain will lead to earlier detection of pain and better tailored treatment.” In addition, CKCS breeders looking to determine the syringomyelia status of their dogs to help selection of healthy individuals for breeding are welcome to participate in von Frey testing when arranging MRI screening under the KC/BVA Canine Health Scheme at the LVS Syringomyelia Screening Clinic. To take part in the study, email vet-neuroresearch@nullbristol.ac.uk Alternatively, for information regarding further neuropathic pain/syringomyelia research based at the Royal Veterinary College (London), email neuropathicpain@nullrvc.ac.uk http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2015/december/syringomyelia-.html

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Tickets are now available for the Midlands Cavalier Christmas Party, to be held on Saturday, 5 December in Coventry. Tickets cost £3 for Companion Club members and £4 for non-members. Young people under 16 are free. To get your tickets, please phone Kate Hughes on 024 7659 36n 024 7659 3694 or email kate879@nullbtinternet.com, including your address. Payment can be made by cheque made out to Kate Hughes, or into my PayPal account (kate879@nullbtinternet.com) – or by IOU to pay on the day 🙂

 

Please include the names of the dog(s) you will be bringing with you when you buy your tickets – Santa needs them! Friends and family are very welcome, as are non-members with Cavaliers.

 

DO YOU HAVE A KENNEL CLUB REGISTERED CAVALIERS OVER 5 YEARS OLD?

IF SO, WILL YOU HELP?

SM is an increasing problem in Cavaliers. Researchers need help from pet owners as well as breeders if they are to get the information they need to improve the health of the breed. The study shown below is one way that Cavalier pet owners can really help SM research. We need photos so we can compare all sizes and shapes of Cavalier heads and there are a great many more UK Kennel Club Cavaliers in pet homes than there are in breeder/exhibitor ownership. For this study we want photos of any and every KC registered Cavalier that is over five years old. It doesn’t matter whether they are sick or well, male or female, spayed or still entire. Members have always been so obliging when asked to help research projects, so please take a look at the flyer, grab your camera and someone to help and see if you can persuade your little dog to co-operate.

 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The Companion Cavalier Club and Cavalier Matters had a very productive weekend at the 2015 Pet Show on 1st and 2nd August. The team and their dogs were busy all weekend greeting cavalier owners and prospective puppy buyers. They handed out over a hundred of puppy buying advice leaflets, with information on all the health testing that any good breeder should be doing, and stressed the importance of checking health certificates when looking for a new pet. 

The team gave out information on rescue cavaliers and raised awareness about the health conditions these beautiful dogs can suffer from, giving out specially produced leaflets on CM/SM, MVD, Dry Eye and other common cavalier health problems.

Everyone was very proud of the lovely stand, specially designed for the Companion Cavalier Club by Tania Ledger and also very proud of our good natured dogs who wagged their tails and happily submitted to being petted, stroked and spoilt with tasty little treats. 

Thank you to all the Club members that brought their cavaliers along to man the meet and greet stall. We really are very grateful to you. 

……………………………………………………………………………

.

Companion Cavalier Club are representing cavaliers at the 2015 Pet Show on the 1st and 2nd August.

Cavalier Matters will be there as our guest, waving the flag for cavalier health. We will have some lovely cavaliers to meet and greet visitors, lots of leaflets, advice and information for potential and existing owners of this wonderful breed and some lovely items from the online gift shop for sale.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

West Wittering Beach walk – committee member Louise Riddiough is organising a mini meet for Wednesday 8th July, 11am. Offering wonderful views of Chichester Harbour and the South Downs beyond, the natural and unspoilt sandy beach of West Wittering is a southern favourite for dog walkers, with shallow lagoons left on extensive sandy flats at low tide. Enjoy the premier blue flag beach, National Trust East Head sand dunes, cafe, picnic, etc. Dogs are welcome on the majority of the beach and longer/shorter walks available depending on fitness levels. For SatNav information post code is PO20 8AJ. Car park £6.50/4.50/£3.00 depending on arrival times/duration. Directions can be found at http://www.westwitteringbeach.co.uk Meet at the very far car park with the red flag leading to the walkway for the sand dunes. Contact: Louise Riddiough 07841 62942307841 629423 or lriddiough@nullsky.com ** A Facebook event page will be created to monitor those going, maybes or declines.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Shirley Broomhead is organising a  mini meet on Hayling Island on Thursday 11th June. 11.30am , PO11 0DG postcode for Ferry Boat Inn, meet at council car park, turn left into Ferry road, just before the pub. 1-2hr walk, (depending on fitness, couple of benches along way,) Coffee or lunch at pub, plenty of benches outside, dogs also allowed inside in lower bar. Contact details: Email, info@nullinvincible1758.co.uk  Mobile, 07733390529 or message Shirley Broomhead on Facebook. 

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Saturday 9th May, Lyne Village Hall, Chertsey, Slough.  The Companion Cavalier Club AGM was followed by a fun afternoon of games with their dogs.

Cavaliers and families enjoyed a buffet lunch, followed by the AGM.

 Grateful thanks to members of the Clever Cavalier Team for coming along to give advice and training tips and the use of their equipment. 

…………………………………………………………………………

 

Advance Notices

Next Richmond Park Cavalcade will be Sat June 6th. Meet as usual near the Café at Pembroke Lodge Car Park at 11am. Walk is usually around 1.5 to 2 hours.  Contact: Anna Moss Tel. 07973561744

…………………………………………………………..

People enjoyed last year’s Cavalier Weekend at Copt Oak Memorial Hall and Field, Leicester, so much that we’re going to do it again this year! Dates are 11-12 July; camping available on site for nights of 10th and 11th, local dog-friendly accommodation available nearby. Booking form available from 1 March from  Kate Hughes on Facebook or email kate879@nullbtinternet.com. More details to follow.

…………………………………………………………

CRUFTS 2015…… £6,000 raised Jayne Mills writes: We shared a lovely walk today round Abbey Fields in Kenilworth in memory of Aled and Oliver, thanks to Alison Kelly’s work and suggestion. Great to see Beverley Jones who travelled a long way, also Claire Price and of course Kate Hughes. All the dogs (7 in total) thoroughly enjoyed themselves, though a little muddy at times. It was nice to see Kate sit and reminisce the lives of Oliver and Aled over a hot chocolate. A good time had by all, helped by the weather that was so kind to us x

……………………………………………………………………………

Our Chairman, Kate Hughes, recently had to say goodbye to both her lovely Cavalier boys within the space of five days. She generously and unselfishly allowed both of them to donate tissue samples to help Cavalier Health research. A Tribute Walk at Aled and Oliver’s favourite spot has been kindly organised by Alison Kelly. It is on Wednesday, February18th at Kenilworth Castle, CV8 1, Warwickshire. Meet in St Nicholas Church Car Park at 2.00pm. The walk will be around Kenilworth Castle or the Abbey Fields if it looks muddy around the castle.

 ………………………………………………………………

A wet and muddy but very enjoyable Mini Meet took place at Richmond Park on Saturday 31st January.  By unanimous agreement this will be a regular event, every first Saturday of the Month starting March 7th. More details are on the Events page Mini Meet with Grooming Demonstration -Sunday 22nd February 2015 at 2pm Beverley Jones, one of the Companion Cavalier Club members has arranged a demonstration and talk on bathing ,coat care, product’s and brushes / comb’s. Beverley will try and solve any coat problems that your cavalier may have. The demonstration will be followed by a walk. The Meeting Rooms The Bungalow Inage lane Bridgnorth WV16 4HL The Bungalow can be difficult to find so if anyone has a problem the landline for that afternoon will be 01746 763560 There will be afternoon cakes for all. There is no charge for the afternoon but there will be a collection for Cavalier Matters Charity Any queries Beverley’s mobile is 07980 403364  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

West Midland Christmas Party 7th December

………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

HEALTH SEMINAR

Kate Hughes writes……………. What a great day we had at the third Companion Club Health Seminar! The venue, a small lecture theatre at Fitzpatrick Referrals in Surrey, was excellent (as was the breakfast of hot drinks and croissants they provided for us), and Josey and Ray from the staff made sure that everything ran smoothly. Some people were disappointed that they didn’t catch a glimpse of Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick, but it was a Sunday after all. Dr Clare Rusbridge is now based at Fitzpatrick’s and we were delighted to welcome her as the first speaker of the day. Introducing her in my role as club chairman, I expressed the hope that she would be able to bring us some light at the end of the tunnel for CM/SM and her excellent lecture showed that progress is being made. We are fortunate to have so many first-class people researching the disease – including Penny Knowler, Clare’s mother and fellow researcher, who on the day was behind the camera filming all the speakers; this will be available as a DVD in a few weeks’ time. Clare brought us up to date with research, including some very interesting diagrams of what happens to the brain and skull as a result of CM. She then took us through her treatment algorithm, discussing the treatment options and the latest ideas. As many of the drugs used are for humans and not yet licensed for dogs, I loved her throwaway line that ‘Nothing should be used on our dogs before it has been thoroughly tested on humans!’ Our next speaker was Lucy Montague, Senior Nurse at Fitzpatrick’s, who gave us an enormous amount of useful information about what we can do to help our dogs in emergencies – how to minimise shock, keep dogs in pain calm, prevent further damage, know what is urgent and also what not to do, and note the important signs and information that the vet will need to know. The Cavalier Matters online shop now carries an excellent small first aid kit that slips onto a belt, something we should all have and know how to use. After a break for a delicious lunch provided by the usual competent team of committee members Sandra Collins, Tania Ledger and Karen Barnard, there was an opportunity to spend some money at the Cavalier Matters stall and buy a raffle ticket before reassembling for the afternoon speaker, Dr Penny Watson, Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at Cambridge University. Her subject was pancreatitis, from which many Cavaliers suffer. Chronic pancreatitis is very difficult to diagnose and is often unrecognised even by vets; we were shocked by Penny’s statistics about the incidence of the disease in our breed. Having explained what it is and how it presents, Penny then discussed treatments and the importance of a low fat diet. Finally, there was time for questions. Each of our speakers was presented with a gift, and the raffle was drawn and we thought the day had ended. But then Clare disappeared out of the door and came back with two of her own paintings. One she presented to our club Health Representative Margaret Carter, with warm thanks for running the Cavalier Collection scheme that has provided so much vital tissue for research; Margaret’s painting showed her famous Cavalier Monty – Ch Mareve Indiana – with a litter of his grandchildren. The other painting, of her Cavaliers Molly and Dougall, went to our vice-chairman Tania Ledger, whose charity Cavalier Matters provides so much money and support to enable research to happen. There was, as they say, not a dry eye in the house, these gifts were so well-deserved. For many people the day ended with a tour of the Fitzpatrick Referral Hospital, before we scattered to all parts of Britain. Special thanks must go our Secretary Sandra Collins, who did so much work to organise the day, to our inspirational speakers and to all who made the effort to attend this excellent day. I think many vets are going to get a Christmas present of the DVD!  

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

On Saturday 16th August there was a successful mini meet at Richmond Park, Surrey.

…………………………………………………

Also on 16th August there was the Annual Cavvy Walk at Warley Woods, Smethwick, West Midlands, where £75 was raised for the Cavalier Matters Charity. Grateful thanks to all those cavalier owners that took part.

……………………………………………………………………………..

On 9th August Companion Cavalier Club members and the Cavalier Matters stall were at the Dogfest in Surrey. Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick was very much in demand for photographs and autographs.

Louise, and Bella with Noel Fitzpatrick

…………………………………………………………………

On Thursday 31st July there was a walk in Crackley Woods

…………………………………………………………………………

On Tuesday 15th July Carol Repton arranged a very successful Mini Meet and picnic for our Surrey members at Sheepleas.

……………………………………………………………………………….

THE CAVALIER FUN WEEKEND on 28-29th June proved to be a great success. members camped or stayed in local dog- friendly hotels for two days of cavalier fun. Kate Hughes writes……….. Last August some of the Midlands Companion Club members met for a lovely BBQ at a village hall and field near Leicester. On the way home, some of us started thinking aloud about going back there again for a meeting open to all club members – perhaps a weekend? This tossing around ideas became a reality on 28-29 June 2014, when the Companion Club held a very successful Cavalier Weekend at the same village hall and field at Copt Oak. The weather was unsettled, but 50 people and almost 80 Cavaliers enjoyed a weekend of fun and games – and a great deal of talking! The weekend started with an optional meal at the pub next door, when 12 members and their Cavaliers managed to crowd together under a large awning on a rather wet evening. Saturday morning was wet, so the games were held indoors – Musical Newspapers, the Spud and Spoon Race, the Great Sausage Race, and Fancy Dress on the theme of ‘Summer’, which brought out some very pretty girls in very pretty dresses. The morning ended with a demonstration in the field of working trials, given by member Ann Trodd and her Cavalier Pomelo Gelert at Chelsasa CDEx, the only Cavalier in the UK with a working trials qualification. After a pleasant lunch provided by the ever-efficient catering team of Tania Ledger, Sandra Collins and Karen Barnard (and other helpers), the second Companion Club AGM was held in the afternoon. In the evening we had a Quiz night with fish and chip supper. Sunday morning was dry for the fun dog show, judged by Ann Trodd. The overall winner – the dog the judge would like to kidnap – was Belinda Proud’s Mia. The sprightly entries in the Veteran and Vintage classes got a special round of applause; perhaps one day it will become normal for most Cavaliers to live into double figures. Lunch was again delicious, especially the strawberries and cream, and then people started leaving for home. Members had come from as far away as Scotland and Ireland, and all agreed that the travel had been worth it for such an enjoyable weekend. The Cavalier Matters stall did brisk business and Lindsey Edwards raised a further £160 for them by running a Bring and Buy stall for useful items such as harnesses and coats. A raffle raised a further £60. The rain came down good and strong as we waved people away on their journeys home. On everyone’s lips was the same question’: Can we do it again next year?’ The committee will answer that question when we have recovered from the Cavalier Weekend 2014 – but the hard work was worth it!  

Study to improve diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain.

Cavalier owners that do not live within travelling distance of the Royal Veterinary College in Hatfield can still help with the questionnaire.

Emma and Beatrix with her brownie badge – Friend to Animals which she achieved after doing to Coventry Walkathon for Cavalier Matters.

Blossie on the beach

Alison Kelly writes……………….

While we away over Easter in Norfolk we saw that there was a competition being held for a new face to appear on the next batch of Hunstanton Doggie Biscuits 🙂 We entered a picture of little Blossom on the beach & we were emailed when we got home to say she had won!  We were so pleased & are waiting for the packet to be sent to us but the photo that won was this one. I can send a picture of the packet with her name on when I receive it!! Xx

  David Richardson is running the London Marathon for the CavalierMatters Charity, He hopes of raise funds to help get more Cavaliers MRI scanned. If anyone wants to sponsor him the link to his Justgiving page is: http://www.justgiving.com/David-Richardson-Marathon Tania has been adding up and it looks as if the money raised by the Cavalier Matters Charity stand at Crufts this year is over £9,000…….. Our Hon. Secretary Sandra & Tania worked from Wednesday putting up the stall until late Sunday night taking it down again. They make a quite remarkable team. There were many other members that contributed, especially Karen Pettet and Lucy Alboni. Thank you all so much. If you have a cavalier with MVD please consider helping with this study……… New Research on Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease at the Royal Veterinary College in conjunction with VetCOMPASS Ms M Mattin, Prof A Boswood, Prof D Church, Dr D Brodbelt This study needs the help of Cavalier owners and their dogs and primary vet practices. It aims to document the prevalence of DMVD in UK dogs, evaluate survival characteristics of dogs at various stages of the disease and to determine the prognostic value of clinical measurements and cardiac biomarkers. If you are willing to take part in this study, you will receive valuable information about your own dog’s heart condition. This will enable your vet to optimise the care of your dog at different stages in the disease. You will also be contributing to research on a disease that frequently compromises the health of the Cavalier breed. A blood test can provide vets with useful information about the severity of MVD through ‘cardiac biomarkers.’ The study will evaluate whether these tests can also help vets estimate the outlook over time for dogs with MVD and manage the disease more effectively. Participation involves a health check and a one-off blood test as part of your dog’s regular check-up. The results of the cardiac biomarker blood test will be returned to your vet for your dog’s benefit. If your dog has MVD and you are interested in participating in the study, please ask your usual vet if they are part of the VetCOMPASS MVD study. If not, please direct them to the VetCOMPASS website for further information: http://www.rvc.ac.uk/VetCOMPASS/ Or ask them to contact Maddy Mattin at the RVC: mmattin@nullrvc.ac.uk  Tel: 01707 667168 / 07757 750492 A lot is being asked of Cavalier owners at the present time but together we can help to ensure the future health of the breed that we love. Kate Hughes writes………….

The Coventry Rally Group met again on 9 February. Unfortunately our trainers, the Kanzarias, couldn’t come as Sabby was about to go into hospital for an operation (get well soon, Sabby!), but 8 humans and 11 Cavaliers managed to do some practice on their own before the lure of tea, shortbread and talk became too great! The date of our next meeting has changed from the 23 March to 16 March, 2.30 to 5. Everyone and their Cavalier(s) are welcome, no experience necessary! Jay and Sabby will not be there, but come along anyway, do some practice and enjoy the tea and talk.

  Kate Hughes writes………… We had a busy Rally session on Sunday 19th January, but for the next two months Sabine will be recovering from an operation on her knees, so she and Jay won’t be able to come to train us. However, we decided that we would still like to meet each month to practise the Rally moves (not to mention drink tea, eat shortbread and talk!). So the next two Rally afternoons are on Sunday, 9 February and Sunday, 23 March, at St Francis Church Hall, Links Road, Radford, Coventry CV6 3DQ, 2.30 to 5. Then we hope we will be able to continue our training with Sabine and Jay in April. For information on the next meeting please contact Kate Hughes, email kate879@nullbtinternet.com or tel. 024 7659 3694 CHRISTMAS PARTY

Kate Hughes writes……………

‘Brilliant, a fab day’, ‘Fantastic party’, ‘Loved every minute’. Some of the comments of members who attended the Companion Club Midlands Christmas Party on 8 December. Forty people and their Cavaliers crowded into St Francis church hall in Coventry for 3 hours of fun and mayhem. Members with their families and friends, they came from as far away as Lincoln and Surrey. We had a raffle (to which many people contributed prizes), our Club Secretary ran a Cavalier Matters stall, our local dog boutique, Hounds & Co, brought an array of coats, blankets and other handmade goodies, and member Joanne Holmes took wonderful portraits of many of the dogs (and their owners). The afternoon started with a short talk by Kate Hughes with Oliver on Cavaliers as Pets as Therapy visitors, seconded by Jane Shipton and Max on the Reading2Dogs scheme. Then we had games: musical newspapers to the strains of the Dam Busters March, a Potato and Spoon race, and then The Great Sausage Race, which always causes much amusement. The Fancy Dress Competition was judged by Pam Brownhill of Hounds & Co, after which we sat down to a splendid tea – thank you to all who contributed, especially the maker of the wonderful Christmas cake. After tea Santa arrived and gave a present to each dog. The afternoon ended with drawing the raffle. Thank you to all who helped, and those who brought cakes for tea and prizes for the raffle. When all expenses had been paid, we made a profit of £60, which will be sent to Dr Imelda McGonnell at the Royal Veterinary College for her research into the development of the Cavalier skull. And yes, I hope to organise another party next year!

Discover Dogs 2013

Our new Chairman Kate Hughes writes…………. COMPANION CLUB HEALTH SEMINAR

Health Seminar 2013

On Sunday, 22 September, 36 people and a number of Cavaliers gathered at the Kennel Club Building in the National Agricultural Centre at Stoneleigh for the Companion Club Health Seminar. Most of those attending were club members but we were also glad to welcome some members of the Cavalier Club, including one of the Health representatives, Annette Jones. Committee members Sandra Collins, Tania Ledger, Karen Bernard and Lucy Alboni worked hard to ensure that the day ran smoothly and we are grateful to Tania for providing the delicious refreshments and buffet lunch.

Health Seminar 2013

The first speaker was Julia Sargent, Veterinary specialist-in-training at the Royal Veterinary College, who spoke on that scourge of Cavaliers, Mitral Valve Disease (MVD). The outline of much of what she said was already familiar to those who have nursed Cavaliers with MVD, But Julia’s diagrams and scan pictures brought it to life and showed very clearly what happens to the heart in MVD and the difference between healthy and diseased valves. She ended her talk with a discussion of the latest research into the causes of early-onset MVD, and there do seem to be some hopeful lines of enquiry. After her presentation Julia showed us how to check our dog’s pulse and listen to its heart, and then produced a number of stethoscopes so that many of the audience could have a go at listening to a heart murmur for ourselves.

After lunch Dr Imelda McGonnell, Senior Lecturer at the RVC, updated us on the fascinating research being done by her team on the development of the skull in Cavaliers. Her diagrams and photos comparing the normal, healthy development of the supra occipital bone, which contains and protects the back of the brain, with its development in Cavaliers in the uterus were indeed graphic. My own reaction on seeing pictures of the almost transparent sheath of cartilage found in stillborn and neo-natal Cavaliers, instead of solid bone, was amazement that we don’t have more problems to deal with. Only the firm covering of muscle prevents real damage to the fragile skull and the brain it encloses. Advances in the RVC research may now depend on being able to do post-mortem examinations on a few slightly older Cavaliers, but these are difficult to obtain at the speed required to remove and preserve the brain.

We had hoped that Lynn Burton, a CCC member who suffers from Chiari Malformation, would be our final speaker of the day but sadly she was not well enough to attend. However, she kindly made up her speech into a beautiful booklet that we were all able to take home. The Health Seminar ended with tea and a magnificent raffle (the prizes seemed endless!), and many have said how enjoyable and informative they found the day.

September was a busy month for social gatherings

Mini Meet at Hayling Island

There was a Mini Meet at Hayling Island Beach.

Mini Meet in Devon Sept 2013

There was another Meet Up in Devon

Chester Meet Up

The next Coventry rally meeting will be on Sunday, 13th October at 2.30 to 5, at St Francis Church Hall, Links Road, North Radford, Coventry CV6 3DQ. We are all beginners, so don’t feel shy about joining us. We finish the afternoon with tea, shortbread and chat. For more information contact Kate Hughes (024 7659 3694).

Doppler Day

Simon Swift, lecturer in cardiology at Liverpool University Veterinary School, has for many years done the heart testing at shows and health clinic run by the various Cavalier clubs. With the help of a grant from the CKCS Club, Simon now has a portable Doppler machine, which records what is going on in the heart and brings it up on a computer screen. Simon and cardiologist Anne French are now travelling the country giving Doppler examinations to Cavaliers; they need a minimum of 200 samples, and possibly 400. In partnership with the CKCS Club, the Companion Club hosted a Doppler Day in Coventry on 2 August for Simon and his assistant Andrea, a vet from Sardinia currently attached to Glasgow University.

The day was organised by Companion Club committee member Kate Hughes and 11 dogs aged 8 or over were examined. Nine of the Cavaliers belonged to CCC members, and 2 belonged to members of the Midland Cavalier Club. Each dog was weighed, ausculted (heart checked with a stethoscope), had a cheek DNA swab taken, and had a session on the Doppler machine, which involved lying on their side with electrodes attached to their chest. Simon thanked us for ‘such a successful day’ and commented that the Doppler had noticed several unusual features – though he wouldn’t tell us what these were! Thank you to all those who brought their Cavaliers along on the day and helped this very important research project.

We regret to announce the resignation of our Chairman, Sue Newnes, who so ably guided us through our first 18 months as a Club. Our thanks and best wishes for the future go with her.

Kate & Aled

The Leicestershire meet-up  On Sunday, 11 August Jay and Sabine Kanzaria invited Companion Club members to join them at Markfield in Leicestershire for a barbeque in honour of Jay’s 50th birthday. About 20 members gathered, with 10 or so of their family members and friends and about 30 Cavaliers. In the morning Sabine and Jay ran a Rally Obedience competition for members of their training club and several of us arrived early so that our Cavaliers could have a go as well. Everyone who went round the course received a beautiful rosette, and I’m sure the Coventry Rally group will tackle their training with renewed enthusiasm!

Harley shows how it is done

At 2pm we were joined by more members and enjoyed a delicious barbeque cooked by Jay, including roast bananas filled with chocolate sauce. Flyball and agility courses were laid out for people to have a go, and Jay Fletcher brought along some of her lovely Cavalier-related craft items for sale. But as usual most people were just happy to sit around with their Cavaliers and talk. It is always nice to put Facebook names to faces, including members from as far away as Weston-super-Mare and Chester.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their day and appreciated all the hard work that Sabine and Jay had put in to make it such a success. Thank you to them, the members of their club who helped, and all those who came.

COMPANION CAVALIER CLUB HEALTH FUND

Any Member who has paid their current subscription and is planning a low cost MRI or who has an existing MRI that is suitable for submission to the BVA/KC CMSM Scheme can apply for a £100 voucher which will be redeemed when that member supplies us with a copy of the official lilac result certificate. The voucher is available for a named cavalier only and will be valid for 6 months from the date of issue. See more details here

In March 2012, with a membership of 150 ( it is now 250 ) the committee decided to apply to the Kennel Club for registration as a Companion Cavalier Breed Club. We have now had an answer. Every member should have received the following message from our Hon. Secretary:

Ally proudly wearing his Companion Club bandana.

Dear Member,

When our Club was started one of the main objectives was to give pet owners a voice when decisions about the future of cavaliers were discussed. In April 2012 the Committee decided that aim may be best achieved by applying to be a Kennel Club registered breed club. After a fourteen month wait a recent letter from the Kennel Club has informed us that our application has not been approved “on the grounds that the breed is adequately served by the registered clubs for the breed.”

The Kennel Club has, however, given a commitment that they will notify us whenever cavalier issues are under discussion by their Dog Health Group ( DHG ). We will also have access to the KC Health and Information team; we can submit our views and findings at any time and we can initiate ideas/health plans to the DHG for consideration.

Although we do question whether the KC is correct in its belief that the breed is adequately served by the existing registered clubs, we are pleased that the Kennel Club has promised that our Club will be consulted, alongside the breed clubs, on health matters.  This concession should give cavalier pet owners a chance to make their views known within the Kennel Club Organisation.

Regards

Sandra Collins, Honorary Secretary.

The 2013 Companion Cavalier Club Summer Party was another outstanding success.