This is us.
We were introduced to Cavaliers very suddenly, 7 years ago. We’d just had a baby and were closing on our home when a darling little puppy in need of a home fell into our lap. We were no one’s idea of a perfect home for a puppy, but it was meant to be.
Scout
The Lovable Boy who Started it ALL.
Let’s go hand in hand, not one before another.
-William Shakespeare, A Comedy of Errors
~ Showing in Conformation ~
The dog world can be an overwhelming place to be if you are new. We know that from experience! We started not even being able to remember the breed of our dog (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a mouthful!) and now compete in Conformation Dog Shows and JR Showmanship. We love to help new fanciers begin their show journey. We love to guide Juniors through the process of JR Showmanship. If you want to expand your relationship with your dog into the competition ring, we are eager to be in your cheering section.
Let’s work together.
A win for you is a win for the breed, and for all of us invested in healthy, beautiful companions that adhere to the AKC standard for Cavaliers.
We didn’t have a fence, or even grass. What we did have was several pairs of loving arms and waiting laps. We needed a little bundle of love that would cuddle us out of the doldrums and make the big struggles in life seem more doable. Our lives were a better place to be because of our sweet puppy.
We have since strived to make other people’s lives better through their canine companions. We want to enrich lives by providing HEALTHY and SOUND companions. Cavaliers have historically had bad reputations due to poor health, specifically MVD (Mitral Valve Disease) and Syringomyelia. With extensive and consistent testing and the careful selection of breeding dogs, Cavaliers have more recently enjoyed longer lives and better health.
Our breeding goal is to produce amazing and versatile companions. Health, longevity, a trainable and pleasant temperament, and sound structure are all important.
Whether you want a calm couch companion or a hiking buddy, we at Shakespeare’s Cavaliers work to make your dreams come true! We raise our canines so they can face confidently the future that awaits. Be it therapy, agility, conformation, obedience, or solely companionship, we can help you and your future puppy get off to a great start together.
~ Other Competition Venues We Enjoy ~
Rally
Rally is a course navigation competition that highlights teamwork and your dog’s talents. It is very intense at the higher levels, but the novice levels are something that many dog owners can do successfully! We dabble in Rally Novice and Rally Intermediate. If you want to participate in Rally, we recommend taking Basic Obedience classes at training facility near you!
FastCat
FastCat is a hundred yard dash done by dogs one at a time. The dogs are timed and their scores are released as miles per hour. After several runs, you and your dog can earn an AKC FastCat title. Rio in particular LOVES FastCat and will be starting Lure Coursing in 2024. Typically, clubs putting on a FastCat event will let your dog have a trial run for a reduced fee. Trial runs allow you to see if your dog has the right drive to run this event.