Looking to expand your family with an additional furry member? Congratulations! Cavaliers will undoubtedly make your life ten times more joyful.
However, before you adopt one, it’s essential to find a trustworthy breeder.
So, in this blog post, not only will I list some of the best-known Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeders in Tennessee, but I’ll also share my experience and guide you through the process of acquiring a pet from a reliable source.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeders in Tennessee
- Mountain Top Cavaliers
- Cavalier Palace
- Lockwood Cavaliers
- Cane Creek Cavs
Mountain Top Cavaliers
About: Located outside Chattanooga, Tennessee, on a scenic 14-acre farm, Mountain Top Cavaliers has a ten-year history of raising quality Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. With a family-centric approach to breeding, their dogs are raised in a nurturing environment inside their home, actively participating in their daily life.
Mountain Top Cavaliers places great importance on the health of their dogs. Adult dogs are cleared by OFA and certified for breeding, and puppies undergo a vet examination at 8 weeks old, receiving their first vaccinations. The breeder also offers a one-year health guarantee and lifetime support for new owners.
If you are interested in adopting a puppy from Mountain Top Cavaliers you first need to submit an inquiry through their website and confirm receipt via email or phone.
- Location: Graysville, TN
- Website: Mountain Top Cavaliers
- Social Media: N/A
- Phone: 423-554-3777 & 423-280-0731
- Email: [email protected]
Mountain Top Cavaliers Testimonials:
“We picked up Scout nine days ago. This puppy is absolutely wonderful. Tracie Thompson and her precious family have been a joy to work with. On a scale of 1-10 they and the puppy are a 10. Couldn’t be better.”
“Our mountaintop cavalier is almost 2 years old now and the joy of our lives. I have never seen a dog this smart. By the time he was 10 weeks he had learned countless tricks and has a big understanding of words to fetch a specific toy or to get his toothbrush to brush his own teeth. He pushes a desk bell to go outside. He is also incredibly athletic and snuggly. Thank you!”
Cavalier Palace
About: Nested in Nashville, Tennessee, Cavalier Palace is a breeder with an impressive 30-year track record in raising high-quality, health-tested, and AKC-certified Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Cavalier Palace engages in careful selection for breedings, aiming to produce the best in health, beauty, and temperament. Their Cavaliers come from outstanding lineage and champion bloodlines.
The breeder emphasizes that each parent is OFA certified for heart and eyes, with additional DNA screenings to rule out genetic diseases. They also conduct temperament testing on all puppies, ensuring a perfect match for their future homes.
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Website: Cavalier Palace
- Social Media: N/A
- Phone: 615-585-7375
- Email: [email protected]
Cavalier Palace Testemonials:
“Sawyer turned 1 yesterday! He is the most handsome, sweetest dog he has filled out nicely. Weighing 18.6 lbs. I’ll send a few more recent pictures. Thought you might want to see. Thank you again… He’s the best! D.S”
“Mary Ann, I wanted to update you this morning on Buster. He is fitting right in with the family. He and Daisy play together, eat together and even nap together. Daisy plays the part well as big sister by keeping Buster in line and teaching him the ropes. Both our Cavs have brought us so much joy. Thank you again! Kreis Family”
Lockwood Cavaliers
About: Located at the foot of the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee, Lockwood Cavaliers is a home-based breeder with a passion for raising healthy, loving, and high-quality Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. It sits on a small farm, providing room for the dogs to roam around.
Lockwood Cavaliers prioritizes indoor rearing for all of their dogs to foster well-socialized pets that make great companions. Every puppy in their program receives focused attention and care, preparing them to be exceptional family members.
All of their adult dogs are AKC registered and heart, eye, and patellar certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Their puppies can also be registered with the AKC.
- Location: Madisonville, TN
- Website: Lockwood Cavaliers
- Social Media: Lockwood Cavaliers Facebook
- Phone: 865-207-3232
- Email: [email protected]
Lockwood Cavaliers Testimonials:
“Hi Connie, it’s been a while. Just wanted to send you some new pictures of Jasper. Two years three months old and the sweetest little boy in the world. He is the most gorgeous precious baby in the world. He just had his annual check up and passed with flying colors. Everyone at the vet just goes crazy when he comes in. They love him so much! Thank you so much for this little blessing.”
“Hi Connie, wanted to send you an update. Mr Bentley Lockwood Hardwick is now 18 months old and is doing great. He weighs 23 lbs and such a mess. Definitely took after his Father, Hollywood!! Loves us so much and everyone else he meets! Our entire neighborhood just loves him so. He prances around like he is the Lion King! Hope you all are doing well and wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas.”
Cane Creek Cavs
About: Cane Creek Cavs started with a simple obsession with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed back in 2018. Today, this Middle Tennessee breeder is all about raising happy and healthy puppies.
Cane Creek Cavs guarantees that their puppies are receiving the love, care, and attention they rightfully deserve. Before each puppy heads to their new home, they’re vet checked at 8 weeks, complete with a detailed vet report for their new family. Plus, there’s a one-year guarantee against genetic defects
- Location: Middle Tennessee
- Website: Cane Creek Cavs
- Social Media: Cane Creek Cavs Instagram
- Phone: 931-623-8740
- Email: [email protected]
Cane Creek Cavs Testimonials: N/A
Breeders From a Bordering State: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeders in Missouri
How to Find a Reputable Cavalier Breeder in Tennessee
Let’s set aside the previous details for a while. In this second part of the article, I’m going to share my experience about what I think makes a great breeder.
Why is this important? Well, because despite helping you in creating this list of breeders, I haven’t personally worked with any of them. So even though I narrowed down your potential options, there’s still work waiting for you.
But don’t worry. Moving forward, I’ll be your trusted friend, guiding you step-by-step through the journey of finding reputable breeders, understanding their breeding methods, their ethics, and everything else that will help you make the right choice!
Scouting Breeders Online
For this step, the Internet is your best friend. Before paying a visit to a breeder, you want to minimize the chances of disappointment once you get there.
Begin your investigation by examining breeders’ online presence and reputation. Check their website, skim through their social media accounts, and take note of their audience engagement.
By doing so, you can often find more information about their breeding methods, the lineage of their dogs, the health screenings they perform, and so on.
See what other people have to say about them online. Look for testimonials, comments, Google reviews. Are they positive or negative? Check if there are any forum threads discussing them, such as on Quora or Reddit.
There are many ways to evaluate a breeder’s reputation simply by conducting online research. Be creative!
Meet the Breeder in Person
Once you’ve completed the first step, it’s time to meet your potential pet and its caretakers.
There is no better way to familiarize yourself with the breeder, understand their breeding philosophy, and observe the conditions in which their animals are raised. Hence, this step is a must-do.
Once you arrive, take the time to assess the environment. Is it safe and clean? Do dogs have plenty of space and the freedom to roam?
How about the breeders themselves? Are they friendly and welcoming? How do they interact with their animals? Does it seem as if they are raising dogs out of love, or strictly as a business?
What about puppies – do they seem healthy and happy?
Also, it probably goes without saying, but just in case – there are NO silly questions. So, feel free to ask anything that’s on your mind. Here are a few that could get you started:
- When did you start breeding Cavaliers and why?
- How many litters do you have per year?
- What kind of health screenings do you conduct on the breeding dogs?
- Could you explain methods related to puppy socialization?
- What forms of training do you provide to the puppies?
- Are your dogs registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC)?
- Are you able to provide health certifications for the puppy’s parents?
- Do you offer any health guarantees?
- Do you offer ongoing support for new owners?
Another thing to keep in mind: A reputable breeder will also have a lot of questions for you. Why, you might ask? Well, those who genuinely care for their dogs will strive to place them in the perfect home.
Key Characteristics of a Reputable Breeder
Raises one or two breeds
This is pretty straightforward. Just as it takes years for a person to become an expert in their field, breeders also need a lot of time to fully comprehend the behavior, temperament, care requirements, needs, and potential health risks associated with each breed they work with.
From my experience, those offering numerous breeds often signify a preference for “quantity over quality”. So, stick with breeders who focus on just one or two breeds at most.
Prioritizes health
You might already know that, sadly, Cavvies aren’t exactly the picture of health among dog breeds. So, if you’re dealing with a reputable breeder, the health of their dogs will be at the top of their priority list. But keep in mind, it’s the parent dogs that need to go through a bunch of health checks, primarily focusing on the heart, eyes, knees, and hips.
An ethical breeder will be eager to discuss these crucial health checks. They won’t need any prompting – they’ll share the information voluntarily. If they avoid such conversations or can’t show you any health check results, that’s a red flag. You might want to start looking for a different breeder.
Focuses on early socialization
Early socialization is also a crucial aspect of reputable breeder programs. It’s like preschool for pups. They get to experience all sorts of noises, places, people, and other animals.
This helps Cavaliers to grow into confident, sociable, and friendly adult dogs. They learn the ropes of the world in a safe and controlled manner. Also, this early exposure cuts down the chances of you ending up with a pet that has behavioral hiccups down the line because they missed out on these early life lessons
Talks about the puppy’s family tree and lineage
When you meet a trustworthy breeder, you’ll quickly see their excitement for their dogs – their health, achievements, and long family lines.
You’ll find yourself showered with information about the history of your potential new pup, learning about their parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents. This is a good sign. This history class isn’t about bragging; it’s proof of their commitment.
Offers a health guarantee
Most reputable breeders will offer a health guarantee for their puppies. The duration of the health guarantee may vary among breeders, but it typically ranges from 6 months to 2 years. The guarantee should cover any genetic health issues that may arise during that period.
How Much Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies in Tennessee Cost?
The price of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies in Tennessee usually ranges between $1,500 and $4,000. This wide range in price is due to several factors, including color variation, lineage, pedigree, and the breeder’s reputation. However, puppies with champion bloodlines and rich histories may be priced even higher.
On another note, owning a dog also involves recurring costs. For example, you’ll need to budget for food, toys, grooming supplies, and veterinary care, along with pet insurance. As a rough estimate, these monthly expenses can range from $80 to $150.
To Sum Up
Finding a reputable Cavalier breeder requires time and thorough research. Consider this article as your beginning point, but don’t forget to conduct a detailed investigation on each breeder before settling on the right one.
Prior to visiting a breeder in person, look into their online reputation and request references from past customers.
Remember, you’re adopting a new family member, so there’s no need to rush. Take your time.
Finally, here’s a list of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeders in Tennessee, complete with their contact details:
| Breeder Name | Contact Details |
| Mountain Top Cavaliers | [email protected] |
| Cavalier Palace | [email protected] |
| Lockwood Cavaliers | [email protected] |
| Cane Creek Cavs | [email protected] |
Are you a Cavalier breeder located in Tennessee and not mentioned in this list? Feel free to contact us at [email protected].