Yes, it's that bad out there. I waited two years for a show Cavalier and attended dog shows with my mentor for well over a year. I read the books, studied the dogs, attended seminars, talked to numerous breeders via email and phone and, contrary to many, never had a bad experience. I've been a "lurker" mostly on the chat list for almost three years. Most people have been very generous with their time and quite honest about my chances of obtaining a show quality Cavalier. I don't come from "dog people." Frankly, my family thinks I've gone quite round the bend. (I think buying the velvet dog ruffles with the jingle bells for Christmas convinced them I'm getting dotty in my old age!lol) My mentor finally reccommended me to another breeder because she had had such a bad experience with "newbies". (It really was awful.) My first Cavalier turned out to not be show quality, but the breeder and I worked at a wonderful deal. They were MOST generous. I now have a show quality Cavalier (male of course) and am on the hunt for a female. I've got my heart set on a tri female and realize how hard and how long it's going to take to get one. For someone just getting into dog showing it can be quite frustrating, but I've taken the position that I'm in this for the long haul. i'm an empty nester so I have lots of time at my disposal to work on this. And, after having lived with Cavaliers for over a year now, I wouldn't trade them for ANYTHING. Even when I'm wheeling around on a walker---I want at least one Cavalier with me---even if it's only pet quality. I wouldn't take anything for my boys. The key to the whole process is patience and persistence. I also think a certain amount of maturity. I understand why so many breeders are "gun shy" because of the numerous bad experiences they have had with newbies. I also understand how frustrating it can be to be a newbie looking for their first Cavalier. These guys are too special to be the "dog flavor of the month". On New Year's Day 2000 I watched with equal parts happiness and trepidation as one news show proclaimed Cavaliers as the dogs of the millineum. All I can say to the "newbies" out there is Cavaliers are DEFINATELY worth the wait. Cathy Acquaviva
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