Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Recently I've read that modern Cavaliers are a recreation, starting in the 20's, with only 24 or so founding ancestors, picked from the already restricted gene pool of English Toy Spaniels.

True?

Very frightening. What are Cavalier lovers, as a group, doing to remedy this situation? A breed can't survive long term with such a small amount of genetic diversity. Perhaps they should think about opening the registry to a certain number of English Toy Spaniels and, say Cockers, in order to infuse the gene pool with more heterozygosity?

Also, does anyone on this board know what percentage of Cavaliers have Mitral Valve syndrome? (it's a specific heart problem that effects many of the breed)

Thanks in advance.

I have heard somewhere, don't take my word on it, that up to 80% of the cavs die from heart related issues that are genetic. I'f you start to mix other breeds into the cav, it would be difficult to preserve and keep a standard. But breeder keep up with testing and rarely inbreed with a few exeptions of line breeding to bring out exellent trates in a specific line.

Sorry, it's not as simple as you think.
Testing can never resolve the problem:
Lack of genetic diversity.

English Toy Spaniels WERE the same breed unitl 1924 or so. Therefore there should be no problem with introducing some into the Cavalier gene pool.

I'd also suggest introducing some cockers, japanese chin and other similar dogs.

Then, with careful preservation of all genetic diversity, the breed would have a small chance of survival.

As it is, IMHO, the breed will be gone within 50-75 years.