Breeding Program and Philosophy

Dunsfold maintains only a small band of brood bitches, and many of these live in family homes where Cavaliers thrive as companions, coming back for just one or two litters in a lifetime.  Older puppies suitable as brood bitches are sometimes available on breeders terms.  These well trained and usually beautiful former show dogs are ideal for families with young children and little time for training, or for older people not wanting to go through the puppy stage.  Enquiries welcome.

While we have been breeding for over 20 years, over the past 10 years or so, we have pursued a more structured breeding program to bring to the fore many of the traits and characteristic of Cavaliers that we treasure most.  For us this includes (i) an outgoing and loving temperament foremost, (ii) overall balance,  size and structure, and (iii) finally beautiful eyes, head and expression.   The bitches we select for breeding all must have one outstanding Cavalier feature and no major faults or health problems.  We will however, overlook minor cosmetic, markings or less than ideal characteristics  and try to improve on them.  We prefer to find outstanding features and build on them, rather than accept overall mediocrity or plainness as our foundation.

Our pups are well loved and child-proofed from early on! 
Puppies of Salador related breeding.

Our plans from 2009 onwards are to pursue a structured line breeding strategy in three main ways:

- line breeding to the 3 Miletree bitch lines (Maona, By Invitation and Beatrice). The two litters consolidating these lines to date has been positive. We feel this line brings us superb heads and eyes, coat texture and depth of colour, glamour, and size, but also good balance and structure. (3 litters planned in 2009-11.)

- line breeding to Dunsfold Pocket Protege through several bitch progeny. He already has several successful grand-progeny through Lyndy Morris Coloora cavaliers. Dunsfold’s first grand-progeny litter has produce a champion (Solera), others planned late 2009. We feel this line brings us excellent temperament, ideal structure and movement, and otherwise lovely balanced slow maturing and above all moderate Cavaliers with no extremes. We have lovely well broken tricolour markings in this line. (No litters planned til 2010/2011 although Pocket Protege sons and daughters will have outcross litters in preparation.)

- strengthening the mix of old Salador blood in lines through Sanquhar Hetty Wainthrop grand progeny. We feel this line brings gorgeous eyes and head and expression. It is also our only wholecolour line. (2 litters planned 2009/10).

These three strands are not mutually exclusive and each of our dogs and bitches represent at least two of these main lines. To pursue the overall approach we will be planning some litters to our new imported stud dog, Miletree Royalist, who complements these three strands beautifully and we will watch with interests his progeny. His first son (Dunsfold Bright Star) is very promising so far! Each mating is done with one line in mind however. Given our limited number of litters per year, ours is a very long term plan!

We plan our litters with our show goals in mind, but above all, we aim to produce healthy and happy Cavalier companions that are suitable for all types of families – singles, couples, young children, teenagers and older people.

Puppies are occasionally available too good homes. Full refund if puppy doesn’t settle or not suitable for any reason within first month, and a lifetime guarantee to take puppy back and re-home if circumstances change.

We have only just began to make show dogs available to others interested in pursuing this hobby as we feel more confident puppies have some potential and quality. Dunsfold Matthias is being shown in Queensland and has won Minor in Groups and res CC from Minor class. Dunsfold Celtic Legend has begun a show career in Canberra. We are very keen to encourage newcomers to the wonderful sport of dog shows, genuine enquiries welcome. Pups may be shown in joint membership for a time so we can provide useful support and advice, and to be certain that the pup is of sufficient quality to represent the breed.

Natasha with puppies of Miletree breeding at 8 weeks.