About Us
Redwood Forest Cavaliers is located on the North Coast of California. When you're driving up Highway 101 from the Bay area, once you hit Humboldt County, you see nothing but giant redwoods for miles and miles. I always say, “We have more trees than people!”
We adopted our first Cavalier a couple of years after our dog, Precious died. A tiny terrier/poodle pup we adopted from the local shelter, Precious lived with us for 14 years. My husband and I decided we would not get another dog, but eventually we realized our “empty nest” was a bit lonely.
I began researching the breeds to see if “the perfect dog” for us existed. We wanted a small dog that was smart and didn’t require a great deal of exercise. I also looked at how much they shed, bark and how aggressive they are. Since we planned to take the dog to work with us (we own the company), it would need to be “people-friendly”. And, finally, we needed to be assured that the dog would be good with children. (Note: We now have three grandsons: Leopold, born in 2009, Maxwell 2011, and Theodric 2013!)
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was the breed we chose. I found a reputable breeder who had two female litter-mates. He considered both to have show potential. Before we had chosen which of the pups we wanted, the breeder had to move back East, and made us an offer to take both girls. We accepted, and oh, what a wonderful decision we made! I have heard from many folks that Cavaliers are like potato chips: “You can’t have just one!” My degree is in music and I studied and sang opera, so we named them Bella Donna (Italian for beautiful lady) and Bianca Donna (white lady).
Over time, we watched them mature into wonderful examples of the breed and decided to show them. We attended dog shows sponsored by the American Kennel Club (AKC.org) and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club (CKCSC.org). After reading many books, attending dog shows, Cavalier shows, consulting with other breeders and our vet, we decided to become breeders of these wonderful, little dogs. Sadly, Bianca died of Cushing's Disease on February 18, 2018 at the age of 12.
We strive to breed intelligent, beautiful and happy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, paying particular attention to temperament, health, and size.
Cavaliers, a very loving and affectionate breed, have unique personalities. They are treated with love as members of our family. We keep our numbers small in order to give them the individual attention they deserve.
Our puppies are raised in our home, watch TV with us and several sleep in our bed!