Waiting List & Deposit Policies

A Non-Refundable deposit of $200 is recommended, but not required, to be on our waiting list for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. Deposits will be deducted from the purchase price. Those that do place deposits, will be offered first choices of puppies in a litter, in order of date deposit received. If there are puppies that remain available, those that have chosen not to place deposits will be contacted and offered in order of date on waiting list. Deposits can be made by Personal check, Cash, Venmo or Zelle. Buyers should have a good idea of what they desire in a puppy prior to placing a deposit (ie: color, sex and a second choice). However, this is not required in order to be placed on our waiting list. Before placing a deposit with us, please be certain that you are willing to wait for your special puppy. We do our best to fulfil the request of our buyers, but genetics being what they are, we cannot guarantee anything.

The sire may be one of our adult males or we may choose to use the male of another breeder to diversify our breeding line.

Waiting List Factors:

We receive numerous inquiries on the size of our waiting list, or the approximate time it may take for a buyer to receive a puppy from us. These are circumstances beyond our control and we cannot predict litter sizes, color/sexes, guarantee a successful pregnancy, uneventful deliveries, or delivery dates. The size of the list is not always a factor in the selection process. Buyers may pass on a puppy that is exactly what another client desires. Because of this, we cannot predict when a puppy will be available. The reasons that some people pass on a puppy are endless. Sometimes, we will have puppies available while still having many people on the waiting list waiting for a specific color and sex. Royal Garden Cavaliers always reserves the right to first pick(s) of all litters, for our breeding program.

Breeding Procedures:

Once we have bred for an upcoming litter(s), we will notify everyone on our waiting list, with approximate due dates and color possibilities. We usually do not know if a dog is pregnant until the 4-5 week mark. A dog is pregnant for 58-65 days and we are never completely sure of the date the female ovulated and conceived, so due dates are not always an exact science. Once a litter is born, we will let you know and we’ll also announce it on our website, usually within 48 hours…as well as a list of the colors and sexes born. Sometimes, it takes us a day or two to get a quick group photo of Mom and babies, and we don’t post individual photos until they are around 2 weeks of age. Pups are delicate and Moms are protective and anxious before that time. We do not allow buyer visits until puppies are at least 4 weeks old. And, we prefer that no more than one visit every two weeks.

Placement & Picking Procedure:

Once a litter is born, we will notify everyone about how many puppies were born and color/sex of puppies. We will offer puppies beginning with those that paid deposits at the top of our waiting list, with every litter, every time (regardless of color/sex preferences), to see if you would like to place a hold on an available puppy, or pass and wait for a future litter and you will maintain your spot on the waiting list. This is the initial choice you must make and it is usually done when puppies eyes & ears open, at around the 2 week mark.

We understand this is an exciting time and most are anxious to choose their puppy as soon as possible. Once a puppy is offered at 2 weeks of age, we will give you up to 2 days to make a decision as to which puppy you’d like. Failure to decide or choose a puppy within the 2 day time frame given, will result in forfeiture of your pick spot and we will notify the next person on the waiting list to make their choice and so on. Occasionally, we may not have a waiting list and be able to allow a longer time frame for decision making.

Once a puppy has been chosen, there is an additional $300 deposit (to equal $500), required to hold a particular puppy. If you chose not to place an initial deposit, this is the time a $500 deposit will be required to hold a puppy for you. A deposit equals one spot on the waiting list. This deposit signifies that the Buyer intends to follow through with the purchase of the puppy from seller. In the event the Buyer cannot follow through with the purchase of the puppy, the deposit is forfeited and NO refund will be given. At any time, you can change your mind and be placed back on the waiting list, keeping in mind if another litter has been born in the meantime and a deposit holder of your same sex/color preference chose a pup from that litter, you will be bumped down the list after them. Deposits may be transferred to another litter as many times as needed until you find the perfect puppy for your family.

We are pretty good about sending pictures and short videos every couple of weeks thereafter, so you can enjoy watching them develop and play with littermates, and eventually with our older dogs. We start taking them outside to play at about 5-6 weeks (weather permitting). If you’d like a quick snapshot of your puppy in between time, just ask.

Puppies are sold with AKC Limited Registration (PET ONLY), and will be required to be neutered or spayed between 6-12 months of age. We will occasionally sell with Full AKC Registration to certain homes, with prior approval. It is your responsibility to notify us of any changes to phone numbers, emails or puppy preferences.

If by tragic accident the puppy dies, or is determined to have a congenital defect that prevents the puppy from being a companion pet, your deposit will be transferred to another litter. If there is another puppy available, buyer may designate their deposit be put towards that puppy.

Royal Garden Cavaliers reserves the right to void any transactions and refund the deposit if we feel the Buyer might not be suitable for the puppy. If this is the case, Royal Garden Cavaliers may take up to 45 days to return or refund your deposit.

Final Pick Up Policies:

Puppies are able to go to their new home between 9-10 weeks of age. The outstanding balance is to be paid in full and received by Royal Garden Cavaliers 2 weeks prior to the buyer taking possession of the puppy (final payment due at 7 weeks old), if paying through Venmo, Zelle in advance. Or, we will accept Cash only on day of pick up. No personal checks will be accepted at this time.

Under no time, will puppy be allowed to go to new home earlier than 9 weeks. By the time the puppy is ready to go, they will have an excellent start to potty training. We do not use puppy pads, but start working on potty training in box at 5-6 weeks. Weather permitting, we will start letting them go outside for short periods of times with mom and introduce them to some of our older dogs.

If you need us to keep your puppy longer than 10 weeks, arrangements must be made in advance with an additional boarding fee of $25 a day, to be paid before puppy leaves. There may also be charges of $50 for each additional puppy vaccine, if needed. If we do not hear from Buyer for period of 30 days, $500 deposit will be forfeited and we will find a new home for puppy.

Taking possession and delivery of your new puppy:

Under NO circumstances, will we let our puppies fly alone as cargo. We do have someone we use as a flight nanny and can help get puppy to you for a very reasonable  price. You are also more than welcome to make arrangements for a flight nanny to transport puppy yourself, and we will make sure puppy gets to the Spokane, WA airport (GEG), or Portland, OR (PDX) airport, as pre-arranged. We will also be happy to meet you personally at the Spokane or Portland airport for personal pickup. Please note: in order for a puppy to board an airplane, it may be required that puppy have a health certificate from a licensed vet within 10 days prior to flight. Please check with your airline, in advance. This will result in an additional $85 fee to purchase price (for the additional exam), to be paid before puppy is 8 weeks old. We advise that you check with airline for pet carry on procedures and possible additional fees, prior to departure. We will not be responsible for any transport fees.

We are in no way responsible for what happens to the puppy after it leaves our possession. If the puppy will be flying home, it is your responsibility to do your own due diligence as to flight requirements and expenses. We will not be responsible in any way for possible mis-communications with the airlines, and it is assumed you understand all requirements and expenses, before puppy departs. We will provide you with necessary information about the puppy, including health records, vet certificate, a copy of bill of sale and AKC application. If you are coming to pick up puppy in person, you should bring a small crate and towel or blanket, for the journey home. We also recommend that if you have a long road trip ahead of you, that you do not stop at rest stops for your puppy to potty. Use of puppy pads is recommended during travel. Rest stops are known to harbor parvo, and your puppy will not be 100% protected from parvo, even though they will have had their first puppy vaccinations. It takes 3-4 vaccinations before they are fully protected. Discuss this with your vet. We would suggest you stop at an area that is unlikely other dogs have been. We always look for places off a main road, and have used church parking lots, small business complexes with grassy areas on a side street, etc. Please be mindful of other properties and pick up after your puppy, if needed. Parvo is contracted by dog feces and can live up to 10 or more years in the ground. It also takes 3-4 Parvo vaccines and 3-4 weeks after the last vaccine, for immunity.

All of our dogs & puppies are raised on Purina ProPlan products. We will provide you with a small bag of puppy food that they have been used to eating. If you choose to use a different product, please slowly wean them beginning with ¼ amount of your food mixed in with ours and gradually increase over a 10 day period, to avoid stomach upset. We also include a small blanket smelling like home with both mom & siblings’ scents, health records and AKC registration form, along with other useful information.