Minnie was the first Cavalier to join our family after the heartbreaking loss of our Labrador, River.

She is a Blenheim girl and the largest of our Cavaliers, with a calm, steady presence that settled into our home from the moment she arrived. Minnie is very much the nanny of the group — gentle, observant and quietly in charge.

She loves her sleep, enjoys her comforts and rarely rushes anywhere unless she decides the moment calls for it. Every now and then she surprises us with a sudden burst of energy, but at heart she is a dog who prefers a warm bed, a good meal and a peaceful routine. In many ways, she mirrors her owner: happiest when life is simple, cosy and predictable.

Minnie naturally corrects the younger dogs and keeps order without ever being unkind.

She is the queen of the house — confident in her role — but she also has a mischievous streak and a very selective approach to listening when it suits her. Her personality is a perfect balance of authority, affection and stubborn charm.

Minnie’s Role in Our Programme

Minnie will never be part of our breeding programme.

She has an umbilical hernia — a condition that is common in Cavaliers but can have a genetic component — and we made the decision early on that she would remain a much‑loved family pet for life.

Her role is not to produce puppies, but to be the heart of our home and the steady influence behind our younger dogs.

This decision reflects our commitment to health‑led, ethical breeding, as outlined in our breeding policies and programme standards.

Why Minnie Is Not Health Tested for Breeding

Because Minnie will never be bred from, she does not undergo the extensive pre‑breeding health testing that our breeding dogs complete.

Why we do not health test her:

• Health testing is designed for breeding decisions, not for pets

• Testing for conditions she will never pass on provides no welfare benefit

• Some tests require sedation, travel or stress — unnecessary when there is no breeding purpose

• It allows us to focus specialist appointments on dogs who will contribute to the breed

• It avoids misinterpretation of results that are irrelevant to her life as a companion dog

What we do ensure for Minnie:

• Routine veterinary care

• Monitoring for age‑related changes

• A comfortable, enriched, family‑centred life

• A permanent place as a cherished member of our home

Minnie’s value is not in breeding — it is in the stability, warmth and gentle leadership she brings to our family and to the younger dogs growing up around her.