Catalpa Cavaliers

Lara C.

Breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Meet the breeder

I'm Lara C., the breeder behind Catalpa Cavaliers located in Zionsville, IN. We decided to start breeding to share the best possible puppies with excellent personalities, temperament, and most of all health! We are committed to always responsibly breeding with the best interest of our puppies’ health and longevity at the forefront.

Q. & A. with Lara

  • Why did you start breeding?

    My passion for breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels was ignited in the 1980s, inspired by my British mother and Liz Spalding, both dedicated breed enthusiasts. Liz's dogs were renowned for their exceptional temperament, intelligence, and beauty, attracting famous clients like Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, and Steven Spielberg. As a child, I would accompany my parents to Liz's kennel for breeding purposes. Liz's down-to-earth nature and extensive knowledge impressed me, and I fondly recall the passionate discussions between her and my mother about preserving the breed's integrity. A well-bred and properly socialized Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is truly a joy to behold. Their intelligence, easygoing nature, and athleticism make them outstanding companions. These dogs possess a remarkable ability to form deep connections with people, which I've observed firsthand through my involvement in pet therapy with youth and teens. It's no surprise that research indicates Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are the top dog breed for combating depression, given their affectionate and cheerful disposition.

  • What makes your program special?

    Health and temperament are our top priorities. We've meticulously chosen a stud dog that is an AKC Grand Champion, owned by a reputable breeder, with a temperament matching the sweetness of our dam. Selecting an esteemed, health-tested show dog is crucial for improving breed standards and health with each litter. Both the dam and sire are exceptionally well-tempered Cavaliers, which is remarkable given the breed's already sweet nature. Proper puppy upbringing is vital for developing successful pet therapy dogs. Our puppies undergo careful socialization and exposure to various environmental factors and sounds with this goal in mind. We'd be happy to discuss this further when we meet! If you visit our home, you'll immediately notice how well-trained, calm, and well-adjusted our puppies are relative to other puppies you may have met at the same age.

  • What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

    Our puppies are ruby. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.

  • Where do your breeding dogs live?

    They live in my home.

Matched dogs

These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.

Getting a puppy from Lara

Lara has been certified by Good Dog's screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you're ready to reach out, feel free to ask any questions about the breed, their program, or specific puppies.

Together, you’ll choose the puppy that’s right for you, stay in touch with regular updates, and plan how to bring your new puppy home.

Price

Connect with Lara to learn more details about pricing.

Contract & health guarantee

Lara may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Lara offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don't hesitate to reach out to Lara directly.

Always communicate and pay on Good Dog.Learn more

What's included

    • From Good Dog
      • Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
      • 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
      • Puppy Training Program & private community
    • Enrichment & socialization
      • Various sounds
      • Car rides
      • Surface & tactile stimulation
      • Socialized with children
      • Socialized in new places
      • Scent introduction
      • Daily handling
      • Socialized with other dogs
      • Introduced to people of different ages and appearances
      • Socialized with other animals
    • Puppy health practices
      • Vet check
      • First round of shots and deworming
      • Vet records
    • Extras
      • Initial potty training
      • Puppy starter kit
      • Toys
      • Food & treats
      • Basic obedience & manners
      • Registration
      • Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent

Location & pick-up

You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Lara.

Breeder's location

Meet in Zionsville, IN

Other pick-up locations

More about Lara

  • Lara has been a member of Good Dog for over 1 year

    Lara was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2024.

Lara is a trusted Good Dog breeder

Catalpa Cavaliers meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:

  • Responsible breeding practices
  • Health of breeding dogs and puppies
  • Puppy environment and enrichment
  • Buyer education and policies

Litter and program updates

Parent dogs

Parent health testing

Breeder-Reported Testing

Excellent level

Catalpa Cavaliers reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

  • Hip Dysplasia

    Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.

  • Eye Certification (CAER, registered with OFA)

    Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.

  • Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)

    Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.

  • Patellar Luxation

    Knee testing reduces the chance of passing down Patellar Luxation, which results in the kneecap becoming displaced or dislocated and can cause mild to severe joint pain.

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Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.