In 2021, I lost my eleven-year-old Golden Retriever, Gracie.
Gracie came from a hobby breeder who dearly loved the breed, but placed little emphasis on health testing or genetics. Throughout her life, she struggled with significant health problems and allergies, and caring for her became a constant effort to find the best ways to keep her healthy and comfortable. Her veterinarian once told me that, had she belonged to someone else, she likely would not have made it past five years old.
We buried Gracie on a cold, snow-covered January day. As my daughter and I walked away from her grave, we spotted a single dandelion growing in the center of a small patch of thawed ground. Dandelions were Gracie’s flower. It felt like a little gift. A final goodbye. But it became so much more.
When a dandelion’s flower fades, it becomes a thousand wishes. And that little dandelion brought me back to dreams I had set aside while homeschooling and raising four children. I had always been fascinated by the extraordinary ways dogs can help people, and I had long dreamed of breeding and training dogs for service and therapy work.
I returned to school and began the process of becoming a dog trainer. Along the way, I also became certified in Animal Naturopathy, and the importance of thoughtful, integrative approaches to health became an important part of the breeding program I was beginning to build. I started with Golden Retrievers, and from that journey came my own service dog, Maya.
As the vision began taking shape, my priest, Father Steven, asked to partner with me. His ministry takes him into hospitals, nursing homes, and the homes of people who are unable to leave home. He needed a smaller dog, one with the temperament to bring genuine comfort and companionship, while being easy for elderly or physically fragile people to safely hold and interact with. That search led me to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
As I researched breeds known for dependable temperaments and the qualities needed for service and therapy work, I fell in love with Cavaliers. The more I learned about them, the more there was to love. Cavaliers are intelligent and deeply people-oriented, with an extraordinary ability to connect with the people around them. There is something very special about the way they make people feel seen, comforted, calm, and loved.
When we began preparing for our first litter with Emma, one of our breeding females, I was introduced to an established preservation breeder who became an invaluable mentor and guide. Through that relationship, our original vision grew into something even larger: not simply producing healthy, well-rounded puppies, but doing our part to protect, strengthen, and preserve this remarkable breed for generations to come.
And in many ways, it all began with Gracie and one little dandelion in the snow.
Theresa Rau, Owner & Preservation Breeder