Beautiful, healthy Cavaliers — raised in our home, not a kennel.
For more than twenty-five years, Meadowlake has bred Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for sound hearts, gentle temperaments and true breed type — and raised every one of them as part of the family.
The kind of start a Cavalier deserves
A Cavalier is a lifelong companion. Everything we do is aimed at making those years healthy, happy, and easy to love.
How our puppies are raised- 01
Born & raised in our home
Never a kennel. Our puppies grow up underfoot — handled daily, gently socialised and family-ready before they ever go home.
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Health tested, generation after generation
Within 12 months prior to breeding, each parent is screened by a veterinary cardiologist and veterinary ophthalmologist. We also complete orthopedic screening of the patellas, hips, and elbows, including elbow X-rays, with OFA certification for the patellas, hips, and elbows.
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A breeder you can call
Three decades in this breed, dogs we know inside out, and a real person on the other end of the phone before and after you bring a puppy home.
Three decades, one beloved breed
Meadowlake is the small, home-based program of Dorothy Swanson, who has shared her life with Cavaliers since 1997 and bred them in far west Houston since 1999. It began with a single puppy — Coco, who became a champion, an agility competitor and a therapy dog — and grew into a line built around health, temperament and classic type.
Dorothy holds the AKC Breeder of Merit at the Silver level, has bred dozens of titled dogs, and shows in conformation to keep proving her dogs against the breed standard. Mostly, though, she just loves living with Cavaliers.
Read our story
Tested for the things that matter
Cavaliers are wonderful, but the breed has known health concerns — so we test for them, openly, before every breeding.
- Cardiologist heart screening for mitral valve disease within 12 months prior to breeding
- Ophthalmologist eye exam within 12 months prior to breeding
- OFA-certified patella (knee), hip and elbow evaluations, including elbow X-rays
- DNA testing for episodic falling and dry-eye / curly-coat
- CHIC numbers you can verify yourself on the OFA database
“Our puppies are born, raised and live in our home. They learn the world from a real family — so they're ready to become yours.”
— Dorothy Swanson, Meadowlake Cavaliers
Recognised by the people who know the breed best
Let's find your family's puppy
Most of our puppies are reserved before they're born. Tell us a little about your home and what you're hoping for — we'd love to start the conversation.