Everyone, meet Gracie! She is a 3-year-old female spayed Blenheim Cavalier who still retains puppy-like energy and enthusiasm. She came into rescue because her owner felt like she could not meet Gracie’s playtime and exercise needs, in addition to there being some house-training regression after getting another dog.

Gracie has the classic personality traits of a Cavalier. She loves to snuggle and prefers to lay in your lap. She is a nuzzler and a cuddler and will follow you around the house. However, she differs from the average Cavalier in some ways too. She needs a lot of daily activity and mental stimulation, and she has the energy of a puppy. She’s a playful pup that loves to play ball and tug of war. While she is not a good fit for a family who wants a Cavalier that would chill on the couch all day, she will thrive with an active family, especially if they had another playful dog.

Gracie has a love of food, sometimes to a fault. Her enthusiastic personality comes through at mealtime when she reminds you it’s time to eat, where the food is located, and if you’re taking too long. She needs to lose a couple of pounds, so a lower calorie diet and long walks are key. Also, with her puppylike nature and being extremely food motivated, she will eat things she shouldn’t, including paper products and anything that falls on the floor. Her new owner needs to be extremely vigilant about keeping trash cans and human food out of reach. She also will grab items off the coffee table, including pens and food. Anything she gets in her mouth, she will immediately chew and swallow.

Gracie enjoys her leashed walks on quiet streets and trails. Since she loves adventures, her new family needs to be careful opening the front door as she may try to run out. In terms of potty training, she is getting back into it, and with a consistent routine she is good about going outside. She also is crate trained and enjoys sleeping and eating in her crate.

Gracie weighs 24 pounds (her ideal weight is closer to 22), is up to date on her vaccinations, and was recently groomed. She has some medical issues that are not uncommon in the breed, including fly catchers syndrome and flank biting. She is suspected to have Chiari-malformation and syringomyelia, which are the most common neurological conditions in Cavaliers. Her diagnosis is suspected but not confirmed with an MRI scan.

She is under the care of a veterinary neurologist and is currently receiving medications for this condition. She has 3-4 episodes a day, that last from a few seconds to a few minutes. She tends to have episodes closer to when she is due for her medications. Her medications (pregabalin and amantadine) are approximately $50 a month. She also receives over the counter omeprazole daily. She will need to see the neurologist at least twice yearly, as these medications will need to be adjusted over her lifespan as her symptoms change. Besides her neurological issues, she is healthy.

Gracie currently goes to work with her foster mom and the foster family’s two dogs. She is great in an office environment and sleeps most of the day on a dog bed. As long as she can be with you, she is happy and content. If you do need to leave her for a couple of hours, putting her in her crate is ideal. She is great in the car and loves walks, though she needs some more leash training.

If you’re looking for a dog that will make you smile and keep you entertained, Gracie is your girl! She’s a great fit for an adult home where she’ll get plenty of attention, walks, play sessions, snuggles, and adventures too. She would be fine as an only dog, though ideally, she’d have a playful canine companion. She is new with cats, but shows no aggression towards them besides the occasional friendly chase. Please note that Gracie is not a match for families with kids due to eating things she shouldn’t, such as small toys and paper products, and stealing food if given the opportunity.

If you’re interested in adopting Gracie, please complete the online application (if you haven’t done so previously) and email Melissa at happycavaliers04@gmail.com so she knows to consider your application.



























