Topline's can go array, muzzles can loose their fill, they can become too leggy, and even loose their bite. Owners can become overly worried during this rapid period of change and awkwardness. Once they begin to come back into their own and the owner sees a glimpse of hope on the horizon the battle of coat not being long enough or the tail may be carried too high in a posturing position. Many other troubling situations can set in not to mention the training that must be done. Creating a show dog doesn't really begin with purchasing a show prospect because the way a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy is raised can influence the outcome of your show ring results.
My word of advice if you are looking for a show potential puppy is to purchase a puppy that is at least 16 weeks of age and/or is coming from a breeder who has bred several generations in a row behind the puppy you are considering. A breeder that has produced several of the generations themselves will know more about the possible outcomes of how their puppy might turn out. However, the most seasoned breeder will never know for sure exactly how a puppy is going to turn out. If you are able to find a breeder with a puppy closer to a year of age that is even better because most of the awkward stages are behind you and the puppy will have most of the structural qualities in tact. Many top breeders will hold on to a puppy longer and even if they decide to part with it later on they will not place it in a show home if they do not believe it is truly show potential and a puppy that is closer to a year in age the breeder will be able to evaluate the puppy much better as far as show potential goes. Top breeders become more picky about cosmetic features as they acquire top dogs for campaining in hopes of their dog getting ranked as a top dog in the breed. Therefore, a novice starting out can get a leg up from an older puppy held longer by the breeder if they really want to pursue showing.
