Castle Creek Cavaliers
Reviews and Complaints

Castle Creek Cavaliers and this Breeder, Merle really cares about the breed and each and every dog she places. She has exquisite ethics for the breeding she does and has a lovely home environment. She is very passionate about the top quality of her dogs.

Thank you Merle for what you are all about, the breed and making it the best it can be.

Happy, your exact words were " When a person buys one of her dogs that person has to sign that he or she agrees with the foster program. If you don't agree, then go somewhere else and get a dog..." so I just wanted others who are reading this to know that this is not always required. What you say is much more reasonable, and makes a lot more sense than what mlobo517 claims - that she spent $2200 PLUS was required to give a few litters back on top of it. AND acts as if she was completely unaware of it all at the time of purchase. Your additional information is valuable, as it points out that mlobo517 no doubt knew full and well what they were getting into, and now they come on here and blast her as if she tricked them somehow? mlobo517's review is absolutely worthless to me now; they are clearly lying on here about the situation just to get out of an agreement they signed. A hard lesson learned for mlobo517 - when you sign a contract, chances are it will be enforced. Now you know.

Personally, I would never take a dog in exchange for puppies back, but if others choose to, there is nothing wrong with it and it does not make you a shady breeder. It's common for legitimate breeders to have breeding rights on some of their puppies - this doesn't make them a puppy mill, just the opposite in fact because it reduces the amount of dogs they need to keep on their property. The dogs are healthy, hand picked for their quality, and get to live in loving homes, not cages. I've worked in rescue, so if anyone wants to see what a REAL puppy mill is, I'll be happy to show you examples. There are so few breeders out there these days who actually do all the testing needed, so the demand is really high. Do you want to wait three years for your next Cav? Something gotta give. That Foster program isn't looking to bad now, huh? We all benefit from others willing to participate.

The only thing I care about is that the puppy I bought stays healthy. I will post updates if anything changes, but for now... it's all good here.

In answer to the foster program seeming to be odd, I did not say it was mandatory to sign an agreement for all dogs sold at Castlecreek Cavaliers. Some dogs are chosen for the foster program and if a person chooses one of those dogs they sign an agreement. They also get most of the money back when the dog is signed over to them. There are a lot of puppies that are not part of the breeding program. Two of my dogs were not bred.

This Foster Dog program seems a bit odd? Usually when there are breeders terms like that you get the dog for free, or close to free. Or, they split the litter with you. You don't pay $2200 PLUS have to give back a few litters? That's insane. There has got to be more to that story. I wonder if mlobo517 is telling the whole truth. She acts like she knew nothing about it, but it definitely would have been discussed at the time of purchase. I can't speak on any of the above mentioned health issues, but I purchased a dog from Merle and I had NO such Foster terms, so the "Happy and Content with 3 Cavs" person is not correct when they say this is mandatory in order to buy a dog from her.

I am astounded at these comments. I have three cavaliers from Merle and I have no problems whatsoever. When a person buys one of her dogs that person has to sign that he or she agrees with the foster program. If you don't agree, then go somewhere else and get a dog but you won't find dogs so well cared for as Castle Creek Cavaliers are. Merle gets very upset with people that don't look after the pups/dogs that leave her and some of these complaints sound like owners who should never have got a dog in the first place. A lot of these complaints are nasty malicious lies and it hurts me to hear these things being said about Merle. She is a very kind person who loves her dogs. She has been very supportive with me and I feel fortunate that I can go to her for advice. One of my dogs has just had five beautiful puppies and she is enjoying every moment of motherhood. She will come home to me when she is ready and not before. Merle has let me visit her and see the puppies which all look very healthy. It is not a puppy mill. Merle never breeds a dog until they are old enough and she never breeds them on consecutive heats. she only has a couple of dogs bred at one time. I know people who continuously have their dogs pregnant just to make money. Merle does not do this. About the comment that she looks after the dogs on her own, that person should revise what he/she said. Merle has more than one helper, actually she has a few and I have seen them. Instead of looking at this page full of malicious remarks people should be looking at the positive comments about Castle Creek Cavaliers. Compared to a handful of complaints there are a lot of very happy owners who think very differently about Merle and Castle Creek Cavaliers, including myself.

After living in Vista for thirty years ...I have watched Merle and her cognitive behavioral issues and hoarding patterns. She is known as a local fabricator and common liar. It's a shame as she presenta a very charming and convincing story ...but just so you know ...I'm her neighbor. Fences don't always fix the problem. The problem is she's got herself a hated in her that is very verbally ugly. The cruel words she uses and resentful ugliness is downright jaw dropping yet amusing when we have guests. Her puppies are cruelly kept in playpens too long and they commonly eat their feces and the feces of their litter mates. Bordetella is common. As neighbors we ALL never miss a beat on the every three month intranasal vaccine because of her always coughing yard. She doesn't and has never had a professionally certified service dog trainer ...nor does she take her dogs to visit.. Her pictures are a one time photo opportunity. I work for Community Convalescent and asked her several times to bring some service dogs for our reading room and patio garden time...after avoiding me for six months because she said she was too busy with other convalescents, she was denied entry due to improper paperwork and fraudulent licensing. My supervisor was aghast at the performance Merle presented as a professional and left the meeting stating she is a complete liability. The price of her puppies contributes to the regal facade of hee father's. "Castle ". We, as concerned neighbors recommended therapy sessions for her hoarding like character traits. Sad case. If she didn't omit so, we'd all trust her more. I wouldn't ask her in a hundred years to vaccinate, apply first aid or assist me with my unpapered lab. I would go to the high school student next door first. I have overheard hee phone calls about returned puppies due to a continual breeding of heart conditions. Please be advised.

I would change your name. She's known for suing and threatening to sue people who right bad reviews.

I am heartsick to read these complaints that verify my problems with Merle. I have been mentally making a list of adjectives to describe her, and it is so long and I haven't even finished: pathological liar, BULLY, uncooperative are the top 3. Shame on me for not checking her out. I wondered about the puppy mill, why would any reputable breeder have so many dogs just hanging around? Isn't that illegal?

We were able to work everything out with Merle and Castle Creek Cavaliers. We appreciate Merle working with us to resolve this. We are happy with our dog.

Littlesisser8 I am sorry you purchased from Merle Tucker who clams she's so professional. She is nothing but a puppy mill. I urge you to contact the proper authorities and report her. I would take her to court if I were you to recoup your cost. She wanted to buy 2 of my puppies and my puppies are in excellent health. I refused to sell any of my Cavaliers to her. I urge you to really do your checking before you buy a Cavalier from someone. Merele Tucker is a scam artist if you want my opnion.

Just for clarification: there are no health tests 'required' for breeding cavaliers, unfortunately.

There are tests that any reputable health focused breeder SHOULD be doing as this breed is at such high risk of severl serious and potentially very painful and costly conditions, including heart disease (affects 50% 0f cavaliers by age 5; almost 100% by age 10) and the neurological condition syringomyelia (affects 25% by age 1, and 70% by age 6-7 according to a study of 550 cavaliers). Only buy a cavalier from a reputable breeder who 1) MRI'd both parents after age 2.5 years; 2) used a cardiologist (NOT a vet!) to test for murmurs within 12 months of the breeding and the parents must BOTH be clear and all four grandparents should have heart records as clear of murmurs until at least age 5; 3) parents should be eye tested and clear; and 4) should have been DNA tested for episodic falling syndrome and dry eye/curly coat. This is a breed seriously under pressure from health problems. 'Health testing" is NOT having a vet say the dog is 'healthy' -- totally meaningless evaluation as the serious probes in the breed all are genetic, hidden and require proper tests. More info: www.cavalierhealth.org