Sasha and Yair Shochat with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Malo, Waldi and Tony.

If one knew little about canines, the name Cavalier King Charles could well conjure up images of swashbuckling musketeers about to take on all and sundry threatening their royal charges.

However, a visit to the modest kibbutz abode of Yair and Sasha Shochat would immediately rectify that misunderstanding as three boisterous four-legged, tail wagging Cavaliers of the spaniel kind greet guests at the door.

The youngest of the threesome, 4 month-old Waldi was born in Germany and made aliyah in relatively recent times, joining the Dutch born 3 year-old Tony and kibbutz born sabra spaniel Malo, who is 8.

Yair Shochat is Israel’s leading expert on Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Until recent years he was the only breeder of the dogs in the country.

“There are two other places in Israel today breeding Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and they have gained from our expertise accumulated over many years,” explained Yair who has been running a dog breeding kennels cum canine absorption center at Kibbutz Mishmar HaEmek for many years.

What started out as a serious hobby gradually became a branch of the kibbutz. He was not only breeding but also showing his dogs scooping up top prizes in Israel and in Europe.  His involvement in the competitions eventually led to his also becoming a judge at dog shows although he is now retired from that arena, both on the competing and judging side.

Yair began in the 1960s breeding and training German Shepherds (Alsatians) for security services such as army and the police and later Dachshunds and the Cavaliers, neither then being bred in Israel.

A Dachshund breeder in Holland from whom Yair bought pedigree puppies introduced him to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, a breed strongly associated with the British Royal family and other rich and famous personalities.

Dutch breeder Hans Boelaars arranged for the first two Cavaliers to make successful aliyah – since those early teething breeding days, a few hundred pedigree Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have been unto the kibbutz canine manor born.

Why has Waldi joined the present ‘stable’ of Cavaliers?

“My motivation is to get the highest results possible with this breed. There has been a great deal of damage done over the years to the Cavalier breed due to careless breeding resulting in heart and other defects,” said the veteran dog breeder and trainer with detectable sadness in his voice.

Yair Shochat continues to have a strong connection with the Boelaars breeding kennels in Holland and at one stage he decided to thank the Dutchman for introducing him to the Cavaliers by sending him one of his sabra born puppies named Bambi.

On Bambi’s birth certificate the full name reads as ‘Bambi Mishmar HaEmek.’ He proved to be an exceptional gift for Boelaars as Bambi eventually became a Dutch champion. Three of Bambi’s siblings went on to take championships in Israel and the Shochat cup of pride runneth over when talking about Bambi’s contribution to Israeli-Dutch relations.

Waldi settled down very nicely thank you with guidance from Malo and Tony. Some playful pushing and shoving both on and under the living room couch ends when Waldi finds a corner too small for his two older playmates to wriggle their way in.

“King Charles Cavalier Spaniels are non-aggressive, very curious by nature and very entertaining – they make us laugh a great deal and have all the qualities necessary to make great house pets,” says Sasha as she retrieves a Croc shoe from Waldi’s playful paws.

Although Malo was born in Mishmar HaEmek, he spent a number of years in Jerusalem after being purchased as a puppy by the late philanthropist Gita Sherover who also chose his name.

“A staff member of Mrs. Sherover’s came to our kennels one day and told us that a Cavalier she had had as a pet had died and that she wanted another. Malo was chosen but stayed with us for a period of time after that with the staff member coming to check up on him from time to time and to pay for his upkeep – but eventually he was collected and taken to Jerusalem. At one point Mrs. Sherover sent a sizeable check to Yair as she wanted to contribute to the breeding of Cavaliers in Israel.

The Sherover household chief of staff kept in touch with the Shochats and one day invited them to come and visit Malo. The visit turned out to be like a scene from ‘Upstairs, Downstairs.’ Unfortunately the lady of the house was indisposed and the Shochats entered the house by way of the back door where they sat in the kitchen with the chief of staff - Malo and the servants sitting around a large table enjoying afternoon tea.

“Gita Sherover asked that Malo be returned to us when she died and so when, sadly, that day came about four years ago we expanded our household as we felt we couldn’t put him in the kennels after he had been used to living in such a house and with all the attention he received there,” said Yair.

“Malo’s breeding background is of great importance, as his father, Yonas, was champion of Israel and of course we want to continue the bloodline”.

The Dutch born 3 year-old Tony has already fathered no less than 50 puppies, the eldest of his offspring only a year younger than himself.

The Shochats have many a story to tell about the German Shepherds, Dachshunds and Cavaliers they have bred in the Jezreel Valley kibbutz kennels and where they have ended up in Israel, Europe and even as far away as America.

Yair Shochat can be contacted at shochat@mh.org.il