We would like to introduce you to the continuing story of the Laughing Cavaliers – and to ourselves, the proud proprietors Barbara Garnett-Wilson (formerly Garnett-Smith) and her husband Roy Wilson.
YES! We still maintain an active, conscientious breeding program, producing occasional litters for qualified adoption.
Barbara was bitten hard by the “Cavalier bug” when she fell in love with a beer-loving Cavalier named “Tiger,” the icon of a pub owned by Barbara’s aunt in Castle Combe, England. Fittingly, Barbara’s very first Laughing Cavalier was a Tiger son, also named “Tiger.” That beginning has led to 40+ years of Cavaliers and a proud heritage of exceptional dogs.
Over the years, the time and hard work have paid off, as Laughing Cavaliers has garnered many accolades, including being honored by the editors of Dog Fancy magazine as one of its five “Kennels of Distinction” in America, and by also being designated a “Breeder of Merit” by The American Kennel Club.
To this day we are proud to still maintain an active, conscientious breeding program, producing occasional litters for qualified adoption.
Rest assured our more than 4 decades of experience and knowledge have only sharpened our dedication to excellence in all phases of Cavalier breeding. It is a responsibility and charge we take very seriously. In fact, we have dedicated our lives to it.
Part of that commitment has meant an active participation in the advancement and protection of the breed. In addition to many years as a specialty judge, Barbara has served in positions of leadership within both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA, and its western regional club, Cavaliers of the West. She has served on CKCSC, USA national boards and twice as president of Cavaliers of the West.
In 1997, Barbara wrote The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in North America, a comprehensive and informative book on the breed that sold out quickly and is now considered a collectors’ item. Her two latest books are the highly acclaimed The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, in Fact and Fancy (now out of print) and The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: A Tribute in Art (available on this site).
In the summer of 1999, after a “hurricane” (as opposed to “whirlwind”) romance, Barbara married Roy Wilson, a retired actor/singer and fellow Cavalier aficionado. They now reside amid the mountain-and-water charm of Hansville, Washington, where they proudly continue a tradition begun more than 4 decades ago.
Barbara with “Oliver,” the firstborn Laughing Cavalier, 1982
SEE THE
“MEET THE BREEDER” ARTICLE, FROM THE CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL USA’S 2014 BULLETIN
This is the home of the Laughing Cavaliers, where we pride ourselves in providing a loving, safe and healthy environment for our puppies and their parents. Our 5 acres lie above a picturesque bay on northern Puget Sound in Washington state, affording a lush and happy life for our renowned Cavaliers (as well as the local wildlife).
We are so proud of our boys and their kids!
AKC Champion
Laughing Nessun Dorma
(aka Pavarotti)
See a video of Pavarotti’s favorite game!
We call it “The Run for the Roses.”
