Sport Dog of the Week: Torrhen the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
If you thought Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were just lap dogs, think again. Torrhen is a talented guy who does a little bit of everything!
Photo by Charlotte With Dogs
And I really do mean everything. So far, Torrhen has earned a long list of titles: RN, RI, NAP, NJP, OJP, BCAT, DCAT, RATI, ACT2, SBN, SCN, SEN, SIN, SWN, SBA, SCA, SEA, SIA, SWA, SBNE, SCNE, SENE, SINE, SWNE, SCE, CGC, TKN, TKI, TKA, TKP, VHMA, FITB.
Whew, that took a while to type! And I’m sure Torrhen will earn even more titles in 2025!
Tehryn, Torrhen’s owner, got Torrhen from a responsible breeder. Cavaliers are known for their health issues, so getting one from a breeder that does all the recommended health testing is extra important.
If you’re looking for a Cavalier, check out the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club health testing guide to make sure your breeder is doing all the health testing they should be.
Torrhen was originally going to be an item retrieval service dog, but then Tehryn’s condition was mitigated by surgery. Since Torrhen still had the drive to work, the team started doing dog sports instead.
Tehryn has had to get creative with training for Torrhen. As a Cavalier, Torrhen is pretty small, only 12 inches tall. He still has to source the same scent work hides as any other team, including elevated ones. Tehryn and Torrhen have faced this challenge head on, and work extra hard to communicate with each other.
That hard work has paid off though! Torrhen has been able to alert — from the ground — to a scent work hide on top of a door!
Photo by Charlotte With Dogs
Tehryn has a lot to be proud of when it comes to Torrhen. Her proudest moment is when Torrhen earned High in Trial against gun dogs in a scent work trial on a 90°F day, despite being a brachycephalic breed. Talk about defying breed stereotypes!
Another memorable dog sport moment is when Torrhen earned an agility title with Tehryn’s husband. Her husband didn’t even want a dog at first, but now actively competes in agility with Torrhen.
Tehryn’s biggest piece of advice for getting started in dog sports is to remember that it’s a lot less scary than you think and to just sign up and have fun. In a pinch, Tehryn suggests “walking around looking slightly confused” because people will usually pick up on it and ask if you need help!
When asked to share anything else people should know about Torrhen, Tehryn had some particularly poignant words:
“This dog is the reason my life is what it is. I owe so much to him, and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to sufficiently thank him.”
Excuse me while I go bawl my eyes out. We are so lucky to have such wonderful dogs, don’t you think?
Keep up with Tehryn and Torrhen by following their Instagram account, @torrhen_and_the_torties!
