Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed falls in the category of small toy dogs with short stature, big dark and round eyes, and a glossy hair coat. 

They are known to be friendly towards all, with a great need for human companionship.

Favorite of King Charles II, they rose in popularity in the English Royalty with many commissioning paintings with their pets.

Named after the Cavalier King, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel temperament is described as affectionate, friendly and active.     

After Charles II reign they witnessed a decline, with interest in this breed only coming back in the 1920s due to efforts of an enthusiast.

Even with the looks of a toy dog, they are playful and athletic with a tendency to chase everything moving. 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are born in a litter of 2 to 6 with the average being 5 puppies.

They weigh around 5-8 pounds at the age of 3 months when they are available for adoption.

They mature around the age of 12 months with most reaching their full height and weight potential around 18-24 months.

They need to be fed 4 times a day and taken out several times for pee and potty breaks.

It is important that during this time they are trained for house training and social interactions for their all-round development.

Adults weigh about 13-18 pounds and have a height of 12-13 inches.

They have large round eyes that are well apart set giving them an affectionate and charming expression.

They have a smooth and glamorous coat of hair with a slightly rounded skull and naturally feathered floppy ears.

Cavaliar King Charles Pictures

Quick Facts

Avg. Weight: 13-18 pounds

Avg. Height: 12-13 inches

Life Expectancy: 9-15 years

Dog Group:  Toy group

Colors: Blenheim, Black and Tan, Ruby, and Tri-Color

Other Names: Cavaliers, Cavies, Cav, Comforter Spaniel

At A Glance

Size (2/5)

They are short in size with most reaching 12-13 inches as their full height.

They have a slightly longer body compared to their height

Affection Level (5/5)

These dogs are very affectionate towards all whether they are other dogs, cats or people.

When they are young they need to have exposure to new social situations to be a well-mannered adult dog.

They are very affectionate to even strangers and have a “to-please” natural desire in them.

Due to this quality, they make ideal companion dogs to families and elderly people.

Apartment-Friendly (5/5)

They are very adaptable to living in the apartments and also due to their short body.

They have moderate exercise needs and are primarily house pets.

They don’t howl or bark much and having a calm demeanor makes them pleasant dogs for apartment owners.

Cold Weather Tolerability (3/5)

They have a single coat and don’t provide much insulation in frigid weather.

They need some extra protection to brave the cold and preserve their energy.

Make sure they don’t overheat due to their warm coats and clean their feet so they don’t eat the antifreeze, salt, and grit.

They also have the risk of getting frostbite due to being wet and their coat not being fully dried.

Hot Weather Tolerability (2/5)

They can’t tolerate heat with their coat acting as a warm sweater to them.

Due to the small shape of their muzzles, they have less effective cooling mechanism than other breeds.

Also, they have fur on their feet with heats them while walking on any heat-retaining surface.

They need good air flow to keep their body heat bearable with access to cold air and water at regular intervals.

Barking Tendencies (3/5)

They don’t bark much due to their mild and unassertive nature.

Mostly they greet strangers and unknown people with friendliness, even though they might bark while greeting them.

They only are said to bark whenever their situation requires it, like on hearing other dogs bark.

 Cat-Friendly (4/5)

They get along with cats with many developing good relationships with the cats.

Due to the same sizes, they tend to be good playmates.

The need to be socialized early in life to be comfortable with felines as their innate spaniel tendency is to chase them.

Dog-Friendly (5/5)

This breed is known for its friendly and affectionate nature towards other animals.

On meeting new dogs they don’t show any signs of aggression and are more than willing to be friends with them.

They are more than happy to meet with other dogs and play with them.

Exercise Needs (3/5)

They need moderate levels of exercise with short walks divided over the day.

They need to be leashed while going out due to their spaniel nature of chasing everything moving.

They can be lazy bodies so they need regular games even indoors to keep them healthy.

An obese or overweight Cavalier requires more amount than normal to stay fit.

Grooming Needs (3/5)

They need brushing daily to avoid the tangling and matting of their fur coat.

Though they don’t have the need to be trimmed their coat, feathering on ears and hairs between the toes should be.

Also, ears should be checked for dirt sticking on the inside due to retained moisture.

Bathing not only makes their coat shiny it also gets rid of bacteria and sweat build-up in their fur.

Playfulness (5/5)

Generally described as playful these dogs are eager to chase everything that moves.

They are very agile and have a good energy level so they are always up for a walk outside.

They are active thanks to their spaniel gene and can even keep with a trotting horse.

They love playing be it with kids, cats or other dogs.

Trainability (4/5)

Training them requires consistent efforts and patience.

They have the willingness to learn new commands and tricks but take time picking them up.

Food is a great incentive for them with many basing their drive to learn anything on the treats offered.

  • Intelligence (3/5)

They have average intelligence with them being good in agility and obedience.

They adapt well according to their situations with many of them having the flexibility for their owner’s routine.

They are also sensitive to their owner’s signs and signals.

Mouthiness (3/5)

They have a moderate tendency to chew or nib things around them.

Especially during the teething stage, they chew stuff to satisfy the urge and to ease the pain of growing new teeth.

Toothing toys can ease the discomfort they face and later be their boredom and stress reliever.

Price Group

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cost around $1200 to $1500 as a puppy and can go up to $3500 so is considered one of the expensive breeds to buy.

Most people opt for adopting rescued dogs from the shelters.

It is advisable to check for the puppy or dog’s health before so to avoid most of the genetic diseases. 

About Cavalier Ki>About Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

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About Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

They are one of the largest toy dog breeds that are known for their shiny long hair coat.

Gentle and sweet dogs of this breed are good pets for apartment dwellers with the small area being no concern for them.

They have moderate exercise needs and are always up for any form of physical exercise.

Properly house pets they are mostly seen chasing cats, birds or cars whenever they are out.

They are also known as “Lap Dogs” and love to be in a human company.

These affectionate and loving dogs adapt well to their owners so they can be either be a couch potato or an energy bomb.

They are originally from England and enjoyed a period of popularity with the Royals.

They are known for being shown in paintings in the 16th and 18th centuries by many artists and painters.

Where Cavalier King C>Where Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Came From?

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Where This Came From

They have originated from Malta or Italy and introduced in England by Mary, Queen of Scots from France.

They had royal patrons in Charles I and Charles II who were the greatest admirers of this breed.

It is said that Charles II always had few spaniels around him and is said to neglect the kingdom’s affairs for the dogs.

The breed got their name from him due to his fascination for these dogs.

After the reign ended so did their popularity with people not wanting them to their association with the previous king.

In order to adapt them, they were breed with the pugs who were the new royalty favorite.

Their appearance changed considerably and they had a flatter face with a domed head shape.

In 1926, an American enthusiast Roswell Eldridge offered a prize to breeders to recreate the original species as shown in the old paintings.

King Charles

Ann’s Son owned by Mostyn Walker was declared the winner with all the specifics “long face, no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be domed, with a spot in the center of the skull” covered.

Thus it renewed interest in this breed but after the Second World War, only 6 dogs remained.

Most of the current dogs came from them and thus are prone to some genetic propagated diseases. 

There is an urban myth that King Charles II decreed that this breed be allowed for every building in the country even the Parliament.

Size

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They have a height of 12-13 inches in their full grown state as an adult.

They have strong sturdy legs with a slightly longer neck with stooping shoulders and a small firm body.

They are on the larger side of the toy dog breeds and them being smaller is generally associated with some disorder or medical defect.

They have a flowing straight or slightly wavy fur coat that sweeps by their side.

Trainability

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