Cavalier King Charles Spaniel got its name as the favorite pet of Britain’s King Charles I, but the breed itself has been around for even longer. Many old portraits show dogs that look like today’s Cavaliers. The Cavalier is an adorable, friendly toy spaniel.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel stands between 12 and 13 inches tall and weighs 13 to 18 pounds. He has a rounded skull, large dark eyes, and a full muzzle. The ears are long and dropped, and the tail is long. His coat is silky and is medium to long, with feathering on the ears, legs, and tail. The Cavalier may be black and tan, red (ruby), white with chestnut markings (Blenheim), or tricolored (black, red, and white).
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does require regular grooming, as the long, silky coat can mat. He should be brushed and then combed every other day. Daily grooming is needed if he runs through wet grass or brush. This breed enjoys daily walks and playtimes but is also willing to cuddle. He is adaptable; if you are active and enjoy dog sports, he will do them with you. If you are more sedate, he can do that, too. All exercise should be on leash or in a fenced yard, as Cavaliers are still spaniels; if a bird or rabbit is flushed, they will be off in a flash!
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed is friendly and affectionate but needs early socialization; without it, some dogs can be shy. Training is needed, too, as housetraining can be a challenge. Training is also important for the owner, as this breed is easy to spoil yet needs the same guidance and rules that other breeds require.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs a gentle, affectionate owner. He does not tolerate rough handling well, and as a companion breed will not thrive when left alone for many hours. Most breeders will not sell a puppy to a family with very young children. The breed is good with other dogs and is usually trustworthy with other pets. Health issues include deafness; heart, eye, and knee problems; and hip dysplasia.
5 replies on “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel”
We have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel called Toffee. He’s a great family pet and gets on really well with our Cat https://spanielking.com/cavalier-king-charles-spaniels-cats/. In fact sometimes we wonder if he thinks he is a cat.
Often called a “sporting toy breed” because of his combination of spaniel and toy traits, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is sweet-tempered, playful, and gentle.
This comfort-loving breed adores cuddling in laps and snuggling on soft pillows, but he also has more athletic instincts than you might think. Indeed, he can be a runner and chaser. A fenced yard or a leash are musts at all times, because many Cavaliers will pursue squirrels, chipmunks, low-flying birds, even butterflies, right into the street.
Cavaliers do need a decent amount of exercise — a couple of long daily walks and a fenced yard in which to run.And they’re very people-oriented — they become stressed when left alone too long, so should have companionship (either human or other pets) most of the day. A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is lonely will whine or bark or chew destructively.
Most Cavaliers are polite with everyone and peaceful with other dogs and cats. As with all sweet-tempered dogs, there is potential for timidity, so Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies need plenty of early socialization to build a confident, outgoing temperament.
Though they do have a mild independent streak, Cavaliers are willing to please and respond well to praise and encouragement . . . and treats!
Rusty the Blenheim Cavalier KC Spaniel and Kirby, a tri-colored Cavalier KC Spaniel
Her Christmas picture was taken to raise money for vet care for homeless animals at Old Derby Animal Hospital in Hingham, MA. Tessie loves attention and loves people of all ages. She loves going to Pawz Rules Doggie Day Care why we are working to play with other dogs less than 25 lbs. On weekends she loves walking with us at Castle Island in South Boston or the Boston Common in downtown Boston meeting new people, meeting new dogs and just running around. She especially loves meeting and kissing young children who come over to pet her. Tessie loves resting on the couch as close as possible to us and even likes watching the Dog Whisperer with us. She likes to bark at the other dogs she sees on TV. We met Tessie shortly after she was born and being big Red Sox fans, named her after the Dropkick Murphy’s song “Tessie” which was played at Fenway Park during the 2007 baseball season. Tessie doesn’t have a mean bone in her body and is the PERFECT PET.
Daphne is a 3 years old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She has the Blenheim spot on the top of her head. Her favorite things to do are kiss, cuddle and go on runs with our other dog Raven, an Australian Shepherd.” A Blenheim spot is a spot in the middle of the crown of the head. It is also sometimes called “the kiss of Buddha” or “Kissing Spot.”