Cavalier King Charles Spaniel overview
As our furry friends go, you’ll likely find no dog more adorable than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They’ve cuddled kings and snuggled up to grandmas and kids throughout British history and are affectionate, gentle, social, and an all round great dog! With big brown eyes, feathered ears and a silky coat which comes in four colour combos - they are highly emotional and intelligent. However, they need regular grooming and can be susceptible to issues affecting their eyes, ears, and heart. A great trainer but probably not the best guard dog, they’re happy on walks and snug on sofas. A charming canine loved by many down the ages, right up to the present day.
- Thinking about adopting a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? Check your local shelter first!
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel characteristics
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s grooming and hygiene needs
- A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s behaviour and training needs
- A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s mental and physical stimulation
- How much does a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cost?
- A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s nutritional requirements
- Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel a good family dog?
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeding and finding a responsible breeder
- Similar dog breeds
Thinking about adopting a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? Check your local shelter first!
If you’re looking for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for sale, then why not consider adopting instead? Dog adoption saves canine lives, gives space for other dogs in need, and tends to be cheaper. Adopted dogs come with full health and behavioural check-ups, as well as the shelter giving you proven support on how to look after and care for your new furry friend.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies, adults and seniors all come through shelter doors, purebred through to mixed-breeds. Mixed-breed dogs benefit from longer lifespans, better health, and a popping personality. That’s all thanks to them taking on the benefits of both their ancestral breeds!
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel characteristics: What makes them unique?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies, right through to their senior years retain classic traits unique to their breed. They have warm eyes, feathered ears, silky coats, and, contrary to their toy breed status, are sturdy and tall. But it’s the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel temperament which really shines. Due to their intelligence and keen attitude to please their owners, they’re terrific trainers that are also super sensitive to emotional cues, ready to offer you support when you need it.
They come in four classic coats, too. The tricolour of black, white, tan, the solid red of ruby, black and tan, and the Blenheim – which is red and white. The Blenheim fur can also come with the Blenheim spot, a bold red spot backgrounded by white on the top of the head. Legend says it comes from a kiss from the Duchess of Marlborough on a pregnant Cavalier.
That’s not the only regal link. ‘King Charles’ in the dog’s moniker hails from the second Stuart monarch’s love of the small spaniel, whereas ‘Cavalier’ comes from both the name of supporters of King Charles II as well as the official recognition of the breed back in 1945. It also helps set it apart from the King Charles Spaniel and other small dog breeds or mixed breeds like the Cocker Spaniel and Japanese Chin.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s grooming and hygiene needs
Cavaliers have a long and silky coat that needs consistent care. Daily brushing helps spread natural oils to keep the coat chic as well as helping prevent matting or tangled clumps around the ears, legs and feathered areas. There are variations, too. The standard medium length wavy coat will need a good brush a few times a week, whereas fluffy or thicker coats with more curls and depth mat and tangle more easily. Brush them every day, potentially more when they shed and depending on whether you have a ruby, tricolour, black and tan, or Blenheim coated spaniel could mean more coat care, too.
Bathe them every month and carefully dry their floppy ears to prevent infection. Showcase breeds won’t trim, as flowing feathered areas help put points on the board. However, household spaniels may need a trim around their feet and those feathered areas to help keep on top of that coat.
Top tips for keeping a coat healthy include using a bristle or pin brush and to mist the coat with water before brushing. Also, thoroughly dry ears to stop infections and use dog friendly shampoo to shield their sensitive skin. Brush their teeth and clean their eyes every day, clip nails as necessary, and always reinforce the groom positively. This helps your cavalier feel comfortable when being groomed.
There’s only so much you can do, so we recommend a professional groom every 4-6 weeks. Here’s our list of dog grooming costs.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s behaviour and training needs
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel temperament is affectionate, playful, social, and eager to please, making them great to train. Part of their ancestry is from sporting canines, so they’re very happy frolicking around fields, but they’re highly adaptable nature means they don’t mind chilling out with you on the sofa too.
Dog training with positive reinforcement, short and frequent sessions of 5-10 minutes, and breaking down skills into simple steps work best for their education. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are great learners, and educating them early is great for your bond and to avoid any doggy challenges down the line.
Early socialisation helps build confidence whilst avoiding any adult aggression, whilst toys and games are both fun and enriching and aid in physically and mentally stimulating your spaniel, which should stop too much barking. Exercise is a great way to help overcome any separation anxiety they may have, and if they're scared of new people or scenarios, gently and gradually expose them to those circumstances so they become familiar.
Daily playtime will help curb depression, and the use of motivators, like adult dog treats, aids with overexcitement or stubbornness.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s mental and physical stimulation
Cavaliers are intelligent and emotionally savvy, but they also love a good bit of activity. If they don’t get their daily quota of physical and mental stimuli, things can get moody.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s temperament is definitely more sunshine than rain, but not providing them with enough excitement can lead to a host of unpleasant behaviours.
- Obesity: spaniels descend from a sporting breed, so they need a good run around. Deprived dogs are lethargic and put on weight, which leads to other issues
- Unhappy: much like us humans, Cavaliers are more content when they’re stimulated. Take that outlet away, and expect a depressed and despondent dog
- Excessive barking: bored dogs are not happy dogs, and they usually show it by making a racket
- Attention-seekers: strip a spaniel of stimuli and expect whining, pawing, and jumping up at you
- Separation anxiety: a common challenge for Cavaliers. Means a nervy and fidgety doggy
- Destructive tendencies: scratching your sofa, chewing your shoes - that sort of stuff
One crucial point is knowing that walking the dog in hot weather is dangerous. So, in the summer months, exercise spaniels early morning or evening, outside of the day’s hottest hours. Walking them in that period can lead to dehydration and heatstroke.
How much does a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cost?
Want to know the cost of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for sale? Prices vary wildly and are usually a sum of the pedigree, location and breeder reputation.
Costs start around £800 and can rise up to £2,500 for show dogs. If the cost appears hefty, maybe try adopting a rescue puppy. The spaniel is thoroughly vetted and you’re even given training and advice on how best to love and home them.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s nutritional requirements
Feeding any of our furry friends means checking they’ve got all the good stuff they need. Feeding a complete and balanced diet, with nutrients tailored to meet the requirements of your dog’s life-stage and lifestyle is essential.
Complete and balanced food contains all of the nutrients your dog needs in the right ratios to support health and vitality. Plus, a great way to enhance your dog’s wellbeing is through nutritional supplements like dog multivitamins.
If you’re asking, ‘Can dogs drink milk?’, we advise against it as dogs are lactose intolerant. Small amounts may be ok but too much could lead to digestive issues.
Is The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel a good family dog?
Have you seen a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for sale recently and wondered whether they’d suit your family? Well, the answer is probably yes. They have a wonderful way with every age and are super in tune with people's emotional needs. Hugely intelligent, friendly, and social, with the right care and attention, they can be one of the best family dogs around. They’re adaptable, too. Flat, detached home, or anything in between, most will adjust to their environment without any fuss, becoming really comfortable in that space and with you.
Spaniels can be really easy to familiarise with family members and any other pets you may have. Just gently and gradually introduce them both as soon as possible with early socialisation and frequent sessions. Always positively reinforce them, too.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeding and finding a responsible breeder
Finding a responsible and reputable breeder is so important. You’ll know them because they put the health, safety, comfort, and well-being of their dogs above all else. Ask to see health certification of the breeding dogs to ensure that they are screened for the presence of any health conditions known to affect the breed.
They’ll make sure the dogs are micro-chipped, well socialised, checked by vets, and they show care when homing the puppies.
The relevant badges from the local council should be displayed, as well as health and vaccination certificates. To find one? Ask your friends, family, vets, and local dog-centric organisations like training clubs and charities, as they’ll usually be associated with quality breeders.
When it comes to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, look for bright eyes, a clean coat and ears, a healthy weight, and that they’re socialising well with other puppies. However, it is important to ensure that you find a good dog breeder, so we’ve listed all the ways to pin one down.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be a lovely dog for all the family. Emotional, social, intelligent, and active, they look after you if you look after them. Simply, a wonderful and warm pet to have around. There are often dogs in need of a loving home, so with the benefits of adopting, why not try dog adoption?
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