29 Jan Interesting Facts about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the oldest miniature breeds with an illustrious history that can be traced back several centuries. The Kennel Club recognized the Cavalier as a unique breed in 1944, and by the 1970s they had become one of England’s most popular dogs. The Cavalier is larger than their King Charles cousins and has a longer nose. Cavaliers are known to be adaptable dogs that easily adapt to many lifestyles, whether it’s living in a remote environment in a foreign country, in an apartment, or around town. They are also known to be very good with children of all ages and become valuable members of a family. They are also incredibly loyal and devoted companions. To see this breed, stay tuned to the end of this article.

Characteristics of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is also known as the English Spanish Toy, Toy Spaniel, Charlie, Prince Charles Spaniel, Robbie Spaniel, and Blenhay.

• Lifespan: 10 to 16 years
• Height: male and female dogs from 30 to 33 cm
• Weight: male and female dogs weighing 4.5 to 8.2 kg

Highlights of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed

Positive points

• The dog is very reliable and affectionate and behaves very well with children and other people.
• He’s very intelligent which makes training easy.
• This dog is very compatible with apartment life
• He’s a very suitable choice for people who take care of dogs for the first time.
• He doesn’t bark much.
• By nature, the dog is sociable and likes to interact with other people and animals that he has been familiar with since childhood.

cons

• They aren’t very good guards because they like everyone.
• Because they are so social, they get depressed and hurt when left alone.
• He needs a lot of cleaning.
• Due to having long ears, they may suffer from eye infections.

Behavioural characteristics

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has very sweet manners. They more or less mimic the behaviour of small dogs that aren’t compatible with all lifestyles. They are very loyal and loving by nature and are also very playful, which is why this breed has been so popular not only in England but also in other parts of the world for such a long time. Other reasons include the fact that the Cavalier is very gentle and never bothers people or other animals he may encounter. Although they are a little more difficult to train, some Cavaliers excel at hunting activities that involve their extreme agility. 

Cavaliers love to roam the gardens or open spaces around them and take a leisurely walk, but they will be happiest sitting on the couch with their owners while being petted. So, in the 16th and 17th centuries, noble ladies felt satisfied when they kept their hands warm while travelling in carriages. Cavaliers are happy to be around people and feel very uncomfortable when they find themselves alone. They can become depressed if left alone for too long. Therefore, they are best suited to homes where there’s at least one person at home.

Intelligence and ability to train

Cavaliers are gentle and very affectionate dogs, which makes them easier to train than many spaniels and other dogs. They are always eager to learn new things. As mentioned earlier, these little dogs do very well when competing in obedience and agility competitions, which is a testament to how easy they are to train with the right guidance.

As with other intelligent and docile dogs, Cavalier training should start early in childhood and they should be well-socialized from a young age until they are older, thus making them bigger and more confident dogs. Regardless of any situation, they can use it well. Puppies must respond to their owner’s cues using the words come or go. Set limits and boundaries, because like all dogs, if Cavaliers know what their owners expect from them when they first go to their new homes, they are happier and more comfortable.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel compatibility

Compatibility with children

Cavalier dogs have a very good relationship with children, they are very kind and good-natured with children and play with them non-stop. These dogs try to make friends with children and have a good relationship with them by tickling and licking them. Cavalier dogs can be your child’s best friend. But note that they don’t like the child to pull their long hair or ears because it makes the dog hurt and annoyed. That’s why you should teach your child how to behave with a dog at the very beginning.

Compatibility with strangers

These dogs have the friendliest behaviour with strangers and treat every new person they meet very well and friendly. Even when they see a new person, if they bark, it means that they like the new person and want to play and spend time with him. They don’t become aggressive when they see strangers, these dogs are happy and have a very good relationship with humans.

Compatibility with other animals

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels enjoy spending time with other dogs. He gets along with both large and small dogs and has no conflicts. They have a good relationship with cats and look at them as a game. But remember that, although these dogs are small, they are considered hunting dogs and it’s in their nature to chase small animals such as mice.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel health and diseases

The average life expectancy of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is between 10 and 16 years. This amount is correct if they are properly cared for and fed an appropriate diet for their age. Charles Spaniel is known to be a healthy dog, but unfortunately, this breed has heart problems. The good news is that Cavaliers can be screened before breeding and all responsible breeders follow the advice given by the Kennel Club to ensure any puppies they breed are as healthy as possible. The major health concerns associated with Cavalier are as follows:

• Mitral valve disease
• Syringomyelia
• Eye disorders such as cataracts

Grooming

• Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need to be groomed daily to keep their outer coat in good condition.
• Like other dogs, they shed more during the spring and fall. In these seasons, you need to brush your hair more to maintain your outer coat.
• It’s also better to cut the hair between the toes. If it stays too long, it will be easy to walk in the soft parts, but in the hard and rough parts, it will be uncomfortable and it will be difficult for them to walk. 
• It’s also worth having a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel professionally groomed every 3 months, which means that its outer coat can be trimmed by hand. This method will keep their hair neat and much more comfortable. So, they are washed and completely dried three times a year. 
• It’s important not to keep the Cavalier’s ears moist, as it can lead to ear infections.

Sport and activity

When it comes to exercise, Cavaliers should do at least an hour of walking every day or they will start banging themselves on doors and walls. These little dogs are quite happy lounging on the sofa and can become lazy couch potatoes if you don’t disturb them. Because obesity is a real problem that is often seen in this breed, a Cavalier must get a good amount of daily exercise. We also need to give them mental stimulation in the form of interactive games to keep them on their toes. Like any other breed, the Cavalier can get bored easily and leading to some unwanted behaviours. However, they aren’t too demanding of exercise and movement, although they are bred with these movements in mind.

Nutrition 

Some cavaliers won’t feed on any food and have a picky palate, but most like their food a little too much. However, with a bit of persistence and finding the right type of food, they will eat what suits them and what they need. Puppies, like any other breed, should be fed the same diet they were raised on to avoid any distressing digestive issues. However, their diet can be gradually and reliably changed over several weeks.

Puppies need to be fed a proper, quality diet at regular intervals, and ideally, this requirement reaches 3 to 4 times a day. Older dogs should also be fed nutritious diets, appropriate for their age and any health problems they may have. It’s very important to pay attention to a Cavalier’s weight as they get older because they are prone to gaining weight if they don’t get the correct amount of exercise in proportion to their calorie intake.  Likewise, it’s important to review their diet to ensure they are getting all the nutrients they need without putting them at risk of becoming overweight.

To wrap up

Cavalier is a funny and lovable dog, good-natured and a great choice as a pet and family dog. This small and kind dog has an aristocratic and royal history and has always lived in the palaces and courts of kings. To have a healthy and lively dog, you need to pay attention to nutrition, activity, health, grooming, etc. You can prevent the disease and have a healthy dog in this case. In all these steps, you can count on the specialized team of MishkaGrooming. Our experienced and precise groomers have carefully and accurately groomed your dogs, so they count the moments before the next session.