Cavalier King Charles Spaniel : A Complete Dog Breed Overview

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was bred to be companion dogs. They still retain some of the sportiness of their Spaniel ancestors. They love retrieving and chasing when they aren’t busy snuggling up to their human or being a lap dog.

King Charles Spaniel are purebred dogs and make for one of the largest toy breeds. With sporting dogs as their ancestors, they enjoy hiking, long walks, runs, or dog sports. They also make amazing therapy dogs.

They are the best of both worlds with a perfect mix of the sportiness of their ancestors and the gentle attentiveness of a toy breed.

Their beauty, grace, and sensitivity mark them as noble among the dog breeds. They are among the top tail-waggers, who are bound to catch your attention with a sweet expression in their round, loving eyes. They know the best and guaranteed ways of extracting pets and treats from you.

Even though they are purebred, many of the King Charles Cavaliers end up abandoned or in shelters. We encourage you to consider adopting before you go and buy a puppy. Adoption gives dogs a second chance at life; a life that they deserved in the first place.

Breed Overview Of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

History

The prototype of King Charles Cavelier, that is the toy Spaniel has existed on the planet for more than a century but King Charles itself is comparatively new among the dog breeds.

The paintings of some famous artists like Gainsborough and Van Dyke from the 16th to 18th century depict Spaniels with high set ears and flatheads. This gives an idea of how far you can trace the existence of Spaniels. These Spaniels are known to be the ancestors of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

King Charles Cavalier Spaniel has a particular name for a reason. They were the favorites of the nobles and royals of England. The son and grandson of Mary, the queen of Scots, namely Charles 1 and Charles II gave their name to this breed of dogs as they dearly loved them and always had a few of these dogs following them around.

Charles I and II never went anywhere around a King Charles Spaniel or two. They even passed an official ruling for Spaniels to be allowed in any public place, including the parliament. The rule is assumed to be in effect to date.

Rulers came and went away but the love for King Charles Cavalier was passed on among the royals and the nobles. The name Cavalier was added as a nod to the monarchist party who supported the Stuarts during the civil war that cost King Charles 1 his head.

The breed became fully AKC recognised by 1995.

Temperament

King Charles Cavalier Spaniel dogs are eager to meet new people and befriend everyone they come across. Even though their demeanour as a breed, in general, is sweet, calm, and innocent, they of course have their differences and quirks.

Their temperament can range from quiet to crazy but their love and loyalty to you would remain untethered. Their stranger-friendly nature makes them poor watchdogs and guard dogs. Only some dogs of this breed would bark at you to warn you about the stranger incoming.

Since they have a Spaniel background, we recommend you to have a fenced yard if you’re planning on leaving them off-leash as these babies love to chase. These dogs will follow any moving thing that comes into their sight and try to chase it as they have a strong hunting instinct.

They love to lap dogs as well as go on hikes, play fetch with their humans or take part in competitive sports. They make ideal house pets and companion animals with their sweet and friendly nature. You wouldn’t see a King Charles dog digging or barking excessively.

Their wish to please also makes them easily trainable. They are friendly towards everyone which makes them a good fit for households with pets, young children as well as elder people.

They are house dogs and we strongly advise against keeping them outdoors full-time. These are affectionate and social beings who enjoy being around their humans. They must not be left alone for more than a few hours during the day as they may get separation anxiety.

Appearance

King Charles Cavalier is known for its four distinct color patterns that are Ruby (rich red coat), black and tan (Black with tan markings), Blenheim (chestnut markings on a white background), and tricolour (black marking on white background).

Their coat is of medium length with silky hair that is wavy. These are elegant-looking dogs with bodies longer than tall. They retain the look of their working ancestors in a smaller version of them.

They have a good drive and free gait. These dogs have long feathers of hair on the feet which is characteristic of the breed. These toy dogs have big round eyes that’ll immediately make you fall for them and a sweet, gentle, and melting expression. These dogs have high set, long and hanging ears similar to Cocker Spaniels.

Care

Exercise and Training

Even if King Charles Spaniel loves to be a lap dog, being from a Spaniel background they need a fair amount of exercise. They love going on walks and enjoy canine sports as well. A 30 minutes session with them playing fetch, walKing, or doing any form of exercise daily is a must.

Since they are a short-nosed breed it’s better to avoid walking them during the hot hours. It is strongly advised to not leave them outdoors in the heat too, they are better suited to stay inside the house where it is cool and pleasant.

They need the right amount of physical and mental stimulation to stay healthy and prevent boredom. They are sweet, gentle, and very eager to please their human, which provides an upper hand in training.

These dogs are smart and easily pick up tricks and tasks while training. These characteristics also make them successful and amazing therapy dogs.

We recommend always using positive reinforcement and rewards for training, never as a form of punishment. Training with positive methods creates a special bond between the owner and the dog and lets the dog enjoy their training.

Feeding

It is recommended to feed King Charles Cavalier half to one cup of dry kibble daily, divided into two meals. The amount of food also depends on the size, weight, activity, metabolism, and age of the puppy. You can follow the instructions given on the food packet or consult your vet to help you formulate a balanced diet.

An active dog will require much more food than a couch potato, so feed your dog considering all the above factors. Do not leave the food in their bowl throughout the day for ad-lib feeding as this makes them prone to obesity; which in turn will house several diseases.

If you’re feeding them a good quality diet, you won’t need to feed them a lot of quantity to meet their nutritional needs. Avoid giving them an excessive amount of treats, cooked bones, and high-fat content. Make sure which human food is safe to be shared with your dogs and which is toxic.

Grooming

They require moderate levels of grooming to keep them looking pretty and neat. Their silky, lustrous coat requires brushing 3 to 4 times a week to keep it free from tangle, matt, and debris. Brushing not only helps untangle the hair but also provides a full body massage, enhancing blood circulation to the skin.

Grooming gives you bonding time with your dog and helps you find out about any ectoparasites or abnormalities on their body which can be immediately corrected. They require monthly baths or as and when they get dirty.

Their ears must be checked and cleaned regularly, followed by monthly nail trimmings as nails when overgrown can lead to pain during walks which in turn may lead to structural abnormalities.

You can brush their teeth daily with a dog-friendly shampoo or give them chews to keep their teeth clean and healthy.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Price

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s price ranges from 800$ to 2500$, making it one of the most expensive toy breeds. Usually, a puppy may cost you within the above range depending on the reputation of the breeder, pedigree of the dog, locality, quality of breeding, etc.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s price may even go up to 3500$ to 5000$ if you go on to purchase a superior pedigree or a top-line champion dog.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppies

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies resemble the adults in their smaller version. It is necessary to begin early socialization and training of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies to help them learn the desired manner and be comfortable around people and pets early on.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are easy-going, affectionate, energetic, and extremely lovable with their overwhelming cuteness.

King Charles Health

Just like every other breed of dog; King Charles Cavelier too is prone to several health issues which can be corrected or maintained if identified on time. These include the following:

1. Patellar luxation
2. Hip dysplasia
3. Syringomyelia
4. Mitral valve disease
5. Eye conditions

To avoid the risk of the above conditions, always get a puppy from a reputable and responsible breeder as they will heath test the potential breeding stock for the above conditions and prevent their passage into the litter.

Proper care, management, and regular health checkups can help your Cavalier live a long, healthy, and happy life.

Final Thoughts

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a perfect choice for you if you live in a house with a yard or own a small condo in the city; whether you are young or old, sporty, or a couch potato.

The only criteria you need to fulfill is that you have ample time to spend with your dog and just with that you’ll have a very happy and healthy pet who’ll love you unconditionally.

Explore further:

• Spaniel Breeds: 12 Different Dog Types
• English Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed? Full Information!