Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: temperament, size, care and health

About the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small spaniel with a gently rounded head, large dark eyes, long ears set high and heavily feathered, and a silky coat that falls straight or in a slight wave. Four colors are recognized: Blenheim, a chestnut and white; tricolor, black and white with tan markings; ruby, a solid rich red; and black and tan. The body is slightly longer than tall and sturdily built, and the tail is carried happily and wags often.

The breed was developed as a lap companion, and affection is what people most want from it. It combines the portable size of a toy with an athletic spaniel's build and willingness to walk.

Temperament and family life

Cavaliers are known for their sweetness. They crave contact, follow their people from room to room and generally greet strangers as friends, which makes them poor guard dogs. They are patient and tolerant with children and are among the more reliable small breeds for families, though young children should still be taught to handle them gently.

Most get along with other dogs, cats and visitors. Because they are bred to be with people, they suffer if left alone for long periods and may develop separation anxiety. The spaniel instinct to chase birds and small animals remains, so a leash or a fenced area is wise outdoors, since a Cavalier on a scent forgets its recall.

Exercise and training

A Cavalier is adaptable. It will happily walk for an hour with an active owner or settle for shorter outings and a lap session. Daily walks, play and some sniffing time are enough, and many enjoy fetch, agility, rally and therapy work.

The breed learns quickly and wants to please, so training with praise and treats goes smoothly. Lessons should be kind, as harsh handling can make the dog withdrawn. House training may take time. Food-motivated dogs gain weight easily, and extra weight stresses the heart, so meals should be measured.

Grooming and shedding

The silky coat sheds moderately year-round and more in spring and fall, so expect some hair on clothes and furniture. Brushing two or three times a week keeps the feathering free of mats, which most often form behind the ears, on the legs and under the tail.

The long, heavy ears cover the canal and trap moisture, so check and clean them regularly to prevent infections. Nails need trimming, and teeth should be brushed because small breeds are prone to dental disease. Bathing is needed every few weeks.

Health

The breed has serious inherited problems, and anyone choosing a puppy should understand them. Mitral valve disease, a degenerative heart condition, affects a high share of Cavaliers and often begins at a young age. Syringomyelia, a condition in which fluid cavities develop in the spinal cord, is a known concern, and the breed also has episodic falling, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, dry eye and other eye conditions, and ear infections.

Responsible breeders have a cardiologist examine breeding dogs, use MRI screening for syringomyelia, and test eyes and knees. They also avoid breeding from affected relatives. This is general information about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

Small toy spaniels were kept by English and European nobility for centuries, and they appear in paintings from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. They are associated with King Charles II, who was devoted to them. Over time the type was bred toward shorter noses and domed heads, which produced the English Toy Spaniel. In the 1920s an American enthusiast offered prizes at a British show for dogs resembling the older, longer-nosed type, and breeders responded by building the Cavalier. A separate breed club formed shortly afterward.

Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel right for you?

A Cavalier suits a family or individual who is home often, wants a gentle, social dog and is prepared to pay for veterinary monitoring of its heart. It is a good first dog for an owner who understands the health risks and will find a careful breeder.

It is a poor choice for people who want a watchdog, a dog for hours alone, or a sturdy running partner. Alternatives include the English Toy Spaniel, which has a shorter nose, the Papillon, which is livelier, and the Havanese, which has a longer coat and a similar friendly nature.