Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

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Size: Small
Other Names: Cav, Cavalier, CKCS
Country of Origin: England
Accreditation:
American Kennel Club (AKC): Toy
Canadian Kennel Club (CKC): Toys
United Kennel Club (UKC): Companion Dog
Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC): Toys
The Kennel Club (KC): Toy
Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA): Toy
National Kennel Club (NKC): Recognized
New Zealand Kennel Club (NZKC): Toy

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog with a substantial silky coat of moderate length, straight or with a mild wave, and long ears. The Cavalier’s head is nearly flat between the ears, he has a well-defined nose, and his large, round eyes give him his characteristic endearing look. His ears are long and drooping, with plenty of feathering. Unlike most other spaniels, the Cavalier has a full-length tail, well-feathered with long hair, which is typically carried aloft when walking. He moves with a somewhat elegant and royal gait.

A small spaniel who fits an apartment well; a silky coat that needs regular brushing, a soft voice, and more sofa than fieldwork.

The Cavalier is one of the largest of toy breed. Though historically a lap dog, modern day fully-grown adults tend to fill a lap rather amply. He is nonetheless quite small for a spaniel, with fully-grown Cavaliers roughly comparable in size to adolescents of more conventional spaniel breeds.

Height: 12-15½ inches
Weight: 10-25 pounds
Color: Blenheim (most common; rich chestnut on pearly white background), Tricolor (black and white with tan markings on cheeks, inside ears, on eyebrows, inside legs, and on underside of tail), Black and Tan (black with tan markings), and Ruby (rich reddish-brown all over); parti-colors are the colors that include white: Blenheim and Tricolor. Whole-colors have no white: Black and Tan, and Ruby.
Coat: Long, silky, free from curl but possibly with a slight wave
Lifespan: 10–14 years
Litter size: 3–5 puppies

Temperament

The breed is highly affectionate, and some have called the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel "the ultimate lap dog" or the "love sponge" of dogs. Most dogs of the breed are playful, extremely patient, and eager to please. As such, dogs of the breed are usually good with children, seniors, and other dogs. Cavaliers connect with their owners almost immediately, but are a little delayed with strangers. When they greet somebody they tend to lick them on the hand. The extremely social nature of the Cavalier means that they require almost constant companionship from humans or other dogs, and are not suited to spending long periods of time on their own. Some Cavaliers have been known to exhibit traits in common with cats, such as perching in high places, such as on the tops of couches or the highest pillow, cleaning their own paws, or displaying some birding qualities.

Training

The Cavalier is quite intelligent and easy to train. For example they seem to be able to learn (and remember) tricks (lay down, roll over, shake, etc.) within a day or two. They can be easily trained to do other things with a good treat. It is important for Cavaliers to have a hand-reared puppyhood to ensure security and friendliness.

Care and grooming

A well-socialized Cavalier will not be shy about socializing with much larger dogs. This tendency can be dangerous, as many Cavaliers will presume all other dogs to be equally friendly, and may attempt to greet and play with aggressive dogs. Care should be taken when walking a Cavalier off-leash, as they can single-mindedly chase a butterfly, chipmunk, squirrel, rabbit, or bird onto a busy road, or into other dangerous situation, without regard for their own safety. It is very important to keep the Cavalier’s coat well groomed. Daily brushing is recommended to ensure that his coat does not get matted and that foreign objects, such as grass and sticks, do not become entangled in the feathering. Fur on his feet and hind legs should be trimmed regularly. In hot climates, his ears should be thinned. He should not be bathed more than twice a week, as frequent bathing may cause skin irritation.

Shedding

Moderate; the silky coat mats if loose hair is not brushed out.

Health

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a high rate of mitral valve disease and syringomyelia. Heart exams and MRI screening of breeding stock are strongly recommended.

Crosses that include the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

These hybrid pages list this breed as a parent. Open a name to see the other contributing breed.

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