CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

APPEARANCE
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog of Spaniel type, usually considered one of the toy dog breeds. It is a small spaniel with a substantial silky coat of moderate length, often with a mild wave, and long ears. The Cavalier’s head is nearly flat between the ears and has a well defined nose, its eyes are large and round and this gives the dog its characteristic endearing look. Four colors (Blenheim, Tricolor, Black and Tan, and Ruby) are recognized. The weight of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is around 12-18 pounds, and his height is around 12-13 inches.

PERSONALITY
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. Cavaliers will adapt quickly to almost any environment, family, and location. This is not a dog that does well left alone for moderate to long periods of time. They require contact with people on a continuous basis to avoid falling into negative behaviors such as chewing and barking and becoming nervous.

TRAINING
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is highly intelligent and eager to learn. The Cavalier makes an excellent therapy dog. This breed is intelligent, quick, and very responsive making them easy to train. They will need consistency and gentle training to succeed Training the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on a lead is also important. Many people choose to use a harness instead of a traditional collar, as it is easier on the throat area of a small breed, especially if they have a tendency to pull against the collar.

EXERCISE
They do need regular exercise just as any other breed. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an active and sporting breed that requires regular exercise to help keep their heart healthy. Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog that will chase it is important to keep them in a fenced yard or on a lead whenever they are out of the house.

SOCIALIZATION
Early socialization with other dogs will help the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from becoming territorial or timid around other dogs. When properly socialized he is an excellent companion dog for dogs in the family or even other pets such as cats. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gets along well with children and has plenty of affection to shower upon them, particularly with older and more considerate children.

LIVING CONDITIONS
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is able to adapt to apartment or condominium living provided there is a small yard. They do not adapt well to colder climates.

GROOMING
Grooming can be easily done in a quick five to ten minute a day or every other day session. A stiff bristle brush and a grooming comb are all that is needed. This breed can tolerate regular bathing either full wet bathing or dry powder treatments. It is important to carefully trim the long hair on the feet and especially between the pads. Always check the ears for any sign of discharge in the outer ear area and wipe with cloth and warm water.

HEALTH ISSUES
The life expectancy of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is around 10-15 years. It is very common that Cavaliers eventually suffer from mitral valve disease, with heart murmurs which may progressively worsen, leading to heart failure. Other health issues include canine hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, entropion, and syringomelia.

HISTORY
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel originated in England and was bred for human companionship. The breed was registered with the AKC in 1996.

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