Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog of small size, classified as toy dogs by the Kennel Club, which is extremely popular in the United Kingdom and the United States of America. These are essentially lap dogs, meaning that they easily fit onto the lap of an adult. They are excellent companions and have been so from the very beginning. According to expert, this breed is an offshoot of the King Charles Spaniel, which was popularized by King Charles II, during his reign. Of course, the present Cavalier King Charles is a lot different from the original King Charles Spaniel in looks.

Description

These are small dogs, often called toy dogs, with a height anywhere between 12 and 13 inches. They are called lap dogs, as they fit into adult laps and are often as small as the adolescent versions of regular spaniels. The average weight of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is about 10 to 18 pounds or 4.5 to 8.2 kgs. These dogs have a silky coat that is medium in length and their tail is not docked. It is essential to note that the dogs do not have a curl in their coat, although a slight wave is acceptable. Adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniel often sport feathering around its tail, feet, ears and leg. According to experts, this feathering must be kept for long.

These dogs have a well proportioned body, with a slightly round head, full muzzle that tapers a little and has a shallow stop. The nose is black in color and the dog has wide set eyes that are round in shape and dark brown in color. The teeth are sharp and fixed together like a pair of scissors. The ears are long, set high and have feathering. The neck of this breed is either crested or arched at the back and is of proportionate length and muscular. The back of this dog is flat and straight, giving the impression of a level top line.

Coat Description

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a medium length coat, which is silky to touch and could be wavy. However, as mentioned above, there should be no curl present in it. Additionally, adult dogs of this breed could have feathering around the ears, feet, legs, tail as well as the chest region. The coat of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be either Blenheim, which is a rich chestnut shade on a white background or tricolor, with black, white and tan being the three colors or black and tan, where the main color is black and there are tan markings around various body parts. Lastly, the coat could also be ruby colored, which is a rich reddish brown color, completely solid and has no markings on the body.

History

According to experts, these dogs originated from the Comforter or Spaniel Gentle, which was popularized by the royalty way back in the sixteenth century. It was believed that these toy dogs kept fleas away while there were others who believed that these dogs helped cure stomach illnesses. However, true popularity for the original species of this breed came during the period of King Charles II, who was never described without his dog, aptly named as the King Charles Spaniel.
Roswell Eldridge, an American, was said to be the pioneer for creating the present breed, namely the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which is a modified version of the original King Charles Spaniel found in the year 1926. Although breeders were not initially taken by the version created by Eldridge, they accepted it over the years, and created the breed we now know as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed was recognized for the first time by the Kennel Club in the year 1945. The American version of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, however, is a more recent recognition and occurrence.

Temperament

These are the most endearing toy dogs that are perfect for single persons as well as families or couples. They are extremely friendly, eager to learn, highly active and very lovable dogs that are excellent playmates for children who are of an age where they can understand and handle small dogs. They are extremely patient dogs, very eager to please their owners. They are also highly social dogs, which mean that they interact with larger dogs instinctively and are not shy in their interactions. In fact, these dogs love to make friends and should not be left alone to their devices for long. If you have to leave them alone, it is important that you make the dog meet its friends before you leave it alone for the requisite time.

A very noticeable fact about these dogs is that their tail is always wagging and they are lively, outgoing and sportive playmates. Given the fact that these dogs are highly intelligent and immediately understand what you want them to do or not to do, they are easy to train and respond to gentle training. A lot of attention is definitely required to keep this dog happy. They often get themselves attached to any one of the family members.

Health issues and concerns

Despite being a dog in the toy dog category, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a healthy animal with very few health concerns, except for the likes of those that could occur to any breed of dog. One of the common complaints that could be received about this breed is that of knee dislocation or Patellar Luxation. Another common complaint is that of cataracts in the eyes, which again can be cured through surgery and medications.

Syringomyelia is another common occurrence in this breed, where the dog has cysts in the spinal cord, which results in immobility and severe pain. This is one of the most common complaints of this breed. So, one should always check bloodlines before bringing home a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Mitral valve heart disease is another common occurrence that can affect these dogs. Therefore, it is advised to do a regular heart exam and get the requisite vaccinations done to avoid this fatal disease.

Ear infections and early hearing loss are other common health problems faced by this breed, which can be avoided like all others with regular check up and by checking bloodlines before bringing home your pet.
Grooming

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a very easy to maintain breed where you need to comb its coat regularly and bathe it as and when required. It is important to note that bathing your dog will depend on its activities and the time spent outdoors. The Cavalier is a medium shedder and does not require trimming or any special attention. However, the feathering is prone to get into tangles, which is why you should regularly check the feathering and trim it to ensure that it is of the right length and does not tangle, especially in the feet area.

It is important to cleanse its ears and ensure that the feathering around it is also well trimmed. Additionally, you should brush the teeth of your Cavalier at least twice or thrice a week, so that there is no tartar formation and that you remove any bacteria that could be formed. On the other hand, if you want to prevent bad breath and gum decay, then you could try your hand at daily brushing. Nails should be trimmed regularly, at least once or twice a month, as short nails look better and are definitely safer than the longer ones.

It is essential that you start grooming your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel early as this would help it to get adjusted to the entire motion. Moreover, while grooming your dog, you should keep your eyes open for any infection that could occur on the skin, ears, eyes and other parts of the body. Early knowledge is the best way to treat such infections.

Exercise

Daily walk is an absolute must for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as they will otherwise start showing behavior problems. It is absolutely essential for these dogs to go for routine walks, in addition to their play time or romping time. Despite the fact that they require daily walks, it does not matter where these walks take place as these dogs are highly adjustable and are content with walks around the house with the owner. If you take them out for a walk, it is imperative that you maintain a tight leash as these dogs have a tendency to run through fences, out into the open and could become victims of various accidents. Jumping from furniture or any place that is at a height should be avoided as this can lead to knee displacement in the dog.