Small
14 Years
8 Kg
Toy Dogs
Affectionate, Cheerful, Friendly, Loving, Social
A luxury pooch for the Royalty, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel came from the spaniel-line of dogs that originated in 1600 England, originally as a lap and feet warmer for the nobility. This affectionate and graceful breed comes in four colour varieties:
It has a sweet, gentle, melting expression with large round eyes of dark brown colour accentuated by dark eye rims. It features long, leather ears set high on the head and wide at the end. The skull has a moderate stop, tapered muzzle and a black nose. The jaws and teeth form a perfect, regular and complete scissors bite. It has a level topline with moderately deep chest, no tucked-up appearance and a well-set on tail carried slightly above the level of the back. The double coat is of moderate length, silky and curl-free with featherings on the ears, chest, legs and tail. A typical size Cavalier King Charles can weigh between 5.9 - 8.2 kg and stand between 30 – 33 cm at withers.
IntelligenceAll dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
Exercise NeedsAll dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
Dogs HealthThere are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
Child FriendlyThere are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
ApartmentThere are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
SheddingAll dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
Grooming NeedsAll dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
BarkingBarking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
AloneMajority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
TrainabilityThere are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
Energy LevelsAll dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Dog friendlyBefore you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a direct descendant of the small Toy Spaniel that was popular among the nobility during the 16th to the 18th centuries as lap dogs and foot warmers. King Charles II was often seen with two or three Toy Spaniels with him. Historical accounts tell us that they were also used for attracting fleas from their owner’s bodies sparing them from diseases. There were years where the popularity of the breed among the royalty was overtaken by the Pug, particularly during the reign of William III. In the early part of the 18th century, a special strain of red and white Toy Spaniel became popular through the efforts of the Duke of Marlborough who bred them at the Blenheim Palace. These strains are what we know today as the Blenheim colour type. A Toy Spaniel club was formed with the advent of dog shows and with this came the first breed standard. The Kennel Club officially wanted to retain the name “Toy Spaniel” but King Edward VII wanted to retain the “royalty” of the breed and so “King Charles Spaniel” was adopted as the official name. In 1926, American Rowell Eldridge came to England looking for old-type Blenheim spaniels similar to what Charles II had on his portraits but failed to find one so he offered £25 at Crufts for whoever could produce a breed similar to that of Charles II’s era – long face, no stop with a flat skull and not domed with the unique spot on the centre of the head. He died without seeing the fruit of his efforts. Two years later, the Cavalier club was formed by breeders who continued his passion and thus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed was born. After World War II, only 6 Cavaliers survived and all modern-day Cavaliers can be traced to those original six dogs. The Cavalier was officially registered by the Kennel Club as a separate breed in 1945. Today, they are the quintessential lapdog.
Sweet, gentle, and playful, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known as the “love sponge” of dogs. It requires a lot of human attention and will not do well if left alone for long periods of time. Being such a friendly dog, it is not suitable as a guard dog. It is highly affectionate, playful, and extremely patient and makes excellent therapy dog for the elderly.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an average intelligence but it is not difficult to train. It ranks 44th in Stanley Coren’s “The Intelligence of Dogs” in terms of working or obedience rating. It does well in obedience and agility training and conformation shows.
The Cavalier’s coat requires weekly grooming. Brushing with a stiff bristle brush once a week will do, with no mandatory trimming required. However, some owners prefer to trim the long feathers on the legs and feet, which would otherwise quickly gather dirt when walking or playing outside of the house.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has the tendency to suffer mitral insufficiency (MI) at some point in its life. MI is a heart disorder where the mitral valve does not close properly during systole, causing abnormal backflow of blood into the left atrium. This abnormality causes valvular heart disease and is the most common cause of death for this wonderful breed. Other health concerns include luxating patella, cataracts, retinal dysplasia, hip dysplasia and ear problems. The typical lifespan of the Cavalier is 9 – 14 years.
The Cavalier is strictly an indoor dog but it still needs daily exercise. It will be happy either curled up on the couch or on a daily short walk. It is easily adaptable to any living environment, be it in an apartment in the city, in a suburban home with or without a yard, or in a rural house in a country setting.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a very sociable animal and is generally friendly with other dogs and animals. It is generally friendly and quickly bonds with other pet animals in the house, both big or small. However, it is generally advised to socialise the breed early with other animals such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, and similar pets as its strong hunting instinct may turn over. It is also extremely patient and excellent with children regardless of age.
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