Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Most closely associated with England’s King Charles II, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is a playful and affectionate toy dog. The King is said to have been so fond of this breed that his dogs were to be found roaming the halls of every royal residence.

An the breed’s popularity with the aristocracy didn’t end there. Look at 16th to 18th century portraits of the well-to-do, and you’re likely to see a Cavalier featured.

These adorable little characters are just 13 to 18 inches tall and weigh up to 18 pounds. The coat is long and silky, and can be a number of colors including black and tan, ruby, tri-color and Blenheim.

There is feathering on the legs, tail, and ears. The ears are long and silky, and the eyes are large and innocent, giving the dog an almost angelic look.In the past, the tail was usually docked by a third, but this practice is now outlawed in many countries, and is no longer a requirement.

The King Charles Spaniel has a shorter muzzle than the Cavalier, as it was cross bred with the Pug back when this particular characteristic was in demand.

Although Spaniels are generally hunting dogs, the Cavalier was never bred for this purpose. It has always been a companion dog and excels in this due to its joyful, affectionate character and eagerness to please.

This is just about the perfect family pet, gentle with children, good with other animals, and loving towards everyone. These are fairly healthy dogs, with a lifespan of between nine and fourteen years, but they do suffer from a number of inherited diseases. These include mitral valve disease and syringomyelia, both very severe and fairly common in the breed.

They are also prone to luxating patella, cataracts, and retinal disorders. To guard against your dog developing these diseases it is advisable to only buy a dog from a reputable, registered breeder.

With their long, luxuriant coats, it should not surprise you that the Cavalier King Charles is a high maintenance dog. The coat requires daily brushing and regular trimming, especially around the toes and footpads.

Special attention also needs to be paid to the ears and eyes. Both these areas are susceptible to infections and must be kept clean and, in the case of the ears, dry.

If you’re looking for a dog to keep in an apartment, the Cavalier is the perfect choice. They are small and well-behaved and love being close to their human companions.

They are active, energetic dogs who will need to be walked every day. In addition, Cavaliers love to play, and will happily join in a game, whether indoors, or outdoors.

Good names for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be hard to find. The best advice is to search one of the online puppy names, sites, and my personal favorite is Puppy Names HQ. This site has thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-database of boy dog names to pick from.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel