Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small, happy and easy-to-please dog. The breed originated in the late 1600’s as a result of the King Charles Spaniel being crossed with the Pug, making them a smaller dog with flatter noses, upturned faces and rounder heads. It wasn’t until the 40’s that they were classified as their own breed and therefore given the prefix Cavalier, to differentiate them from the King Charles Spaniel.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel makes an excellent addition to any family, as an affectionate and happy dog. Always eager to please, they are fearless and respond well to gentle obedience training.  Cavaliers are said to be naturally well behaved and get along well with other dogs, pets and children alike. They love people and need constant companionship and shouldn’t be left alone all day. It’s best to socialize Cavalier King Charles Spaniels well from a young age to avoid them being reserved with strangers, as they can be a very pleasant companion dog. They are well-suited to apartment life and are moderately active indoors so are happy enough with a small yard. They do have some common health issues to keep an eye on, such as eye disease, back trouble and dislocating patella (knee caps). Ear infections can be common and they do gain weight easily so they are not a breed to over feed.

As a breed, Cavaliers don’t tend to cope well in warmer weather and need to be monitored in these times. It’s best to check the medical history of the previous generation if possible. Playtimes will take care of most of their exercise requirements although a daily walk is appreciated. Their coat is easily maintained with regular brushing and only bathing when necessary. The long hair between their pads needs to be trimmed and their ears are prone to tangling and matting so need to be brushed daily. Cleaning inside of the ears regularly will also help to prevent ear infections.


FUN FACTS:

•  Cavalier King Charles Spaniels come in four different colours, Tri-colour, Black & Tan, Ruby and Blenheim (Chestnut and White)
  
• Cavies are amongst the most popular breeds of dog in Australia after Labradors, Staffies and Border Collies
  
• Despite this, they were only recognised by the AKC as an official breed in 1996