Profile of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small, affectionate toy dog. The breed is closely linked with King Charles II of England, who absolutely adored these dogs and is said to have given his Spaniels the run of the royal palace.
And the breed was equally popular with European aristocracy. featuring in numerous art works dating from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries.
Standing just 18 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 18 pounds, the Cavalier is an attractive dog. The coat is long and silky, and may be Blenheim, ruby, tri-color, or black and tan in color.
The legs, ears and tail have extensive feathering, and when you add in the long, silky eyes are large, innocent eyes, the overall effect is most appealing.Historically, the tail has been docked. But as this is now illegal in many countries, it is no longer required.
The Cavalier differs from the King Charles Spaniel, in that the King Charles was cross bred with the Pug to produce a shorter muzzle.
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. The Cavalier is a healthy dog that lives on average 14 years. However, they are prone to a number of inherited diseases. The most serious of these are mitral valve disease and syringomyelia – both potentially deadly.
They can also suffer from luxating patella, cataracts, and retinal disorders. Buying from an ethical, registered breeder will reduce the chances of your dog developing these disorders.
Grooming a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel takes a great deal of work. The coat will have to be brushed every day to keep it free from mats and tangles. In addition, regular trimming will be required.
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.
This is the ideal dog for apartment living, small of size and well behaved indoors. The Cavalier needs and craves human interaction and is most definitely not suited to living outdoors.
Despite their stature they will need a walk every day. They also love playing games and will happily chase a ball or play a game of tag, whether it is in the garden or the living room.
If you’re looking for puppy names, for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I’d recommend Puppy Names HQ, a site with an extensive database of dog names, including thousands of male dog names.
