learn more about Cavalier king charles spaniels

Adult Tri-color Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a delightfully affectionate, playful, and intelligent dog, usually weighing thirteen to eighteen pounds, that thrives in a loving family environment.

 

Cavaliers are not kennel dogs. Because of four hundred years of development as lap dogs, they make wonderful companions who are happiest curled up on their owner’s lap for an evening of rest after a long day of playful activity.

 

They get along well with children, although puppies are best suited for children over the age of five, and truly enjoy sharing their home with a companion Cavalier.

 

Cavalier puppies do not thrive when left all day without human companionship or the company of another animal. They are highly intelligent and require the same consistent and loving discipline as does a child. Cavaliers are active and sporty dogs that require regular exercise. They have an instinct to give chase to just about anything that moves and should either be on a leash or in a fenced yard to ensure they are out of harm’s way.

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have no self-protection instinct.  They will approach any stranger, venture into uncharted territory, and approach large dogs without a second thought.  This also means that they do not fear things that may harm them and need the protection of their owners. They are friendly, obedient, and gentle, which makes training them easy because all they really want to do is please you.  Always remember when training or disciplining a Cavalier, do it in a gentle manner, as that is all a Cavalier needs to understand what you want from them.

 

Cavaliers are a natural "wash and wear" breed, with a luxuriously soft coat that requires no clipping or trimming.  They shed a little, but that can be kept to a minimal amount with brushing weekly and bathing every three to four weeks.  When bathing a Cavalier, care needs to be taken to prevent water from getting inside their ears.  Nails and underside of the feet should be trimmed as needed.  Special attention may be required to keep tangles out of your Cavalier’s ears and feathering.

a well socialized cavalier tends to be friendlier and less fearful

Adult Blenheim Cavalier King Charles SpanielMuch is said about the health and beauty of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy, but not enough is said about importance of socialization.  In fact, a puppy’s socialization process, in preparation for their life with you, begins at birth.  The early bonds they form with their mother, littermates, and first human family are the factors that determine the Cavalier they will become.

 

The environment your Cavalier puppy spends the first part of its life in is so important.  A Cavalier puppy needs a lot of attention and love devoted to it.  They need exposure to different sights, sounds, toys, and surfaces, as well as people of all ages and other pets, to ensure they grow up to be confident and capable in handling new experiences.

 

Once your Cavalier King Charles puppy leaves its first home, the same socialization practices need to be continued in the puppy’s new adopted home.  Please try to make each new experience a pleasant one for your puppy.  Healthy treats are always a good way to calm your puppy in an unpleasant situation.

wHEN YOU BRING your new cavalier king charles puppy HOME

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy - Tri-colorWhen you bring home your Cavalier King Charles puppy, it is highly recommended that you make sure to have a few quiet days just to spend with your newest family member.

 

Remember, your puppy has not received all of its vaccinations and the immunization process is incomplete until the age of fourteen to sixteen weeks. Until that time, you will need to stay away from public locations where other dogs may have been.

 

Always carry your puppy when you do have to go into such locations, especially when going to your veterinarian’s office. Ask your vet at what age your puppy will be fully protected.

american kennel club and cavalier king charles spaniel club

American Kennel Club (AKC) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA (CKCSC-USA) are the only two legitimate registries in the United States for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, USA was the original registry for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the United States formed in 1956.  In March 1995 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC).

the health of your cavalier king charles spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy - BlenheimThe Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not without health concerns. It is fair to say all genetics, good and bad, were compounded when the breed was re-created in 1927, using six foundation dogs from which all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels come from today.  Some health concerns are more challenging than others for breeders to manage.  Responsible breeders have knowledge of their dogs’ pedigrees, attempting to breed Cavaliers that are free from major health problems. As a whole, Cavaliers are a hardy, healthy little spaniel.

 

The majority of health problems seen in the Cavalier are common to toy dogs in general. Heart, eye, hip, and patella problems exist in all toy breeds, including Cavaliers. Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) seems to present earlier in the Cavalier than some of the other toy breeds.

 

It is very important that the sire and dam of your new Cavalier puppy have had their annual heart and eye clearances done by a Board Certified Cardiologist and Ophthalmologist, and the breeder should have current copies of the clearances for you when picking up your puppy.  Responsible breeders will test and clear their Cavaliers annually and will have very few incidences of these conditions. Still, recessive genes exist and can crop up when least expected. About 50% of cavaliers will develop at least a mild heart murmur by the age of five.  Cavaliers can still lead perfectly normal lives for years after developing a murmur, many never slowing down a bit from the disease.  If a Cavalier is affected with symptoms, it is usually very late in life and can be treated with medication.

 

Syringomyelia (SM) is a condition that has always been in the breed, as well as other breeds.  Its symptoms vary drastically, thus a diagnosis was not made until recently.  Based on current theory, in which many holes exist, the bottom half of the skull develops in a way that crowds the cerebellum of the brain, impeding the path of cerebrospinal fluid movement around the brain and spinal cord. The increased pressure and pooling of cerebrospinal fluid may cause irritation and damage to the spinal cord, resulting in symptoms of neck scratching, headache, and in extreme cases, paralysis. Dogs suffering life affecting symptoms of SM are rare.

 

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) and Syringomyelia (SM) prove to be challenging problems to the breed and breeders. Although early onset and severe cases are minimal in responsible breeding programs, both conditions can show up later in life and there is no test or gene isolation available today to predict if or when a dog will encounter onset. All Cavaliers are carriers of both conditions, regardless of the blood lines. Responsible breeders do a good job minimizing the number of cases of affected dogs.

 

 

additional information for all cavalier king charles spaniel owners

  • ABOUT CAVALIER HEALTH - Provides information about health conditions affecting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed
  • MITRAL VALVE DISEASE - From the University of Prince Edward Island Veterinary College of Canine Inherited Disorders database
  • SYRINGOMYELIA - Informational site focusing on the disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

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