Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, "Cavie" or "Cav" is presently a popular companion dog but actually has roots as a hunting companion and lapdog for royalty. Like the name suggests, this canine has roots in England, however, the effort to make a separate breed from the King Charles was actually begun by an American. The AKC recognized the breed in 1995 as part of their Toy category. These Cavalier Spaniels do, indeed, have a happy, spirited and playful nature and combined with their affectionate and gentle personalities are the perfect choice for ANY owner. Whether you are single, elderly, a child, or a hunter-- the Cavalier is for you. They can adapt to any household and any activity level. Here's a few pros and cons for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that can help you get a good idea of any problems or benefits that may be associated with being an owner:

PROS

• Lapdog temperament- affectionate, gentle, attention loving
• Playful and adventurous
• Great with children
• Great with other dogs
• Good with cats
• Friendly with strangers
• Not aggressive
• Adaptable to your activity level
• Can live in any size dwelling
• Easy to train

CONS

• Not a good choice for households with birds, hamsters, guinea pigs etc.
• Not hypoallergenic
• Moderate maintenance grooming
• Not an intense exercise buddy
• Not a guard dog
• Shouldn't live outdoors
• Tendency to chase small critter
• Fenced yard or leash when walking required

Although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed has been around for centuries, the breed today is a recreation of the original Cavalier King Charles Spaniel whose bloodline was lost due to crossing the breed with other small dogs such as the pug. The Cavalier is a small dog breed with a silky medium length coat which is feathered on the chest, ears, feet, legs, and tail. Their coat requires medium maintenance including brushing twice weekly and bathing as necessary.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very fond of their owners and will follow them wherever they go. Due to this dependent personality they can develop separation anxiety if left alone for long periods so this should be taken into consideration with individuals who are away for long durations.

The Cavaliers are good with children and other dogs. Due to the Cavalier's spaniel heritage they can have a tendency to chase non-canine pets (but this generally isn't an issue if the other pet stands up for itself). The breed is very friendly towards strangers, so they don't make very good guard dogs, although they will bark when someone is at the door.

Much like the name suggests, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel history has roots in that of the King Charles Spaniel. We all know the King Charles Spaniel was deeply admired by King Charles II of England and that they functioned as lap dogs for the wealthy and also as hunting dogs. After King Charles, the Duke of Marlborough kept many of the red and white King Charles Spaniels that were eventually named "Blenheim" after his estate. Through the years the breed experienced changes until, in 1926, Roswell Eldridge came from America to England and offered a prize for the the closest specimens of Blenheims to the original King Charles (which had a more pointed nose).

After his death, a Cavalier breed club was founded in 1928 and with the goal of furthering what they now called the "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel" bred from those original winners of the prize. After WWII, however, only 6 registered dogs were left to serve as this new origin of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. They did so spectacularly as in 1956 the first Cavs made their way to America and eventually surpassed the King Charles Spaniel in popularity. Although they did not gain AKC recognition until 1995, two breed clubs were founded-- The Cavalier King Charles Club USA, founded shortly after their arrival to America, and the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club in 1994.

The Cav is a well balanced toy breed and it is essential this breed's looks portray its charming personality. Cavs are spirited in the field and gentle and affectionate at home. Every aspect of their composition gives a clue to a personality trait. First, let's talk about royal head and the adorably sweet face. The muzzle is not exactly long, but not as short as their King Charles counterparts, and the ears are set high and hang long. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel eyes are the hallmark of the face-- they are large and round with dark brown coloring, and they almost appear to be shining. The breed is prone to eye issues so make sure to wipe away any discharge daily and visit the vet if it is abundant and colored.

Next, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat type is elegant and graceful and the breed standard recommends leaving it as is. The hair is medium length, silky and can have a light wave to it; feathering should be apparent on the ears, chest, legs, feet and tail. The Cavalier King Charles tail can be natural or docked but you can be certain that it will be in perpetual happy motion.

There is little variation among purebred Cavs other than coat color and the tendency of some coats to have a slight wave. Cavalier King Charles don't have short coats unless they are trimmed or clipped. It is important to note that Miniature, Toy and Teacup Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not breeds-- they are not even officially recognized varieties. In fact, as breed standards, overly large and tiny Cavalier King Charles are to be disqualified from shows and competitions.

Two issues arise from the breeding of extra small Cavs. First, this often encourages breeding of small, runty or unhealthy individuals and produces puppies with more health concerns. Second, some breeders cross a purebred Cav with a completely different, tiny breed to decrease the size. However, if you insist on paying the $2,000 or so for a Mini, Toy or Teacup, do your research to make sure the breeder has had heart, eye and hip certifications for the parents.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel temperament is spirited, affectionate, friendly and gentle. The personality is in complete harmony with their royal and graceful appearance. Adaptable is this dog's middle name; if you want to be a couch potato they'll be one with you and if you'd like to go on a long walk they'll love that too. This breed is friendly with everyone it meets-- including visitors, strangers, other dogs and even cats! This characteristic makes the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel a poor watch dog or guard dog. This is a prime choice for those with frequent visitors or that live in apartment buildings.

The Cavalier King Charles is very playful and happy making them excellent for families with children of all sizes-- as long as they are careful not to hurt the tiny Cav. This breed is easy to train provided you have enough time for them. Although they are not as prone to separation anxiety as some other breeds, they still require daily time with their owner or family. Luckily these sociable Spaniels get along great with dogs and cats so having another pet is actually recommended! We do recommend a fenced yard and a leash for this fearlessly adventurous.

Cavaliers, surprisingly, don't have the extensive list of health concerns as many other long-standing pure breeds. Unfortunately, there are still several to be aware of-- some serious enough for the Cav not to be bred as this risks a litter of puppies with the same defects. A list of the most common issues is below:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Patellar Luxation
• Eye Diseases such as: Retinal Dysplasia, Cataracts and Cherry Eye
• Primary Secretory Otitis Media is a condition where a mucus plug forms inside the ear
• Mitral Valve Disease of the heart
• Syringomyelia is a nervous system disease where cerebrospinal fluid if forced through a narrow opening into the spine due to the skull not being large enough to accomodate the brain.

Bear in mind your Cav may not have a single one of these issues, however, we recommend thorough research into your breeder of choice including proof of certifications for heart, eye and hip. Don't skip any scheduled vet visits for this breed, even if your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy seems healthy-- your vet can help detect and even prevent certain conditions.

This breed is not one of those known to have many puppies that become an ugly Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Still, there are some pups that might promise possible participation in any one of the growing number of ugly dog contests. Because of the Internet, ugly dog pics have become more than a fad. The trend has become an obsession for many people. As this Spaniel is not unlike the royals to which many of these dogs' bloodlines can be traced, there is an unusual amount of inbreeding. This can make any given Cavalier King Charles Spaniel have an outrageously sized forehead, or crazy teeth, or the hilarious hanging tongue — or all three! It's as sad as it is funny to some folks, but that's what sometimes happens.