Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Information and Facts

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, often called the King Charles or the Cavalier for short, is a member of the spaniel group. Though it has always been popular in Great Britain, the breed saw a sudden surge of popularity in the United States about 5 years ago. Affectionate and absolutely beautiful, it is not hard to see why. Be aware, though, that the Cavalier is prone to various genetic health issues, from early loss of hearing to hip disorders to Episodic Falling. Let's take a closer look at the breed information and facts you need to know about this breed.
 
Origin
 
The Cavalier comes to use from the UK where the oldest records reveal it was used by an aristocrat of the 18th century for hunting purposes. Pictures of the breed can be found from as far back as Charles II of England’s time, who was a big fan of the dog. His love it suddenly made the dog very popular and resulted in the name it now carries.
 
Size
 
The Cavalier falls under the category of toy dogs. Weighing 13 to 18 pounds and standing 12 to 13 inches tall, it is about the same size as an adolescent of other spaniel breeds. 
 
Grooming Needs
 
The Cavalier has a smooth, shiny and silky long coat. It is really beautiful if you make the time and effort to take care of it! Use both a firm-bristled brush and a comb to brush the coat at least 2 times per week. The breed is prone to early hearing loss and various ear problems, so it is a good idea to be extra gentle when cleaning the ears.  
 
Character
 
Always eager to please, the Cavalier will bring joy to any home it lives in. The breed is extremely social. Since it is comfortable around strangers, it tends to approach people or other dogs without hesitation. Don’t worry, even though the Cavalier is always excited to greet people, with proper training, it is well-behaved. For this reason, the Cavalier does not make a good watchdog. 
 
Temperament
 
The breed is affectionate, loving and extremely patient, which means it is great with children and other pets. Because of its gentle nature and small size, do not let it play with young kids unattended as the children could hurt the dog without realizing it. The Cavalier is extremely social and likes to have company, so it may suffer from separation anxiety and bark a lot if left alone too much.
 
Training Needs
 
The Cavalier has average levels of intelligence and trainability. Although it has average intelligence, the real problem with this pup is it is easily distracted. The happy go lucky attitude of the dog combines with a sense of curiosity that does not lend itself to training sessions. The key is to use positive reinforcement with the pup and stick with the lessons. As your Cavalier gets use to the routine of training, it should start picking up commands quicker.  
 
Activity Level
 
The Cavalier is moderately active, and its energy level is quite flexible. A daily walk should suffice for this pup. 
 
In Closing
 
The Cavalier is a good overall dog, but does have higher levels of health risks than one would hope to find with a pup. If this dog sounds like a perfect pup for you, click the button below to look at our current listings. If the health issues concern you, take a look at our puppies for sale page where you can use a free app that will identify the best breeds for your lifestyle. 
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