Picking your Dog’s
breed is the most important factor in deciding which
puppy to purchase. As each breed is unique in size, temperament
and habits, certain breeds also may have special needs.
Displayed below is special information about the breed
you are interested in. Feel free to ask our breed specialists
any questions you may have regarding the breed you are
looking for.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog usually considered one of the toy dog breeds. This beautiful small spaniel has dark round expressive eyes that are large but not prominent. The tail is sometimes docked to no less then three times its length. It has a conical muzzle and a flat skull. It has a shallow stop, with well developed nose and wide nostrils. The ears are long with abundant feathering. It has a silky coat, sometimes with a slight waviness that comes in ruby, black & tan, tri-color and blenheim (rich chestnut on a pearly-white background). On Blenheim dogs, a chestnut-red spot on top of the head between the ears is preferred by breeders, but not critical.
Height: 12-13 inches (30-33 cm.)
Weight: 10-18 pounds (5-8 kg.)
About 9-14 years.
Gun Dog, AKC Toy
Temperament:
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an eager, affectionate tail-wagger. Outgoing and sportive. These fearless lively little dogs want to please. They are intelligent enough to understand what you want and therefore are usually easy to train and respond well to gentle obedience training. They are said to be naturally well behaved and get along well with other dogs and non-canine pets. Cavalier's love people, enjoy companionship, and need rules to follow and limits to what they are allowed to do. They should not be left alone all day. If you do need to leave them, be sure to take them for a pack walk before you leave to put them in a natural rest mode. They are descended from hunting dogs and love to romp in the great outdoors. This breed sometimes displays a chasing instinct and should be kept well enclosed or leashed so he does not get lost or run over by a car! Do not allow this sweet dog to developed Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behaviors, where the dog thinks he is pack leader to humans. This can cause a varying degree of behavior problems, which are not Cavalier traits, but behaviors brought on by the way they are being treated. They are recommended with older considerate children, simply because most small dogs are treated in such a way they start to believe they are a pack leader to humans. In addition to being the dog's leader, socialize well to avoid them being reserved with strangers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a pleasant companion dog. It has a noteworthy sense of smell and vision and can be used in short hunts in open country. They do well in competitive obedience.
Grooming:
Comb or brush with a firm bristle brush, and bathe or dry shampoo as necessary. The feathered hair on the ears is prone to tangling and matting, so this dog should be thoroughly groomed often. The hair between the pads on the feet should be kept trimmed and the ears should be cleaned regularly. Always make sure the dog is thoroughly dry and warm after a bath. Check the eyes carefully for any signs of infection. This breed is an average shedder.
Origin:
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is descended from the King Charles Spaniel and other small Toy Spaniels seen in many sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth century paintings. Its breeders were trying to reproduce a toy dog similar to those seen in portraits from the time of England's Charles II, who was said to dote on these small dogs. In the 1920's the American, Roswell Eldridge, offered prize money during a Cruft's Dog Show in London, to any person exhibiting King Charles Spaniels with long noses. He was looking for dogs similar to those appearing in Van Dyck's paintings of King Charles II and his spaniels. By the 1940's these dogs were classified as a separate breed and were given the prefix Cavalier, to differentiate them from their forebears. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was shown in the Toy Group of the AKC beginning in 1996.
