Cavalier King Charles Spaniel All About The Breed
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.
These adorable little characters are just 13 to 18 inches tall and weigh up to 18 pounds. The coat is long and silky, and can be a number of colors including black and tan, ruby, tri-color and Blenheim.
Adding to the effect is the feathering on legs, ears and tail, long hanging ears and large, liquid eyes giving the dog a look of innocence and vulnerability.Historically, the tail has been docked. But as this is now illegal in many countries, it is no longer required.
The King Charles Spaniel has a shorter muzzle than the Cavalier, as it was cross bred with the Pug back when this particular characteristic was in demand.
Despite its Spaniel credentials, the Cavalier King Charles has always been a companion dog, a role they fill to perfection. They are extremely affectionate and happy little dogs that just thrive on attention, and are eager to please.
These dogs have the ideal personality to be family pets. They love everyone , and are exceptionally good with children. These are fairly healthy dogs, with a lifespan of between nine and fourteen years, but they do suffer from a number of inherited diseases. These include mitral valve disease and syringomyelia, both very severe and fairly common in the breed.
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.
It should come a no surprise that the Cavalier is a high maintenance dog. That luxuriant coat requires a lot of brushing and trimming to keep it looking its best.
The ears also need to be checked regularly and must be kept clean and dry to avoid infections. You should also pay attention to the eyes, as they too are prone to infection.
If you're looking for a dog to keep in an apartment, the Cavalier is the perfect choice. They are small and well-behaved and love being close to their human companions.
They do however require regular exercise and enjoy a daily walk with their owner. These playful, active dogs also love playing games like tag and hide-and-seek, which can be done either indoors or outdoors.
Picking a name for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be a challenge. The best advice is to visit some of the many puppy names, sites online. My recommendation is puppy-names-hq.com, which has a huge database, including thousands of cute dog names.
