Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Temperament:

Friendly, Gentle, Open-hearted
Size: Small
Height: 30-35 cm
Weight: 5-8 kg
Lifespan: 10-15 years
Coat: Longhair
Colors: White with red, Red, Black with tan, Tricolor
FCI Group: Companion and Toy Dogs

This small pedigree dog is indeed a royal cavalier. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel quickly adapts to its owner's needs. This cheerful and even-tempered four-legged friend is a friendly companion for families and singles.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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Characteristics

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is very fond of children. With its even-tempered and friendly nature, it enjoys taking part in people's lives. These are the best prerequisites for the ideal family dog.

This little four-legged friend is an uncomplicated and reliable partner in everyday life. His cheerful temperament is infectious. But he also wants to be stroked. With these thoroughly pleasant character traits, he easily sneaks into almost every heart.

Single people can also benefit from the nature of this little dog. He is a level-headed and good-humored companion. With him as a partner, there is always something pleasant to do. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel regularly offers a reason to get out into the fresh air and meet people. He usually shows his best side when doing so.

When it comes to choosing the right company, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is quite undemanding. It adapts effortlessly to any situation. This four-legged friend loves young and old alike. Even an inexperienced dog owner will get on well with him.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel behaves in a truly regal manner among his own kind. He always sniffs his fellow dogs in a friendly manner. He also quickly makes friends with other good-natured animals.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the small dog breeds. It reaches a maximum shoulder height of 35 cm. It weighs an average of 8 kg. A special feature are the very long hanging ears. Life expectancy is 10 to 15 years.

The coat of this regal breed is very long. It is silky and smooth to the touch. Sometimes the coat is slightly wavy. The tail, paws and ears are particularly hairy. The coat color of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is very variable. Its coat can be solid-colored. But it can also be bicolored or tricolored. Black, brown and white are the typical colors of this spaniel.

Coat care:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Shedding:

Little
Medium
Intensive

Energy level:

Little
Medium
High

Trainability:

Little
Medium
Good

Children suitable:

Less
With supervision
Perfect

The right food

When choosing food for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, you should look for high-quality and balanced ingredients. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the right amount.

When choosing a food bowl, you should take into account the long ears of your little four-legged friend. In a deep and narrow bowl, the ears will not get caught in the food as easily.

As with any dog, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's weight should be checked regularly. The main fattening foods are unhealthy snacks and begged food from the table.

If your little royal pedigree dog weighs too much, he will quickly lose his zest for life. At the same time, it becomes more susceptible to illness. The lifespan of your four-legged friend can be shortened. Clear feeding rules help all family members to behave correctly.

Treats as a reward for training are allowed in moderate quantities. However, they should be deducted from the basic diet.

Health & Care

With a daily grooming session of ten minutes, the little four-legged friend is always clean and the coat always looks freshly combed. Grooming includes coat, teeth, eyes, ears and a regular health check. The puppy does not yet have a distinctive coat. Daily grooming is a good way to get him used to the ritual that will be necessary later on.

The hair behind the ears and on the legs is particularly long. Daily combing and brushing prevents the coat from matting. This is where grooming begins. The whole body can then be brushed.

You should only bathe your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel if it is unavoidable. Use a mild dog shampoo and rinse well afterwards. Then comb and brush the well-dried coat.

Puppies should not be bathed in the first six months, adult dogs at most every three months. Soiled areas and dirty paws can be cleaned with a cloth and lukewarm water.

Get your dog used to dental care from puppyhood. You can use a finger ring to start with.

If you have floppy ears, regular cleaning of the inner ear is particularly important. Earwax and dirt can otherwise lead to painful ear infections. Encrustations on the eyes are best removed with a lint-free cloth and distilled water.

Check the weight of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel every week. Regular worming and vaccinations serve as preventative health care.

The pads can become cracked, especially in winter. Rubbing them with milking grease provides good protection. The claws also need to be trimmed regularly.

Suitable accessories

In addition to a food and water bowl, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs a place to rest and sleep. It feels comfortable and secure in a dog basket. The removable inserts can usually even be washed in the washing machine.

A high-quality natural hair brush and a wire brush are needed to groom your calm four-legged friend. A fine and a coarse metal comb are also part of the basic equipment. A mild dog shampoo is used for bathing.

Specialist shops sell special drying cloths for dogs. These absorb moisture particularly well. As they dry quickly, they are ideal for daily use.

Tick tweezers should also be part of the equipment. Use a light collar or harness with a lead for daily walks. It should be made of lightweight material.

cavalier-king-charles-spaniel_origin

Origin & History

The name of the spaniel goes back to King Charles I. He ruled England in the 16th century. He was always accompanied by at least one Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. His son Charles II shared this passion. The royal dog even had access to Parliament.

With his innate charm, he enchanted the ladies even back then. The nobility bought dogs to keep their offspring occupied. In the harsh times of the 16th century, he not only warmed the body in the cold and uncomfortable houses. The popular companion was also regarded as a soother of the soul.

By crossing Asian breeds, the nose became significantly shorter in the 18th century. The overall appearance changed considerably. In 1926, the American Roswell Eldridge came to Europe. He wanted to buy a dog of this breed. The traveler had only seen them in paintings from the 17th century and was disappointed by their greatly changed appearance.

The American wanted this dog with a long snout. He therefore announced a competition. The breed with the shorter nose remained as the King Charles Spaniel. In 1945, the new breed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was officially recognized.

Only now did the small pedigree dog become popular in Germany. It has retained its extremely good character traits to this day. This is why it is just as popular as a family dog as it is as a companion for singles.