Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Facts and Information

Coat & Grooming: Cavaliers need regular combing and brushing. Their feathering can catch debris, while their long ears need special attention to avoid potential sources of infection. It’s possible to clip their coat to a shorter, more manageable, length, although this hair-do is not allowed for conformation dogs.

Coat length: Medium

Grooming: Occasional

Shedding: Cavaliers shed an average amount. Unlike many other sporting breeds, they do not have a double coat, so won’t be shedding as much during the change of seasons. Regular combing will keep shedding manageable.

Training: Cavaliers are capable learners and eager to please. They are sensitive, and even a scolding look can be punishment enough! They respond best to gentle, positive reinforcement, and treats. While they don’t need strong corrections, they require an amount of firmness and consistency, like all breeds. You won’t find many Cavaliers working the front lines but because of their relaxed, loving temperaments they often make wonderful therapy dogs.

Barking: Understanding your dog: Cavaliers are willing to give 24/7 no-strings-attached constant companionship as long as you’ll let them. However, a Cavalier separated from personal affection will easily become lonely and develop problem behaviors like barking. Their bark is sharp and high pitched, although a happy Cavalier should rarely bark without a good reason.

Temperament & Behavior: With respect to temperament, the Cavalier is sometimes referred to as a big dog in a small dog’s body. They are easy going and quiet, with a relaxed disposition that is unusual in small breeds. The Cavalier is just content with attention, and happy to please everybody. Their easy and friendly disposition typically makes them great around children and other dogs and pets. As a small, mild dog, they need a gentle hand and plenty of socialization to avoid getting a bad impression about the big, wide world.

Behavior with kids:
Cavaliers are renowned for their tolerance towards children. However, as a small breed they need to be safeguarded from rough play.

Protection: If you want to turn your foes into friends, then consider a Cavalier your secret weapon. Other than heart-melting, they really have no martial intentions and don’t make a great guard dog.

Life Span: On average, Cavaliers live to be about 9-14 years old.

Inherited health issues: As with any purebred dog, there are certain diseases that are more common in Cavaliers than other breeds. The list may include the following: myxomatous mitral value degeneration, syringomyelia, patellar luxation, chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, idiopathic epilepsy, intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), cataracts, corneal dystrophy, entropion, keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS aka dry eye), retinal dysplasia, pyometra and brachycephalic airway syndrome.

Preventive care: Because Cavaliers are a brachycephalic or short-nosed breed, they are prone to a number of airway problems. Keeping your Cavvie at or slightly below its optimal weight can help to diminish these problems. Ensure that you carefully monitor your Cavvie for any unusual eye discharge or abnormal appearance to the eyes.

Nutrition: CKCS should be fed a high quality diet specific for small breeds. Your veterinarian can help to determine your Cavvie’s ideal weight, and advise you how to feed accordingly.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Cavalier is 0.5 to 1 cup

Energy Level: Enjoys some moderate exercise every now and then

Exercise: In general, Cavaliers have a medium energy level and, combined with their size, require only basic daily exercise. They’ll take a 30-minute walk and a few rounds of fetch to stay in shape.

Climate: Cavaliers do well in just about any climate, so long as they are primarily indoor dogs.

Living space: The Cavalier is a great apartment dog. As a quiet, relaxed breed, they require little extra room and conserve floor space by occupying any available lap.