small Breed Dogs
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
Toy Breed Dogs
Small Breed Dogs







What you MUST Know Before Getting a Puppy

Forget about the normal list that everyone writes about..."puppy proof your home", "choose the right breed".  The information you must know, goes MUCH deeper than that. This is information that no one talks about, the behind-the-scenes info you really should know before you make your choice....Click to Read More
Average Height: 12 - 13 inches (30.48 - 33.02 cm)
Average Weight: 13 - 18  pounds (5.89 - 8.16 kg)
Pronounced: Cav-AH-leer King Charls Span-e'-el
Group:  AKC Toy
Life Span: 10 Years
Average Litter: 4
Origin: Europe

Description
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have what is called a "royal" appearance. One of the toy spaniel dogs, this breed is very graceful and well balanced.  The dog naturally has a very warm and happy expression. The Cavalier's large, dark, round eyes give a warm, lustrous look and the cushioning under the eyes lend to the very soft expression.  The long ears fan slightly forward, framing the face gracefully. The coat is a medium length which sometimes has a slight wave to it. There is a soft feathering on the dog's ears, chest, tail and paws.

Colors

The AKC accepts  4 colors: Black, Black & Tan, Ruby and Blenheim.  Blenheim is amazing, it is a rich chestnut that is broken up on a clear. pearly white background color.

Characteristics
Known for its incredible charm,  Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are wonderful with children and are exceptional with senior citizens. This breed is known for being very smart, happy, playful, always willing to please and very sweet.

Origin & History
Commonly mispronounced as King Charles Cavaliers, (leaving out the "Spaniels and switching the words around"),  this breed's ancestors date back to before the Victorian Era.  However, during this time, the breed became virtually extinct...breeding slowed down as the public demanded shorter-nosed breeds at the time.  In 1926, Roswell Eldridge took great effort into bringing back the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Because of his desire for this amazing breed to thrive, breeding began once again.  They did not arrive into American until 1952!  And it was only in 1996 that the AKC recognized the breed.

Health
Sadly, this beautiful breed has 2 major genetic health issues and this is why the life span is so much shorter than other small breed dogs.  Mitral valve disease is very common.  This is a condition  in which heart murmurs often become progressively worse to the point of  heart failure. No matter what anyone may tell you,  all lines of Cavaliers worldwide are potentially susceptible. The 2nd major health concern for this small dog is Syringomyelia (SM).  This is a condition affecting the brain and spine.   It is caused by a malformation in the lower back of the skull (which is hereditary) which reduces the space available to the brain, compressing it and often forcing it out through the opening into the spinal cord.
This breed is also prone to Episodic Falling (not to be confused with epilepsy). Some develop  dry eye syndrome (keratitis sicca or keratoconjunctivitis sicca -- KCS)., which is genetic.  Dry eye is an inflammation of the cornea stops the process of the dog being able to  produce tears. While there is no actual cure, daily medication will greatly help.

Exercise

This is a very energetic small dog! Most need at least an hour of exercise each day, whether it is 1/2 hour in the morning and another in the evening.  Running around and playing "fetch" will please this breed also.

Grooming

With such a gorgeous coat, it may be a bit surprising that grooming is very simple.  With a very natural appearance,  an owner must only be sure to brush about every 3 or 4 days and to make sure to trim excess fur from the bottom of the paw pads.

Care and Training

Because this pup has such a playful, sporting nature he is apt to chase just about anything that he considers to be "fair game".  An owner must set strict guidelines in regard to what is allowed and what is off limits.   Due to the potential health issues, you must also be very aware of all early warning signs, as early detection offers the best chance of recovery.

If you are thinking about getting a puppy, you may wish to read some important information about purchasing a puppy. Just click here.

If you already own a Cavalier or other toy dog, you may wish to click here for more detailed are information.
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