There’s a lot that Brits love, including afternoon tea and fish ‘n chips. They are also absolutely crazy about dogs – and have been since the Norman conquest in 1066.
Not surprisingly, there are more dog breeds here than Regen.
We are now introducing you to one of the breeds in our breed portrait: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Wanted Poster
Size Male: 30 to 33 cm, female: 30 to 33 cmWeightMale: 5 to 8 kg, female: 5 to 8 kgColorsRuby Red, Blenheim, Black/Tan, Tri-ToneLife expectancy9 to 14 yearsOriginGreat Britain/Englandcharacter/temperamentaffectionate, affable, gentle, patient, adaptable, fearless, playful, elegantFCI groupGroup 9: Companion and Companion Dogs, Section 7: English Companion Dogs Without a working test.
Look
Small, strong, elegant: That is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The long body is supported by short and slender legs and from one round head with large floppy ears completed.
The long and slightly curved tail wears this elegant mini Brit down.
Coat, coat texture & coat colors
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a medium length, soft and velvety furthe curly or wavy can be.
This is a bit longer on the ears and legs and gives the little Briton a «sleek» look.
When Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are three primary colors allowedwhich can usually occur in two colors but also in three colors:
Ruby red, black (with tan, also called tan) and white. A coloring typical of this breed is Blenheim (Red White).
Already knew?
Blenheim is the name of the castle where Winston Churchill was born and grew up.
eye colors
The almond-shaped, round and slightly protruding eyes of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel brown.
Height Weight
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small dog breed. One Shoulder height is not required by the breed standardbut should be around 30 centimeters.
This race achieves a Height from 30 to 33 centimeters and a Weight from 5 to 8 kilograms.
There are no significant differences between males and females, although the latter are always slightly smaller and lighter.
By the way: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is #5 on our list of Incredibly Cute Spaniel Breeds & Species.
History & Origin of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
We already revealed it at the beginning: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes from Great Britain, more precisely from England.
How could it be otherwise with such a royal name?
In fact, this dog is also after King Charles I and his son Charles II named.
Both monarchs were never without the little spaniel – and Charles I probably wasn’t even when his head started to roll.
This dog, which is of course related to the King Charles Spaniel, has the nickname Cavalier elegant and classy appearance is.
In the meantime, the Cavalier has left its relative, the King Charles Spaniel, far behind in terms of popularity.
The FCI recognized the little furry nose officially in 1955 as a race.
Nature and character of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Affectionate, affable, gentle, patient and adaptable – no wonder that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with these characteristics of the perfect companion dog is.
With his playful and fearless creatures the elegant and intelligent dog will have you wrapped around its cute paws in no time.
He demands pats cuddly Cavaliers formally and should be part of the daily ritual.
At home he behaves outspoken calm and not inclined to bark and would be completely unsuitable as a guard dog due to its trusting nature.
He is outspoken towards strangers friendly and open minded.
attitude & upbringing
What influence do temperament, character and nature as well as size have on the attitude and upbringing of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? Find out now!
attitude
One thing is for sure, due to its small size, the Cavalier needs King Charles Spaniels not much space.
Still, he prefers one ground floor apartment a flat. Stairs can be exhausting for short legs. Of course, this also applies to a house.
In addition, the fur nose feels both with just one favorite person and as part of a family community.
do you have small children Then please explain to them promptly that they should be careful with the dog. Because he’s not a stuffed animal.
Even if many people think so based on his cute appearance: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not just a lap dog or a couch potato.
Of course, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs his daily exercise. And here he is pleased about at least 1.5 hours per dayand best of all with a lot of variety and sport.
Because this fur nose has infinite energy and no problems with you hour-long walks to accompany, where he can meet conspecifics and play with them.
This dog breed is rather unsuitable for jogging or high-performance sports, as it tires quickly over long distances at running speed.
Good to know:
Leaving alone and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel = a good idea? Not really – because he is very people-oriented.
So that you can still be on the road alone once in a while, we recommend one «Alone Training»which should already take place from puppy age.
Upbringing
The Cavalier is quite popular with dog beginners. And not without reason. He is extremely teachable and smart. He enjoys learning new things in a playful way and being in the company of his people.
Good behavior should always be praised, and undesirable behavior can be consistently but gently prohibited.
Are you always consistent in your upbringing and do you manage to convey your messages and commands clearly and with tact?
Then raising the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should be a piece of cake for you.
As a beginner, are you still unsure whether you are doing everything right? Then we recommend this to you Visit to a puppy or dog school.
Because socialization is also extremely important for ideal behavior towards conspecifics and other animals.
But you won’t have a hard time with this breed. The Cavalier is very easygoing by nature and has a reputation for being friendly to everyone.
Health & Care
Health and care are among the important things to consider before getting a dog. Let’s take a look at what the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel looks like here.
Grooming & General Grooming
Grooming the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel requires a medium effort. Because the medium-length coat likes to be brushed and combed regularly so that the dog retains its elegant appearance.
Also can Tangles leading to skin inflammation lead, and unfortunately parasites also feel very comfortable in this furry environment.
Which brings us to general care. Especially the Floppy ears and bulging eyes should be checked and cleaned regularly.
This also applies to the paws/claws and teeth. Everything checked? So now let’s take a closer look at health.
Health
Unfortunately, the Cavalier has King Charles Spaniels some breed-typical and serious diseases known.
These cause problems, especially in the eyes and heart. These include the following hereditary conditions:
Our tip:
Please look for one reputable breederto avoid these hereditary diseases as much as possible. You can find this at VDH. Cost puppies from such a breeder around €1,200.
To ensure that your furry friend is always well, you can visit the vet once a year for an examination and a booster vaccination.
You should also not forget regular deworming and comprehensive parasite prophylaxis.
Life expectancy
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a life expectancy of 9 to 14 years.
Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel right for me?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel really suits everyone.
Provided they are aware of the responsibility they have for the little dog (including all costs, both emotional and financial).
Will you bring enough time and exercise into the life of this little furry friend as well as a lot of love and affection?
Then nothing stands in the way of your life together 😊
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel video
Fun facts about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Of course, our breed portraits do not end until the end some interesting side facts to the respective breed. And here are the fun facts about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
King Charles II is said to have passed a decree allowing dogs into all British establishments. This urban legend is wrong – and has been exposed as a fake by the British Parliament (fun-killers!).
The 1st Duke of Marlborough, John Churchill, owned a red and white Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the 18th century – at his Blenheim Palace estate. Hence the name Blenheim for this coat colour.
In the 17th century, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were used as a «natural» flea deterrent. Because they magically attracted these parasites – and thus also the causative agent of bubonic plague.
We’ll refrain from commenting on «animal cruelty» for once – the fact is fewer nobles have fallen victim to the deadly disease.
The cheerful dogs make perfect therapy dogs.
Can you think of any other stories about this breed? Maybe even from your own experience? Then we would be happy if you share them with us in the comments 😊