Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies
Thinking about
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies as a companion?
Height: 29-33cm (12-13 inches) Group Lifespan: 13-15 years Who is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?A loving, sweet-natured dog, Cavaliers or 'Cavs' as they are sometimes called, are gentle yet fearless and sporting in nature. They come in four colours: Blenheim (red and white), tri-colour (black and white with tan markings), black and tan, and ruby (a reddish colour all over). Breed historyThe Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was developed from the spaniel breeds that were used as bird hunting dogs several centuries ago. The smallest varieties of these spaniels were also kept simply as companions. The ancestor of the Cav is often depicted in paintings of European royal families. They
were popular in the court of Queen Mary in the mid-1500s and
especially in the court of King Charles I of England in the
1600s. The dog became known as the King Charles Spaniel and
Charles I’s son, Charles II, became particularly devoted to
them – even insisting that they be allowed to enter the
Houses of Parliament whenever they wanted to. The little dogs became the favourite lapdog of the royal family for many years but gradually began to be displaced in popularity by round-headed, large-eyed Asian breeds such as the Pug and the Japanese Chin. King Charles Spaniel breeders responded by breeding dogs that had a more domed head and large round eyes, displacing the original dog’s longer nose and flatter skull. Eventually, the original King Charles Spaniel seemed to have all but disappeared until an American fancier offered a reward in the 1920s for dogs that most resembled the ‘old-fashioned’ breed. This revived the popularity of the older-style dog, with its longer legs, longer nose and flatter skull. The name ‘Cavalier’ was added to distinguish it from the smaller, round-headed dog and to honour King Charles II, who was associated with the romantic Cavaliers. There are now two distinct breeds recognised: the smaller King Charles Spaniel (also called the English Toy Spaniel in America), with its domed skull, and the now more popular Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. One of the toy dog breeds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are one of the most popular puppy breeds in the United Kingdom and Australia. Personality
Good with children?Yes - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies love children and are devoted to their families. They are highly affectionate and make the perfect lapdog.Exercise needsCavaliers love a daily walk and will happily run about single-mindedly chasing interesting smells – this can often lead them straight across a busy road so always keep your Cav on the lead when walking him. HealthCavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies come from a relatively small gene pool and can suffer from a range of inherited health problems. However, a well-cared for dog from a reputable breeder who screens their breeding dogs for common problems can easily reach its teens. Possible health problemsMitral valve disease (a common inherited disease that causes heart murmurs, usually before the age of 6 years, and that can be fatal) Syringomyelia (SM) (a condition affecting the brain and spine, causing symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain and partial paralysis) Episodic falling (a condition in which the dog may fall or freeze, caused by an increase in muscle tone in which the muscles are unable to relax) Eye defects and infections Luxating patella (the kneecap dislocates or moves out of its normal position) Ear infections Deafness Good breeders should x-ray or test their dogs for
as many of these
conditions as possible before
breeding, or should avoid breeding from dogs that display the
conditions. GroomingCavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies have a long, silky, wavy coat that needs regular brushing. They will usually shed their coat twice a year. The breed has long, floppy ears which do not allow the air to flow around the ear's opening. The ears can become infected but regular cleaning with an ear cleanser should keep them in good condition (ask your vet or pet shop for a good product to use). When grooming, remember to check the paws, ears and coat for grass seeds. Also check for any minor injuries and check the teeth to see if they need cleaning. More information for new puppy owners:Want to know more about buying, raising and caring for a puppy? Check out these PuppyPrimer.com pages: Ideal ownerThe ideal Cav owner will recognise that their dog is the perfect lapdog who needs to spend almost all its time with its owner and family. A secure yard will give it a safe space to play. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are ideally suited to almost all family situations, including young children and the elderly.
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