70 King Charles Cavalier Facts: Behavior, Health Problems, And More

The King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, also known as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, is one of the most popular dog breeds.

These toy spaniels make excellent pets. A King Charles Cavalier Spaniel is an ideal companion dog for those who want peaceful company.

This dog breed was created relatively recently and originated in the United Kingdom. King Charles Cavalier holds the 17th position in terms of popularity in the U.S.

The dogs of this breed have beautiful silky coats, which are available in a wide variety of colors. With their adorable faces and docile temperament, it is truly no wonder why these dogs are so popular.

Continue reading to know more about King Charles Cavalier Spaniel!

King Charles Cavalier Facts

King Charles Cavalier is one of the most popular breeds of dogs, recognized by the American Kennel Club as a toy dog breed.

The toy spaniel dog breed was quite famous among the European nobles, and King Charles I and King Charles II were particularly fond of this kind of dog.

Eventually, toy spaniels from that era were bred with Asian breeds of toy dogs to give rise to King Charles Spaniel. This dog had a much flatter face and a dome-shaped skull compared to the original toy spaniels that were kept by King Charles I and II.

Much later, in the '20s, Roswell Eldridge, a wealthy American, announced a large sum of prize money to British breeders to revive the original toy spaniel breed that existed during the times of King Charles I and King Charles II.

With this motivation, the British breeders brought back the original King Charles Spaniel, and these were named as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

• The word 'Cavalier' was added to acknowledge the monarchist party that supported King Charles I during the English Civil War.
• King Charles Cavaliers are known for four distinct kinds of fur colors, black marking on white fur, rich red markings, black and tan markings, and chestnut markings on white fur.
• Interestingly, each of these fur types was associated with a particular noble family of Europe. For instance, the chestnut markings on white fur were known as Blenheim, as these dogs belonged to the First Duke of Marlborough and resided in the Blenheim Palace.
• Like many other toy breeds, even the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was originally bred as a lap dog.
• In 1995, the American Kennel Club officially recognized this breed.
• The then British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher owned a Cavalier.
• The U.S. President Ronald Reagan had a Blenheim variety of Cavalier named 'Rex.'
• These dogs have a height of 13 in (33 cm).
• While the female dogs of this breed grow till 18 months, the males can grow till they are two years old.
• When it comes to weight, the range is 13-18 lb (5.9-8.2 kg).
• The average lifespan of King Charles Cavalier Spaniel is between 12-15 years.
• These dogs are pretty easy to keep as they do not have high barking or drooling tendencies.
• The adult Cavaliers spend a substantial portion of the day sleeping, maybe for 12-18 hours.
• Needless to say, a Cavalier King Charles puppy is adorable. These dogs usually give birth to five pups in a litter.
• King Charles Cavalier Spaniels are good options for first-time dog owners.

King Charles Cavalier Behavior

The behavior of Cavalier King Charles makes it exceedingly popular as a family dog. Being a lapdog, these dogs are extremely calm and gentle. Here, we have compiled some of the facts regarding the behavior of King Charles Cavalier dogs!

• The Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of the sweetest dog breeds. They are pretty affectionate and seem to be devoted to their owners.
• The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has average intelligence compared to other dogs.
• These dogs are adaptable to most environments and can easily fit into urban or semi-urban life.
• Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a people-pleasing nature, they are very easy to train.
• These small dogs respond well to positive reinforcement and can be trained with treats.
• Due to their soft temperament, they get scared when yelled at, and instead of performing the task, they might go into hiding.
• Despite having great trainability, the Cavalier King Charles does not perform well as guard dogs. The main reason behind this is their warm personality, which makes them greet every stranger with great positive enthusiasm.
• The sweet temperament of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels makes them excellent as therapy dogs.
• Additionally, the predictable nature of this dog breed makes them excellent pets for those who need to have a calming presence.
• When it comes to house trainability, this breed requires a consistent schedule to be house trained successfully.
• Some of the dog sports where Cavalier King Charles performs quite well are obedience, agility, and rally.
• Apart from humans, these friendly dogs also get along with other dogs and even other animals like cats.
• On the contrary, they retain their ancestors' hunting and scenting instincts. Interestingly, the Cavalier King Charles tends to chase after anything that moves.
• Overall, this breed displays sporting behavior and is quite active.
• Apart from the elderly, the Cavalier King Charles also pairs well with children, mainly because of their temperament.
• The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel loves attention and does not like being left alone. So, they are prone to getting separation anxiety.
• Fortunately, despite being a small dog breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not bark a lot. They are quite docile in nature, making them one of the best dogs to pet.

Health Problems Faced By King Charles Cavaliers

Like most other dog breeds, this breed is affected by some severe diseases, and it's worth knowing about the health problems associated with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel before adopting one.

• The most common disease that affects Cavalier King Charles is Mitral Valve Disease (MVD). Unlike a healthier dog, dogs with MVD have a heart murmur that only gets worse, ultimately leading to heart failure.
• MVD is caused due to multiple genes, making it a polygenic disease.
• Responsible dog breeders regularly get their dogs screened by cardiologists so that these genes are not passed on from one generation to another.
• Another common disease affecting this breed is hip dysplasia. Unlike MVD, hip dysplasia is not life-threatening. However, some Cavalier King Charles dogs might need corrective surgery.
• The reasons behind hip dysplasia could be genetics, environment, or even diet.
• A specific condition affecting the spine and brain of these Cavaliers is known as syringomyelia. While the affected dog might have some discomfort in mild cases, the worst cases might even lead to partial paralysis.
• One of the first symptoms of syringomyelia is sensitivity in the head and neck regions. This might cause the dog to scratch one side of its body.
• Dislocation of the kneecap, also known as patellar luxation, is common to King Charles Spaniel's Cavalier. The knee joint moves to and fro in this condition, causing considerable pain.
• Patellar luxation most commonly affects young puppies between the ages of four to six months.
• In some cases, surgery is required to overcome the problem.
• A common eye problem occurring in this breed is keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which causes dry eyes.
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is a form of autoimmune reaction triggered by the tear glands of the dog. This results in reduced tear production, consequently leading to dry eyes.
• When untreated, keratoconjunctivitis sicca can ultimately cause blindness.
• Episodic Falling (EF), a neurological issue, also affects some Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs. EF is often mistaken for epilepsy.
• One of the prime features of EF is the inability of the dog to relax its muscles. The onset of symptoms for episodic falling can be seen in a pup as young as five months old.
• A form of ear disorder observed in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is primary secretory otitis media, also referred to as PSOM.
• In PSOM, the dog's middle ear gets plugged due to the formation of a mucus plug.
• PSOM is often mistaken for syringomyelia due to the presence of similar symptoms.

Caring For King Charles Cavaliers

Overall, it is not that difficult to care for this dog breed. However, some pointers should be kept in mind while caring for a dog belonging to this breed.

• The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed of dogs requires minimal space and can easily live in smaller living spaces. However, a small yard space may suit them for daily exercise.
• It is essential to have a fenced yard as the King Charles Cavaliers tend to run towards the streets, leading to accidents.
• In case of a lack of space, taking Cavaliers on a daily walk is mandatory.
• The short nose of King Charles Cavaliers may cause issues if they are left out in the heat for too long. Hence, keeping a fresh bowl of water in the yard or carrying water while walking these dogs is necessary.
• When it comes to the silky coat of this dog breed, it has to be maintained on a semi-regular basis. This means the skin of King Charles Cavaliers should be brushed every other day. Otherwise, any dirt stuck in the fur can cause the dog to become smelly.
• This breed does not need its coats to be trimmed. Nevertheless, some dog owners choose to trim their fur anyway.
• Other forms of grooming include trimming nails and brushing their teeth.
• In general, the nails of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed should be trimmed at least once or twice a month.
• The fur on their feet can get easily matted and should be trimmed once every month.
• Their teeth should be brushed twice or thrice a week. This ensures that there is no tartar buildup.
• A similar method of caring should be applied to a Cavalier puppy in terms of grooming.
• A King Charles Cavalier puppy should be monitored at all times to make sure they do not rush off somewhere dangerous for them.
• The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel diet is relatively simple, as this breed does not have special dietary requirements.
• However, since these dogs are predisposed to heart illnesses, their diet should contain components that strengthen their heart, liver, kidneys, and so on.
• Either wet food or dry food can be given to this breed. In addition, home-cooked meals are also a valid option for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
• While feeding proportions depend on the age and size of the dog since this breed tends to become overweight, it is best to monitor their food intake.
• Instead of keeping food out at all times, it is ideal to be feeding these dogs twice a day.
• Excess carbohydrates should also be avoided while feeding a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog. This is especially relevant for dogs that lead a sedentary lifestyle.
• For older dogs, calcium supplements may be beneficial to the diet.
• It is essential to monitor the behavior of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, as any slight change could indicate the onset of a disease.