Cavalier History & Information.

Country of Origin: England.
Size: Shoulder height: 12 - 13 inches (30.5 - 33 cm). Weight:  8 -17 lbs.
Coat: Consists of light to firmly-waved soft hair.
Character: This dog is lovable, energetic, intelligent, obedient, and adaptable.
Temperament: This dog gets along well with children, other dogs, and any household pets. Can be trained to do hospice work such as hospitals and nursing homes.
Care: Regular grooming with a comb is not required but will make them look and feel better. They are not hard to brush and only takes a few seconds.
Training: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is generally easy to train. They can be trained to do anything their size will allow (with good coaching of course). House Breaking is easy.
Activity: The exercise needs of this breed are uncomplicated. It will adapt itself to the activity level of its family.

Puppy to Adult
The two pictures below are of King (now Boomer) that was born 2/9/06 and the adult picture was took in July of 07. His mother is Sparkling Jewel. Thanks for the updated pic Tom & Luann!

 

General

A toy breed, they have a natural coat which needs no trimming, long silky ears, and large soulful eyes. More than one person has described them as looking like a Cocker Spaniel puppy all their lives. The tail is often left natural. The standard makes tail docking optional, but two thirds of the tail must be left intact. Dew claws are removed as they are thought to be a hazard to the prominent eyes.

They come in four color combinations: Blenheim (Red and White, with a red mask and ears, and red patches on a white body); Tricolor (Black and White with Tan Points), Ruby (Solid Red), and Black and Tan (without white).

In addition to being a fine companion, one of the jobs the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was originally bred to do was to warm laps in drafty castles and on chilly carriage rides (the other job was to attract fleas & thereby spare their masters in the days of the Plague). While so many other breeds of dog no longer perform the tasks for which they were bred (pulling milk carts, herding sheep, hunting lions, for example), Cavaliers still take their responsibility quite seriously. A prescription written in Olde English for the Queen of England directs her to keep a "comforte dog" (now known as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) on her lap to treat a cold. It is almost as if the breed's motto is "so many laps, so little time." Cavaliers take cuddling so seriously that "If you want your pillow you must get there first" is often heard when Cavalier owners gather.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Cavalier has been the companion of choice to high stress people for 400 years. Every crowned head of England had one as a companion as a child, as did many in the Dutch court. More recent celebrities who own or have owned Cavaliers are Ronald and Nancy Reagan, William F. Buckley, Ms. Frank Sinatra, Candice Bergen, Robert Wagner & Natalie Wood and many others. The Cavalier has a calming effect on many people. Stress reduction/relaxation can be noticeably felt when a Cavalier curls up peacefully on a lap.

Cavaliers are excellent with children. Their tendency to interact with their owners makes them an especially close friend and confidant for a child. They enjoy playtime and activity. Children, of course, need supervision to be certain that the child does not hurt the dog i.e. no squeezing allowed.

Retirees, or "empty nesters," find the companionship, temperament, small size and easy maintenance ideal. More than one woman has mentioned that a Cavalier resting on her lap or in the crook of her arm is almost as peaceful as holding a (human) sleeping infant. More than one active senior with a Cavalier has experienced the receipt of two invitations for a Cocktail Party/Get Together-one addressed to the Senior and one to the Cavalier.

No. While the Cavalier will alert his owner to an arrival of someone new, they seem to regard all strangers as friends they haven't met yet. Although a noisy greeting may be enough to ward off a prowler, it would be difficult picturing anyone being scared off by a Cavalier. Never train them to attack as they are not an "attack" or guard dog. As most dogs the Cavalier will protect its owner the best it can in certain events.

People who travel often find it easy and pleasant to take the Cavalier along. Their strong desire to be with their owners makes them willing travelers. Their size and personality contribute to their welcome at "dogs allowed" hotels, marinas & campgrounds.

As of January 1996, the Cavaliers have full recognition by the AKC. They have full recognition by AKC, FIC, ACA, APRI, UPRI, and other registries now. FIC is as close to AKC and is usually Canadian Lines.

For the most part Cavaliers are quite healthy dogs. There are a few problems which are known to appear in the breed: heart murmurs, cataracts, and Subluxating Patellas. Mitral Valve Heart Disease. All of these defects have hopefully been bred out of our lines. We do not have any issues such as the weak knees with the dogs we have and will not breed a dog with any defects. All of the above defects are covered by our health guarantee.

The Cavalier does require regular grooming. A great deal of time and effort is not necessary if the dog is brushed and combed thoroughly at least once a week. Cavaliers do shed, particularly in spring and fall, but a little all the time. Nails should be clipped and the hair between the pads trimmed once a month. No other trimming is necessary (or allowed) in the show ring. The ideal brushes to use are the softer slicker brushes or a pin brush (not nylon or plastic) and a metal comb. Knots and tangles are kept to a minimum if the Cavalier is free of parasites and is combed regularly. Brush out all knots and tangles before bathing.

Cavaliers are naturally clean dogs. Too much bathing dries out the skin and hair coat so certainly do not bathe more than once a week. Don't use human shampoo on dogs. Rinse thoroughly. A human blow dryer (not on hot) and brushing at the same time works well for drying. Keep blower moving so any one spot does not get overheated.