Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavis make great family pets, they’re tolerant and playful.  But their good nature shouldn’t be taken advantage of, and children should always be supervised in the presence of any dog.

The downside of adding a Cavi to your home is that they’re prone to a couple of serious health conditions, which you can find out more about below.

Cavis are a very affectionate breed but aren’t overly clingy.

They fit in well with families who enjoy the outdoors and also make great companions for retirees.
Because they like to be with their people, they’re not really suited to homes where they’re left alone while their owners are at work.

They certainly are! Their ancestors were working spaniels and they haven’t lost their love of seeking, finding and retrieving their toys.

Cavis need play in their daily routine. This should delight children who can have great, supervised fun with their dog.

They’re a fun, happy little breed!

As long as their needs are met Cavis are not a very vocal breed. 

But if they’re left home alone too long or don’t get the attention they need, they could start nuisance barking.

Speaking of noise, this breed’s prone to snoring! If you think this might keep you awake at night, it’s probably best not to let them sleep in the bedroom.

Cavis can have separation issues if they aren’t carefully introduced to being left home alone. 

Their love of people can also lead to them jumping up to greet everyone. Most people won’t appreciate this, especially if a four-legged friend has mucky paws! Cavis may need extra training with this.

Cavis have that Spaniel drive to get to everything they want to sniff as quickly as possible, meaning they can pull on the lead. Thankfully, they’re so small they’re unlikely to dislocate your arm!

As you can see, even the sweetest natured breeds need kind, fair and effective training to be model canine citizens.

Companionship, playtime, exercise and love.

Cavis are easy to please if they’re not left for long hours home alone and they feel part of the family.
They don’t need to live in a mansion but would benefit from a garden.

When it comes to other furry family members, this breed is good with other dogs but can be intimidated by large bouncy dogs. If Cavis are introduced to small furry pets and cats from an early age, they can happily be part of a multi-pet household.

As Cavis are a kind-hearted breed, they need kind-hearted owners.  They’ll struggle to cope with domineering people.

Cavis need two good walks a day, including off-lead exercise in the local park or a more rural environment. 
 
As long as their heart is healthy, they’ll often walk with you for as long as you want them to!

They’re a bright little breed, so don’t forget to exercise their brains too. Games that involve sniffing, seeking, and finding will get both the body and the mind working. They just love to use their noses.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, in a calm and polite way (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

Cavis have a history as working dogs and are motivated by both food and toys. This means they’re eager to learn!

They might not have the style and fair of breeds like Border Collies or Belgian Malinois, but as a pet dog, a Cavi’s training needs are easy to meet. 

Training for being left home alone, not jumping up and not pulling on the lead are priorities for Cavi owners. 

Teaching them to retrieve would also help satisfy the spaniel traits they were bred for (to retrieve hunted birds).

Cavis can be emotionally sensitive, so kind, fair and effective training methods are essential. 

Cavis have a beautiful, silky coat! You’ll need a slicker brush, comb and a pair of scissors to keep it in tip-top condition.

Cavis can get matting behind their ears and on the feathering (the longer hair) on their legs.

The hair between their pads needs to be kept short to lower the risk of grass seeds attaching there and penetrating the skin. In the winter months when there’s risk of snow, this can clump together with the hair between their toes and around their feet looking the snowballs – we call this snowshoes. This can become very painful.

Sadly, this is where taking a Cavi into your life can go wrong. This gorgeous breed is prone to two serious health conditions:

Mitral valve disease - a life-limiting heart condition.

Syringomyelia - relating to the brain being too big for their small, rounded skulls. This condition is also life-limiting.

If you’re looking for a Cavi puppy from a breeder, it’s vital to make sure they’re a top-quality breeder.

They can also suffer from certain eye conditions and a condition where the kneecap dislocates called luxating patella.

As Cavis love their food (and it’s hard to say no to their super cute faces!), they’re prone to obesity. This should be avoided at all costs.

Regular health checks are essential for this breed so they can be treated quickly for any conditions.