Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Get to know the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier has big round eyes, giving them an almost-human expression. They’re also known for fuzzy feet. In fact, the breed standard requires the long fur that grows on top of their feet to be natural and floppy. The Cavalier community lovingly refers to this as “Grinch” feet.

The breed comes in 4 different colors, and each has a special name:

• Prince Charles: Tri-color (black, tan, and white)
• Ruby: Chestnut or mahogany
• Blenheim: Chestnut and white
• King Charles: Black and tan

Personality

The Cav is a perfect combination of posh and hardy. One of the larger toy breeds, they’re adaptable and easy to train. This breed is affectionate and easy-going in most situations, as long as they’re with their people. With such adorable features, they’re a magnet for attention, but may act timid if they feel overwhelmed.

Similar breeds to the Cavalier King Charlies

• English Toy Spaniel
• Cocker Spaniel
• Japanese Chin
• Pug
• English Springer Spaniel

History of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is woven into the fabric of British royal history. Toy spaniels were common among the ruling houses as companions (and, oddly, heat sources). In fact, King Charles II, known as the “Cavalier King,” was said to be so distracted by his toy spaniels that he ignored his royal duties.

After he died in 1685, the breeding of toy spaniels continued. Some houses crossed them with other breeds, like Pugs or Papillons, to achieve a flatter face or more obvious ear feathering. And by the 19th-century, spaniels began to resemble the modern-day English Toy Spaniel, which has a flatter-face and smaller size than the modern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

In 1926, a wealthy American named Roswell Eldridge offered a cash prize at Crufts for a breeder showing a Restoration-style toy spaniel, with a longer muzzle, flatter head, and higher set ears, reminiscent of the dogs the “Cavalier King” Charles II preferred. Breeders set about refining their puppies to better match this ancestral style, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was born.

The Cavalier breed club was formed in 1928 and the breed had a moderate rise in popularity in the United Kingdom. During World War II, however, the breeding population became dangerously low, with only 60 registered Cavaliers between 1940 and 1945. After the war ended, the Kennel Club (UK) officially recognized the breed and it regained popularity as a companion dog.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel first made its way across the pond in the mid-1950s with W. Lyon Brown, who went on to co-found the Cavalier King Charles Club U.S.A. The AKC officially recognized the breed in 1995, and the Cavalier has since enjoyed quite a boost in popularity, consistently ranking in the top 20 most popular breeds in the United States.

Behavior and Training

The Cavalier was bred for companionship but still retains a spaniel’s sturdiness and desire to chase things like squirrels and birds. And they aren’t scared to chase after moving vehicles or bicycles either, so it’s important to keep them in a secure yard or on a leash for safety.

They require a good amount of attention — if left alone too long, Cavaliers can become quite anxious. They love and need company, making them ideal for empty-nesters or elderly owners who have time to dedicate.

Does the Cavalier King Charles get along with others?

• Cavaliers can be very social but may need time to warm up to new people and experiences. Proper proactive exposure to new sights, sounds, people, dogs, and other animals as a young puppy is essential for their socialization skills.
• As one of the larger toy breeds, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do well in homes with children. Make sure they’ve been properly introduced and socialized with children as a young puppy to set them up for success. Young children and dogs should always be supervised, and it’s helpful for a dog to have their own “safe space” where they can go when they need some quiet time.
• Cavaliers can enjoy the companionship of other animals in the home, as long as they have been properly socialized and introduced. Due to their tendency for separation anxiety, many Cavalier owners have more than one so they can keep each other company.

Exercise and mental enrichment needs

Though they’re a toy breed, Cavaliers do need a good amount of physical exercise each day. Not only does this help keep them at a healthy weight, but also helps prevent separation anxiety. Daily walks and playtime are excellent ways to exercise a Cavalier. They especially love playing fetch with their squeaky toys.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels enjoy having puzzles to solve and love exploring the world through smell during their walks. Daily training for obedience or tricks is a great way to provide enrichment, keep their brain sharp, and build the human-canine bond.

Does the Cavalier King Charles have any behavioral issues?

Cavaliers are prone to separation anxiety. They need positive exposure to alone time from puppyhood, to prevent or minimize any separation anxiety issues as they get older. It’s much easier to prevent than to treat. Make alone time a positive and relaxing experience for your Cavalier King Charles.

These spaniels are known for taking off after squirrels, birds, cars, or whatever catches their fancy! While this prey drive makes them excellent at playing fetch or competing in Flyball, it can make for quite a dangerous situation. It’s best to keep your Cavalier on a leash or in a securely fenced yard and practice your come-when-called training.

Activities for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavaliers enjoy a variety of dog sports and activities, especially those that keep them close to their humans:

• Flyball
• Therapy Work
• Canine Freestyle
• Agility
• Rally Obedience

Cavalier King Charles grooming and care

Cavaliers have a single or double-layered wavy and silky coat that is left “au naturale” and grows to a medium length. The longest fur is found on their ears, chest, feet, and feathers on the back of the legs.

They come in 4 different colors: Tri-color (black, tan, and white), ruby, chestnut and white, and black and tan.

The Cavalier’s unique coat requires regular brushing (at least twice a week) to keep it healthy and prevent tangling. They do shed, but frequent brushing and regular baths will keep this manageable. This breed doesn’t usually need trimming or cutting of the coat, except for the bottom of the Cavalier’s paws where the fur grows between the paw pads and makes it hard to walk without slipping. Introduce your Cavalier puppy to the grooming experience in a calm and positive way to make lifelong grooming needs easy and less stressful for everyone.

The Cavalier King Charles in pop culture

Thanks to its regal, distinctive appearance and sweet nature, the Cavalier King Charles is no stranger to fame.

Famous owners of the Cavalier King Charles

• Brad Paisley & Kimberly Williams Paisley (Singer & Actress)
• Julianne Hough (Dancer)
• Sylvester Stallone (Actor)
• Frank Sinatra (Singer)
• Diane Sawyer (Journalist)
• Kristin Davis (Actress)
• Teri Hatcher (Actress)
• Princess Margaret (Royalty)
• Seth Rogan (Actor)
• Tom Selleck (Actor)

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in books and media

• Reese from Age of Adaline
• The dogs from Unleashing Mr. Darcy
• Charlotte’s dog, Elizabeth Taylor, on Sex & the City
• Dash, Queen Victoria’s companion, who is played by the same Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in both the movie, The Young Victoria, and TV show, Victoria