Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: photo, breed characteristics

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy dog ​​originally from England. This gentle and cheerful pet is called the best companion. It suits everyone - from families with children to single elderly people. The popularity of the breed has not subsided for several centuries due to its flexibility, optimism, sensitivity and beautiful appearance.

Appearance and standard

The description of the breed speaks of the Cavalier as a proportional, strong dog with a large head relative to the body. Males and females are different: the former are stronger and more muscular.

The size is small - height at the withers ranges from 30.5 to 33 cm. The breed standard does not strictly limit weight - the main thing is that the adult dog has a proportional build without signs of exhaustion or obesity. Average weight – 6 – 8 kg.

Frame

The body format is square, sinewy, and the bones are well developed. The back is straight with a convex loin and sloping croup, the shoulder blades are pressed to the back. The chest is deep, the stomach is slightly tucked.

The tail is decorated with wool, with dewlaps. Previously it was cropped, but now it is not cropped. The animal holds it low.

Head

The skull is flat between the ears, with a convex forehead. The muzzle tapers to the lobe, the nose is black. Lips with black mucous. Scissor bite.

The ears stand high, hang down to the sides of the head, and are covered with thick, long hair. The eyes are set low and wide, large, dark in color, bordered by black eyelids.

Limbs

Paws are straight, moderately long. Placed vertically under the body. The front ones are pressed to the chest, the rear ones are slightly pulled behind the hip line.

Paw pads in a ball. Hair grows between and around the toes, forming “slippers.”

Coat

The coat is long, thick, slightly curled. There are featherings on the ears, back of the hips and tail. The characteristics of the breed exclude dogs without dewlaps.

Color

The cavalier's colors deserve special attention. They developed historically. There are 4 types of suit:

Black and tan or King Charles color. The main color is black with bright tan spots above the eyes, inside the ears, on the cheeks, chest, paws and under the tail.

Ruby colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Bright red or red with a mahogany tint. Stains are not allowed.

Tricolor. It is also called black and white and tan or Prince Charles coloring. The background color is white with symmetrical black spots and tan. There are dark glasses around the eyes and black ears.

White-chestnut or Blenheim. The background color is white with symmetrical chestnut spots. Special requirements for the head: the ears and skull must be chestnut, the muzzle must be white, and there must be a white diamond-shaped mark in the middle of the forehead.

There is a legend associated with the Blenheim color. In 1704, the Duke of Marlborough fought in Bavaria near Blenheim. His wife, worried about her husband, calmed herself down by stroking the dog on the head. Soon after the owner returned, the bitch gave birth, and on the top of the head all the puppies had a red spot, like a fingerprint. It was called the “Blenheim spot” and has since been considered an outstanding breed characteristic.

You can find out what a dog of a certain color looks like by looking at the photo.

Character traits

Dogs are tireless optimists. They have an inexhaustible supply of mischief and energy. Dogs are very active and playful up to 2 years old. Adult animals are calmer, but do not lose their enthusiasm until old age.

Attention is vital for gentlemen. Sometimes more than food. They need to constantly communicate with people. If you don’t devote time to your pets, they become picky, capricious, become withdrawn, nervous and fearful. It is advisable to have someone from the family at home at all times.

When a small spaniel lacks attention, he attracts it in his own way. For example, he hides slippers or a remote control. And then, together with the owner, he “searches” for the thing. It's so much fun!

The breed is not vicious and adapts to the lifestyle of its owner. All people are her friends. The pet happily greets family members and strangers. Maybe they'll play with her. And if you’re lucky, they’ll also treat you.

Sometimes pets are stubborn, some of them are possessive. They do not like to share toys and can “take” household items for themselves - plastic dishes, buckets, basins. It is not possible to return items. It's easier to buy new ones.

The dogs bark moderately. They make a voice when guests visit, during games, or if they attract people's attention.

The Cavalier is prone to biting. Usually this is a mistake in upbringing, but the breed has such characteristics. Therefore, grabbing hands and feet with teeth and light biting during play are suppressed.

Rules of maintenance and care

When keeping dogs of this breed, usually no problems arise, but they should not be kept on the street, but in a house or apartment. They do not require much physical activity; short daily walks are enough for them. Cavaliers are not picky when it comes to food, but you need to carefully monitor the condition of their ears, as they are poorly ventilated, which is why otitis media often develops.

It is recommended to spend a few minutes daily grooming their coat using a bristle brush and a metal comb. You don’t need to bathe your dog often, but after each walk you need to pay attention to your pet’s ears and paws, as this is where a lot of dirt accumulates.

Application

The main purpose of a gentleman for several centuries has been to be a companion. He will not make a watchman or security guard - the pet loves people too much.

Moreover, this is not a dog of one owner. He is equally gentle and courteous with all family members, their relatives, friends and passers-by. Some owners scold their “traitors,” but that’s their character.

The dog can be used for short hunting or its imitation. He willingly picks up a bird, chases wild rodents, and “fishes.”

Typical diseases of this breed

The most common disease in cavaliers is heart disease, mitral regurgitation. It can occur at any age and is characterized by a heart murmur.

Other breed diseases:

• allergy;
• diabetes;
• arthritis;
• hernia;
• dislocation of the kneecap;
• retinal dysplasia.

Upbringing

Gentlemen have average intelligence. They are smart enough to master the OKD (general training course). But you'll have to work. Pets only respond to treats and rewards. If you scold them often, they become isolated and refuse to obey.

Otherwise, training the Cavalier King Charles is easy. Dogs have no desire to dominate. They don't need to prove their authority - they listen to anyone who is bigger than them. Therefore, even children can raise a pet.

If desired, pets are taught sports cultures: agility, freestyle, pitch-and-go. But it will take a lot of patience and time.

Learning ability

The cavalier should be taught a standard set of commands. Thanks to his inquisitive mind, he can be trained quickly, especially if the owner uses positive reinforcement.

Spaniels are most receptive to training between the ages of one month and six months. During this period, special attention should be paid to raising the puppy. Establish a set of rules in the house and demand their implementation. Before training, the baby must learn a nickname, then get used to the leash and collar.

The commands are introduced sequentially - training begins in a calm environment with the commands “Sit!” and “Lie down!”, then “To me”, “Near” and others are added. When the skill is consolidated, complications are introduced - endurance and distractions.

The spaniel is sensitive to the intonations in the owner's voice - all commands must be given in an even and clear voice, without shouting. Be sure to joyfully praise after a successful exercise and encourage it with a treat. The worst punishment for this dog is the owner's harsh tone; spanking, even weak, is unacceptable.

Socialization

Cavaliers get along with everyone. They are sociable and do not like to conflict: suddenly they want to “talk” to the cat with whom they had a fight 5 minutes ago. Therefore, pets avoid quarrels.

Dogs are not aggressive towards other animals. They enjoy playing with cats, rabbits and parrots. Although sometimes they can remember hunting instincts and chase the little animal. But this is rare. All that a Cavalier Charles Spaniel harms another animal is excessive intrusiveness.

Pets love children. They are ready to endlessly run around the yard with the little ones. Moreover, they involve both “their own” and the neighbors’ little ones in the games. However, you should not leave your pet alone with the baby: the latter can injure the fragile dog.

Dogs are socialized from the first weeks of life. They are introduced to as many people, children, and animals as possible. They take you around the city and teach you how to behave correctly in public places.

With a lack of socialization and attention, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog will become stubborn, capricious, and cowardly. She will refuse to walk, be afraid of other people, noisy places, animals

Health

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a long-living breed. The average life expectancy is 12–16 years, unless one of the hereditary diseases manifests itself:

• pathologies of the heart and blood vessels;
• Legg-Perthes disease;
• spinal hernia;
• epilepsy;
• hydrocephalus;
• eye problems;
• Flyketching is uncontrolled, continuous clicking of teeth.

King Charles are prone to ear and eye infections. Make sure that dogs do not jump off surfaces - dislocations and fractures are common.

Cardiovascular diseases are the scourge of the breed. From the age of 2, the dog is checked for these pathologies every six months.

How long doggies live largely depends on their care. They are shown to the veterinarian every 6 to 12 months: if the disease is detected at an early stage, it can be easily cured.

Vaccinations

This dog breed is susceptible to infectious diseases. Therefore, the puppy is vaccinated from 2 months on:

• leptospirosis;
• parainfluenza;
• enteritis;
• plague;
• hepatitis A;
• adenovirus.

At 6–7 months, the King Charles is vaccinated against rabies.

Features of keeping a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This breed is intended for indoor keeping. She gets along well even in a small apartment. You just need to immediately provide the puppy with suitable conditions. In addition to comfortable soft bedding, bowls for water and food, and toys, such a dog will need a carrier and a home enclosure.

The carrier is needed for visits to the veterinarian, and it is recommended to close the pet in the enclosure when he is left at home alone. Then he will not have the opportunity to chew things or wires. But the enclosure should not be used for punishment or when the pet becomes too annoying.

Another feature of keeping representatives of this breed is that puppies have weak joints. You need to pay attention to the flooring. If it is slippery and your pet's paws move apart, he may develop an abnormal gait and his limbs may become twisted.

These dogs can be toilet trained at home using a diaper, but they must go outside. They do not require much physical activity, but walks should be active. An adult pet needs to be walked 2-3 times a day for about 30-40 minutes. It is recommended to take more walks in parks and squares, where the dog can run on soft ground and grass. When walking monotonously on asphalt, dogs quickly become overtired.

Caring for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is easy. They require the usual hygiene procedures for all dogs.

• Particular attention should be paid to your pet's ears. They are hanging, poorly ventilated, and inflammation often develops in them. Therefore, the ears need to be inspected and cleaned several times a week.
• You need to check your eyes every day. Remove dirt that accumulates in the corners with a cotton pad. You can soak it in chamomile infusion or veterinary lotion. If the eyes run and the fur underneath turns brown, it needs to be treated with a special product.
• It is recommended to brush your teeth with a special toothpaste 2 times a week.
• Cavaliers' claws are sharp and hard. They don't grind well on their own. Therefore, you need to trim them a couple of times a month.
• Be sure to wash your paws after every walk. To make it easier to keep clean, you can trim the fur between the toes. In winter, the pads require care - they are lubricated with cream or oil. The reagents that are sprinkled on roads often corrode the skin, causing cracks and wounds.
• Treat fur regularly for ticks and fleas. It is better to use medications recommended by a veterinarian; these dogs are prone to allergies.

Grooming

The main advantage of the breed is its beautiful silky coat. It is not customary to cut it, although some owners give their pets a hygienic haircut. The peculiarity of the coat of these spaniels is that it does not smell, does not cause allergies and almost does not tangle. Therefore, grooming is simple and can be done independently.

You don’t need to comb the coat often – once every 3-5 days is enough. Only during molting should this be done daily. Although little by little, the hair of these dogs is constantly falling out. For this procedure, it is recommended to use combs with rare and frequent teeth and brushes. It is useful to go over your pet's fur with a silicone mitt. Special sprays will make combing easier and improve the condition of the coat.

It is recommended to bathe your pet once a month. Along with a special shampoo, you need to use a conditioner to make it easier to comb the coat. Show animals are bathed every week. They use balms, oils and other products that smooth the coat and give it shine. After bathing, it is better to dry your dog with a hairdryer. Then she won’t catch a cold, and the wool won’t rot and deteriorate.

Nutrition

These dogs can be fed both natural food and dry food. When choosing the second option, you need to take into account that representatives of the breed are prone to allergies. Therefore, the food should not contain chicken, soy, wheat and other allergens. You need to carefully study the composition; it should not contain artificial additives, dyes, or flavors. For these spaniels, super-premium or holistic food is more suitable.

Most veterinarians recommend feeding these pets a natural diet. You just need to make the right diet and not overfeed the dog. Cavaliers are prone to obesity; with a large amount of carbohydrates in their food, they quickly gain weight. Adult dogs are fed 1-2 times a day.

The menu for dogs of this breed should include:

• lean meats - beef, rabbit, turkey - at least 40%;
• several times a week offal and sea fish;
• cereals – buckwheat, rice, oatmeal;
• dairy products;
• vegetables - zucchini, pumpkin, cucumbers, tomatoes are especially useful;
• seasonal fruits;
• 1-2 times a week – egg yolk.

On the recommendation of a veterinarian, vitamin and mineral complexes should be added to food for healthy joints and improved coat condition. Greens, bone meal, fish oil, vegetable oil, flax seeds are useful. Sweets, sausages, smoked meats, spicy and fatty foods, and legumes are prohibited for your pet. You should not give potatoes, bones, mushrooms, pork, baked goods, or river fish.

Health

The average life expectancy of representatives of this breed is 9-12 years. But with proper care and nutrition, they can live up to 15 and even 18 years. Although the health of the cavaliers is poor, which is associated with inbreeding during breeding. The joints and spine are especially affected. With age, patellar instability, arthritis, and dysplasia may develop. Dogs are also susceptible to joint dislocations and other injuries, and are prone to gaining excess weight.

The most common disease, which affects half of the adult representatives of the breed, is valve prolapse or myxomatous degeneration. It develops especially often after 10 years of age - it is the main cause of death in pets. There are several other congenital and acquired diseases that are characteristic of this breed:

• dry eye syndrome, cataracts;
• ear inflammation and hearing loss;
• allergy;
• syringomyelia;
• inflammation of the paraanal glands;
• diabetes;
• epilepsy;
• false pregnancy in bitches.

How much do puppies cost?

The price for affectionate companions is steep. The cost of pet-class puppies is from 35,000 rubles, breeding – from 60,000 rubles. It is impossible to say how much a show class costs: they are sold for 80, 100 and more thousand rubles.

You can buy a puppy from breeding parents in the following nurseries:

• https://royal-suite.ru – Moscow;
• https://www.evidence-love.com – St. Petersburg.

Pets are popular in Europe and America. In Russia, the breed is only gaining momentum. It has its pros and cons. But dogs are predicted to have a great future in the CIS countries because of their flexibility, cheerfulness, beauty and easy care.