Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Other names: Cavalier King Charles

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cheerful, exuberant and full of life, the Cavalier King Charles is a high-spirited character, always moving and looking for a ball or some kind of plaything from their owner. They make a great pet, loved by the young and the old for their cheerfulness and eagerness to do well.

Key facts about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Life expectancy :

5

19

10

14

Temperament :

Affectionate Calm Intelligent

Size :

Origins and history

This dog’s origins can be traced to the King Charles breed who was once much more appreciated than the Cavalier. Today, we are witnessing a reversal of this trend because the Cavalier has fewer health problems, for example with their breathing. The Cavalier comes from crossing the King Charles, the Pekingese and the Pug. They take their name from Charles II who, according to his critics, preferred to play with his dogs rather than deal with state affairs. The breed standard was only fixed in 1928 and it was not until 1945 that the breed was recognised by the Kennel Club. As for the FCI, they definitively recognised the Cavalier King Charles in 1955.

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 9 - Companion and Toy Dogs

Section

Section 7 : English Toy Spaniels

Physical characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Adult size

    Female : Between 10 and 13 in

    Male : Between 10 and 13 in

    Weight

    Female : Between 11 and 18 lb

    Male : Between 11 and 18 lb

    Coat colour

    Black
    White
    Red

    Type of coat

    Long
    Wavy

    Eye colour

    Brown

    Description

    The Cavalier King Charles is a lively and graceful dog, they are well proportioned, sporty and cheerful. Their head is almost flat between the ears and has a deep stop and they have a pointy muzzle. Their eyes are large but not prominent. Their ears are long, set high and covered in fringe. Their body is short and well proportioned. Their tail is long and fringed. Their limbs are straight and in line with each other.

    Good to know

    The Cavalier King Charles appears to be the happiest dog in the world and is the ideal breed for those that need joy (children and the elderly). However, sometimes when they lie down to relax it can look as though they are sad. Legend has it that this is because they are thinking of their ancestors who were beheaded at the same time as King Charles I of England, a great fan of this breed and their namesake.

    Temperament

    • 100%

      Affectionate

      This toy spaniel is happy, friendly and affectionate towards those in their social group.

    • 66%

      Playful

      They love to play and are always looking for attention from their owners. Although they know how to sit quietly and relax when they need to, the Cavalier King Charles is always full of beans and ready to have fun.

    • 100%

      Calm

      The Cavalier King Charles’ greatest quality is to be able to calm down immediately if they know their owner has something else to do. Even if they struggle to relax they still know how to keep to themselves.

      On the other hand, although they know how to be calm and relaxed at home, they are aware of every slight movement and gesture of their owners. The Cavalier King Charles is always keeping an eye out for an opportunity to jump up on the sofa to be loved and petted.

    • 100%

      Intelligent

      The Cavalier King Charles is a very intelligent pet. They have an incredible ability to adapt, whether that be where they live or their energy. 
      They are therefore suitable for either an active and sporty owner or for someone older; just like they can change from a state of euphoria to one of immediate calm.

    • 66%

      Hunter

      Their ancestors had a prominent hunting instinct for birds. The Cavalier King Charles has inherited this trait, however, for several centuries their breeding has been focused on developing them to be a suitable pet.

    • 66%

      Fearful / wary of strangers

      Neither fearful nor aggressive, this toy spaniel generally greets guests with great kindness. On the other hand, they can be quite distant if they don’t trust the person, in this case they will simply ignore them.

    • 33%

      Independent

      Although they know how to keep their distance when they need to, the Cavalier eagerly awaits the slightest movement from their owner. They find it hard to be ignored or excluded from their group, this is a dog that will always be by your side.

      Behaviour of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

      • 33%

        Tolerates solitude

        Although they know how to hide it, this dog really does suffer with loneliness. Even as a pet, they will struggle to be alone in the house for a whole day.

      • 100%

        Easy to train / obedience

        The Cavalier King Charles is not hard to train, it is however sometimes hard to keep their attention. 

        This little dog will try to wriggle out of being trained at every given opportunity. They know how to use their charm and take advantage of a weak trainer.
        On the other hand, if training is started early and a motivating reward, like food, is used they tend to cooperate easily.

      • 33%

        Barking

        When alone, they rarely bark. It is one of their best characteristics, especially for a life in an apartment. 

        Nevertheless, if they live with other dogs they can be a bit louder as they copy those around them.

      • 33%

        Tendency to run away

        This dog doesn’t run away, they value their comfort and would be too scared to lose it and end up alone.

      • 66%