Breeds / Small
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies
Gay, friendly and non-aggressive, a sporting, affectionate and fearless toy spaniel.
The facts
- Size class Small
- Country of origin Great Britain
- Adult weight 5.9 to 8.2 kg
- Adult weight in pounds 13 to 18 lb
- Adult height 30 to 33 cm
- Energy level Moderate
- Grooming Moderate
- Coat type Medium wavy and silky
- Shedding Low
- Typical lifespan 12 to 15 years
- Good with children Reliably good
- Good with other dogs Reliably good
About the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a British toy spaniel rebuilt in the 1920s from paintings of the small spaniels kept at the Stuart court, which is where the Charles in the name comes from. This is a compact dog of 5.9 to 8.2 kg standing 30 to 33 cm, with a silky wavy coat, long feathered ears and large round eyes. The temperament is the reason the breed exists: soft, affectionate, easily pleased, and comfortable with children, other dogs and visitors alike.
Exercise is moderate, a walk or two a day plus games, though the sporting ancestry means the nose still works and off lead freedom outside a fence is a gamble. Grooming is a brush a few times a week with weekly ear checks. They suit families, flat dwellers and anyone at home a lot, and they cope badly with long days alone. Ask to see heart and syringomyelia screening for both parents before you buy, and once your puppy is home, keep an easy going dog from getting fat.
What to expect at eight weeks
At eight weeks a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.
Health worth knowing about
Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.
- Mitral valve disease (MVD), graded by annual heart auscultation and echocardiography under a breed heart scheme
- Syringomyelia, graded by an MRI scan of the skull and neck
- Episodic falling (EF), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Curly coat and dry eye syndrome (CC/DE), detectable by DNA test on both parents
Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy's first six months
- Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
- Worming and parasite schedule.
- Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
- Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.9 to 8.2 kg adult range.
- Puppy names and the first week checklist.
Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 8.2 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.
Buying guides for this
Other small breeds
More on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- Health notes from Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.
Photo: Mapovfille, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.