English Toy Spaniel puppies

About the English Toy Spaniel

The English Toy Spaniel, called the King Charles Spaniel in Britain, was bred as a companion for court households and has never had another job. This is a small, square dog with a domed head, a very short upturned muzzle, long feathered ears and a profuse silky coat in four colour varieties. Their manner is quiet and dignified indoors and playful outside, and they attach themselves to one or two people rather than to the world at large.

Exercise needs are modest, gentle daily walks on a lead suit them and they live happily in a flat. The coat needs brushing right down to the skin at least twice a week, with combing through the ear feathering. As a flat faced breed they overheat quickly, should never be exercised or left outside in warm or humid weather, and are more sensitive to anaesthesia. They rate well with children, with supervision, since they are small enough to be injured easily.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a English Toy 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 toy breed puppy at eight weeks is small enough to be genuinely fragile. They can be hurt by a jump off a sofa and by being stepped on, and toy breeds are prone to low blood sugar, so they need frequent small meals rather than two big ones. 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.

• Brachycephalic airway problems from the very short muzzle, assessed by a veterinary airway examination
• Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
• Mitral valve disease and other cardiac problems, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Inherited eye conditions including cataract and corneal damage, screened by an ophthalmologist eye exam
• Ear infections in the long feathered ears, caught by regular ear checks

Your English Toy Spaniel puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Toy for a English Toy Spaniel.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 3.6 to 6.4 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 6.4 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

• Puppy pads: are they a good idea, and how to pick ones that do not leak
• Best chew toys for teething puppies, by size, and the chews to skip
• Harness or collar for a puppy? What the neck pressure studies show
• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other toy breeds

More on the English Toy Spaniel

Previous: English Springer Spaniel · Next: Entlebucher Mountain Dog

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 English Toy Spaniel breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-toy-spaniel/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Eric Sonstroem from California, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.