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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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While it’s roots may be traced to Spain (hence the name “spaniel”) today’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gets its name from its heritage as a beloved pet and sporting dog in England where it was developed as a breed from the 1500’s on. There are many examples of the little toy spaniels being owned by royalty, including Mary Queen of Scots, and the Duke of Marlborough who kept many of the sporting little russet and white spaniels at Blenheim Castle.
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King Charles II allowed his little spaniels to follow him wherever he went, and actually spent so much time with his toy spaniels that he was considered to be negligent in attending to matters of state earning for himself the moniker “the Cavalier King” by his parliament. Following her coronation in 1834, Queen Victoria noted in her diary that she went home, changed clothes, and gave her little tri-color spaniel, Dash, a bath! The Queen’s interest in her dogs prompted a pottery factory in Staffordshire, England to produce pairs of porcelain Cavaliers for the mantle, known as “Staffordshire Dogs”.
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| While the breed has gone through some changes throughout the centuries, what hasn’t changed is that these little spaniels are still as beautiful, intelligent, and affectionate as ever! It’s easy to understand how a king could be distracted from his duties by the company of a number of these little dogs. The Cavalier craves attention and affection. He can tolerate being left alone for a few hours, but will become depressed if he spends too much time in solitude. More than any other breed, the Cavalier needs your company and your lap!
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While the breed is one of the most popular toy breeds, and delights in being a lap dog, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel retains its keen sense of smell and hunting instincts. They enjoy putting their noses to the ground and tracking any susceptible quarry. Our Blenheim, Mickey loves to survey our yard from the porch, and will take off like a shot from a cannon if he sees a squirrel on the ground! Chasing butterflies, balls, and sticks are a very acceptable alternative for most Cavaliers, and they will play along with gusto.
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Cavaliers will bark to announce the arrival of visitors, but are not aggressive. They will happily take to anyone who is friendly and makes a fuss over them. They are a desirable breed for families with children, provided the children are supervised and are taught to handle the puppy gently and with respect. They are accepting of cats and other pets, and will adapt to almost any family situation provided they get attention, love and gentle discipline. They are intelligent, eager to please, and bask in the attention that their beautiful faces and sparkling personalities attract to them.
Sensitive and friendly, a Cavalier makes a great therapy dog. They are people magnets, and love all the attention they can get. Their tail-wagging good looks make them a favorite of young and old alike, and their enthusiastic, but calm demeanor makes them warm and inviting to strangers.
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The more brachycephalic (short-nosed) the Cavalier, the more prone he is to snoring, snorting, and “reverse sneezing.” To the unitiated, the reverse sneezing that some Cavaliers exhibit occasionally when they are excited seems like a seizure, and can be very disconcerting to new owners. The dog may have episodes where snorts and honks as he inhales in an uncontrolled way (similar to a hiccup, but longer). This is harmless, and does not require medical attention. You can help your dog conquer these bouts by holding his muzzle shut if you like. If not, it will pass on its own.
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While the Cavalier is generally a sturdy and healthy breed, it is prone to certain inheritable diseases and conditions, as are all pure breeds. Cavaliers are no worse or better than other pure breeds in this respect.
The most serious of these inheritable diseases affecting Cavaliers is mitral valve disease, or MVD. This is a condition in which the mitral valve in the heart begins to leak, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction. This can usually be detected by stethoscope by a veterinarian as a slight murmur. The murmur may continue for many years symptom free. If the condition progresses, the heart has to work harder to pump blood, resulting in cardiomegaly and congestive heart failure over time. Current literature indicates 50% of Cavaliers will have at least some degree of heart murmur by the age of 6, and that 90% of Cavaliers will have at least some degree of mitral valve dysfunction by the age of 10.
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| Since the life-span of Cavaliers is considered to be 10-12 years, it is the goal of breeders to produce dogs that will be symptom free throughout the dog’s life expectancy. A diagnosis of MVD is not a death sentence for a Cavalier. When a dog does exhibit symptoms, he may have several more years of health by taking advantage of medications developed to treat the condition. Keeping your Cavalier slim and active are the best deterrants to this condition, along with good nutrition. It is likely that even a Cavalier with excellent health will ultimately die from heart disease, and may be affected during his last year or two. As with all breeds it is important that the breeding stock be free of hip, knee and eye abnormalities.
The Cavalier coat is silky, wavy, and is to be left in its natural state, including the hair on the feet and feathering on the legs. Therefore, the Cavalier is an inexpensive dog to own in terms of professional grooming required. Shedding can be minimized by daily brushing with a slicker brush. The coat may become thicker and more coarse after spay or neuter. The ears should be kept clean and dry, and should be dried thoroughly with a towel after bathing or swimming. Anal glands may need to be expressed occasionally to prevent impaction, discomfort, and “scooting”.
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