Cavalier Puppies Blog

The Cavalier is a healthy little dog in general, but like with all breeds, genetics can play a role in illnesses that the breed as a whole suffers from. Some health issues that you will need to take not of include : heart murmurs, slipped stifle (A condition which occurs when the knee-like joint above the hock in the hind leg of a dog slips and may require surgery), patella luxation, ear infections, eye conditions, allergies, syringomyelia, and mitral valve disease.

Take care of your little Cavalier, and take him or her to the vet on a regular basis!! Prevention is stronger than cure!

The Cavalier is a highly affectionate little dog. Due to this fact, some have called the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel “the ultimate lap dog” or the “love sponge” of dogs. Ideal representatives of this elegant little dog are playful, patient and eager to please. It is thus not surprising that Cavaliers are great with children and other dogs. A well-socialized Cavalier will not be afraid to be around larger dogs. Some Cavaliers however, may presume that all other dogs to be just as friendly, and may attempt to greet and play with aggressive dogs. As you can imgaine, this can get really dangerous!

Cavaliers will adapt quickly to almost any environment, family, and location. Their ability to bond with larger and smaller dogs make them ideal in houses with more than one breed of dog. Cavaliers are great with children as well as seniors;making them a very versatile dog breed! Since they lovee to be around all ages, they also make ideal therapy dogs for elderly people or sickly children. The breed is most comfortable in areas where the temperature is moderate. The extremely social nature of the Cavalier means that they require almost constant companionship from humans or other dogs. This breed may develop seperation anxiety and are thus not suited to being left on their own. This breed is the friendliest of the toy group. An overall magical little dog!

The following colors are permitted according to the breed standard:

- Solid Red or Rust (a.k.a : Ruby). A Ruby that is truly 100% liver-colored is highly prized. But many lovely Rubys have small patches of white somewhere in their coats.

- Black and Tan. The whole body is black, with specific areas of tan.

-Tri-ccolored: ( Black and White with tan spots).The ears and area surrounding the eyes will be black, separated by a splash of white. Tricolors have tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks and beneath the tail. This color combination is the most unusual and often carries the highest price tag.

-Blenheim: (Chestnut brown areas on white). It is a tribute to Blenheim Palace where the Duke of Marlborough raised this popular breed.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a unique history, and luckily -unlike with many breeds- its history is not shrouded in mystery. Its origin can be traced back through its name, which is also quite unique. Cavalier means: a Royalist supporter of King Charles I, during the period of the English Civil War (1642?1651). In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the King Charles Spaniel was an immensely popular little dog. Notice here, that it was not cavalier here yet. It was the favourite dog of King Charles II of England. These little dogs enjoyed the splendour of popularity only until the small, flat-faced Asian breeds like the Pug and the Shitzu were introduced into the royal families. Sadly, the original King Charles Spaniels – from whom the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels gained their wonderful gene-pool- lost their poularity somewhat. However with time, the King Chalres Spaniels crossed with the small Asian breeds to create an interesting, and flatter faced dog. Some 400 years ago, before they were crossed with the Asian breeds, the King Charles Spaniels were longer limbed and had pointier noses.

With centuries passing, the Euro-Asian mixture gained popularity and the King Charles Spaniel was looked upon fondly as a companion toy dog. Then in the early 20th century the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was born. How? well in the 1920’s an American decided to give anyone the sum of 25 pounds if the King Charles Spaniel could be reverted back to its original form (before the pugs and Shitzu’s took over the gene-pool of the spaniel). This was a lot of money back then. Breeders re-bred the specific spaniel that resembled the favorite pet of King Charles II from the existing King Chalres Spaniel. With a longer snout, a flatter head and a spot on the top of the skull, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was born…..and so the name Cavalier was added…meaning: a supporter of King Chalres..and in this case…a supporter of the original breed of the King Charles Spaniel. Rather amazing isn’t it?

The King Charles Spaniel with the flatter nose inherited from the Pug gene-pool:

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel….minus the pug-nose…