Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of the smaller Spaniel breeds, considered a toy breed. It has a medium length, silky coat, often with a ‘crimp’ or wave in, and long ears. There are four colours of Cavalier: Ruby (red all over), Black and Tan, Blenheim (ruby and white), and Tricolour (black and white with tan markings on cheeks, inside ears, on eyebrows, inside legs, and on underside of tail).

Appearance
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the largest toy breeds, and traditionally a lap dog. Cavaliers are still quite small for Spaniels, and fully-grown adults are only about the size of adolescent Cocker or Springer Spaniels. An average height is 30 and 33 cm (12–13 inches) and an average weight is 10kg (10-18 lb). Unlike many other breeds of Spaniel, the Cavalier has a long, or full-length tail, which is normally erect when walking. The breed has a feathered coat, which can be quite long, that requires regular grooming to keep it in tip-top condition. Your dog will also benefit from having a bath using a mild shampoo, approximately once a month.
Cavaliers have a distinct snout and large, round eyes, that give the breed a puppy look even into their extreme age. The ears are long and drooping, with lots of feathering. To make sure that your dog’s fur is looking the best always, try to make sure that you get out any tangled sticks or leaves from your dog’s fur.

Temperament
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are highly affectionate, and renowned lap dogs. Most dogs of this breed are playful, curious and anxious to please. These dogs are good with small children, other dogs, and, if given time, cats. A well-socialized Cavalier will have no problem plucking up the courage to approach much larger dogs. (Although this can sometimes lead to a shocked, and maybe even hurt little dog, as Cavaliers expect all other dogs to be as loving, playful and friendly as them.)
Cavaliers can adapt to all sorts of living situations. Whether you live in an apartment in the middle of town, or in a cottage out in the open countryside, your dog will feel equally at home. Their ability to bond and develop strong relationships with dogs much larger than them, they are capable of living with different breeds, as long as your other dog is fully trained. Cavaliers are great with all ages, from small child to ageing senior, making them a great family pet.

Looking after your Cavalier puppy
When you have chosen a puppy who looks alert, curious, plump and playful, with a wet nose and bright eyes, from a confident breeder who can tell you all the details about your puppy, her ancestors, and any other information you may seek, the next priority is having all the correct equipment waiting for your puppy when he/she comes home. You should ‘puppy-proof’ your garden, which means covering up any holes in the fences, removing any harmful items or substances and checking none of your plants are poisonous. As your puppy will only be about 8 weeks old, she will be small enough to wriggle through any fence that isn’t secure, and she will be curious about everything.
She will need a sturdy bed, made of plastic, or even out of a cardboard box. When she is very small, I have found that a cat bed, with an easily accessible front ‘door’, works just as well as any proper dog bed. She will need a blanket too, or a fluffy cushion. A plastic bed is good, as it cannot be easily damaged by small puppy teeth. If your puppy goes to the toilet on her bedding, at any time, it will have to be removed and washed, or it can lead to your dog becoming ill. Other popular dog beds are bean-bags, indoor kennels or a crate.

Bowls
You will need to provide a water dish that cannot be easily knocked over, or be picked up in your puppy’s mouth and carried around the house. A metal or plastic water bowl is preferable. Water must be available to your dog at all times, as they may become easily dehydrated. When your dog is younger, you may want to take a bottle of cold water on long walks in summer, as you can pour some into your hands if necessary.
You will also need to provide your dog with a food bowl. If you are just feeding your puppy dry kibbles, you may be able to use a small plate to spread the dry food out on. But if you are using tinned or wet food for your dog, you should use a stainless steel bowl that can be easily washed, as this is more hygienic.

Collars and Leads
When your puppy first gets a collar, use a soft puppy one, or maybe a cat one, as they are more comfortable, and puppies find it easier to get used to a softer collar. When you feel your dog is used to the collar, move her on to a proper dog collar, which is adjustable, and she may move on without complaint. However, if your dog scratches at her collar, or seems irritated at it, she may need some training before she is used to it. Metal chain-collars are not suitable for a Cavalier. They damage the coat, irritate the skin, and are very heavy to hold aloft. Your collar will need a place where you can attach the lead, whether this is a small metal ring on it, or just enough space to clip it onto the collar itself.
There are many leads available, but at first you should use a webbed nylon one, with an expandable collar. You may move on to stretchy elastic ones, but only when your dog has finished her crucial lead training.

Grooming
The adult Cavalier has a sleek, shining, beautiful coat, but only if you keep up routine grooming. You will need a soft, bristled brush and a wire comb for brushing. Brush your dog’s fur at least once a week, without ignoring all the knots and tangles. At first your dog may attack and bite the brush, but she only requires training and constant support. Try to persuade your puppy to sit/stand still as you brush through the coat, and, as they get used to it, they may actually start to like it, and automatically sit at the sign of a brush.
When bathing your Cavalier, she should stand in the bath, or in the sink, and her bath water should be at body temperature. After wetting the fur all over, start to apply shampoo. You can use specially manufactured canine shampoo, that will not sting or itch if got in the eyes, or baby shampoo works just as well. Never use your own shampoo on your dog, as this can hurt if got in eyes, and can sometimes irritate skin. Work the shampoo into a rich lather on her fur, making sure you have washed her all over, then rinse thoroughly. Dogs can get dandruff, which is extremely itchy, and may seem like she has got fleas.
When you get your dog out of the bath/sink, do not scold her if she shakes her fur, sending water flying everywhere: this is natural, and not a wrong-doing. Sit her on a towel in a warm room, and dry her until damp with a soft towel. To finish off the drying process, dry her with a hand-held hair dryer, at the lowest heat setting. Never leave your dog damp after bathing, as she may catch a cold.


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