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Toy group · England

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Also called Cavalier, CKCS.

Small dog, moderate energy, quick to learn.

  • Affectionate
  • Gentle
  • Graceful
  • Patient
  • Adaptable
AI-generated illustration of an adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
AI-generated illustration
Size
Small
Weight
5 to 8 kg12 to 18 lb
Lives
12 to 15 years
Energy
Moderate
Trains
High
Barks
Low

Training

Training a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Toy breeds. Train them like a dog, not an ornament. Small dogs skip the manners work because they can be picked up.

  1. Gentle Methods

    Start here

    Sensitive to correction, keep training positive.

  2. Eager to Please

    One of the most trainable toy breeds, use this to your advantage.

  3. Recall Challenges

    Spaniel instincts may override recall, train in safe areas.

The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.

Add your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, on video with Atlas and Shango.

Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.

At home

Living with one

Bred for company. Small in body, and often bigger in personality than the owner expected.

Gets on with

  • ChildrenHigh
  • Other dogsHigh
  • StrangersHigh
  • CatsHigh

Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.

Exercise
30-45 minutes daily. Walks and play, adapts to owner's lifestyle.
Grooming
Moderate maintenance. Regular brushing, ear cleaning important.
Drool
Low
Coat
Medium length, Silky, WavyBlenheim, Tricolour, Ruby, Black and Tan
In a flat
Can work, with enough exercise outside it.

Health

Things to ask a breeder or vet about

  • Mitral Valve Disease

    Severe

    Heart condition affecting most Cavaliers by age 10

  • Syringomyelia

    Severe

    Skull malformation causing pain

  • Hip Dysplasia

    Moderate

    Joint abnormality

Where they come from

History

Named for King Charles II who was devoted to the breed. Nearly went extinct before being revived in the 1920s.

  • Charlotte York's Elizabeth Taylor · Beloved Cavalier in the series

Similar breeds

All breeds

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