Toy group · England
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Also called Cavalier, CKCS.
What makes them remarkable
A 1920s revival helped recreate the older royal spaniel type seen in historic paintings.
- Affectionate
- Gentle
- Graceful
- Patient
- Adaptable

- 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.
Gentle Methods
Start here
Sensitive to correction, keep training positive.
Eager to Please
One of the most trainable toy breeds, use this to your advantage.
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, one step at a time.
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
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