🐾 Small · United Kingdom
A friendly, affectionate companion dog that craves close family ties and suits calmer households well, but needs careful heart-health monitoring.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is friendly, cuddly, and rarely aggressive toward people or other animals. He seeks constant closeness with his owner and generally gets along well with children. Wariness of strangers or pronounced territorial behavior is atypical for the breed.
Exercise needs are moderate; daily walks and play sessions in the garden are usually enough. As a descendant of spaniels, he still shows interest in scent games and light retrieving.
The silky, medium-length coat tends to mat around the ears, legs, and tail and should be brushed several times a week. The floppy ears predispose the breed to ear infections, so regular checks are needed.
As an affectionate, easily led dog, the Cavalier is generally suitable for beginners. However, because of the breed's well-known heart problems, close, lifelong veterinary monitoring is important.
The breed is strongly affected by mitral valve disease (MVD), which often appears by middle age and requires regular cardiac checkups. Syringomyelia related to the skull shape also occurs, as does patellar luxation.
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This information is for general guidance and does not replace veterinary or breeder advice. Temperament and health vary individually within every breed.
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