Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Overview

Named for King Charles II, whose devotion to the breed's toy spaniel ancestors was so total that he reportedly signed a decree allowing them in any public building including Parliament, the Cavalier was developed in the 20th century to recreate the longer-muzzled spaniel seen in Restoration-era portraiture, after the breed had been crossed with flatter-faced Pugs and King Charles Spaniels over the centuries. The modern Cavalier is affectionate to a fault, but a small and genetically narrow founding population has left the breed with a serious, well-documented predisposition to a specific heart condition that owners should screen for proactively rather than after symptoms appear.

Temperament

• Gentle and eager to please
• Affectionate with everyone, minimal guarding instinct
• Adaptable to nearly any household
• Can develop separation anxiety if left alone often

Full Breed Facts

• Mitral valve disease — affects a majority of Cavaliers by age 10 and is the breed's defining health concern
• Syringomyelia (a neurological condition related to skull structure)
• Patellar luxation
• Ear infections due to floppy ear structure

Care Tips

• Schedule annual cardiac auscultation starting at age 1, given near-universal breed risk for mitral valve disease
• Clean ears weekly to prevent chronic infection
• Avoid free-feeding — Cavaliers gain weight readily on their moderate exercise needs

Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Right for You?

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel tends to suit owners who can genuinely meet its exercise needs and grooming demands. Before committing to this breed, it's worth spending time with an adult individual (not just a puppy or kitten, whose adult temperament isn't yet fully expressed) to confirm the fit feels right for your household and daily routine.