New dog? you say. Yessiree Bob! Wednesday is our breed of the week post, and today our new dog is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. We’ll walk through their characteristics, as well as the pros and cons of having one as a pet. If you’re in the market for a new dog, the Cavalier might be the dog for you.
Here’s what the AKC page has to say about the Cavalier King Charles:
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an elegant, energetic toy breed that is compatible for city or country life. Successful in conformation shows, obedience and agility, they also make wonderful therapy dogs due to their sweet, gentle natures. The breed also became a TV star when featured on “Sex and the City” as Charlotte York’s dog. Their silky coats come in four colors – Blenheim (chestnut and white), Tricolor (black, white, and tan), Ruby (solid red) and Black and Tan.[/quote]
Already the Cavalier King Charles sounds like the perfect dog. Elegant, energetic, perfect for city or country. But let’s dig a little deeper and see what this dog is really about.
Dog Breed Info, one of my more favorite sites, says this:
[quote align=”center” color=”#999999″]The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an eager, affectionate and happy dog, always seeming to be wagging its tail. Outgoing and sportive, these fearless lively little dogs are eager and willing to please. They are intelligent enough to understand what you want and therefore are usually easy to train and respond well to gentle obedience training. They are said to be naturally well behaved and get along well with other dogs and non-canine pets. Cavaliers love people, enjoy companionship, and need rules to follow and limits to what they are allowed to do.[/quote]
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a smallish dog, only about fifteen pounds. They’re classified as a toy breed.
Pros:
- Good apartment dogs, only needing moderate exercise
- Decent life span, 9-14 years
- Average shedding – I love this feature
- Happy and affectionate, they’re easy to train
- Great companion dog, lap dog
If that doesn’t sound like the perfect new dog, I don’t know what does. Lap dog that’s affectionate and listens well to gentle instruction – a great dog for a single person or older couple, especially, right?
Cons:
- Health issues – a long list, including heart issues and hip dysplasia – I know that good breeding makes a difference
- Even though this breed is an average shedder, they do require a fair amount of grooming, from the hair between its toes, to the ears, to all the long fur that could be tangled and matted
- Not suited to being left alone all day – this little dog needs a person or a family who’ll be there for it daily
I hope that this has been helpful if you’re looking for a new dog for yourself and your family, and if you’re considering the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. A lovely, small dog, it’s just right for many people, but not right for others.
And what kind of treats would it like? Well, not too many treats, being a toy dog, but a single stick of Beef Liver Taffy seemed to be more than enough for this wee dog. And because you don’t want to give it too much to consume, a bone makes a great treat. Priscilla really liked the Knee Cap from Jones. I’m guessing she’d like a lot of the JNC line of treats.
I’ll see y’all tomorrow, when our letter for the A to Z Challenge will be O. Drop in and find out what we’ll be talking about, or subscribe if you don’t want to miss a thing!
Until I write again …
Flea