Cavaliers are wonderful companions and pets, and we highly recommend them, especially to families with kids and older folk who spend a lot of time around the home.  They can make good pets for singles also, if attention is paid to their needs!

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small but robust dog, weighting about 8 kilos, and around 30 centimetres high at the shoulders. 

They were bred to be, and excel as, companions, which means they do need company and cannot be left in the backyard all day.   Most will fit in with your lifestyle best if allowed in the house to certain rooms at certain times and can be part of the action.   We recommend that families get a reasonable size crate which can stay in the kitchen/family room, where the dog can sit and watch family life without getting in the way, and where they can get some ‘down time’ from little kids boisterous play.  Their safe haven crate can be their sleeping quarters, and with a blanket over the top, your pup will sleep a good 8 hours from a young age without soiling its bed.

They will be happy with a half hour walk every second day, but will be even happier with one or two walks a day, or accompanying you on daily trips to school, shopping or a café.   They will not thrive if expected to be an outside dog, and can become destructive, miserable and noisy, unless they have another dog to play with or several walks a day. 

Like many purebreeds Cavaliers do suffer from some inherited health problems.  You should ask about the breeders’ vet check at the pups first vaccination, and ask about heart conditions (and history of parents), eye complaints (ingrown eyelids and other things), and slipping kneecaps (patellas) in particular.  These are some of the problems dedicated breeders are trying to eradicate from bloodlines, but each has a complex genetic makeup.  The maintenance of the Cavalier purebreed to provide security of temperament, size and type of dog we feel is especially important for families and young children, so although hybrid vigour in a cross breed provides some benefits, it fails to ensure that the young pup will grow up to fit the owner’s expectations.

Cavaliers are easy to care for, requiring one main feed per day as an adult morning or night, with maybe a snack for the alternate meal.  Watch your Cavalier’s weight, as there is nothing more unsightly nor risky for their health, than a porky Cavalier.  A twenty minute brush each week and a bath over each second or third week will keep your Cavalier house friendly.  They love the attention of bathing and grooming, so do it more often if you want to stop those pesky stray hairs clogging the vacuum cleaner. 

Let your Cavalier know the rules from day 1, or else they will become the boss very quickly.  No sitting on chairs, sleeping on beds, scratching on doors, and pulling on leads is a minimum in our house from 8 weeks.  Cavaliers can do well at obedience – the work put in for 3 months from the day you get your pup home will result in many years of good fun.  Cavaliers have no road sense, so make sure you have secure fences at all times.