Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are happy, social, little dogs. They are more trainable than most toy breeds; adaptable to new situations and people, and good with children and handicapped people.

What is a Cavalier: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small, charming breed that dates back to the early 1600's. Although primarily bred as a house pet for the royal families of Europe, the Cavalier has strong sporting roots. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a true toy spaniel, which should weigh between 13 and 18 pounds and should be 12 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder. The head is the Cavalier's most important characteristic. They have large, round, dark brown eyes and a short, wide nose, with soft, plump cheeks. This should give them a gentle, loving expression. The head should be flat on top, with long, fluffy ears that frame the face.

The characteristic appearance of a Cavalier is set out in a breed standard adopted by our parent club, the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club(ACKCSC). Go to the American Kennel Club website, AKC.org. and the ACKCSC web site, ACKCSC.org. for descriptions and pictures of the ideal appearance of Cavaliers.

 

Colors: Cavaliers come in four colors: RED and WHITE , officially called Blenheim (named for Blenheim palace in England where they were originally bred by the Dukes of Marlborough-the family of Winston Churchill); TRICOLOR , black and white with tan spots on eyebrows, cheeks, and under ears and tail; RUBY, a rich, solid red, with no white; and BLACK and TAN, solid black , with tan on eyebrows, cheeks, nose, under chin and on chest, down all four legs, and under ears and tail.

Care and Training of the Cavalier: Cavaliers have long silky hair on their ears, tails, bellies and legs. They do not need professional grooming, but should be brushed several times a week. Cavaliers being shown must never be clipped, but pet owners frequently choose to have the "furnishings" (excess fur) clipped off for comfort and ease of cleaning. Because of their sporting heritage, they will chase anything that moves, with total disregard for their well-being. This is a breed that MUST have a fenced yard or a wide awake adult holding the leash. The breed is gentle and easy to train in all other respects, and is an excellent and trustworthy companion for children, although very young children should be supervised. Cavaliers are good with other breeds of dogs and other household pets. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is adaptable in its need for exercise and will be happy either snoozing by the fire with its owner or taking a three mile walks cross country in any weather.

Cavaliers are fun to show in Breed, and are excellent obedience and agility competitors, if taught with positive training methods. Cavaliers make wonderful therapy dogs and delight those who wait in nursing homes and healthcare centers for their visits to share warm cuddles and doggy kisses.

Finding a dog to show: If you are looking for a prospect to show in conformation or performance, you will be concerned about how well your dog matches the standard or how athletically gifted it is, in addition to its health and personality. Breeder/Exhibitors generally breed only when they are interested in a show dog for themselves. They will plan the litter very carefully and keep the best for themselves. If you want to buy a good show prospect, you must first get to know successful breeders. You can do this by going to AKC shows in your area, buying a catalogue and talking to exhibitors after Cavalier judging is completed for the day. You can find schedules of local dog shows on Infodog.com. Once you have selected a breeder that interests you, you should ask to be put on a waiting list for a promising puppy and expect many conditions on the purchase of your first puppy. All of the information on finding a pet applies here as well. Our Club is a good place for you to find mentors as you work through this process. Feel free to contact one of the people listed below and come to our member meeting for more information.

 

Finding a pet: If you are looking for a pet, your primary criteria should be health and personality. You should buy from a breeder who is serious about the health testing of both parents: heart by a cardiologist, eyes by an ophthalmologist, hips by x-ray, and patellas by a reliable vet. All these should be written certifications provided to the buyer of a puppy. These certifications will not guarantee your puppy will be healthy, but it will help. Frequently breeders will have some type of health guarantee, such as total health for 48 hours and for hereditary problems during the first year. There are many thoughts on what vaccinations and health precautions should be taken for puppies, so you want someone who can articulate a good reason for what they do.

As to temperament, you should ask the breeder to explain his or her plan for socializing the puppies. They should be handled by many people, exposed to many surfaces, smells, sounds and physical exercise opportunities. Again, personal theories vary, but look for good reasons.

You will need to personally interview the breeder and expect the breeder to interview you. You should be prepared to tell how the puppy will be housed and cared for. Some breeders will be concerned about small children, some will want you to neuter your pet, most will require a fenced area. No one who is reputable will sell you a puppy without knowing a lot about you. So, if someone is ready to send you a puppy sight unseen, with minimal questions, you should be suspicious about the likely quality of the puppy. When you are considering a litter, you should be able to see the mother and get to know her temperament; you should be able to see pictures of the father and see health certifications for both parents. Visiting the breeder will let you see how the puppies are or will be housed and see if this litter seems like a good fit for your family. At the same time the breeder will be wondering whether your family is a good place for this puppy. You could bring pictures of your home and other pets you own, and a list of questions about the transition from litter to new home. The more prepared you are, the more comfortable a reputable breeder will be that you can provide a good home for a puppy.

 

 

The people listed below are available to answer questions about Cavaliers, showing, reputable breeders and other questions you may have:

Steve Wallis:	(919) 782-2558	wallissm@bellsouth.net	Raleigh, NC
Gwenn Wells:	(336) 855-8391	lowesbunny@aol.com	Greensboro, NC
Dana Pritchett:	(919) 493-3198	dlpritchett@earthlink.net	Durham, NC
Dave Wagner:	(336) 315-0263	knghtmist@aol.com	Greensboro, NC
Amy Leigh Martin:	(919) 787-2994	amartin1087@nc.rr.com	Raleigh, NC
Lynn Lake:		llake1@nc.rr.com	Raleigh, NC
Anne Thader:	(843) 341-3993	redthea@aol.com	Hilton Head Island, SC
Dee Wallis:	(919) 782-2558	deewallis@aol.com	Raleigh, NC
Bill Nelson:	Evenings:  (919) 556-2554		Wake Forest, NC
Janet Dalton:	(910) 692-9341	wildflower@pinehurst.net	Pinehurst, NC