Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Like every breed, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not the right fit for every home. Based on the breed’s typical traits:

• Start positive, reward-based training from a young age, before bad habits form.
• Be consistent.
• Socialise your puppy with other dogs, different people and new experiences.
• Teach them gradually that being left alone is OK, and never leave them for more than four hours.

• Children

  Often good with children, with supervision.

• Other dogs

  Usually sociable with other dogs.

• Cats and small pets

  Often lives with cats when introduced carefully.

• Flats and smaller homes

  Often adapts to flats and smaller homes.

• Garden

  A garden is helpful.

• Being left alone

  Usually copes only with short periods alone.

Not yet reviewed by a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice: speak to your vet about your own dog’s health.

• Mitral valve disease (MVD)

  A degeneration of the heart's mitral valve, often first noticed as a heart murmur. It is common in older dogs of all breeds but starts earlier in Cavaliers. Many affected dogs still live to a good age. Breeding dogs should be graded under the Kennel Club heart scheme for Cavaliers.

• Chiari malformation and syringomyelia (CM/SM)

  A painful condition in which fluid-filled cavities develop within the spinal cord near the brain. Some dogs are seen scratching the air near the neck. Some show mild or no signs, while in others it progresses and causes pain and neurological problems. Diagnosis is by MRI scan, and there is a BVA/KC screening scheme.

• Curly coat/dry eye (CC/DE)

  A condition affecting the skin, coat, nails and eyes that can cause a severe form of dry eye. A DNA test is available, and the Royal Kennel Club recommends it as a minimum before breeding.

• Episodic falling (EF)

  A condition that seems unique to Cavaliers, in which the muscles stiffen and the body becomes rigid, often during exercise, excitement or stress. A DNA test is available.

• Eye conditions

  The main inherited eye conditions are cataracts and multifocal retinal dysplasia, both now much less common thanks to testing. Eye testing under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme is recommended.

• Patellar luxation

  The kneecaps can slip temporarily out of place.

• Dental disease

  Bad teeth are common in all breeds, but potentially more so in Cavaliers because of their shorter muzzle.

Responsible breeders and rescues are happy to talk about health, and any pressure to decide quickly is a reason to walk away. Before taking a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel home, it is reasonable to ask about:

• Health testing of the parents. Ask which health tests the parents have had for conditions known in the breed, and to see the results.
• Veterinary and vaccination records. Puppies should have had a first vaccination and a vet check, with records you can take home.
• Microchip information. In England, Scotland and Wales puppies must be microchipped and registered by eight weeks old. Ask who the chip is registered to and how the transfer works.
• Registration paperwork. Registration papers, where they apply, record pedigree. They do not by themselves prove health or how a puppy was raised.

There are two costs: bringing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel home, and looking after one well. Puppy prices depend on the breeder, health testing and demand; the adverts below show what sellers are asking today.

Ongoing costs are the ones new owners most often underestimate: food, insurance (which usually rises with age), routine vet care, vaccinations and parasite treatment, dental care, grooming, training, bedding and equipment, and boarding or a sitter for holidays. Budget for the whole of the dog’s life, typically from 12 years, not just the first year.

If you have decided the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel suits your life, take the same care choosing where your dog comes from. Meet the puppy in person, see it with its mother, and look at how the litter is raised.

• Check who you are dealing with: every Mypetzilla advert shows the seller type and what we have checked.
• Ask about health testing, vaccinations and the microchip before you commit.
• Take your time. Do not be rushed by deposits or "last one left" stories.
• Meet in person before paying anything, and keep conversations on Mypetzilla.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do come up for adoption, through rescue organisations, breed rescues and private rehoming, often because an owner’s circumstances have changed rather than any fault of the dog. An adult dog arrives as a known quantity: its size, coat and character are already on show.

Rescues will usually talk you through the dog’s history, any medical care, and the home it needs, including children, other animals and time alone. Be honest about your circumstances: a good rescue would rather place a dog once, well.