Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Sweet-natured royal lap-spaniel. Affectionate, easy and brilliant with families — but watch for heart disease.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was the favourite breed of King Charles II in 17th-century England — the dogs went everywhere with him, even to Parliament. The modern Cavalier was reconstructed in the 1920s from older paintings and is now one of the most popular companion breeds in the world. Sweet, affectionate and undemanding — but the breed has serious cardiac and neurological hereditary issues.
Temperament
Affectionate, gentle, eager to please, sociable. Cavaliers form deep bonds with everyone in the household and tend to follow their humans from room to room. They're famously good with children, other dogs and cats.
Exercise needs
40–60 minutes of moderate daily exercise plus indoor play. Cavaliers retain some sporting-spaniel drive and enjoy retrieving and scent walks.
Grooming
Long, silky coat with feathering on ears, legs and tail. Brush 3–4× weekly. Bathe every 6–8 weeks. Ear hair needs trimming and ears need weekly cleaning. Eye discharge collects under the eyes — wipe daily.
Common health issues
Mitral valve disease — by age 10, ~70% of Cavaliers have heart murmurs. Annual cardiology screening from age 5 strongly recommended. Syringomyelia (Chiari-like malformation). Hip dysplasia. Episodic falling syndrome. Always buy from a breeder doing MVD and SM screening.
👍 Best for
Families with children, retirees, multi-pet households, first-time owners.
👎 Not best for
Athletic owners wanting a sport partner. Households on a tight vet budget.
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