Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to be gentle, sweet, affectionate, and friendly dogs who get along well with anyone and everyone. They’re playful with both friends and strangers alike, as well as with other dogs. Most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are easy-going dogs, ready to go play outdoors or relax on the sofa. 

The favorite pastime for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is to give love, and they enjoy receiving it just as much. They’ll mold themselves to their owner’s needs, whether it’s a more low-key lifestyle or one filled with adventures. They are sensitive to human emotions and some of them can be trained as therapy dogs. A typical Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is eager to please and loves to be the center of attention. 

Because they’re bred to be companion dogs, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels only have moderate energy levels. The breed is descended from hunting dogs that loved the outdoors, so they are partial to playtime out of the house. 

However, they’re not particularly fast nor do they have loads of stamina. A couple of 20 to 30-minute walks is enough for most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, for a total of an hour of exercise each day. This regular exercise routine is important so your dog doesn’t get bored and moody. 

It’s important to keep your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel on a leash for walks, as they have a moderate prey drive due to their hunting breed heritage. They may take off after small prey animals such as rodents and birds.

Most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have moderate grooming needs, as their medium-length coat tends to be thick and full. Other dogs have fur, but the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has hair that is similar to that of humans. Maintaining this coat will usually be the most time-consuming aspect of their care. 

However, they aren’t difficult to groom. Brushing three to four times a week is usually enough, using a medium-bristle brush to smooth out their silky coat. The feathered hair around their ears and legs may get tangled on occasion, so be sure to gently tease out any tangles or else they may form into painful mats. 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed only a moderate amount of hair, and clipping the coat short does little to ease this. It’s more common for the breed to have a natural medium-length coat, with some trimming to keep it neat. 

Bathing your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be done whenever they get particularly dirty, which may be as often as once every two weeks for dogs that love to play outdoors. Remember to clean and dry the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s ears as well, as they may be breeding grounds for bacteria. 

Tooth brushing should be done a couple of times a week, or daily if possible. Nail trimming can be done once or twice a month. 

The ancestors of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were meant to be able to flush game and hunt small prey animals even without the intervention of their masters. Because of this, the breed tends to be smart and capable of problem-solving. 

They love to please their humans, so they tend to be easy to train. However, that doesn’t mean just any training method will work. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a sensitive breed and does not respond well to negative emotions, nor do they appreciate a harsh tone or punishments. 

The easiest way to get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to follow commands is with praise, treats, or play – whichever one is your dog’s favorite. This type of positive reinforcement works best when your training sessions are short, focused, and fun, so that the intelligent Cavalier King Charles Spaniel doesn’t get bored with repetitive commands. 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are generally healthy, with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels may be prone to:

• Mitral valve disease – a common heart condition in small dogs that causes an abnormal flow of blood in the heart
• Patellar luxation – a defect of the knee joint where the kneecap may slide out of place, causing pain
• Dry eye – an inflammation of the cornea and surrounding tissues from drying due to a lack of tear production
• Hip dysplasia – a condition in which the hip joint is not formed correctly, causing the ball and socket to fit together loosely and resulting in pain and lameness

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a very small breed of dog, with most of them weighing in at 13 to 18 pounds. Most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will stand between 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder. There is no size or weight difference between males and females. 

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an adaptable dog that can thrive in homes of almost any size. They do well with apartment living, but also love to be on larger properties. While they will fit into any home, they are small enough that large flights of stairs may be difficult for them to navigate.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels indoor dogs, and do not do well when left alone for most of the day. They need and crave human contact, as they are meant to be companion animals. They enjoy being part of family activities and will want to constantly be by their owners.