King Charles cavalier spaniel

[SixerofthePixies]

Just wondering if anyone on here has one of these and would be happy to chat about it with me.

This is the breed of dog I really want, but they don't ever come up when I use the breed checking questionnaire things and I wondered what it is that I am looking for, that doesn't work for that breed. Hope that makes sense!!

I wouldn't pay too much heed to breed finder questionnaires, some can be useful as a starting point (the KC one isn't too bad) but many of them are rubbish.

The best place for finding breed information is generally the breed club.

Unfortunately the breed is absolutely riddled with health problems and it can be very difficult to find a breeder who is committed to doing all they can to improve things on this front. They're a bit of a victim of their own success and are incredibly popular with puppy farms and BYBs which makes finding a decent breeder even harder. This is one breed where you really don't want to take the risk of getting a pup from a less than ideal source, some of the health problems they can be prone to are devastating. This is a great website for information about potential health problems in CKCSs. Cavalier Matters is also good.

Thank you, I have found a well established breeder who i am happy with (if they'll have us!) they are listed as specialist breeders. I have looked into their extensive health issues. I just want to chat to someone that has one and hopefully small children and other pets too.

My PIL had two, an ex Crufts champion and his son. They were beautiful dogs, very gentle with our dc when they were small and loved a fuss. Very easily trained as they were very food motivated. FIL used to take them on two short walks a day and they were very content then to hog the rug in front of the fire.
We don't have a CKCS because MIL was forever having to clean up the hair they shed so to me it seemed a lot from two small dogs and also because they seemed to get old and doddery very quickly and it was sad to see.

I have 2 of them, what would you like to know

Ooh thank you...

I have never had a dog before so these may be silly questions.

We have other animals; cats, chickens, guinea pigs. The gp's are in hutch/runs so not a problem but the chickens are free range. Am also worried about cats claws and the dogs eyes?

For the odd day (I mean odd day not even one a month) would it be ok to be left for the day if it had access to an outside run. Thinking dog flap into run in garden so would have shelter, shade, food, water or is this just a no no for dogs. Am a sahm so this is really the odd day in the school holidays where we go on a day out that is not dog friendly.

Will they chase balls? Seeing as I will be the main carer it needs to be a dog I want but we have two dc 9 and 6 and we need a family dog. The dc are very keen that we have a dog that chases balls and I worry this may be more of a lapdog.

Also dog or bitch? We want a pet, no intention of breeding. The breeders I have spoken to has been hesitant in talking to us about having a bitch. she was very against having them spayed. I don't know why I am drawn to the girls, but I had it in my mind that we would get one.

Am sure I have other questions too but my mind blank at the mo. also both the posters above referred to having them in pairs, are these dogs that like being as a two. We have two or four of everything else but only ever considered one dog!

Thought of something else already! Walking... How much are they happy to do? is an hour a day enough?

I had one as a child. He had a lovely nature and was wonderful with us kids. He was very intelligent and we taught him lots of daft tricks. He just loved his walks but I think an hour a day is enough, or two shorter ones. I think for the odd day when you're going to out for a long time you could think about having someone stop by to take him/her out for a walk or for company. Ours died aged 10 from health problems. I now have a shih tzu (no moulting, no separation anxiety, just need short walks) but I have a supersoft spot for cavaliers.

We had one, he was absolutely wonderful with small children, other peoples and also ours. He was a year old when DS1 was born and then DS2 came along 2.5 years later.

He was great mates with a border collie who lived up the road and used to try fail to keep up. He loved chasing balls.

Unfortunately he also had heart problems and died of heart failure when he was only 6. :(

There's a pic of him on my profile (and also of our current dog, who is a springer spaniel.)

I'd have another cavalier in a heart beat but just couldn't bear to do it after my PFB, and we wanted a springer now the DC are a bit older and we can all go for long walks together. Our cavalier would have been a bit if we tried that especially towards the end.

I love cavaliers! Each one is different though so it's hard to generalise. I walk mine for 1 - 2 hours each day (2 walks). Cavaliers are a 'companion' breed though, bred to be just that, so they don't like being left. I would suggest never leaving a dog unattended in a garden as they get stolen/can escape. On the odd days you want to be out you could get a dog walker in or, by then, you may have made some doggy friends who would be happy to look after your dog. To be honest, you'll probably love your cavalier so much you won't want to leave him or her on their own.

We have one, he is amazing! I'm convinced we couldnt have got a better dog for our family - one older sporty DC who the dog will happily chase balls in the garden with, and one little one who thinks the dog is a doll who he is so patient with.

He loves walks but doesnt need huge amounts to be happy. We have no problem at all leaving him for the odd day, although he does come most places with us because he's just so little trouble.

We don't have any other pets but he gets on well with family pets and has taken to training really well. He's fitted in with our family really well without a fraction of the upheaval i was expecting.

Hope this helps

Could i have said "really well" any more times?

Lovely lovely dogs, not very healthy and don't like being left though.

I had on, I lost him earlier this year, but to be fair he was 13. Mum still has one going strong at 14.

Mine was a lovely boy, great with children but quite highly strung & neurotic. He could be very nervy & needed lots of reassurance - and he did not like to be ignored. Everything had to be on his terms. He was a real character and liked lots of attention. I still miss him dreadfully.

My mum's is less characterful - I think he is just really thick, to be honest. Good natured & sweet, a classic 'nice but dim'.

They really do vary so much in personality, but they are usually good natured and great with children. A reputable breeder is a must.

I have a cavalier. I had two before her as well. They're all individuals but generally very good with children, naturally gentle, love their food.

My last ones lived to good ages for cavaliers one was 11. She was diagnosed with a heart mumur at about 6 but I decided not to go down the whole heavy medication route. She had bowel issues too and if she rumaged in rubbish she'd get an unsettled stomache. The other was a similar age but i made the decission to end her suffering due to going deaf, near blind and incontinent over a matter of weeks. Not an easy decission but it did appear that her body had just said enough is enough.

My current cavalier has no health problems we're aware of. We have chickens and rabbits, a three year old DD, eight year old DS and ten year old DS. She's been with us since before DD was born.

She is scared of the dog scaring chickens, if the rabbits thump she gives them plenty of space.

In our last house we also had ducks and she used to follow them into the river at the bottom of the garden i'm sure she was a bit confused that she didn't float gracefully on the surface like them.

I don't think our chickens are the brightest and if she is sniffing at something whilst they're pecking around she gets pecked. I don't think its particularly chicken agression, just putting her bottom of the flock. She does wonder over like a toddler as though to say they're picking on me.

Our biggest flaws are that she's allowed on the furniture, is very spoilt and we've not spent enough time on off lead training.

I love that she'll walk miles on a nice day (or hitch a ride under the pushchair if she's tired) but if its lashing down with rain she'll look out do her business and be back inside as though to say 'not now thanks'.

My mum has one who has had a lot of health problems and some behaviour problems. The behaviour problems maybe due to lack of socialisation as a puppy and her not being an experienced dog owner though. But health wise he has bad heart and stomach. Funnily despite this he is a bouncy little thing who loves walks, very spaniel like. He is good with the family and kids but has problems with other dogs and strangers.

My mum has a 3 yr old CKC. A family member got him from either a puppy farm or a byb and he had a lot of behavioural issues in his first 18 months. He was going to be pts but my mum was prepared to give him a chance. He had serious issues with guarding food or having his toys taken which we think is due to how his life was with the breeder .
After a lot of hard work he is now a lovely if exceptionlly hairy dog. He's good natured, pretty well trained and obedient and loves collecting sticks, plastic bottles and bits if tat. He occasionally will wake up in a total rage but takes it out on his chew rope toy and then takes himself back to bed.
My 11 month old daughter adores him and he sensibly avoids her!
He's a happy dog but does have health problems, again due to a bad breeder. He has wonky hips, eyes problems and a heart murmur. He's loved very much but really should never have been bred. He is neutered so his bad genetics can't be passed on.
I love him but am allergic! So much hair!

We have one and I think they're probably one of the easiest breeds to care for. Obviously all dogs are individuals, but as a breed, they are very easy going. Ours loves a good long walk but is just as happy to potter about in the garden. Once he's had a long walk, he's zonked for the rest of the day, unlike my friend's Border Terrier that's still bouncing off the walls when we get home.

They're affectionate and like to be with their "pack" but then all dogs do. I work one day a week and leave him alone and he's fine. Whenever I come home unexpectedly he's asleep - and sometimes doesn't even wake up for a while after I'm home - so they're hopeless guard dogs!

We have chickens and he chased them to begin with but he's fine with them now, actually a little wary of them!

They're quite placid, not aggressive with other dogs/ people generally - although any dog can have its moment.

If you're not experienced with dogs I think they're a great first dog. There are health issues to consider but so far ours has been ok ( he's 5). Ours is terribly greedy, utterly obsessed with food and this is probably the hardest thing to deal with as it's very easy for them to get overweight.

We got ours from a "registered kennels" but I'm now quite sure it was nothing more than a well run puppy farm, so be very careful.

BEST. DOG. EVER. Easiest dog to feed, look after, will walk all day or not at all if you can't do it and they don't climb the walls without exercise. Loyal, loving, SO good with kids. Amazing with my sn girl. Just the best. Mines 11 and still going. He looks about 2 as he's raw fed. Oh my word was the best advice I EVER took getting this breed as my first ever dog. Black and tan are the best :-) Will second the previous poster re greed. But that is manageable if handled from an early age with no treats at table etc. Competitive obedience so much fun with this breed. The look on all the collie owners faces when you rock up with a Cav is priceless.

we're on our fourth! We've had two bitches and 2 dogs, latest is a blenheim dog, he's just coming up to a year old and an absolute nutter, lol.

i'm very much read on all their health issues and how best to deal with them, so please feel free to ask any questions!

THey're wonderful, loving, beautiful dogs who're just as happy romping through the leaves of a nice walk around the park as being curled up in your lap or keeping your feet warm. They're very affectionate and much prefer to be sat as close to you as possible, but they DO also get underfoot a lot.

I personally prefer bitches, both girls were very placid, the boys have been fun, but madcap :)

Healthwise, you need to do your research on a pup, you need to see the condition they've been kept, their parents and grandparents heartscores (if available) you need to see their pedigree and check there is no inbreeding within the last 3 generations, and hopefully further back! Current dog has no repeats until 5th generation back with our current dog, and its only one sire that pops up twice.

They have two major problems, mitral heart valve disease, which usually presents as a murmur, but usually doesn't present until 5yrs old or so. They have very weak hearts and its really advised that they don't have any unecessary procedure requiring anaethesia, and that they are blood tested before any yearly boosters so they're only given the ones they actually require.

The other is something called syringomyelia which is where the brain is too large for their skull, which causes discomfort, pain and sometimes in serious cases even fits or death.

Our last dog had no MVD but he did have a mild case of syringomyelia that he took steroids to help with.

However, doing your research into the parentage/breeding should cover those being an issue.