Cavalier King Charles

[Sulusu]

Hi

I am looking for some advice from owners of these lovely dogs.

I lost my beloved cocker spaniel 8 years ago and its taken me a very long time to contemplate owning a dog again.

We now live in a house with a very small garden (but lots of nice walks near by) and feel a cocker or springer might be a bit too high energy for me now.

I have been reading extensively about the breed and on paper they seem very suitable for us. However I have heard a lot of negative things about their health issues, even when buying from a scrutinised breeder.

We work from home and are really looking for something that's a bit of a lap dog and easy-going. I couldn't get something large like a rescue greyhound as my garden is far too small.

Generally are they as gentle and loving as I have heard they are? I have no personal experience of the breed, having had cockers and labradors previously.

Thank you.

Love mine. Is now 13 and has been on heart medication for last 18 months but doing well. Loving, loyal, friendly and has been amazing with the kids as they have grown up. Would be hard pushed to pick another breed when we need to get another dog.

@HollyBollyBooBoo oh no, what health problems do they have?

If the breeder was really good did they test for all the usual CC, DE, EF SM etc?

I have a perfect dog, she is 1/4 cavalier with bichon friese and terrier mix making up the rest. We got her from a family and her parents are their pets.

She's fairly small, a lap dog all evening but will walk and run all day if asked, and she's currently treated like a teddy by dcs and so gentle.

I definitely recommend a mix. Spaniel/ terrier for size, energy and looks and bichon for sweetness/ teddy bear cuddly side.

Cavaliers are lovely little dogs, as a breed there are major health issues but on an individual level many of them lead healthy, happy lives. The breed club is quite active and collates a lot of health information on the breed, they also have a list of breeders who health test and an available puppies register, you can read more and find contact details under the 'Cavalier Health' tab here: www.thecavalierclub.co.uk/start.html

Other breeds you might consider could be Havanese, Lhasa Apso, Whippet. Lhasas are hardy and generally long-lived, they can be stubborn but they don't need lots of exercise and are considered to be very good with children. They need to be clipped regularly but can be kept in a pet trim which is low-maintenance (and looks cute).

Thanks for the that link VetOnCall, its very useful.

A family member has had many, most of which have made it to 14-15 albeit on meds. Recently she got two fully health screened puppies. One then developed an entirely unrelated to the breed health issue. Best laid plans and all that.
They are smashing family dogs but pick very carefully.

Mine is nearly 14 but we got him from a breeder who was meticulous about health screening. We were on a waiting list for almost a year. That breeder has since retired. I wouldn't get another unless I could find a breeder with similar high standards. Unfortunately the breed is popular with puppy farmers. They are wonderful dogs, though, and get on well with cats.

Unfortunately the breed is popular with puppy farmers
Which is also why so many spent-dams turn up on Many Tears and similar puppy farm enabling charities.

My childhood Lhasa Apso still alive and kicking. She's fantastic - never chewed anything, always willing to go along whatever I ask (as a child I would simulate agility tracks in my living room, and she would happily jump over them). She can be stubborn, especially now she's older, but independent as they are she is quite happy to lay by my side all day.

Mind you, she does have health problems that began showing at age 9, but then she came from a puppy mill, much to my shame. The main problem is in her patella; both of them went completely out of place and she's been through two surgeries to fix one of them. By the time the other slipped, we were advised not to have corrective surgery due to the risks.
She's also allergic to pretty much everything - we have to be really careful with cleaning supplies, etc.
The fur can be bothersome, so we clip it. It never goes longer than it is in the picture, and it is kept untangled with twice a week brushings.

I would not have another because I prefer higher energy breeds, but I certainly recommend them. Apparently they are now considered brachicephalic, but not nearly as Shih Tzus and Pekingeses (or my Lhasa is particularly long nosed, but as a puppy and adult she was happy to walk for a good hour).

It was the syringomelia (spelling?) that really put me off. I think they’re lovely lovely dogs but my understanding is that you can’t screen for that pre breeding and it’s just the luck of the draw. (Hope I’m wrong or things have changed.)
If Crufts goes ahead next year then Discover Dogs is great.

Yes you should expect to be waiting months for a breeder and also to be quizzed endlessly. My relative got one of their puppies when they did because they were on the breeder's long waiting list and the original person who had been lined up pre conception for a puppy, as and when a litter happened, lost the trust of the breeder between the birth of the puppy and time to leave the mum. Cav puppies aren't ready to leave mum till at least 12 weeks btw. Anybody offering puppies earlier than that is automatically not acting in the dogs best interests.

I got my little chap before syringomyelia was widely known about but fortunately he has never show signs of having syrinxes - however, I believe it's been said that very many Cavaliers have this condition, but not all are symptomatic.

I agree with the pp that breeders need to breed out and then back in because the Cavaliers' health issues stem from a limited gene pool. The pool wasn't wide to start with, and during WW2 many dogs had to be destroyed which reduced it still further. If you have a pedigree dog it will be traceable back to 'Ann's Son' - I went back through my dog's pedigree online and it brought home to me how small the gene pool is.

If something isn't done this breed will eventually become unviable which would be a tragedy as it's hard to imagine a more perfect family dog - brilliant temperament, great with other pets and children, small enough to be manageable but having a proper bark and not a yap, and being very flexible in its exercise needs - equally happy to be out all day with you, or just to have a couple of round-the-blocks.

Much for me to think about, thank you everyone.

The plan is for me to look at breeders in the North East of England (any recommendations?) and go on a waiting list if I find one I think is good and has done health tests etc. I am in no rush thankfully.

I am still looking at other breeds too.

It might be worth also looking at the King Charles spaniel - this is a similar but much less popular breed. They have some of the same health problems as the Cavalier, but to a significantly lesser extent. If you wouldn't mind a Cavalier-like dog with a squashed nose and a slightly quieter temperament, it might be an option to consider.

If you are after any pedigree then you need to contact the breed club. And be prepared to travel. Each of our pups (not cavs) have been three hours or so away.

Bloody lovely dogs. My pup was bred by a good friend. She has granny who is 9 ( murmur but well ) and mum who is 3 still and had a litter as she wanted a puppy and the others were gifted to friends.
Would I have had a cavvy if she hadn’t bred her lovely dog , I dunno.
He’s just the perfect first dog. He has melted husbands heart of stone , from “ we are not having a dog “ to adoring him!

I’m under no illusions as regards health and he’s well insured .

They are good dogs for melting the hearts of dog-haters - mine did exactly the same for my dad. It helped that he adored my dad from the word go - he seemed to peg him as some kind of alpha male and walked to his heel unprompted.

Even my sister, who has a phobia of dogs, copes with our little Cav - she once actually held his lead while I went to the loo.

Do not suppose that health screening the parents will guarantee a healthy puppy, it can’t. Also, the bad inherited problems in Cavaliers do not usually show in young puppies, they appear much later.

Hoverry that’s what worried me about the breed.

We bought ours from a wonderful and careful breeder who health checked and very knowledgeable though she still warned that obviously can’t promise anything .
Ours is our absolute dream dog and as others have said she’s got through to even the least dog-friendly people, she is just so happy and friendly and full of character !. And has surprised me with quite how fit she is -she gallops all day and will barely lie down.

I have a cavalier x Maltese. He's amazing (I'm bias). He's a perfect lapdog, friendly and loyal. He's in perfect health. Amazing with kids and he Is besties with my cat.

My cavalier is nearly 13, I rehomed him when he was 1. I would never have chosen the breed and thought he was a funny looking thing at first, but it didn’t take long before I thought he was the most perfect dog that ever existed. Honestly he’s been an absolute joy and delight and still is, although he’s a lot lazier and a bit grumpier these days.

As for health, he has epilepsy which I believe the breed can be more prone to? He would only have very occasional mild seizures until he was 6 or so, but then had a huge seizure that required a stay in vetenary hospital and has been on fairly expensive medication ever since. We’re now getting to the point that the medication could be having an effect on his liver function so have to have bloods done every 3 months to monitor. He also gets dermatitis but that’s really well managed with piriton now and hasn’t caused any issues in years. He developed a slight heart murmur around age 11, it’s not at the level of needing medication and doesn’t seem to have got any worse since it was found.

Honestly he’s cost a fortune in vet bills over the years and caused untold stress and worry but I wouldn’t swap him or be without him for the world. I could never have imagined a more loving dog, funny, full of personality and, as long as he gets plenty of fuss and love, really quite chilled. I think they’re an incredible breed, but as everyone else has said - it’s hard to say I’d have the breed again purely on health grounds.

Will probably get flamed for this as poddle crosses are frowned upon on mn

But have you had a look at cavapoos?

Lovely chilled out temperament,

Should say as long as both parents have been tested because of the poodle gene not as many health issues

We got our cavalier cross (no idea what he is crossed with!) from many tears when he was 9 weeks. Such a chilled out, happy boy. Total cling on though. Does not leave my side.

Can really recommend many tears.