Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Group: Toy
Lifespan: 9-14 Years
Pups per Litter: 2-6
Average Weight: 10-18 lbs.
Average Height: 12-13 inches
Exercise/Actvity Level: Moderate
Temperment with:
Children 
Other Dogs Other Animals 
History
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel were originally bred in the United Kingdom and were created with the inspiration of the original King Charles Spaniel. Breeders were looking to breed this dog to look like the Spaniels in the paintings of Van Dyck. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a completely different breed then the King Charles Spaniel.
Traits
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are a companion breed of dog that love attention from people. They are happy-go-lucky little dogs and are quite loyal to their master. This breed is perfect for families because they love children and get along well with other family pets. The Cavalier is a sweet breed and wants nothing but to please their owners, so training should be done in a positive manner. This dog should not be left alone for long, as they thrive on constant attention!
Appearance
Weighing in at 10-18 lbs (4.5-8 kgs) and averaging 12-13 inches high, this little dog is actually the biggest in the Toy group! They have a very soft coat that comes in tri-colour, black & tan, ruby, and light red & white which is known as Blenheim. This breed has a shorter muzzle and the top of their head is quite flat. They have large dark eyes and big floppy ears. The Cavaliers tail is long but can be docked for show purposes.
Health
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is prone to Luxating Patellas, ear infections, deafness, eye diseases, back difficulties, and sometimes heart problems. This breed can gain weight quickly, so feed appropriately. Some lines are prone to Mitral Valve Disease and Syringomyelia. Owners are encouraged to look into the medical history of the parents of their potential puppy to ensure these diseases are not in the ancestral blood lines.
Training
The King Charles Cavalier Spaniel is an intelligent little dog and they love to please their masters. Training one should be easy if the owner is firm yet positive. This breed will not respond well to harsher methods as they are sensitive.
Care
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a moderate maintenance breed. They will need weekly brushing to their coat to keep it soft and tangle free. They shed an average amount and will only need to be bathed as per their owners preference. The hair on their paws should be trimmed and special attention should be brought to their eyes and ears as they can both become infected easily.
Breed
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is categorized in the Toy Group. They would do very well in an apartment and a yard would be preferable. They enjoy running so daily exercise, either to parks or walks would be perfect. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an average lifespan of 9-14 years. They have on average 2-6 pups per litter. When obtaining a puppy King Charles, keep in mind that every puppy is different and to research your breed before bringing the baby home!
Reference pages for Information:
http://www.akc.org/breeds/cavalier_king_charles_spaniel/ Cavalier KC Spaniel AKC Standards
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/cavalierkingcharlesspaniel.htm Cavalier KC Spaniel Breed Information
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel Cavalier KC Spaniel Information
http://www.ackcsc.org/rescue.htm Cavalier KC Spaniel Rescue
http://www.ckcsc.org Cavalier KC Spaniel Club
