Cavalier King Charlies Spaniel Five Facts

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not cheap. On average you can expect to pay $2,000-$3,000 for one.

However, if you've socked away your "puppy fund" and are considering buying a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or "Cav" as enthusiasts call them, there are five things you might not know. Before you fall under the spell of the big eyes and floppy ears, a few tips from a Cav owner...

1) While Cavs slow down as they age, don't take this as an excuse not to walk the dog. They love walks, even though they may seem to sleep most of the time when at home. As your Cav turns seven or eight, regular walks become more important, and the exercise will keep you moving too.

2) Cavs get knots in their fur more easily than any breed I've ever known with the exception of the Maltese--I co-owned one with my grandmother and kept its coat short. Cav coats are naturally short on top, long around the paws, tail, throat, ears, and belly, which is where the tangles appear. They also get leaves and grass stuck in their fur, especially in the long tail. However, a good rinse in the sink will take care of the grass and leaves. As for the tangles, a Love Glove, available from pet stores, is gentler on the Cav's sensitive nerve endings than other dog brushes.

3) Cavs are easily distractible and will chase after rabbits and birds like bloodhounds. Be aware of this now. Invest in obedience training from the start. However, they're also terrific at alerting you to noises at night.

4) I call the Cav eyes "hypnotic eyes" because once they look at you, you reach in a trance for a morsel from your plate or for the Beggin' Strips. Instead, repeat this mantra after me: vet bills, vet bills, vet bills...

5) Cavs are the most sensitive dog on the planet. In bed with the flu? Just try and pry that dog away. Sad? Your Cav will lick your tears away. Feeling slightly blue or have the sniffles? The dog will be right by your side. Priceless.

Just refer to this pre-owner's manual and your Cav will be a loyal, delightful companion for years to come.

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Basic Training Tips

Training a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is something that must be done at the earliest possible time. Socialization should begin at around three weeks old and ends at around 12 weeks old.

Below are some training tips you might find useful in training your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:

1. Be prepared. When your puppy comes home for the first time, it is very important that you are prepared in order to make his first few days at home comfortable. Set up a small room to be his very own sanctuary. Provide warm and comfortable dog bed and warm water bottle. Puppy-proofing the house is highly recommended. This aims to keep these curious little creatures safe from poisons and other possible dangers at home.

2. Be positive. It is very important to use positive reinforcement when training your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Positive reinforcement includes giving of special food treats, the chance to play with his favorite toys, social interaction with other dogs and the owner's time, attention and praise. The use of positive reinforcement aims to increase the chance of the behavior being exhibited again.

3. Avoid physical punishment. Physical punishments are risky and almost never necessary. Rubbing your dog's nose in his dirt, yelling at a barking dog or jerking the leash when the dog pulls are not the best ways to correct a dog's behavior. In fact, it may do more harm than good because excessive or inappropriate punishment can traumatize your dog.

4. Keep training sessions short. Remember that dogs, especially puppies have short attention span. They get bored easily that is why training sessions must be kept short, say fifteen minutes or so on a single command. Always end the session in a positive note and remember to lavish him with praise if he has successfully mastered the command.

5. Keep a routine. You need to be consistent in your puppy's daily routine in order to make him a fine-mannered that is pleasant to be around. Daily feeding, grooming, potty and playing activities must be on regular basis. If possible, delegate responsibilities to your family members to prevent the possibility of your dog unable to potty or being left unfed.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Feeding Tips

How do you even begin to choose a food for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? There are so many brands of food, textures, and flavors. Cavalier's food affects his coat, health, and temperament. So how do you choose? You should feed your puppy enough of the proper food to meet his energy requirements. Amounts may vary depending on age, size, activity level, and health. I would recommend checking with your veterinarian to make sure the Cavalier is healthy. Some Cavaliers may have special dietary needs for specific problems. This information pertains to a healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Types of Dog Food:

" Dry: usually less expensive, contain the least amount of fat, but the most preservatives.

" Canned: made up of 60-70% water.

" Simi-moist: contain a great deal of sugar.

" Home made: use a balanced amount of meat and grain with a smaller amount of vegetables.

Stages of Development:

1. Puppy: at 6 weeks of age introduce solid foods, by 8 weeks - fully weaned onto solid puppy food.

2. Adult: at 10-12 months, when the dog has stopped growing - can give adult dog food.

3. Senior: a change in lifestyle will occur in the dog such as exercising less, moves more slowly, and sleeps more, and starts to put on weight. This is a good time to change to senior dog food.

Choosing a Dog Food:

" Always check with your veterinarian before choosing a food. My veterinarian prefers dry food over semi-moist and canned because it is better for the Cavalier's teeth. For puppies, the dry food can be moistened with water.

" Pay attention to the ingredients listed on dog food.

" The higher the ingredient the more of that ingredient there is in the food.

" Meat proteins such as chicken, lamb, or beef should appear at the top of the list.

" Grains should be next on the list and vegetables last.

" Beware of labels that list corn at one of the top ingredients. Dogs do not digest it easily.

Treats:

" Treats are a great way to reward you puppy and dog for good behavior.

" Treats are generally not as nutritious as regular food, so don't use too many.

" If you find yourself using a great deal of treats, try using the regular food as a treat.

" Treats should be soft in texture.

" Treats should be about the size of a large pea.

Water:

" All dogs require a great deal of water.

" You may want to limit the water for a puppy to specific times, such as once an hour on the hour, to help with potty training. Take the puppy to his potty place about 10 minutes after he drinks.

" Once the puppy is potty trained, fresh water should be left out for him at all times.

" Wash the bowel and give fresh water during the day.

Feeding Schedule:

" Puppies: Start with 3 feedings per day. As the puppy grows to be about 5-6 months old, you can gradually back the feeding down to 2 feedings per day.

" Take the puppy to his potty spot 10 minutes after he finishes eating.

" The amount of food you should feed at one time varies with the breed, age, and energy level of the dog. The label on the food bag or your veterinarian can give you an idea of the amount to feed per feeding.

Foods to Avoid:

" Chocolate

" Onions

" Dairy Products

" Bones from poultry and fish - tend to splinter, stick into their throat, or cut into their intestines.

" Grapes and raisons - have been linked to renal failure

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Care Tips

Finally... the time has come for you to bring home one of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bred by a reputable breeder in your area. With it comes the most exciting yet quite challenging responsibility - taking care and molding this little one to become a well-mannered dog that you can be proud of. By just thinking of this responsibility, sometimes it made some owners, especially new owners, wonder if they can play the role of a dog owner well enough to come up with a nicely trained pet that is pleasant to be around.

Food! Perhaps one of the few things that concerns most dog owners is the food they are feeding their pets and the nutrition they get from these foods. It is important that the food contains nutritionally balanced ingredients to help your pet with their daily growth and activities. Choose good quality dog foods and bear in mind to read product labels carefully. By providing nutritionally balanced diet, you can be sure that your dog is one step towards healthier and happier life.

Dog ownership isn't just about feeding the right kind of food. Caring for and grooming your dog is another responsibility that needs to be done by a dog owner. Grooming... when talking about this word, what comes first into the minds of most people is the dog's physical attributes - their favorite companion's look when newly bathed or trimmed and so on. However, grooming as well as bathing doesn't aim to improve your dog's beauty alone. It also contributes to your pet's well-being. Regular bathing or brushing of your dog's coat will help you notice irregularities at once. Apart from that, grooming is also a great way for you and your dog to bond.

Preventions is always better than cure. Why wait for the disease to attack your dog when you know that there is something you can do to prevent it from coming? Despite the speculations of the efficacy of vaccines, it is always a good idea to protect your favorite companion with vaccines against parvo, kennel cough, rabies and other diseases common in your area. Seek your vet's advice regarding this matter so as to clear all confusions and doubts about vaccines.

Humans need regular exercise, no doubt about that. Dogs, too, need their daily dose of walking or running to stay fit and happy. Lack of exercise leads to poor muscle tone, obesity, heart ailments, bone disorders and emotional or behavioral problems.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Proper Way to Walk

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can get a lot of their exercise needs from play, however, just like other dog breeds, play will not suffice their natural instinct to walk. As owner, you definitely know that these lively little dogs need daily walk to keep their sanity intact in addition to getting fresh air and exercise. Walking is beneficial not only to your cavalier but to you as well.

The proper way to walk a dog is to walk either beside you or behind you. By doing so, you establish yourself as alpha or leader of the pack. This makes your dog easier to control and train knowing that he must submit to your commands being your follower. Allowing a dog to be the leader of the pack can cause many behavioral problems such as hyperactivity, aggression and/or neurotic disorders to name a few.

When you are ready to take your dog out, make your dog come to you and put the lead on. You can call him to come to you but you should never move toward him. Make him sit calmly before you put the leash on. Place the collar far up on the neck to give you more control over your dog.

When you are set to go, do not let your dog bolt out the door. Take him to the door and make him sit quietly there. Being the alpha, you must be the one to decide when it is time to leave, not your dog. When it is time to go, leave the house before your dog. If your dog runs out of the door before you, return him inside and start again. Remember, you are the one who decides when to leave.

While walking, it is important that you have to walk beside or in ahead of your dog. Do not constantly pull on your dog and never allow your dog to pull on you. If your dog is not obeying your command, getting too excited, starts to pull and/or not staying beside or behind you, give the leash a quick snap to get his attention back to you. You can also stop and make the dog sit until he is calm.

Do not allow the dog to sniff the ground or potty until you want him too. Let him understand you are in charge and he must concentrate on following you.

Relax. Walk your dog briskly and enjoy the moment.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Information

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of those lovely dogs to have with. You may have heard that this kind of dog breed is not cheap. But aside from this factor it is good to learn more about it before having Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as your pet.

Description
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is considered a toy dog. This dog stands 13 to 18 inches at the withers and weighs between 10 and 18 pounds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a long, silky coat with feathering on the legs, tail, and ears. The coat comes in four colors: Blenheim, ruby, tricolor, and black and tan. Although the tail of the Cavalier is usually left its natural length, it is sometimes docked by one third. This dog can have a life span of 9 to fourteen years. It is also called the Ruby Spaniel or the Blenheim Spaniel.

History
King Charles II of England is most closely associated with the Spaniel that bears his name. Even as a child, he was surrounded by this breed of dog. After he attained the throne, he promoted the breed and allowed the little dogs the run of the palace. It is said that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel even whelped on the royal bed. This small dog is present in art from the 16th to 18th centuries and was used to help attract fleas as well as its duties as a comforter dog. Breeding with the Pug produced a shorter faced dog, the King Charles Spaniel. However, an American fancier Roswell Eldridge, bred the breed back to the more original dog and recreated the Cavalier.

Temperament
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is exclusively a companion dog, despite its old Spaniel hunting instincts. It is a very affectionate and happy little dog that thrives when given attention by its human friends. This is a very playful dog that wants to please those around it. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an excellent companion for anyone and is trustworthy and gentle with children. It loves to cuddle and bonds strongly to its family.

Health Issues
Although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a fairly healthy toy breed, it can suffer from a variety of inherited health problems. One of the most serious problems is mitral valve heart disease, which begins as a heart murmur and can become worse as time goes on. Another serious condition is syringomyelia, in which cysts will form on the spinal column. This can be a painful condition for the dog. The potential owner of this engaging little dog would be well advised to make sure the dog is purchased from a reputable breeder who has followed intelligent breeding practices.

Grooming
Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has such a long coat, it is important to keep it well groomed. The dog should be brushed every day to prevent matting and the hair on the feet should be kept trimmed, especially around the toe and foot pads. The long ears should be checked regularly and kept clean and dry to prevent infections. Pay some attention to the eyes, too, to make sure they remain infection free.

Living Conditions
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a house dog. It cannot live in an outside situation, either physically or mentally. This little dog needs to be around people as much of the time as possible. The dog will adapt its exercise needs to its owner, so it is suitable for both active and inactive lifestyles. Regardless of the owner's exercise needs, however, the dog does need a walk every day. It is very suitable for living in an apartment.