Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
A silky-eared lapdog with a spaniel's heart — sweet, gentle, everyone's friend.
Vital stats
| Size | Small · 30–33 cm |
| Weight | 5–8 kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15 years |
| Energy | Moderate — 40–60 min/day |
| Shedding | Moderate, year-round |
| Coat | Silky, medium length · Blenheim, tricolour, ruby, black & tan |
| Group | Toy · FCI №136 / AKC |
Breed traits
Friendliness
Care
Mind
Temperament
Recreated in the 1920s to match the spaniels in old royal portraits, the Cavalier is what happens when a sporting dog is optimised for laps: gentle, endlessly sociable and eager to agree with you. The spaniel wiring is still there — a passing bird can interrupt any cuddle — but its true vocation is being wherever you are.
Habits & quirks
Lap radar
The moment you sit down, a Cavalier is en route.
Spaniel intermissions
Mid-cuddle, a bird at the window can summon four centuries of hunting ancestry.
The melting look
Those enormous dark eyes are deployed strategically, usually near food.
The greeting committee
Every visitor is welcomed as a long-lost and much-missed friend.
Care
| Health | Book annual heart checks from an early age and buy only from breeders who test for mitral valve disease and syringomyelia. |
| Grooming | Brush the silky coat and feathering a few times a week, and keep the long ears clean and dry. |
| Exercise | A daily walk and some play keep it fit and content — it will happily do more, or artfully less. |
| Company | This breed is not built for empty houses; arrange company, a sitter or a canine companion for long days. |
Common questions
Are Cavaliers good for first-time owners?
Yes — they're gentle, trainable and adaptable, ideal for families and flats alike. Just don't leave them alone for long.
What health problems do Cavaliers have?
The breed is prone to mitral valve heart disease and syringomyelia. Buy only from breeders who health-test both parents.
How much exercise does a Cavalier need?
A moderate daily walk plus playtime — roughly 40 to 60 minutes in total. They cheerfully match your pace, so watch the waistline of a Cavalier living with a homebody.