Grooming
Although Cavalier King Charles Spaniels require regular grooming, including bathing and brushing, you can manage most of it at home. Here are grooming tips for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
Brushing: You’ll need to brush their fur every day to keep knots untangled. Their fur—especially on their ears—can get matted, so use a slicker brush, like the Safari Flexible Slicker Dog Brush, to keep them mat-free. It can also detangle mats while reducing shedding when used all over their body. While beautiful, Cavaliers’ silky coats sometimes get smelly because they trap dirt and bacteria, making regular brushing that much more important. Contact your vet if your pup does have an odor that’s not resolved with brushing or bathing; they may have an ear infection or a problem with bad breath.
Bathing: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dogs need a bath about once a month to keep their coat shiny and healthy.
Nail trimming: After their bath is the perfect opportunity to give their nails a trim. (The bath softens up their nails and makes the whole process easier.) You’ll know they’re ready for a trim when you hear your pup coming by the click-clacking on hard surfaces in your home.
Haircuts: There are two basic types of haircuts: the natural cut and the puppy cut.
Natural cut: The natural cut leaves the fur long and is only trimmed at the bottom of their coat and between the toes. You can trim the fur between the toes with round-tip safety scissors, like the Pet Magasin Grooming Scissors, so you don’t accidentally cut your pup’s skin.
Puppy cut: With the puppy cut, the fur is kept to 1-2 inches long (except those ears!) and is great if you want a more low-maintenance pup.
Teeth brushing: Brushing your pup’s teeth daily can help keep their teeth and gums healthy and avoid tartar buildup, which could lead to periodontal disease. Once a year, schedule a professional teeth cleaning with your vet.
Ear cleaning: Don’t forget to check their ears. If you notice debris, redness or swelling, speak to your vet. If your vet recommends at-home cleaning, check out our vet-approved guide for cleaning a dog’s ears.
Full-body check: Cavaliers like to be pampered every now and then (don’t we all?), especially with a full-body massage. Use this time to look for new bumps, skin issues (lesions, etc.) and bugs (fleas, ticks). If you notice anything unusual, contact your vet.
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Training
Begin training classes and socializing your puppy early on to help them learn proper manners around others. (Consider it cotillion for your extroverted pup.) Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are smart and easy to train. They respond wonderfully to reward-based training, so you want to have yummy—and healthy!—treats to reward them, like Crumps’ Naturals Mini Trainers. They also enjoy fun, small and squeaky toys that play to their hunting instincts, like the plush KONG Cozie Marvin the Moose + Cozie Baily the Blue dog toys. Both treats and toys are tools that will encourage your pup to respond positively to different training commands. As true companion pups, Cavaliers always aspire to please their pet parents and will generally pick up various commands and tricks with ease.
Although Cavaliers are mostly relaxed and incredibly friendly with just about anyone they meet, they do have a “teenager” phase. When they hit puberty at around 6-8 months old, they become more distant and timid around people. If you notice this change, don’t push them to socialize—you may end up reinforcing this unwanted behavior. Temporarily adjust walks, so you have more alone time. Then, plan walks where people your pup knows well cross your path; chat for a bit, but don’t interact with your pup. (Your friend should drop a tasty treat.) Over time, your Cavalier should respond to your friends positively and take a treat from their hand. Eventually, your Cavalier will return to their playful ways.
Because they’re smart and savvy, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do well in canine sports, such as obedience, rally and agility. These sports are a great way to combine training with exercise. (It’s a two-fer!)
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Diet
Generally, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should eat high-quality food specifically designed for the life stage they’re currently in, whether puppy, adult or senior—age is a key factor in determining diet. Look on the package for a statement that says the food meets standards set forth by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to ensure it’s nutritionally balanced.
Because they are prone to digestive disorders, Cavaliers may benefit from food with limited ingredients. Fresh food, raw food and freeze-dried options, can be great choices for your pup. Before switching your dog’s diet, check with your vet to ensure your dog gets the proper nutrition they need.
Too much of a good thing is still too much, so keep an eye on your Cavalier’s weight. Follow the recommended portions to help make sure you don’t feed your pup too much. If your pup has added a few extra pounds, your vet can help you put together a meal plan and exercise regimen that provides the nutrients your dog needs and helps them lose the extra weight.
While treats are a good way to reward your pup in training or for being a very good pup, remember to do so in moderation. (Treat calories count!) And no matter how cute their sad puppy dog eyes look, don’t give your pup table scraps. If you want to reward your pup with human-safe food, frozen blueberries or green beans (not canned) may be a good option.
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Exercise
Compared to other breeds, Cavaliers have a moderate energy level and minimal exercise needs. One or two 20- to 30-minute walks a day with playtime and obedience training is sufficient (about one hour total). The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel descends from sporting dogs (dogs bred to hunt), so they do enjoy outside activities. (They love to snuggle, but they are not couch potatoes!) They love taking long walks with their family (they are not known for their speed), and do well in canine sports, such as obedience, rally and agility.
When you’re on a walk or at the park, keep your dog on the leash at all times. If something catches their attention, they could run off and not return when called. (Their hunting and scenting instincts run deep.) Consider using a harness, like the Puppia vest step-in dog harness because it’s easy to put on and take off. A harness not only reduces the chance your pup will slip out of their collar and run off, but also protects their neck from pulling or straining on the leash.
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Environment
Cavaliers are extremely adaptable. Because they love being so close to their families, they thrive in all sorts of settings, from small apartments to large houses. If you have a home, a fenced yard is recommended, so your dog doesn’t run off when they see—or smell!—something interesting. However, if you have an affinity for the Great Outdoors, they’re probably more suited to spend time in an RV than a tent. (They are totally up for glamping, though!) Grab a cozy dog bed for them, like the Original Calming shag fur donut cuddler, and they’ll be more than ready to snuggle up no matter where you are.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is truly a breed for anyone, whether you are single or have a family with kids and babies. If you’re the outgoing type who keeps a packed calendar and wants a constant companion, Cavaliers are happy to tag long. But if you’re a couch potato who prefers to stay at home and catch up on your streaming queue, they’ll happily snuggle next to you and be thrilled with whatever show you choose. (Just make sure they still get their daily exercise!)
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