Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Personality

The Cavalier is a dog that seems to have no unfriendly bone in its body. It greets family, visitors and other pets with the same hopeful, wagging warmth, and it wants nothing more than to be on a lap or at your feet. That sweetness is the main reason the breed is so popular with families and first-time owners.

It is a true companion dog. Cavaliers form strong attachments and do poorly when left alone for long stretches, so separation distress is a real risk. If your household is empty most of the day, this probably is not your breed.

They are playful but not frantic, happy with a game of fetch and equally happy to settle on the sofa. Their spaniel heritage means they can be tempted to chase birds and squirrels, so a secure leash or fence is important.

Because they are so trusting, they make poor watchdogs. Expect a friendly greeting for a burglar and a gentle bark for a delivery.

History

The breed takes its name from King Charles II of England, who was famously surrounded by small spaniels in the seventeenth century. Paintings from the period show long-muzzled toy spaniels in the company of nobility. After Charles II died in 1685 the type changed, as a fashion for flat-faced breeds from Asia created a taste for short muzzles and domed skulls, and the dogs of the old paintings basically disappeared.

In 1926 an American, Roswell Eldridge, offered prize money at Crufts for spaniels of the old type, with longer muzzles and flatter skulls. That challenge spurred British breeders to recreate the earlier look, and the first Cavalier club was formed in 1928.

The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom recognized the Cavalier as a separate breed in the mid-1940s. The breed arrived in the United States in the 1950s, and the American Kennel Club began recognizing it in the mid-1990s. Today it remains one of the most popular toy breeds in both countries, and breed clubs devote significant effort to improving the breed's health.

Appearance, coat & colors

The Cavalier is a small, well-balanced spaniel with a long, silky coat and large, dark, round eyes that give it a soft, melting expression. The AKC lists the breed at about 12-13 in (30-33 cm) tall and 13-18 lb (6-8 kg).

The ears are long, set high and heavily feathered, framing the face. The skull is slightly rounded and the muzzle tapers gently, which makes the breed less flat-faced than many toy dogs. The tail is feathered and usually wags constantly.

Four colors are recognized. Blenheim is chestnut and white, tricolor is black, white and tan, ruby is solid rich red, and black and tan is black with tan markings. A Blenheim often has a white blaze with a chestnut spot in the center of the skull.

The coat is silky and may be slightly wavy, but it should never be curly. Feathering grows on the chest, legs, ears and tail, and the feet often carry extra hair.

Training

Cavaliers are eager to please and respond well to gentle, reward-based training. Most pick up basics quickly, and they are among the easier toy breeds to train, which is part of why they suit new owners. Keep sessions short and upbeat, and use small food treats or toys as rewards.

Harsh corrections are unnecessary and counterproductive. This is a sensitive dog that wilts under scolding.

House training can take patience, as with many toy breeds with small bladders. A regular schedule, frequent trips outside and crate training help. See our guide to crate training a puppy for a step-by-step approach.

Socialization is usually easy because the breed is naturally friendly, but expose your puppy to different surfaces, noises and people anyway. Work on recall early, since the hunting instinct can pull a Cavalier toward scents and moving animals. Teach calm alone-time in small steps from the first week, so your dog learns that being by itself is nothing to worry about.

Exercise

The Cavalier needs a moderate amount of exercise, usually a couple of walks daily plus play. Around 30 to 60 minutes of total activity suits most adults, though individual dogs vary. The breed can keep up with a more active owner on hikes, but it is also fine with a gentler pace.

Because of the breed's heart concerns, avoid pushing a Cavalier to exhaustion, and watch for coughing, fast breathing or unusual tiredness. Talk to your vet about what activity level is right if a murmur is found.

Play is as important as walks. Short games of fetch, simple scent games and puzzle feeders give the mind something to do. Avoid heat, and exercise in the cool of the day.

Keep your Cavalier on a leash or in a fenced area, because it will chase small animals and may ignore your calls when its nose is busy. Choose a harness rather than a collar if your dog pulls, to protect the neck.

Grooming

The silky coat looks elegant but needs regular upkeep. Brush two to four times a week with a pin brush or slicker brush and a comb, concentrating on the feathering behind the ears, under the legs and on the chest, where tangles form. Daily brushing is gentler on the coat if your dog is shedding or in a rough patch.

Bathe every month or so with a mild dog shampoo, and dry thoroughly. Many owners trim the hair on the feet and between the pads.

The long, heavy ears trap moisture, and ear problems are common in spaniels. Check them weekly and clean as advised by your vet. The eyes can show tear staining, so wipe the corners gently.

Trim nails every few weeks, and brush teeth regularly, since small dogs are prone to dental disease. Our guide to brushing your dog's teeth walks you through it. Handle your puppy's paws, ears and mouth from the start so that grooming becomes a calm routine.

Feeding

Cavaliers love food and put on weight easily, and extra weight is hard on both the heart and joints. Feed a complete and balanced diet suitable for the dog's life stage and size, and measure portions rather than free feeding.

Most adults do well on two small meals a day. A rough starting amount from the food label should be adjusted against body condition: you should feel ribs easily under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above. Our dog food calculator can give you an estimate, and your vet can fine-tune it.

Keep treats to about 10 percent of daily calories, and use part of the daily kibble for training. Healthy options for small dogs include small pieces of carrot or cooked green beans, but check any new food first.

If your Cavalier has been diagnosed with heart disease, your vet may recommend a specific diet, for example one with controlled sodium. Follow that advice rather than choosing a food yourself. Always provide fresh water.

Health

Cavaliers are lovable but face significant health risks, and a careful choice of breeder is the most useful thing you can do. The most important concern is myxomatous mitral valve disease, a leaking heart valve that is the leading reported cause of death in the breed and can begin at an early age. Many develop a murmur by middle age, and regular heart checks are essential.

Syringomyelia is a painful neurological condition in which fluid pockets form in the spinal cord, linked to abnormalities of the skull and brain. Signs can include scratching at the air near the neck and shoulders, yelping and weakness. Some breeders screen with MRI.

Other issues include eye problems such as dry eye, cherry eye and cataracts, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, ear problems and episodic falling, an inherited condition triggered by excitement or exercise.

Cavaliers usually live 12-15 years, though heart disease can shorten that. Ask any breeder for recent cardiac exams from a veterinary cardiologist for both parents, and keep up regular vet visits throughout your dog's life.

Health conditions to know about

• Myxomatous mitral valve disease — Leaky heart valve that is very common in the breed and often starts early; needs regular cardiac checks.
• Syringomyelia — Fluid cavities in the spinal cord linked to skull shape; can cause neck and shoulder pain.
• Dry eye and cataracts — Eye conditions that can cause discomfort or vision loss.
• Patellar luxation — Kneecap slips out of place, causing skipping or lameness.
• Episodic falling — Inherited muscle condition triggered by excitement or exercise.

Health tests to ask a breeder about

• Cardiac exam by a veterinary cardiologist (repeated annually)
• Eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist
• Patella evaluation
• Hip evaluation
• MRI screening for syringomyelia (breeder's discretion)
• Episodic falling DNA test (optional)

Read more: intervertebral disc disease (ivdd).

Written from veterinary sources by the Pawsplained editorial team. Not yet reviewed by a veterinarian; this is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Updated Oct 25, 2026. Editorial policy

Living with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier is an excellent apartment dog. It is quiet, small and happy to stay close to its people, and it does not need a large yard. What it does need is company; a Cavalier left alone all day often becomes anxious and may bark or chew. If you work long hours, plan for a dog walker, daycare or a family member to break up the day.

The breed gets along with children, other dogs and even cats, which makes it versatile for multi-pet homes. Teach kids to handle the dog gently, because of its small size.

Cavaliers feel the heat, so provide shade, water and air conditioning in summer and never leave them in a car. Their thin coat gives modest protection in the cold, so a coat may help in winter.

Secure fencing and a leash are needed outdoors, since the dog may chase small animals. Dogs with heart disease should avoid strenuous exertion, and your vet can advise you about stairs, travel and exercise.

Puppies, breeders & rescue

Cavalier puppy prices vary widely, and this is a breed where paying for health testing really matters. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, the AKC parent club, requires four screenings for CHIC certification: a cardiac exam by a board-certified cardiologist, repeated every year, an eye exam by a veterinary ophthalmologist, a hip evaluation and a patella evaluation. MRI screening for syringomyelia is left to the breeder's discretion, and DNA tests for episodic falling and dry eye curly coat syndrome are optional. Ask to see the paperwork.

Good breeders limit the number of litters, raise puppies in the home, let you meet the mother and are open about problems in their lines. Avoid sellers who advertise many breeds, offer puppies at any time, or skip the questions.

Cavalier rescues exist in many regions, and adult dogs sometimes come with known health histories. Adoption can be a rewarding path.

Whichever route you take, plan for veterinary costs. Insurance taken out while the dog is young and healthy can help with expensive diagnoses later, since pre-existing conditions are generally excluded.