Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - By Felicia
This week, we’ll go over the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the breed of my dog, Lela, who is one of the namesakes of CookyLela News.
Even though they may seem like a cute companion dog on the outside, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed retains the athletic and sporty genes that their spaniel ancestors once had. Can’t say the same for Lela, who adores sleeping…
Anyway, if they’re not sitting on a lap or getting their (plump) belly rubbed, nothing makes them happier than to run after a chew toy or a ball and then attempt to retrieve it.
Breed Characteristics:
Very sensitive
Cannot tolerate being alone for too long
Affectionate
Kid-friendly
Snores SO MUCH
Gains weight easily (i learned this from personal experience)
Easy to train
Very smart
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a gorgeous dog that undoubtedly is a contender for the title of "top tail-wagger." In fact, among the characteristics that Cavalier breeders strive to attain is a tail in constant motion when this breed is moving. This definitely applies to Lela!
If the characteristic wagging of the Cavalier's feathery tail doesn't melt your heart, surely his large, dark round eyes will. Warm and lustrous, with a sugary sweet expression, they hold the power to extract constant petting and unlimited supplies of food from people under their spell. Not surprisingly, this breed can easily become fat, which spoils its lovely lines, so be strong and offer a walk or playtime instead of the potato chips and pizza your Cavalier is angling for.
Cavaliers pad through the house on slippered paws, always following in the footsteps of their people. With a Cavalier in your house, you'll never feel lonely — not even in the bathroom. Because they're so attached to their people, they do best when someone is at home during the day to keep them company. They are a house dog and will never thrive in an environment where they're relegated to the backyard or otherwise ignored.
When it comes to training, Cavaliers are super smart and willing to try whatever it is you'd like them to do. Food rewards and positive reinforcement help ensure that training goes smoothly. Cavaliers have a soft personality, so yelling at them is counterproductive and likely to send these sweeties into the sulks or into hiding. Instead, reward them every time you see them doing something you like, whether it's chewing on a toy instead of your brand-new shoes or not barking in response when the dog next door barks. They'll fall all over themselves to find more things that you like.
This small but sturdy dog stands 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder and weighs 13 to 18 pounds… but if you ask Lela, she weighs 31 pounds. Yikes, Lela!
Cavaliers are adorned with medium-length coats that are silky to the touch and may be slightly wavy. Adult Cavaliers have feathering on their ears, chest, legs, feet and tail.
Cavaliers come in four colors:
Blenheim, a rich chestnut on a pearly white background. Some Blenheims have a thumb-shaped chestnut dot on top of the forehead, called a lozenge.
Tricolor, black markings on a white coat with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, and on the underside of the tail. This is Lela’s Color!
Black and Tan, black with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, inside the ears, and on the chest, legs and underside of the tail
Ruby, a solid rich reddish-brown with no white spots or markings
Blenheim is the most common color, but the others aren't rare.