Eight Good Reasons to Own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

More and more people around the world are discovering Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and their popularity is rapidly increasing. Many people believe these delightful small spaniels are the most loving and affectionate breed of dog alive today and their nature and temperament truly allows them to be the ultimate companion. But what are the special attributes which have contributed to this popularity? Eight good reasons are listed below.


BEAUTY
It is often said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but most people will agree that Cavaliers are beautiful. With their long glamorous ears framing large, dark, liquid eyes and appealingly attractive faces, and with their soft, silky coats, in one of four lovely colour/colour combinations, they really are a delight to the eye. Take a Cavalier for a walk down the street and you will notice people turn to look, but don’t be fooled; it’s probably not you they’re looking at, but your Cavalier!


INTELLIGENCE
Cavaliers have brains as well as beauty and are said to be amongst the cleverest breeds of dogs. They are very easy to train and enjoy learning new tricks and activities.

Cavaliers are extremely 'tuned in' to their humans and generally have their owners well trained in the minimum of time. They have the ability to solve problems, are smart enough to ‘play dumb’ if it is to their advantage, and aren't afraid to use their good looks and soulful eyes to get what they want.



TEMPERAMENT
Cavaliers have many outstanding attributes which contribute to their ideal temperament. They are joyful and happy by nature and easily pleased, with tails that rarely stop wagging.

In spite of their smaller size, Cavaliers are not ‘yappy’ or continuous barkers like some small dogs. Never-the-less, they will warn you of the approach or intrusion of a person or anything out of the ordinary, but once the warning is given they are likely to welcome any visitors with a smiley face and a happily wagging tail.

Cavaliers are gentle, sensitive and intuitive with an uncanny ability to tune into their owners moods and feelings. They are friendly, accepting and welcoming towards all people (children and adults) and other animals and they have a high degree of empathy and compassion which makes them ideal as therapy dogs. They are easy going and content to live in the moment.


ABILITY
Cavaliers love to learn and their size and shape allows them to be quite athletic. They excel at activities such as Obedience, Agility, Jumping, Dancing With Dogs and other canine sports. They enjoy swimming (if introduced to it at a young age) and will happily accompany their owners on long walks or when they go out jogging.

In the Untied Kingdom, in earlier days, Cavaliers were used as gun dogs and were able to retrieve small game such as pheasants and rabbits and, although not the norm, I have seen a Cavalier successfully working as a sheep dog.


ADAPTABILITY
It doesn’t matter whether you own a thousand acres or a bed sitter, whether you hike miles every day or spend your time on the sofa watching television, whether you live quietly alone or as part of a large, rambunctious family or whether you live in a palatial palace or a humble cottage, a Cavalier will be happy and contented, so long as you are there with it.

A Cavalier will happily join in with any activities and will also be happy to accompany you anywhere you like to take it. It will be well mannered in public places and its ideal size and wonderful temperament make it a charming companion wherever you go, be it on a long car journey, a short walk to the coffee shop, or anything in between.


IDEAL SIZE
Many owners believe that Cavaliers are the perfect size for a companion dog. They don’t take up a lot of room and are a good size to comfortably sit on your knee or sleep on the end of your bed, but, at the same time they are large and robust enough to go for a long walk or a run on the beach.

Cavaliers are small enough to take with you and they will enthusiastically enjoy camping, boating, swimming, or any other activities you and your family take part in, or happily sit with older family members in front of the television or as a spectator at children’s sports activities.


EASY CARE
For a long coated breed, Cavaliers are surprisingly easy to care for. Five or ten minutes spent grooming them every two or three days will keep their coats tidy and knot-free and keep shedding to a minimum. Some owners keep a slicker brush and comb handy so they can groom their Cavalier/s while they are sitting together each evening watching TV.

Cavaliers don’t need a lot of food and although they would happily eat a lot more, 180 to 220 grams of food (including treats) each day is enough to keep most of them in excellent condition.


LOVE
One of the best qualities of a Cavalier is love. Cavaliers love everyone and everything. They soak up love (some people call them love sponges) and give back absolutely unconditional, pure love in quantities that we could never match. Their love is endless and uncomplicated and is freely offered to all who come into contact with them.




Footnote: Environment, circumstances and breeding all play a part in determining the attributes and temperament of each individual dog and puppies of all breeds need to be properly socialised and given basic training whilst they are still young, to maximise their good qualities.

It is also very important to purchase any pure-bred puppy from a reputable breeder, whose breeding dogs and bitches are regularly screened by appropriate specialist veterinarians for inherited health problems associated with the breed. A reputable breeder will also give the bitch and her puppies the appropriate care and nutrition, which will lay the foundations for the puppy to grow into a happy, healthy adult.

#dogs
#how_to
#cavalier_king_charles_spaniel
#dog_breeds
#family_pets
#pets_ &_Kids



%readyforpets