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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - History, Popularity, Health, Characteristics, Care, Education

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog, with an active and happy temperament. Its main function has been that of a pet, which is shown in paintings from the 16th century.

During the 16th century, a small type of spaniel was quite popular with the nobility of England. People of that time believed that dogs could keep fleas away, and some even believed that they could prevent stomach diseases. These dogs were sometimes called "soft spaniel" or "comforter", when ladies rode in carriages during the winter; they carried a spaniel on their lap to keep warm. Charles I kept a spaniel while residing at Carisbrooke Castle; however it is with Charles II that this breed is closely linked. It used to be said of him that: "His Majesty was seldom seen without his small dogs." There was even a myth that he ordered a decree not to deny entry to public places with spaniels.

During the reign of William III and Queen Mary II, the long-nosed spaniel style went out of fashion. The Pug was the fashionable dog at that time in the Netherlands and due to William's Dutch origin; it became popular in England as well. From crossing with the Pug, or other flat-nosed breeds, some characteristics of the modern King Charles spaniel would come. In 1852 William Youatt criticized the change in breed: "King Charles's breed today is materially altered for the worse. The muzzle is very short, and the forehead is ugly and prominent, like that of the bulldog. The eye has twice its original size, and it has an expression of stupidity with which the dog's character corresponds exactly. "

In the early 18th century, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, owned a red and white hunting King Charles spaniel type. It was called Blenheim, in honor of his victory at the Battle of Blenheim. It was because of him that the King Charles spaniel’s variety of red and white hair is known as Blenheim.

At the beginning of the 20th century, attempts were made to recover the original King Charles spaniel, with the now-defunct Toy Spaniel Trawler. These attempts were documented by Judith Blunt-Lytton, Baroness Wentworth, in her work "Dogs and Their Ancestors" including the history and management of the Toy Spaniel, Pekingese, and Pomeranian, the book was published under the name of the Honorable Lady of Neville Lytton in 1911.

According to statistics released by the Kennel Club, they were the sixth most popular dog in the UK in 2007 with 11,422 registrations in a single year. The Labrador retriever ranked first with 45,079 records in that year.

In 2009 it was the fourth most popular breed in Australia with 3,196 registrations behind only the Labrador retriever, German shepherd and Staffordshire bull terrier. In addition, there are also national breed clubs in Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.

Character They are active due to their instinct to chase most of the things that move, including vehicles on busy streets, so it is recommended to always take them for walks on a leash. They tend to consider all strangers as friends and don't usually fight with other dogs; members of this breed are generally not good guard dogs. As part of the Spaniel group they have a strong hunting instinct and can endanger birds and small animals. However, there are owners who have reported that through positive reinforcement training their cavalier lives happily with a variety of small animals, including hamsters, gerbils, and birds.

They are noble, friendly and willing to please the majority. As such, dogs of this breed are good with children and other dogs, as they are affectionate and show a patient character. They are ideal small dogs to live in an apartment. They're naturally curious and playful, but they also just enjoy being cushioned, making them great as a companion or lap dog for medical, elderly, or depressed patients. It has to be brushed frequently and gently cleaned in the eye area.

At the intelligence level, the breed ranked 44th in Stanley Coren's ranking of The Fabulous Intelligence of Dogs6 for presenting average intelligence in obedience training.

They can often suffer from some serious genetic health problems, including the early onset of mitral valve prolapse (MVD), the potentially very painful syringomyelia (SM), hip dysplasia, dislocated patella, certain vision, and inherited eye issues. such as cataracts and retinal dysplasia, as well as hearing disorders.7 Since today's cavaliers are descended from just six dogs, any inherited disease present in at least one of the original founding dogs could be transmitted in significant proportions to generations. future. In biology this is known as the founder effect and is the probable cause of the prevalence of MVD in the breed.

Mitral prolapse
Almost all cavaliers eventually suffer from mitral valve prolapse, with heart murmurs that can progressively worsen, leading to heart failure. This condition is polygenic (affected by multiple genes), and therefore lines around the world are susceptible. It is the leading cause of death in the breed.

The condition may begin to show signs at an early age and is statistically expected to be present in more than half of cavaliers from 5 years of age. It is rare that a 10-year-old specimen does not have at least a heart murmur, as the breed is particularly susceptible to early-onset heart disease that may be evident in dogs as young as one or two years old. .

Veterinary geneticists and cardiologists have developed guidelines for the breeding and early elimination of mitral valve disease, or mitral prolapse, in the breed, but it is unclear whether a statistically significant number of breeders follow these guidelines. The Mitral Prolapse (MVD) Parenting Protocol recommends that the puppy's parents must be at least 2.5 years old and have a healthy heart, as well as the heart of their parents (i.e. the puppy's grandparents) must be declared healthy until 5 years old.

In 2009 the president of the Cavalier Club (CKCS) in the United Kingdom said that "There are not many members who are still prepared to check the health of their breeding stock, and those who do, seem to have no hesitation in continuing to breed using affected animals.

Causes of death
A survey by the UK Kennel Club showed that 42.8% of deaths in Cavaliers were related to heart failure. The second most common cause is cancer (12.3%) and the last one is old age (12.2%).

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel dog breed is known for its multiple movies appearance, likewise, it was also popularized thanks to the celebrities who chose it as a companion dog, such as Coco Chanel, Oscar Wilde or Frank Sinatra. Furthermore, this breed is highly appreciated for its elegant appearance and its silky and delicate coat. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is possessed of a sweet and loving character, but we must not forget that it is also a delicate breed, due to the various hereditary health problems that it can present.

If you want to know more about the Cavalier King Charles spaniel breed in this article from Animal Expert you will find all the necessary information, such as its origins, characteristics, character, care, health or education. Keep reading!

Origin of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel
There are many stories and legends about this fascinating breed, which reached its peak of popularity during the reigns of Charles I of England and Scotland and that of Charles II of England. It appears in various paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, where we can observe certain differences from the current standard, mainly on the face, which shows a slightly longer snout, as well as on the body, which is thinner.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a breed native to England and the earliest specimens date back to the time of Elizabeth I of England. It is probable that the Cavalier King Charles spaniel was born from the cross between Pekingese dogs and Japanese water dogs, since there is evidence of the delivery of dogs as presents to members of royal families in Europe. Already in the year 1,600 they began to be appreciated among English nobles.

It receives part of its name, "Charles", thanks to Carlos II, who was particularly attached to it. Historians point out that he was just another member of his entourage and that he never parted ways with his faithful four-legged friend, even at state meetings. For this reason it is also called "Cavalier". Other relatives of the English royal family were also great lovers of the breed.

In recent years, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel has spread around the world and is considered one of the most popular and beloved English dog breeds, both for its loving character and for its cute appearance.

Characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a small, well-proportioned and elegant dog. Its weight is between 5.4 and 8 kilograms and the height at the withers is between 30 and 33 cm. It belongs to group IX of the FCI, to that of companion dogs.

Its head is small and it has a slightly elongated muzzle and an almost flat forehead, precisely for this reason the frontal depression is quite evident. The muzzle tapers towards the end. The teeth of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel are strong and have the typical scissor bite, that is, the upper teeth perfectly overlap with the lower ones.

The eyes are round, dark and well spaced. The ears are a very characteristic feature of the breed and slightly resemble those of the English Cocker Spaniel, as they are long and have fringes. However, in the case of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel they are of high insertion.

The tail is proportional to the body, has a lot of hair and is never located above the level of the posterior line. It has a straight and horizontal back, as well as a moderate thorax, characterized by a good circle of the ribs. The legs are of moderate skeleton, while the feet are covered with abundant hair and have good bearings.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel's cloak is long and silky, with abundant fringes, and can have different shades: black and cinnamon, ruby, blenheim or tricolor.

Cavalier King Charles spaniel character
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a docile and affable dog, which makes it one of the most suitable breeds for living with children and the elderly. His character is happy and, well socialized, he does not present fear, anxiety or nervousness, on the contrary, he is an active but balanced dog.

Living with him is especially simple, and thanks to its small size, it adapts easily to apartment life. You can live with any type of family family, however, as with any other individual, we should not promote a particularly sedentary lifestyle, but we must provide walks, exercise and stimulation to keep him happy.

Finally highlight that, with a correct socialization, this dog can wonderfully relate to all kinds of people and animals, making it also a great breed for animal assisted therapy.

Cavalier King Charles spaniel care
The feeding of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel must be balanced, that is, balanced. When choosing your diet, whether based on feed or homemade recipes, we will ensure that it is of quality. Likewise, we will respect the quantities to guarantee an adequate weight and to avoid being overweight. We can divide the daily quantity between 2 or 3 doses. Let's not forget that the diet must always be adapted to the age of the individual, their specific needs and their state of health, so it is always advisable to consult a veterinarian.

On the other hand, to keep its coat silky and in good condition, we should brush it 2 or 3 times a week, paying special attention to the formation of possible knots and tangles in the area of ​​the ears and extremities. Regular brushing will positively influence your health, not only to keep your coat shiny, but also to quickly detect the presence of parasites or wounds. The bath is usually done once a month, always using specific products for dogs.

Exercise is another fundamental aspect of care, because as we have previously commented, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is an active dog. We will offer you a minimum of 3 walks a day, one of which we must combine with some physical exercise. Likewise, we must not forget the importance of mental stimulation to keep your mind active.

Cavalier King Charles spaniel's education
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is an intelligent dog that learns easily, however, it is important to educate him through positive training, thus avoiding positive punishment, which can generate stress and anxiety in our dog. This type of education is not recommended only in this breed, but in all dogs. In fact, the use of positive reinforcement in training favors learning and a good relationship with the owner.

Another fundamental aspect of education is the socialization of the puppy, an essential process for our dog to learn to relate to other individuals, environments and people, such as children, adults, cats, dogs or ambulances, among others. Null or poor socialization can lead to fears and other behavioral problems. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel must also learn to urinate on the street.

To finish your basic education we will pay attention to obedience orders, which in addition to strengthening our bond will allow us to mentally stimulate you and improve your response to our requests.

Cavalier King Charles spaniel health
The life expectancy of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is between 9 and 14 years, however, it is a breed that has a high predisposition to suffer from various hereditary diseases, highlighting the syringomyelia, an especially painful and serious pathology. It is estimated that around 33% of the population of Cavaliers King Charles spaniel suffer from it. It is mainly due to an overgrowth of brain mass, which does not have enough space in the skull.

Cavalier king charles spaniel photo :

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Video : THINGS I WISH I KNEW | Before Getting a Cavalier King Charles

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