"Should I Get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?" Some Helpful Advice

So you have heard that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is affectionate, loyal, intelligent, and good natured. You may have heard that the Cavalier is a large dog in a small dog's body - that it doesn't bark a lot like many other small breeds. It's true! That the Cavalier is great with both kids and cats and is not by nature aggressive? Also true! And they have the beautiful, soft face of a spaniel, with large, round, dark eyes full of soulful emotion. So what is stopping you from running out and adopting one today? Here are a few things to consider about the breed before you take the plunge:

Separation Anxiety: Yes, cavaliers are affectionate and want nothing more than to be close to their human companions. However, this could actually be a bad thing if you work long hours. For example, Toby hates it when we go to a different room if he can't follow. He would especially hate being left alone all day without us. To remedy this, we make sure to give him lots of attention and trips to doggie daycare if we won't be around for long hours.

Health Problems: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is known to have many health problems, including syringomyelia, heart mitral valve disease, and hip dysplasia, to name a few. Almost all cavaliers exhibit some or even all of these health problems unless you buy from a very reputable breeder, and they result in expensive vet bills and short lifespans - definitely NOT something you want to be thinking about when you are getting your new puppy! To avoid these pitfalls later on, research BEFORE buying a cavalier: http://www.cavalierhealth.org/.

Finding a Reputable Breeder: When we were looking for Toby, finding a reputable breeder who was alert and responsive to the breed's health issues was probably the hardest part! Most ads we saw in the newspaper ended up being from puppy farms, and even breeders who seemed to be health conscious would often get defensive when asked questions about the steps they were taking to ensure their dogs were healthy. Tip: if the breeders response to your questions about SM and MVD is "I do NOT breed GARBAGE!" look for a different breeder. You will eventually find one that is proud of the steps they have taken to breed healthy dogs and will be happy to discuss the health issues with you. 

Expensive: Sure, you can find ads for Cavalier puppies for as little as $300. You may think you can save some money up front-- after all, why buy a super expensive Cavalier when you can get one that looks just as cute for much cheaper? The answer is there is much more to a Cavalier than cuteness, and you especially have to keep this in mind when you are looking at pictures of cute little puppies. These cheap puppies will end up costing you much more in the long run if you choose to properly diagnose and treat their inevitable problems. And if you choose not to treat them, chances are your Cavalier will not live a very long life!

Obesity: Cavaliers are known to gain weight very easily. You have to watch what your Cavalier is eating very carefully or he will become obese. Obesity often causes the health problems mentioned above to show up earlier and to get much worse than they would be if your Cavalier were in good shape. You have to decide whether you are prepared to keep your new puppy on his diet!

Keeping these things in mind will help you know whether this breed is right for you. In the end, is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel still a good choice as a family pet? You bet!