If you are looking for one of the sweetest companions within the canine community, consider the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. It is the largest breed in the toy dog category, with a height of 30.5-33 cm at the withers and a weight of between 6 and 9 kg. Given their short stature, they are easy to handle dogs for most owners. They have cheerful, dynamic and sociable personalities, making them an ideal choice for most families, but also for singles and the elderly. You can find mixed-breed Cavaliers at a fairly low price, while pure-bred ones can have significantly higher costs, ranging between 500 and 3500 euros.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Choose Based on Appearance
Step 1. Choose a Cavalier featuring the right color
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have silky coats and have 4 different colors, known as Blenheim (fawn and white), black and tan, tricolor (fawn, black and white) and Ruby (fawn only). Most of the breeders prefer the Cavaliers characterized by a long, slightly wavy hair; moreover, they have a predilection for specimens with clearly defined colors. On the other hand, they do not appreciate those with many spots of color. This means that if a Cavalier has a predominantly black back, they shouldn't have patches of other colors mixed with it.
Step 2. Choose a Cavalier with a quality coat
Purebred show dogs are usually famous for their smooth coat. If the dog you are considering adopting has a slightly wavy coat, this is totally acceptable. Cavaliers need minimal grooming. You should brush your coat regularly, a couple of times a week. It rarely needs to be cut. They generally need to take a bath every 2-3 weeks.
Cavaliers often shed. When choosing a dog for yourself, pay close attention to the coat. If you see a lot of loose hair on your coat or you see them where the dog is, ask the seller how often he brushes or cleans the area. In most cases, the moult is due to the dog's environment or diet, and both are factors that you can change
Step 3. Choose a healthy looking dog
Purebred Cavaliers usually have many health problems, due to generations of kinsmen aiming to maintain a pure lineage. The parts of the body to be examined immediately to understand if a dog is healthy are the coat, eyes and ears. These areas tend to be the most problematic for Cavaliers, so they should be looked into immediately when considering purchasing a specimen.
Make sure your eyes, nose, and ears are clean and free of secretions. The coat should be clean and free from parasites such as fleas. A puppy with prominent ribs and a swollen belly probably has worms. They can be treated, but they may indicate that his or her mother's care was less than ideal
Step 4. Have the Cavalier examined by a veterinarian
Regardless of what the seller tells you, ask a vet to visit your new 4-legged friend. Make sure he focuses on Cavalier specific problems (such as those mentioned earlier) and environmental issues like mites, fleas, ticks, and heartworms.
To be sure, always have puppies examined before purchase. A puppy's heart murmur will likely give you more of a problem in the long run, with a high risk of progression to premature heart failure. If you intend to buy an adult dog, it is also wise to take it to a vet before buying it. The doctor can observe the presence of common ailments affecting Cavaliers and other problems
Method 2 of 4: Choose a Cavalier Based on Temperament
Step 1. Determine if he is friendly
Cavaliers should be well disposed towards people. They are primarily companion dogs that provide entertainment and warmth.
- Cavaliers can be ideal for families with young children. Since they are small in size, your kids are less likely to accidentally get hurt, which is often the case with bulkier and heavier Labradors. Cavaliers can still bite and scratch, but in general they are easy breeds to handle.
- Some dogs are bred in such a way that they fear people. Perhaps they had a traumatic experience as a puppy, which taught them to be afraid of humans - or even attack them. While this behavior can be corrected, it could be a challenge that you may not be willing to take on. When visiting your dog for the first time, put your hand close to his muzzle and let him sniff you to absorb your scent. Behave friendly and don't invade his space too quickly. Try stroking him and playing with him. Observe how he responds: If he welcomes your attention, then you've probably found a sociable pet.
Step 2. Dwell on how it interacts with other animals
Many families have more than one dog or animal. If this is your situation, then observe how the dog you are interested in plays with siblings or other dogs in the area. Does he exhibit aggressive behavior? Does he isolate himself in a corner of the fence? Does he join in the fun and is the leader of the group? You can find out a dog's temper very quickly by observing how it interacts with other animals.
If you're going to sign him up for shows, he'll need to behave well around other dogs as well. In this situation, the last thing you want is to have a beautiful dog with a pestiferous behavior that distracts the judges from his appearance
Step 3. Choose an active specimen
Cavaliers are dynamic Spaniels who love to play and explore outdoors. People considering this breed should be prepared to provide regular exercise times for the dog to keep healthy. For athletic masters, Cavaliers can be trained gradually so that they can accompany them on long walks or hikes.
- It is unusual to find Cavaliers inactive or even lethargic. Typically, dull behavior is a sign of bad manners and could indicate future conduct problems.
- Don't confuse tiredness with a dull temper. Smaller puppies often sleep a lot, and the same goes for older dogs. This should not be interpreted negatively; instead, see if you can gently induce the dog to wake up. Try playing with him. See if you can encourage him to interact with other dogs. This will allow you to get a better idea of his personality.
Method 3 of 4: Consider a Pure Race
Step 1. Consider the pros of choosing a purebred Cavalier
In general, these specimens have predictable traits. If you buy one, you will have a dynamic, affectionate and companionable dog with a rather easy-to-manage coat. Genetically speaking, Cavaliers have a predisposition for lightheartedness. If you buy a purebred one, you can expect such a temperament.
Step 2. Consider the cons of buying a purebred dog
Mixed-breed Cavaliers may adopt some of the biological traits of the breed they were crossed with. If a cross has been made with a hound, they may have the instinct to hunt and bark louder. Similarly, if the cross has been with a dog that has low energy, such as Shih Tzus, they may lose that dynamic touch that made you initially fall in love with the breed.
Step 3. Consider common Cavalier health problems
Many people crave purebred specimens. This means that reproduction occurs with a limited genetic heritage. In order to obtain purebred specimens, many breeders mate related dogs, and others involuntarily practice breeding with too little genetic makeup, which has tangible and extremely unpleasant consequences. Purebred Cavaliers are at increased risk of suffering from heart disease, disc disease and / or severe neurological problems.
- Heart Disorders: In the UK alone, 59% of Cavaliers over 4 years of age have a heart murmur. This corresponds to almost 2/3 of the British population of this breed, a statistic that does not go unnoticed.
- Chiari malformation and syringomyelia. When a dog has Chiari malformation, this basically means that the skull is too small for the brain, which causes terrible neuralgia. The Breed Predispositions to Disease in the Dogs and Cats veterinary manual states that it is a very common disease, with symptoms developing between 5 months and 3 years of age.
- Epilepsy: Dogs may have seizures at any time, but the most common period is between 6 months and 6 years of age.
- Discopathy: This is another common ailment for Cavaliers, especially as they get older. In most cases, you won't know if a dog is prone to this problem until you see him walk stiffly or reluctantly lower his head over the food or water bowl.
Method 4 of 4: Buying a Cavalier
Step 1. Find a place to buy or adopt a Cavalier
There are several websites that you can consult in order to find both purebred and mixed breed specimens. You can also take a look at the classifieds in the newspapers in your area. Depending on where you live, the number of options varies.
Step 2. Think about buying a dog from a breeder
Look for one that gives you the history of the puppy's parents and grandparents, including written results of medical tests. You must avoid choosing a dog born from an endogamous mating, so ask to see the pedigree documents and ask breeders questions about the origins of the specimen. If you want to buy from a private seller, ask for the same certificates.
Step 3. Consider dog shelters
They are ideal places to look for mixed breed Cavaliers. Before falling in love with a particular foundling, make sure you fully understand the dog's medical needs. Many end up in a shelter because they suffer from ailments that the original owners were unable to handle.
Step 4. Avoid the canifici
If you are unsure whether you are in such a place, request to meet the mother. A reliable breeder will be happy to introduce her to you and show you her siblings. It will also give you accurate parental history records. Instead, in a dog factory they will give you all the excuses they can find (and it might seem plausible) to keep you from seeing the mother.
