CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL PROs & CONs (Include Health Problems) - Must Watch Before Getting One

[Applause] the cavalier king charles spaniel is classified by the american kennel club as a toy dog breed with the energy and athleticism of the sporting spaniel the breeds history started in the united kingdom where they were bred as hunting dogs but became a popular companion dog to british royals such as the likes of queen victoria king charles and princess margaret furthermore since the year 2000 the breed has been growing in popularity in the united states and as a matter of fact out of 195 breeds the cavalier king charles spaniel is ranked as the 17th most popular dog breed for the year 2020 by the american kennel club the breed is described as extremely affectionate playful patient and eager to please as a result these dogs typically get along well with children and other dogs moreover cavaliers are not afraid to interact with much larger dogs making them ideal for homes that have different dog breeds providing the other dogs are trained plus they are adaptable to just about any environment family or location and are suitable for both city and rural life in addition the cavalier king charles spaniels are very sociable family dogs that require a lot of human interaction in order to ensure a healthy mental state however we know that there are pros and cons to owning most pets and unfortunately the cavalier king charles spaniel is no exception we previously mentioned some of the pros but let's take a look at eight more pros and eight cons of owning one of this dog breed now here are the eight pros number one if you're looking for a lap dog the cavalier king charles spaniel should be a top contender on your list as this breed is considered the epitome of a lap dog remember their history includes being cuddle companions to royals and aristocrats so it's in their dna to yearn for human companionship and love and to be in the company of their human family are you looking for a mini-me or a cute shadow to follow you wherever you go well look no further as your cavalier will fit the role perfectly as they have a tendency to follow their owner around the house plus cavaliers are very affectionate dogs so be prepared for lots of kisses keep in mind though that you may have to set boundaries around lap time which ties into number two they are easy to train because cavaliers are companion dogs they enjoy pleasing their owners so it is no surprise that they are quick learners this stems from their desire to make their human companions happy which makes it possible for them to start obedience training at an early age so setting boundaries should be a breeze remember positive reinforcement is a good way to motivate and train your pup number three they are intelligent even though the cavaliers are not as intelligent as the border collie or the poodle they rank among the top 50 most intelligent dog breeds needless to say their intelligence is a big contributor to their quick learning ability number four they require only a moderate amount of exercise to keep your cavalier happy and stimulated it is recommended that an hour or so of daily exercise is adequate this makes them ideal companion dogs for individuals who do not have the ability or desire to provide a lot of exercise to a dog on a regular basis and for senior individuals who are unable to walk long distance so keep in mind that even though these dogs make excellent lap dogs they still require daily walks or other activities so that they can get their required amount of daily exercise number five minimal barking the cavalier king charles spaniel is not a noisy dog which is important for individuals or families that live in apartments with noise restrictions or who live in the city and have close by or fussy neighbors these dogs tend to communicate with body languages such as wagging their tails and licking this is not to say your cavalier will not bark every healthy dog barks but generally cavaliers only bark when startled or afraid number six they are portable due to their small size friendly personality and propensity to bark infrequently you can take your cavalier almost anywhere dogs are permitted and they enjoy going everywhere with you too so this is a win-win situation number seven they do very well with children for families with young children that are looking for a toy dog breed the cavalier king charles spaniel is an excellent choice because of its friendly gentle and docile demeanor however this requires that smaller kids do not provoke the dog such as pulling on his ears or tail which in rare cases can cause the dog to swiftly react by unintentionally nipping also keep in mind that it is usually not a good idea to leave a dog alone with a child regardless of how family friendly the dog appears to be number eight they are a suitable fit for time dog owners the cavaliers are ideal for first time dog owners because they are smart and do not aspire to be alpha dogs making them unpretentious and content and therefore making it easy for first time owners in return your cavalier just requires your attention care love and affection now let's take a look at eight cons number one they require regular grooming according to the kennel club the cavaliers coats require more than regular brushing so daily to at least weekly brushing is recommended keep in mind that brushing and combing not only help to keep their coat tangle free and shiny but it also provides a nice body massage for your dog which he adores in addition their ears must be checked for signs of infection and cleaned on a weekly basis and the air on the paws and between the toes should be trimmed every other month or so number two these dogs do shed so having a cavalier king charles spaniel means that you will more than likely have fur on your clothes and furniture therefore you will need to devote more time to extra vacuuming this takes us to number three they are not hyperallergenic when it comes to dogs many prospective owners have hypoallergenic as a criterion the american canal club on the other hand claims that no dog is 100 percent hyperallergenic and they provide a list of dogs that do well with allergy sufferers unfortunately the cavalier king charles spaniel did not make the list however cavaliers have shedding coats so being non-hyper allergenic shouldn't be surprising number four cavaliers appreciate their food and as such they can become overweight if they are free fed from a large bowl or given too many treats to help avoid this issue your cavaliers should get regular exercise and be fed an appropriate diet that is portion controlled based on his size number five cavaliers adore human companionship which is a huge plus however the disadvantage is that cavalier king charles spaniels dislike being left alone for an extended period of time if you work away from home or if you have to leave your dog home alone frequently then a cavalier king charles spaniel may not be the most suitable dog for you moreover these dogs are known to develop separation anxiety and if they do the outcome may not be in your favor alternatively you could hire a dog sitter or a dog walker if a cavalier is just too cute to resist number six when walk in your cavalier he must be on a leash the breed was bred not only as companion dogs but they were also bred to scare birds during hunting season therefore they have an innate prey drive towards small animals so to avoid any unforeseen attack or chase it is best to walk your cavalier on a leash at all times needless to say homes with yards or gardens should be fenced to prevent the dog from wandering off in search of a small bird or creature alternatively you can opt to walk your dog at a fenced dog park number seven they are usually not good guard dogs due to the cavaliers modest size and stature they are not intimidating dogs plus if your cavalier decides to bark at a stranger it would not be a frightening experience moreover these dogs have a tendency to view strangers as friends anyhow so if you're looking for a small guard dog a cavalier king charles spaniel is not the best option number eight their health the cavalier king charles spaniels are prone to a number of hereditary health issues that affect a high percentage of the breed the most prevalent is mitral valve disease which is a heart disease that can weaken the heart valves and can eventually lead to heart failure some other health issues that cavaliers may face are sorengo myelia which affects the brain and spine hip dysplasia patel luxation eye conditions including dry eyes and cataracts and middle ear infections keep in mind that screening for all of these health issues are available and most cavaliers live comfortable lives well into their senior years however it is highly recommended that prospective owners discuss any potential hereditary health problems with their breeder as reputable breeders usually hell test their breed in stock thanks for watching take care and see you in my next video

Channel: Animal Digest

Views: 93,305

Keywords: cavalier king charles spaniel pros and cons, pros and cons of cavalier king charles spaniel, cavalier king charles spaniel, cavalier king charles spaniel aggression problems, cavalier king charles spaniel behavior problems, cavalier king charles spaniel eye problems, cavalier king charles spaniel problems, cavalier king charles spaniel facts, cavalier king charles spaniel information, cavalier king charles spaniel care needs, cavalier king charles spaniel grooming

Id: 5p4ozT6GI6s

Length: 12min 19sec (739 seconds)

Published: Fri Nov 19 2021