15 Things You Didn’t Know About Cavalier Spaniels

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the more popular breeds today. And it is easy to see why. The breed is friendly, agile, and easy to train. And if you’re anything like us, you can’t get enough of the adorable fluff butts. So we’ve compiled 15 of our favorite Cavalier Spaniel facts below.

One of the Newer Breeds Around

Cavalier Spaniels are a new breed. Their record in the United States is less than 100 years old. The AKC recognized cavaliers in 1995, but the breed originated in the UK. So the first Cavaliers didn’t reach American shores until 1954.

The Breed’s Pedigree Dates Back to King Charles!

The genesis of this modern-day bread can be traced to an American named Roswell Eldgridge. Eldgridge went to England searching for the old-style spaniels he had seen in paintings. To him, the look of the Cavalier had to be “as shown in the picture of King Charles II’s time, long face, no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be domed and with the spot in the center of the skull.” And in 1927, these words were used as a guide when setting out to create a standard for the breed.

Cavaliers Are Often Confused with a British Breed

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are often confused with the toy variety breed of the same name from the UK. However, the U.S. breed is a unique variety bred to a different standard. This magazine article does an excellent job of helping to differentiate the two breeds.

Cavalier Spaniels Can Come in Four Colors

These spaniels can come in four distinct color types and patterns. Ruby all over, a reddish coat with no other markings. Black with white markings. Tricolor, with white, black, and tan markings. Lastly, the most common color scheme is the Blenheim, a golden brown and white look that the breed is famous for.

They Don’t Shed Very Much

While not entirely shed-free, these breeds will shed moderately throughout the year. Luckily, Cavaliers have a silky coat that is easy to maintain and get ahead of shedding by thoroughly brushing.

One of the 20 Most Popular Breeds in the U.S.

Although a recent arrival on these shores, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the 20 most popular dog types in the United States. According to the AKC, everyone’s favorite spaniels came in at #15 for 2022.

American Rulers Have Loved the Cavalier Spaniel as Well

U.S. Presidents have a long history of dog ownership. One such presidential pup just happened to be Rex, Ronald, and Nancy Reagan’s beloved Blenheim Cavalier. Rex was a 1985 Christmas gift, and the press liked to note that he was always energetic and wanted to tug on his lead. But, of course, Rex may also have been barking at ghosts in the White House outside the Lincoln Bedroom.

The Breed is Sporting and Friendly

Unlike some other spaniels, this breed is both friendly and active. Cavaliers can even do well with children, although supervision is always required. If there is one downside to the Cavalier personality, it can likely be that they may become dependent or needy for attention from their owner. Separation anxiety can also be an issue not uncommon to the breed.

These Spaniels Have a Lot of Personalities

This spaniel breed might be if you’re looking for a lap dog. Cavaliers are known for their loving and outgoing personalities and large puppy-dog eyes. They can be trained when adequately motivated, though they have been somewhat stubborn when dealing with anyone other than their primary caregiver.

This Type of Spaniel Posses Only “Average” Intelligence

Dog intelligence expert Stanley Coren has the Cavaliers as 44th in his rankings of breed I.Q. However, Coren believes almost half of any individual dog’s intelligence can be contributed to environmental factors over breeding. Therefore, as a dog owner, you will have a much more significant impact on your dog’s smarts than anything else.

Cavalier Spaniel Puppies are Adorable!

Cavalier puppies are some of the cutest creatures you are ever likely to see. Unfortunately, Cavalier pups are pretty helpless without lots of love and support from their mama. They are more flop and fur for the first 12 weeks than anything else. And while they are excellent family dogs, breeding and socialization will go a long way toward how well they integrate into your family. This is important to keep in mind when you see Cavalier puppies for sale. They are often adorable pups that can often outgrow their pipsqueak appearance as they age and need to be adequately socialized to work as part of a more prominent family. 

Cavalier Spaniels Can Get Big

Although this is typically a smaller breed, with larger dogs topping out just after 20 pounds, that isn’t always the case. Cavaliers can also be much more significant. One Cavalier named Jack was over 40 pounds before a diet brought him down to his ideal weight of 22 lbs.

This Breed Can Live a Long Time

In the UK, the breed can live 10-12 years. The U.S. breed of Cavaliers has a slightly shorter life expectancy at approximately nine years.

Cavalier Spaniels Can Have Some Health Concerns

Several health issues are hereditary to this breed and spaniels more generally, such as ear infections and skin allergies. According to the AKC, for Cavaliers, this can include cataracts, patella luxation, hip dysplasia, ear infections, and mitral valve heart disease.

Luckily, many stakeholders are concerned about the breed’s overall health, and sound breeding strategies can mitigate the risk of many of these issues.

The Bread Has Been Saved Once Already

Issues from breeding standards led to health issues with the original line of medieval spaniels. Crossbreeding solved this issue, which led to a distinct version of the breed from its progenitor. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an attempt to recapture this earlier spaniel form that also extensively relied on crossbreeding.