What You Need To Know About Owning A Cavalier King Charles

I have been sitting on this post for a number of weeks now simply because I couldn’t decide how to write the intro. After much pondering, I decided to produce it the same way I would any form of public speaking – short and sweet. So, here it goes.

Let’s begin by giving a little background on this post. Below are a picture of my dogs, Bella and Mona. They are both Cavalier King Charles. Bella is the mother and Mona is her daughter. They are the best dogs in the world. The sad part is that they live in Ireland and I only get to see them twice a year. For those of you who are wondering, because I have been asked this question before, they do remember me when I come home.

Why did I want to write this post? Naturally, because I wanted to show off pictures of my dogs. Also, I wanted to put across the fact that a dog is not just a dog. Dogs are like people in that they have different personalities and needs. It is coming up to Christmas and no doubt many people worldwide will give or receive a dog as a present. It is important that you care for a dog which is most suitable for you, your family, etc. Make sure that you can 100% meet their needs, while not sacrificing your own. This is really crucial when choosing which breed of dog you want to welcome into your home.

Here are what I think are the most important points to keep in mind when considering a Cavalier King Charles:

1. They love routine. Bella and Mona like to get up at the same time every morning to eat. They know what time each member of the household will return home each day and wait by the door (or sometimes sit and look out the window) each day until they arrive. If somebody is late for some reason, they will not move from the door. If the arrival of their expected person is considerably late, they begin to get anxious. This leads me to my next point.

2. Cavalier King Charles are nervous. They don’t like to be left on their own for too long so I don’t recommend one as a pet if you have an unpredictable schedule or one that will leave them alone for hours on end. They need to feel safe when in their home, or anywhere else for that matter, so you should make sure that they are not mistreated by others. Like other breeds of dogs, mistreatment may lead to aggression.

3. The Cavalier King Charles breed is a true form of lap dog. While they do like their own space, they will take the opportunity to, quite literally, sit on your lap at any chance given. This can also lead to them lying on your back, head, etc. They will also like to sleep in your bed which is, of course, a personal choice of your own whether you allow them or not. Sometimes it is hard to get them to go for walks but encourage them as exercise is important.

4. They are very affectionate. They like to constantly kiss and cuddle you. Bella likes to cuddle like a person and puts her paws around your shoulders. As a result of this, they like to be babied. Therefore, you should nip any bad habits akin to this in the bud or it will be difficult to retrain them.

5. They can be more susceptible to health issues, especially with their eyes, ears and heart. Make sure you keep them healthy and bring them for at least bi-yearly check ups at the vet. If you look after them properly, you do not have to fear mountains of vet bills. Just be aware that there is a slight chance they will develop issues in comparison to other breads.

6. They shed a lot. A hell of a lot. This is more of an annoyance than a problem.

I hope these tips were helpful to anyone considering adopting a Cavalier King Charles. They really are a bundle of joy and if the above advice is not a problem for you, then you won’t regret it. Please do bear in mind though that what I have written above is based on my personal experience. Some of you may not agree with this information. If you have any other tips you deem beneficial, please do leave them below. You can also leave any questions you may have and I will do my best to answer them.