It's said that King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to 1685, never went anywhere without at least two or three of these little spaniels. Mary, Queen of Scots had a toy spaniel who accompanied her as she walked to her beheading, and her grandson, Charles I, and great-grandson, Charles II - who gave their name to the breed - loved the little dogs as well. These little spaniels were great favorites of royal and noble families in England. The spaniels in those paintings had flat heads, high-set ears, and longish noses.
While the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a relatively new breed, recreated less than a century ago, his prototype is the toy spaniel that has existed for centuries as a companion to royalty and nobility.Ĭavaliers are descended from the same toy spaniels depicted in many 16th, 17th, and 18th century paintings by famous artists such as Van Dyck and Gainsborough. They'll fall all over themselves to find more things that you like.Īs with many toy breeds, Cavaliers can have issues with housetraining, but if you keep them on a consistent schedule, with plenty of opportunities to potty outdoors, they can become trustworthy in the home. Instead, reward them every time you see them doing something you like, whether it's chewing on a toy instead of your Prada pumps or not barking in response when the dog next door barks.
Cavaliers have a soft personality, so yelling at them is counterproductive and likely to send these sweeties into the sulks or into hiding. Food rewards and positive reinforcement help ensure that training goes smoothly. When it comes to training, Cavaliers are generally intelligent and willing to try whatever it is you'd like them to do. They are a housedog and will never thrive in an environment where they're relegated to the backyard or otherwise ignored. Because they're so attached to their people, they do best when someone is at home during the day to keep them company. With a Cavalier in residence, you'll never be alone - not even in the bathroom. Not surprisingly, this breed can easily become fat, which spoils its lovely lines, so be strong and offer a walk or playtime instead of the potato chips and pizza your Cavalier is angling for.Ĭavaliers pad through the house on slippered paws, always following in the footsteps of their people. Warm and lustrous, with a sweet expression, they hold the power to extract constant petting and unlimited supplies of food from people under their spell. If the characteristic wagging of the Cavalier's plumy tail doesn't melt your heart, surely his large, dark round eyes will. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a beautiful small dog that undoubtedly is a contender for the title of "top tail-wagger." In fact, among the characteristics that Cavalier breeders strive to attain is a tail in constant motion when this breed is moving. Young children and dogs of any breed should always be supervised by an adult and never left alone together, period.Ĭlick here for more information on this characteristic No matter what the breed or breed type, all dogs have strong jaws, sharp pointy teeth, and may bite in stressful circumstances.
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Dogs from any breed can be good with children based on their past experiences, training on how to get along with kids, and personality. Our ratings are generalizations, and they're not a guarantee of how any breed or individual dog will behave. Small, delicate, and potentially snappy dogs such as Chihuahuas aren't always so family-friendly. You may be surprised by who's on that list: Fierce-looking Boxers are considered good with children, as are American Staffordshire Terriers (which are considered Pit Bulls). Being gentle with children, sturdy enough to handle the heavy-handed pets and hugs they can dish out, and having a blasé attitude toward running, screaming children are all traits that make a kid-friendly dog.