As a breed, their temperament
is gentle and never aggressive in any way. They are also fun loving
dogs that adore nothing more than to go out for a good walk and
then go indoors and curl up on a comfortable lap or armchair. They
love their comforts and will go to great lengths to manipulate you
to be allowed to sit on the best furniture!
They come in four colours:
A rich chestnut on a pearly
white, known as 'Blenheim'
A rich red colour known as 'Ruby'
Black and white, with tan markings over the eyes, at the sides of
the face, under the ears and tail, known as 'Tri-Colour'
Black with tan legs, tan eyebrows, and tan at the sides of the face
and under the tail, known as 'Black and Tan'
Cavaliers will moult generally
twice a year.
Whether you choose a dog or
a bitch, there should be no difference in temperament; the dog is
as sweet natured as the bitch.
They are very intelligent and
learn quickly. Many Cavaliers have gone on to become quite proficient
at their obedience and agility classes, but the majority seem to
go so far and then stop!
They are generally good eaters
and the adult dog will need one feed per day with a possible bedtime
biscuit! Many Cavaliers get fat; this is due to the fact that they
do have the most demanding eyes! These eyes can convey feelings
to you and the most difficult to ignore is the 'Mother I love you
and I would love a little something'. Too much weight is very bad
for the dog.
Sadly, the breed has a history
of heart problems, but good breeders now screen for this and the
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club is sponsoring a huge research
project into this problem. Cavalier owners with the help of the
regional clubs have raised huge amounts of money in the UK. It is,
therefore, important to go to a good Breeder to buy your puppy.
You will need help to find
one, so look under "Puppy Register" on the Club website
to find a list of the Clubs Co-ordinators, contact your nearest
and they will point you on the right direction. Never buy a puppy
that is not with its mother and avoid advertisements and pet shops.
Puppies from such sources will almost certainly have been bred for
commercial gain without any screening for heart problems.
(As there are limited CKCS breeders
in Singapore, it's for the owners to decide where to get a good
quality puppy. If you do decide to get a puppy from the petshops,
please inspect/check the puppy before you commit.)
Remember that a dog must fit
into your lifestyle. They need to be part of the family and you
should not have one if you haven't sufficient time to give it. A
lot of thought must be given to the matter before you go ahead.
Have you the time? The money? The patience? The lifestyle? Think
long and hard, as a dog is a big commitment.