Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

A family member has two of these and they are the most lovely sweet natured dogs. And so pretty. One of them is over ten years old now and seems healthy.

So Anniebach do tell us, did she get a terrier in the end?

I have had two Cavaliers who I adored and love the breed above all others, but I will never have another. My last one died at 11 which is a good age but I could never again see a dog suffer as she did when her heart murmur developed at the age of 9 - which is late for the breed, with many developing murmurs at the age of 2 or 3. She was bought from a reputable breeder and her parents had had all the recommended health testing for heart, eyes etc.

I was told by another breeder and Chair of a regional Cavalier association that no breeder can guarantee that their breeding lines are free from heart problems as these are now endemic in the breed (her words not mine). She was also extremely concerned about the rise of syringomelia (brain disorder) within the breed. I have seen videos of dogs suffering from this and could never take the risk of having an affected dog. Unfortunately I think this is a beautiful breed which has been completely ruined by overbreeding and buying a puppy is a huge gamble.

MawtheMerrier oh good grief! Not another dead thread, I didn’t even think to check the date of the op! Lucky you noticed! Why do spammers do this?

There was a documentary on genetic problems with overbred dogs and CKC’s featured heavily. The skull problem is terribly painful and is all due to human interference of course, and the desire for the head shape deemed perfect by those that decide breed standard. Lovely little dogs but I’d never have one for that reason.

Another old thread resurrected by a spammer (not you Dilly)

They are extremely sweet dogs, but in my experience thick as two short planks, and even with consistent lead training and obedience training, they are as another poster mentioned, hard to train to not pull on the lead and train to recall once they have seen a squirrel or source of food .

They shed everywhere, be prepared to have ‘tumbled weeds’ of hair throughout the house and have to hoover regularly. In winter if you are park walking them, you will need to footbath them and dry them off every walk because of their long fur which will get tedious.

The heart problem, even with reputable breeders is an issue and they are very expensive at the vets, with heart murmurs, eye, back, ears and tummy issues.

Very sweet breed, but more trouble than they are worth,

helloBoth Cavaliers and Dalmatians are intelligent smart dogs. a watchdog for family and a sweet companions. I fell in love with how smart the breed is. There are not many dalmatian puppies for sale at affordable costs. This website said, Good breeders will ensure that both the parents of your new puppy will have good, even temperaments Moreover, they will also provide a loving and engaging home environment to their dogs. dalmatianpuppyplace.com . I'm wondering which of them is the easier choice to train with a better feeding habit ?

Not had Cavaliers but have had Cockers and a Springer and offspring have Cockers and Working Cockers. Spaniels are only average intelligence dogs but generally are food orientated so easy to train with bribery. Cocker spaniels are being breed smaller now so may be worth a consideration. Ours went deaf in old age but learnt hand signals quickly and had no other serious health problems. They're great with children as they love to retrieve balls, seek out hidden toys, enjoy being dressed up and, although they do like to get there first, the pull on the lead is usually within a seven year old's capabilities. Anything falling from the table rarely hits the floor - brilliant with babies in high chairs. Cons are mainly that they do need trimming or grooming often due to their love of all things watery. And they can beg more skillfully than any other dog so weight can be a problem. The life span is shorter than a Westie. It is imperative to get one from a reputable breeder as inbred ones can be nervy and therefore snappy.

We have had 3 over the years, Son has one now, they are so loving and loyal have been very good with all our children and grandchildren we have never worried that they would snap at the babies (still didn't leave on their own you never know).
Yes they are greedy, moult if you don't brush or clip, always wants a cuddle or to sit by the fire in the evening. And some can have health problems.

Watermeadow likewise as said had 3 Rosie was our strongest I went online to research a breeder who was registered very few are. There are only 2 in Essex 3 in Suffolk.

How long did yours live if u don't mind saying?

Thank you all

I’ve had 3 Cavaliers and adore the breed but they have serious inherited diseases and, if you would like one, you must find out all about them.
Look at reputable websites, don’t ask Fred in the park or Mrs Jones whose old mum had one. Look at serious scientific evidence and you will probably decide to get a different breed.

Meant speyed of course this autocorrect!?

Anniebach sadly we just lost ours I. October she was a Black and Tan and lived to 15 and 7 months miss herndresdfully she was my constant companion
Please use registered breeder though.

Rosie was our third first two justmas adorable but got from same breeder who interbred we didn't realise and jenn died at only 5 and Katie not quite 7.

They do have heart murmurs Rosie was only one who didn't hence her great age, but she did have other problems we didn't have her spewed so she got 3 mammary tumours, then had hysterectomy at grand age of 13.
we also had take her to specialist at 12 for eye problems.

However they make most adorable pets.

Poodles are as Iam says, I have had two, loved them but they are all those things

A word about poodle crosses, from someone who has shared her life with various poodle crosses for 9 years. The mythology is they are easy to train, always good natured and don't shed.
Don't believe a word of it. They are usually beautiful dogs who look like Disney designed them. They are mud magnets, spaniel/lab x poodles will love water and jump in to swim at any opportunity. The cross means you can't predict which side of their breed will dominate. They often shed a lot. They are lively, high energy, very intelligent and need experienced owners if they're not to develop behaviour problems. Thank you.

Poodle X would be too difficult for her and not fair on the dog , thank you. I think since I had a Westie puppy last week she is being won over by terriers ?

That should be very loving and 3 months old now!!

Why not a Cavapoo like my Lulu. Mum was a black and tan Cavalier KCS and dad a red toy poodle. She us very livingvandc3 months old now.

Beautiful dogs, gentle nature, never snappy, she stayed with us when let off the lead, she was playful and loved doing tricks and games. She wasn't greedy at all, she was very loving, and we had her for 14 wonderful years. She had problem with her eyes and we had to put drops in each day but it wasn't a problem. We adored her. Sadly missed.

I am really frightened of dogs but a few years ago I saw a King Charles puppy and fell in love with her. I didn't buy her but I would have called her Pansy because of her beautiful eyes (like deep brown pansies) and I still think of her sometimes and wonder what home she went to.
How silly is that!

Both my CKC's lived well into their teen years and neither had heart disease nor anything wrong with their brains.

What's a Jadgterrier?

My DB and SisIL have had CKCSs for forty years or so as they love the breed. There have always been health issues and the one that died quite recently had Cushing's disease. They now have another puppy having taken the usual care over sourcing etc., but I honestly don't think it would be a breed for me even though they are well behaved and affectionate.

I love Westies AB. I wish I could afford one... they are quite expensive now. I believe KCS s are prone to eye problems , some quite severe so that could result in high vet bills.
I have been landed with a Jadgterrier who is quite a handful ( and that's an understatement!) but she is a sweetie and we're beginning to get along quite well She just needs to know who's the leader of the pack!!