King Charles Spaniel
The King Charles Spaniel as he is known in the UK or the English Toy Spaniel in the USA. They have been bred to companion dogs and that’s exactly what they are best at.
They are sweet, placid and very agreeable little dogs, who’s main goal in life is to be on your lap. They are a great choice for the elderly or disabled as they love nothing more than hanging around the house with you. If you are looking for a small and devoted dog this could be the breed for you.
They require little exercise and would make a great flat/apartment dog. They will still enjoy a short daily walk especially if they have no garden to run around. They are quite playful dogs, so as long as they get plenty of playtime, they should adapt well to apartment living. A bored dog will usually become a mischievous dog, whether it be nuisance barking, chewing or digging. Try to make sure they are occupied with jobs, playtime or plenty of exercise to keep them out of trouble.
They love their families and are very devoted little dogs, they will normally bond with one special person more. They are playful but children can easily overwhelm this breed so it is definitely a dog to avoid if you have young children running around. This breed is very likely to suffer from separation anxiety, do not get this dog if you will be leaving them for long periods.
They are usually good with strangers but perhaps a little un-trusting so good socialiastion will help them. They are not the best watchdogs, you will also be informed of people at the door but that’s about it, if this is high on your list, you are better off looking elsewhere!
They should be fine with other dogs and cats if brought up with them. They may react to strange dogs and dogs of the same sex. They will usually chase the neighbourhood cats for a bit of fun.
They are quite intelligent dogs but a little stubborn, but they should be fairly easy to train and work with. Try to keep training both interesting and fun for the best results and avoid being harsh with them, identifying their motivation reward early will get you the best results and it’s normally food.
They have silky hair and they shed a lot, all year round more around autumn and spring. You will want to brush them daily or at least weekly to keep the shedding under control. You might want to take them to a professional groomer to get them trimmed/clipped or learn to do it yourself.
They have short muzzles so that can make them prone to heat exhaustion, make sure you keep a eye on them in hot conditions.
King Charles Spaniel Stats
These little dogs are sometimes known as the Royal Spaniels due to being great favourites of the Stuart kings. Accompanied by a rippling sea of dogs wherever he went, the King’s deathbed was cluttered with them, much to the consternation of the attending Archbishops. Signs ‘Beware of the Dogs’ that appeared in the Royal chambers meant ‘don’t tread on them’.
- Weight -4kg –7kg
- Size – 25cm – 30cm
- They live for 10-12 years
