The King Charles Spaniel, known in the UK, or the English Toy Spaniel in the USA, has been bred to be a companion dog, and that’s precisely what they are best at.
They are sweet, placid and very agreeable little dogs whose main goal in life is to be on your lap. They are an excellent 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 they should adapt well to apartment living as long as they get plenty of playtime. A bored dog will usually become mischievous, whether it be nuisance barking, chewing or digging. Ensure 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 more with one special person. 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, so do not get this dog if you will be leaving it for long periods.
They are usually good with strangers, but perhaps a little un-trusting so good socialisation 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!
If raised with other dogs and cats, they should be fine. However, they may react to strange dogs and dogs of the same sex. For a bit of fun, they will usually chase the neighbourhood cats.
They are quite intelligent dogs but a little stubborn, but they should be fairly easy to train and work with. For the best results, try to keep training both interesting and fun 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, but especially in autumn and spring. You will want to brush them daily or at least weekly to keep the shedding under control. You might also want to take them to a professional groomer to get them trimmed/clipped or learn to do it yourself.
They have short muzzles that can make them prone to heat exhaustion; make sure you keep an 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 dismay 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