Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are known for their gorgeous silky fur. This dog’s hair feathers around their feet, tail, ears, and on their chest. Beautiful as it may be, pet hair (or any kind of hair, really) will definitely make its way onto your clothes or floor occasionally.
The real question should be how often will you find loose fur on your clothes or furniture. Let’s dive in so you can get a better understanding of what you should expect.
Now that we’ve established that all dogs shed, I think you’ll be happy to know that these toy spaniels are moderate shedders.
Some King Charles Spaniels will shed a little more than others, so there isn’t an exact amount of how much fur they shed. But, it’s safe to say that the Cavalier King is less maintenance than other toy breeds. You also won’t have to deal with consistently finding loose hair in every part of the house.
That being said, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does have more fur than some other dogs. It’s not the lowest-shedding dog out there, and you’ll probably have to take a vacuum cleaner to your carpet every couple of days.
Some dogs are double-coated and have a thick undercoat. This keeps them warm during the winter months, and they shed this underlayer in warmer seasons. As you can probably guess, this causes increased shedding.
Luckily, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a single-coated dog breed. This means that their shedding throughout the year remains relatively the same, as they never have to ‘blow-coat’.
Like all dogs, this toy spaniel isn’t born with all its fur. As they grow in age, they also grow into their adult coat. As puppies, these small dogs also shed year-round. They usually take about a year to grow into their permanent coat. There shouldn’t be excessive shedding as long as they are groomed and have a healthy diet.
Cavalier kings are a breed with some of the most beautiful dog hair, especially on healthy dogs. Ironically, shedding their gorgeous mane is what helps them to maintain a healthy coat. They have shiny, medium-length hair that comes in a variety of colours. The multi-coloured Blenheim is one of the most popular.
Their fluffy coats tend to grow a bit longer around areas like their feet and chest. This might need a little trim every now and again to make walking easier. Luckily, Cavaliers don’t have a second coat, so it makes grooming a little easier.
Managing your toy spaniel’s shedding won’t be difficult if you have regular grooming habits. Weekly (or even daily) brushing removes dead hair before it ends up on your floor and spreads the oils around the skin.
Using the correct grooming tools will also do wonders to reduce shedding. Pin brushes are great for dogs like the Cavalier King with medium to long hair. They remove tangles and dirt from the fur.
Shedding can also be minimized by making sure that your dog is eating the right foods. Poor diet results in more hair loss and a loss of the colour and sheen of the coat. Meat-rich food gives your dog the protein-filled diet it needs for a healthy coat and prevents excess shedding.
A monthly bath will keep your dog’s skin and hair healthy and clean. Plus, washing your dog is always a fun bonding experience. Purchase a high-quality dog shampoo and ease your dog into the bath.
Remember, not all dogs are overly fond of water, so putting them under a hose might make them jump. Using a jug, slowly pour water over your dog and rub the shampoo into their hair. Give them a rinse and thoroughly dry, and there you have it.
Brushing your dog’s teeth weekly will ensure that their teeth stay healthy. Not to mention it will keep their breath from smelling. To brush your dog’s teeth, you can either use a thistle brush or get a chew toy designed to clean your dog’s teeth.
Most dogs are susceptible to ear infections. This is because dirt and wax gather in their ears over time. To clean your pup’s ears, get a cotton bud and an ear-cleaning solution for dogs, dab the cotton bud with the solution and wipe out their ears.
No dog is completely hypoallergenic, but certain dog breeds will aggravate your allergies worse than others. Purebred Cavalier Kings aren’t the best dogs for those with allergies, but mixed cavalier breeds (especially when mixed with poodles) may be easier on the sinuses if you’re willing to take the gamble.
The Cavalier sheds moderately throughout the year and isn’t really allergy-friendly. If you have dog allergies or you were looking for a dog with minimal grooming needs, then it might not be the dog for you. However, if you’re just looking for a beautiful and affectionate companion and don’t mind establishing a grooming routine, then look no further.
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