Despite being of royal origin, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not picky when it comes to who they interact with. They do not reserve their authentic personality for their owners while interacting with strangers differently; everyone is a friend of the Cavalier King!
To understand the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel personality a little better, this article will examine the breed’s temperament closely to find out more about this aristocratic pup.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), as a Toy Spaniel owner, you’ll come to know your pup by the following personality traits:
First and foremost, the Charles Spaniel dog breed is known for its friendliness. They get over-excited when their owners return home, even after just a short while (resulting in a lot of face-licking) and display no fear when meeting new people or other pets. Whether playing sports or relaxing on a lap, this family dog loves to be around people.
An extension of their affability is their neediness. A lot of dogs suffer from separation anxiety, but Toy Spaniels have a particularly big reputation for needing someone around at all times. For this reason, they’re best recommended for someone who works from home and can offer them a lap at any time.
King Charles Spaniel has eyes that tell you everything they can’t say, and you’ll frequently be at the mercy of their puppy dog eyes whenever they want something.
These toy Spaniels are only moderately active, and most prefer a slow life. This, coupled with their deep affection for their owners, makes them incredibly gentle and quite docile.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog can make great additions to couples, singletons, and even large families. Here’s everything you need to know about bringing this toy breed into your home.
Being naturally sociable canines, they love conversing with other dogs and playing chase. They’ll also love finding their place within an existing pack, and this will help them form good socialisation skills that can be transferred to playing with dogs in the local park too.
Cavaliers see no difference between canines and felines and will treat cats exactly the same as they do dogs. In most cases, it’ll be the cat that’ll have a problem with the Cavalier’s over-sociability – not the other way around!
Still, if you’re planning on raising several different pets at once, it would be best to introduce the Cavalier to the other cats or dogs from an early age. This way, they’ll form a strong bond with other four-legged family members.
Yes, a Cavalier Spaniel’s naturally affectionate and gentle traits extend to children. The breed is happy to spend time with kids when they’re hyper and also during quiet time on their lap while they watch TV. Cavalier Kings enjoy all kinds of company!
Despite their friendliness and gentle nature, you should always teach your children how to interact with King Charles Spaniels properly. Reminding them that they aren’t rag dolls or a toy to be rough-and-tumbled with will help with mutual respect and reduce the chances of the dog suddenly snapping.
The Cavalier Spaniel isn’t known for having many bad traits, but like any dog, if you don’t train them well enough, it will exhibit negative personality traits.
Some Cavalier Spaniels can be stubborn and, if not trained properly, can result in them digging and other destructive tendencies. Such are usually triggered by being left alone for long periods or not being adequately fed.
The Charles Spaniel will shower their owners with love and affection for as long as they can, and they do expect the same in return. This devotion isn’t a bad thing, but as soon as you leave your toy spaniel alone, most will not cope without company and will start to show symptoms of separation anxiety.
This very much varies from pup to pup, but some Cavaliers, if not treated or trained well, will resort to loud barking.
Cavalier Charles Spaniels should not be left alone for any longer than 4 hours at a time as they are notorious for suffering from separation anxiety. Even 4 hours is far too long for this breed which likes to be around people at all times.
The typical Charles Spaniel is not a big barker. While some of these little dogs display big guard dog instincts and bark loudly whenever someone passes by, most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are totally placid. Most of these little dogs will only develop this destructive habit if they are stressed or bored.
King Charles Spaniels, being small in stature, aren’t naturally active dogs and only need a moderate amount of daily exercise. They lean more towards being cuddly lap dogs, so it may take some convincing to get them off the couch.
To sum up, you can expect a King Charles Spaniel adult dog to be affable, needy, and manipulative, with a big hint of unpredictability. Like most dog breeds, there’s only so much you can guarantee with these toy spaniels – your King Charles Spaniel could be totally different from the next!
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