Who doesn’t remember the charming Elizabeth Taylor from the popular series Sex and the City? Who did not stretch his lips in a touching smile at the sight of her pretty muzzle? Only the one who has not watched this series. Because it is simply impossible to pass by such a charming dog indifferently. The cavalier king charles spaniel receives only the most enthusiastic reviews, because it is one of the most beautiful and cheerful breeds of dogs. If you are thinking about settling this charm in your house, it will be useful for you to find out some facts about the features of this species and the rules of maintenance.
From the shores of Misty Albion
It is believed that their real homeland is China or Japan. The first European references to this dog can be found in the songs of minnesingers of the 13th century, but they appeared in Britain much earlier. They brought these cute dogs to the Celtic Peninsula. King Spaniels immediately won a firm place in the circles of the noble nobility. Their image can often be found in paintings of that time. This is not surprising: their graceful grace was the best suited to portraits of aristocrats. But despite their elegant appearance, Charles Spaniels have established themselves as excellent hunters. Fast and quick, they demonstrated excellent hunting skills.
In the 20th century, this breed almost disappeared. This was prevented by American cynologists, who opened a nursery for their breeding. Soon, the first breed standard was developed, and in 1955 the dog Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized by the International Cynological Association. Since then, she regularly participates in various exhibitions and certainly takes the leading places.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: breed description
A distinctive feature of the breed of this dog is its slightly flattened muzzle and huge round eyes. The coat is mostly smooth, shiny, slightly wavy on the ears and paws. The ears of a spaniel are a parable of the town. Long, hanging down - they give her even a little sad look. This breed is quite miniature. In height, dogs usually reach from 25 to 30 centimeters, weigh from 4 to 8 kilograms. Color is of several types. Black and tan - black with dark brown spots; blenheim - white with reddish spots; ruby. There are also three-color puppies - black and white with red spots.
The best companion for your children
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a breed ideal for a city apartment. Thanks to its miniature size, even a single person living in a one-room apartment can get her. A light, flexible, very friendly character helps her to find a common language with everyone - both with people and with other animals. They get along well with your children, and inevitably become their best friends.
They adapt very quickly to the mood of their master and will not bother you if you are busy. To the best of the active breed does not require exorbitant physical exertion and is quite satisfied with fun games. Nothing better than a long walk could be for your gentleman. He got his name for good reason: a properly trained dog will never disobey your team and will behave calmly and with restraint in public.
Care and maintenance: general rules
No special knowledge is required to keep a dog such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in his home. Reviews about this breed contain a number of valuable information that may still be useful. For example, breeders advise paying great attention to the dog’s ears. They are quite large and hanging, so they are prone to otitis. It is necessary to inspect them regularly.
The dog’s coat is usually not trimmed, but the surface of the paws and the space between the fingers must be freed from excess hair. To ensure that the fur is always smooth and shiny, it should be combed out, especially behind the ears and elbows. The greatest attention should be paid to this procedure during molting - in spring and autumn. Well, of course, like every dog, they need to be bathed regularly, examined their teeth, trimmed their nails and rubbed their eyes with lotion, chamomile infusion or brewing black tea.
Some features of caring for a small pet
As mentioned above, ears and wool are a special pride of this breed. Therefore, care for them requires increased attention. The easiest way to prevent otitis media is to regularly clean your ear canals with cotton pads and sticks. Be careful not to make sudden movements so as not to damage the eardrum. In the summer, after a walk in nature, inspect the ears to remove ticks in time.
Bathing a dog should also be given increased attention. It is better to do this every two weeks using special shampoos. Lather your pet in the direction of hair growth, being careful not to mess it up too much. After the water procedure, pat it dry with a bath towel, and if necessary, blow dry with a hairdryer. It is necessary to comb the dog every day, while you can use sprays to facilitate combing and remove static electricity.
Nutrition
To this day, dog lovers are arguing about what kind of food is better - feed or natural food. The first is simpler. If you choose this type, then the main principle - do not save. Buy only high-quality feed intended for this breed. They contain the whole set of useful substances that your dog needs. If you are a supporter of natural food, then you should carefully draw up the diet of your pet. It must contain meat, but not pork. Preference should be given to beef, veal or chicken. It is also necessary to include rice, buckwheat, low-fat cottage cheese, seasonal fruits and boiled vegetables in the diet.
Cavalier king charles spaniel: nurseries
For a long time, the attitude to these wonderful dogs was so reverent that not everyone could get them. It is known, for example, that Ronald Reagan was once refused when he liked the cavalier king charles spaniel. Puppies were given only to private homes owned by the owner. And as president, Reagan lived in rented housing - in the White House. These rules still exist in many countries. If you want to buy a dog with a pure pedigree, you should pay special attention to the choice of a kennel.
On the Internet you can find a lot of ads, including on such portals as Avito and Plaque.ru, offering puppies of this breed for sale. But such sellers will not be able to provide you with any guarantees. It is better to look for official breeders if you liked the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Kennels registered with reputable dog organizations will be the perfect choice. Look on the nursery’s website for information on whether it is a member of FCI (International Cynological Organization) or RKF (Russian Cynological Federation). So you can protect yourself from acquiring a "dog in a poke."
Friend price
Happiness, as you know, cannot be bought for money. But its source is quite possible to acquire. Is it a pleasure - cavalier king charles spaniel? The price of an undocumented puppy starts at $ 200. These dogs are not purchased for breeding. They most likely do not have full compliance with breed standards. This may be an incorrect bite, the prevalence of white in color, light eyes, tail defects and the absence of dark spots on the ears and head.
The cavalier king charles spaniel, whose puppies can participate in breeding, will cost much more - from 400 to 1000 dollars. The best age for acquiring a dog for this purpose is from 6 months to a year. By this period, his teeth will have changed and all the characteristic features will appear. The most expensive instance will be the holder of the title of exhibition champion of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed. The price of such a dog can reach $ 2,000.
Interesting facts about the breed
One of the most famous red spaniel breeders of the past is considered the Duke of Marlborough, who lived in the 17th century. Associated with it is the legend of the appearance of a red spot on the dogs head. The warlike duke was away for a long time, because of which his wife simply could not find a place. At such moments, in order to calm the hostess, a demolished dog jumped to her lap and the woman stroked her head for a long time. When the duke returned, the dog gave birth to puppies with a red spot on the crown. Until now, in England, as well as in Australia, this is one of the most popular breeds - it takes 6th place in the ranking. The cavalier king charles spaniel is much less popular in Russia. In the United States, this breed has proven itself as an assistant in the rehabilitation of children with psychological injuries. Due to their complaisant nature, these dogs get along well with people and help them cope with their problems.
Looking for a friend? Get a dog!
If you want to have a faithful companion and a cheerful companion, then no one will be better suited for this role than the cavalier king charles spaniel. Reviews of this dog are full of enthusiastic ratings. Many owners say that you can take them with you wherever you go. Dogs love to travel and calmly endure the hardships of the road. They get along well with children. Pensioners, who brought this assistant to themselves, consider its miniature size, even temperament and ease of maintenance the most valuable qualities. Perhaps the only thing a gentleman can’t do is protect your home. He perceives all new people as friends, and one cannot be afraid of his appearance with all his will.
In Europe and the USA, all the positive qualities of the cavalier king charles spaniel dog have long been appreciated. The feedback from the breeders helps to spread their popularity in Russia. Although a lot of words are not required here, it will be enough just to look into these huge eyes full of love and devotion.