Tell me about Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

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Patchworkpony

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Loved my springer spaniel in the past but I was a good deal younger then. Come to the conclusion that a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel might be ideal but know nothing about them. I know they can have health issues but I have found a breeder who has bred healthy pups for over 10 years. Just want to know how easy they are and also whether they bark a lot and are easy to house train.
 
I have one, he's 8 and I love him to pieces. He's the friendliest dog I've ever known, never had one problem with dogs or people. He rarely barks, in fact I don't remember the last time he barked! He loves kids and is so well behaved with them. He's brilliant and I love him to pieces

I know the breed has a reputation for poor health, and my dog isn't the best example of the breed as he's got a heart murmur but even with that he's still very active and I definitely wouldn't be put off the breed because of it.

Whisky was very easy to house train, and relatively easy to train in general to be honest. His main problem is that he wants to say hello to everyone and everything!
 
Lovely, inanely happy little dogs who bark a lot, and have not a bad bone in their body. Was recommended one by a vet friend, as one of the very few breeds suitable for a household with a new baby.

She was lovely, but loved everyone equally. Would have walked off quite happily with strangers if they had beckoned to her. She succumbed to heart problems just shy of 10 yo.
 
I've known four - one was an amazing little dog - aptly named angel, such a placid, easy dog,loved people and snuggles not really keen on walking.
The other two were also lovely. The fourth is a bit of a diva, yaps constantly when my friend is on the phone or someone at the door and is quite difficult - to the point my friend has said she won't have another dog after her!
 
I own big dogs and am not a small dog person really however there are two little dogs that I'd consider having in different circumstance; a Border Terrier and a CKC. I just love CKCs. They have to be *the* happiest little dogs around.
 
I've got two, both rehomed as mature adults, and they both come along with a circle of enthusiastic CKCS friends. The Blenheims (orange and white) seem to be more equitable as far as I can tell, also the rubies (brown) but the black and tans and the tricolours (black and tans with white) seem to have more character. Health wise they are prone to heart murmurs - if you are buying from a good breeder they should have had both parents screened. Like you , I have had livelier spaniels in my younger days, but the cavvies are charming and lively without needing too much exercise. Most days they come to the yard with me but sometimes they would just rather go back to bed, but then they are 9 and 11 years.
If you take them out for walks you will get lots of people stopping to admire them, especially those who have owned them in the past, so allow plenty of time :)
 
I personally don't see the attraction - having been brought up with them I swapped to proper dogs as soon as I could :D I am closely related to one of the top breeders/exhibitors of CKCS in the country - there are plenty of people out there who are responsible breeders who do the proper health checks and do not breed from affected stock, and there are plenty who aren't. All I can say is choose your breeder wisely...
 
the long list of serious health problems would put me off instantly, they can be yappy and nervous with other dogs but usually love all people and are good with kids.

Border terriers are a much nicer breed IMO less health problems too
 
I've got to say I've never known a CKCS that was yappy and nervous with other dogs - and I have known hundreds of the blessed things - but then the ones I have known haven't been bred on a puppy farm as so many of them are nowadays :(
 
As a family we had CKCS for over 20 and have had all 4 colours. My personal favourite is the Black and Tan. Again please be careful about the breeder that they do all the health tests. The only nervous CKCS I have known came from a puppy farm, poor thing hid under the chair at puppy class and wouldn't let anyone near it. A product of situation and poor breeding practice.
CKCS can turn their paws to many things, mine competed in working trials and agility but I have also known ones go out picking up, in obedience and fly ball too. My Juno thought she was a big dog until she wanted to sit on your lap.
 
I've had one for 4 yrs now and my sisters just bought a pup. Mines great, a little disobedient but that's my fault. Barks to let me know if there's anyone new outside but other than that he's fine. Everyone who's met him, loves him. Always have offers to look after him (and not bring him back). Great temperament but you can tell with mine they were originally hunting dogs - great sense of smell and loves to chase.
 
twiggy2 said:
the long list of serious health problems would put me off instantly, they can be yappy and nervous with other dogs but usually love all people and are good with kids.
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What is on that "long list" other than heart murmurs? Seriously, I would like to know.
As for temperament, I have one who is an ankle biter but then so many of them are so easy they get acquired by first time dog owners and treated as cuddly toys rather than dogs and really spoiled so they become territory guarding or over anxious due to lack of proper socialisation. As per, it is the owners not the dogs who can be the problem.
 
JillA said:
What is on that "long list" other than heart murmurs? Seriously, I would like to know.
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Off the top of my head, mitral valve disease, eye problems, syringomyelia, brachycephalic problems, congenital blood disorders, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, ear problems to name a few. I work in a vets so have seen a lot of these. The heart failure and syringomyelia are most common. I think they are nice dogs, but would never have one (big dog lover!). I have met a couple of larger types with a longer nose that looked lovely.
 
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Umbongo said:
Off the top of my head, mitral valve disease, eye problems, syringomyelia, brachycephalic problems, congenital blood disorders, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, ear problems to name a few. I work in a vets so have seen a lot of these. …….. .
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What has gone so wrong with the breeding problems with just about every breed? Don't tell me it's the breeders who don't 'test', it's every breeder and every breed society and the kennel club. Narrow breeding policies produce damaged goods, which in turn produce further 'damaged goods'.

Alec.
 
Because they are appealing easy dogs they are a big favourite with the puppy farms, and probably the gene pool in them is pretty narrow. My rehomed Blenheim female was a puppy farm brood bitch and she is a really poor specimen, but she probably bred several litters which sold for lots of dosh. If you get one from a reputable breeder you should get all the plus's with none of the problems.
 
JillA said:
……... If you get one from a reputable breeder you should get all the plus's with none of the problems.
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I would be interested to hear of a respected and honest Poll which would establish just who is producing 'clean' and pedigree dogs. I'm here to be convinced of just what reputable means!

Alec.
 
JillA said:
What is on that "long list" other than heart murmurs? Seriously, I would like to know.
As for temperament, I have one who is an ankle biter but then so many of them are so easy they get acquired by first time dog owners and treated as cuddly toys rather than dogs and really spoiled so they become territory guarding or over anxious due to lack of proper socialisation. As per, it is the owners not the dogs who can be the problem.
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Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)
Syringomyelia
Chiari-like malformation (CM)
Heart mitral valve disease (MVD)
Hip dysplasia
being predisposed to develop cerebellar infarcts, or strokes.
eye problems including; hereditary cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, dry eye syndrome, entropion, microphthalmia, progressive retinal degeneration, and retinal dysplasia,
 
twiggy2 said:
Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)
Syringomyelia
Chiari-like malformation (CM)
Heart mitral valve disease (MVD)
Hip dysplasia
being predisposed to develop cerebellar infarcts, or strokes.
eye problems including; hereditary cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichiasis, dry eye syndrome, entropion, microphthalmia, progressive retinal degeneration, and retinal dysplasia,
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Dear God. Really?

Alec.
 
twiggy2 said:
seriously that is rubbish good breeders stopped breeding ckcs, due to the fact that the ckcs club would not enforce or even promote health testing the good breeders got out
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Considering I have already said that I am closely related to one of the country's leading CKCS breeders and exhibitors I find that more than a tad offensive twiggy2 - please get your facts right before offering opinions that are not true!

ETA - OP if you want to be put in touch with a reputable breeder just send me a PM - and it won't be my relative cos she doesn't breed at the moment :)
 
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My oh bought one for his daughter some years back, she was the most loving puppy she was just gorgeous, at 9 months old she became ill and was diagnosed with cancer she was pts a few days after vet said it was one of the most aggresive cancers he had ever seen, it broke his daughters heart she was only 10 she did get another dog a few years later a dashound which she still has and she is 21 now the daughter not the dog:)
 
Lévrier;12676070 said:
Considering I have already said that I am closely related to one of the country's leading CKCS breeders and exhibitors I find that more than a tad offensive twiggy2 - please get your facts right before offering opinions that are not true!

ETA - OP if you want to be put in touch with a reputable breeder just send me a PM - and it won't be my relative cos she doesn't breed at the moment :)
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I know 2 people as you describe above and they along with many other got out of the breed due to the above-they were not the most prolific breeders but ones that cared deeply about the breed and felt the breed club was not promoting and recognising the health issues and tests that were available so did their research and left the breed.
You are entitled to your opinion which is likely based on your experiences as I am entitled to mine, and mine is that anyone who continues to produce dogs that as a breed have such a list of health issues that occur in such high percentages of the breed is not and cannot be a responsible breeder
 
Well considering my knowledge, I am confident that your version of a leading breeder and exhibitor is not the same as mine then - there are no leading exhibitors who have quit the breed over the past 30 years that I have had knowledge of it. I agree that the breed club is not doing enough - neither is the Kennel Club, but no surprise there - however I also know that my relative ensures her dogs are tested before they are bred from (MRI scans, hearts, eyes) and those who show any signs of genetic diseases are not bred from. So your opinion is wrong in this instance, and I can prove it to be so.
 
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