Live with an Cavalier King Charles Spaniel aka Cavalier SECOND EDITION By Louise Louis of http://www.ToyBreeds.com Suggestion: You’re free to print out this report but I suggest you save a copy of the PDF version. There are active links to websites within the report. Your free bonus: Dog Food 101 – everything you need to know to make the right choice for your dog. I answer the most common questions about commercial and homemade dog foods. Download here P.S. Take your time reading this report. Instructions for downloading Dog Food 101 also are on the last page of this report. Copyright © 2008 ToyBreeds.com. All rights reserved. Live with a Cavalier DISCLAIMERS: Although the author offers a generic description of Puppy Lemon Laws, the author is not a lawyer and the description provided should not be relied upon as legal advice. If you want legal advice and explanations of your state or community’s Puppy Lemon Laws, consult a lawyer in your area. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. Copyright © 2008 ToyBreeds.com. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by an electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review. www.ToyBreeds.com 3 Live with a Cavalier Table of Contents Introduction – What Makes the Cavalier Special?.............................................................6 Breed History.....................................................................................................................8 Temperament......................................................................................................................9 Best Households for a Cavalier........................................................................................11 Tips on Selecting a Cavalier.............................................................................................13 Puppy Mills and Animal Rights.......................................................................................15 Puppy Lemon Laws..........................................................................................................18 Getting Your Cavalier from Animal Shelters..................................................................19 Getting Your Cavalier from a Pet Store...........................................................................21 Getting Your Cavalier from a Breeder.............................................................................23 Getting Your Cavalier over the Internet...........................................................................27 Other Places to Get a Cavalier.........................................................................................30 What Does the Contract Say............................................................................................31 How to Inspect a Puppy....................................................................................................34 The Shortened Version of How to Select a Puppy...........................................................36 Health Certificates the Breeder or Other Seller Should Provide......................................37 Pedigree and Registration Papers.....................................................................................40 Puppy Proof Your Home..................................................................................................43 Items to Have for Puppy or Dog......................................................................................44 What to Expect with a Puppy...........................................................................................46 Multiple Pet Household....................................................................................................49 Home................................................................................................................................51 Getting Your Relationship on the Right Paw...................................................................52 Training............................................................................................................................53 Crate Training for Puppies...............................................................................................54 5 Commands You Should Teach Your Dog.....................................................................55 Canine Good Citizen........................................................................................................58 Housebreaking..................................................................................................................60 Travel by Vehicle with Your Cavalier.............................................................................67 RV Lifestyle with a Cavalier............................................................................................70 Travel by Aircraft with Your Cavalier.............................................................................73 www.ToyBreeds.com 4 Live with a Cavalier Travel Internationally with Your Cavalier.......................................................................74 Moving with Your Dog....................................................................................................76 Grooming Requirements Can Be a Burden......................................................................77 Grooming Equipment.......................................................................................................78 Grooming Process – Basic Brushing and Coat Care........................................................80 Grooming the Head and Face...........................................................................................82 Grooming – White Dog....................................................................................................83 Grooming Process – Advanced........................................................................................85 Nails or Pawicures............................................................................................................87 Dental Care.......................................................................................................................89 Bathing.............................................................................................................................91 Heart Problems of the Cavalier........................................................................................93 Other Potential Health Problems......................................................................................95 Vaccinations.....................................................................................................................98 Alternatives to Vaccinations............................................................................................99 Considerations in Deciding Whether to Vaccinate........................................................100 Getting Homeowners Insurance.....................................................................................102 Consider Pet Insurance...................................................................................................104 Help Your Senior Dog....................................................................................................106 Estate Planning for Your Cavalier..................................................................................110 When to Say Good-Bye to Your Cavalier......................................................................112 Resources........................................................................................................................113 AKC Cavalier Standard..................................................................................................114 Concise Dictionary of AKC Cavalier Terms................................................................117 APPENDIX A - Dog 911 – First Aid.............................................................................119 INDEX............................................................................................................................123 www.ToyBreeds.com 5 Live with a Cavalier Introduction – What Makes the Cavalier Special? First, along with his cousin the English Toy Spaniel, his history of breeding parallels the English monarchy itself. Many of the royal family contributed to variations in both breeds and helped make these spaniels popular. Second, along with his cousin, these two are the most often confused dogs both in appearance and name. To help avoid some of the confusion, I’m offering a table of comparisons. English Toy Spaniel Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Nicknames Charlie or ET Cavalier Period of 1800s after cross breeding with 1920s with intention of origin Pug and French Bulldog duplicating the spaniels in old English paintings! Origin of In England and outside USA, he Also named after Charles II who name is King Charles Spaniel named was nicknamed Cavalier King after Charles II of England Charles because he took his Cavalier dogs everywhere with him (even when he posed for paintings – see above) Nickname In USA, he is English Toy (ET). Everywhere, he is Cavalier Elsewhere, he is King Charles Spaniel or Charlie Colors Four possible colors: Four possible colors: 1. Blenheim which is chestnut 1. Blenheim which is chestnut and and white; white; 2. black and tan, 2. black and tan; 3. solid burgundy; and 3. ruby red; and 4. black, white and gray 4. black and white Appearance Nose is short and looks pushed-in Nose is longer (about one inch) Ears are set low Ears are set high Tails are usually docked Tails are usually natural Vital statistics Adult weight: 10-18 pounds Adult height: 12-13 inches Life span: 9-14 years Caution Be sure to read the section on potential health problems. This www.ToyBreeds.com 6 Live with a Cavalier breed is subject to heart problems. Administrative note I use “he” throughout for writing ease but all comments apply to either gender unless so stated. www.ToyBreeds.com 7 Live with a Cavalier Breed History The oddest history in I think the Cavalier has the oddest origin of any Toy breed. dogdom Rather than being bred for a specific purpose (killing rats or retrieving waterfowl), today’s Cavalier was bred to resemble the small spaniels in English paintings of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The majority of paintings were of Charles II who took his spaniels everywhere with him (even to Parliament) during his reign from 1660 to 1685. The breed was named in his honor. In 1926, a wealthy American, Roswell Eldridge fell in love with the spaniels he saw in these old English paintings. Until the 20th century, there had been no breed standards or dog shows so the size and appearance of dogs varied greatly. The only Toy breed spaniels Mr. Eldridge found were the English Toy Spaniels who had shorter noses and were smaller than the dogs in the paintings. Mr. Eldridge convinced the organizers of the Crufts Dog Show to let him offer cash prizes for five years to the English breeders who could come closest to matching the dogs in the paintings. In return, English breeders formed the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club in 1928, and a breeder that year won the prize. Unfortunately, Mr. Eldridge died a month before Crufts so he never saw the results of his challenge. Ironically, breeders became quite devoted to the Cavalier and maintaining the purity of his appearance. He wasn’t recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) until 1996 because Cavalier club members didn’t request it. There are two breed clubs, one of which is the parent club for the AKC, but both have Codes of Ethics that prohibit sales to a pet wholesaler or pet store. www.ToyBreeds.com 8 Live with a Cavalier Temperament Extrovert The Cavalier loves everyone and expects to be a participating member of his family. He’s not a one-person dog and will love everyone in the household including other pets. This is not the dog to have if you plan to leave him alone all day. In fact, he may chew destructively to show his displeasure at being alone. If you’re gone all day, consider having a second dog so they can keep each other company. One other consideration about the Cavalier is that he is subject to heart disease to a greater extent than other Toy breeds. Please read the sections on health problems carefully before you decide whether to acquire a Cavalier. With his sweet round face, big sad eyes and floppy ears, this is a breed that can melt anyone’s heart. Spaniel heritage He is a loving, gentle companion although he has a strong prey instinct. Keep him on a leash or in a fenced yard anytime he’s outside. He will chase after anything that moves, no matter where it leads him. In fact, he’s often called the sporting Toy because he combines the characteristics of a Toy breed and a spaniel. Resist the urge Resist the urge to carry your Cavalier everywhere. That interferes to carry with his socialization and interaction with out dogs. It will only make him fearful and neurotic if he meets other animals. Daily exercise Cavaliers need a daily walk and playtime. While they have a neededd loving temperament and look cuddly, they are not couch potatoes. Cavaliers must burn off their innate spaniel energy in some fashion each day. The enjoy walks, water sports, agility and obedience trials and just about any other outdoors activities. In fact, some fanciers refer to them as Golden Retrievers in a little body. At first, just walking will do. As your dog matures, add games of fetch or just running. If possible, break the walks into twice a day but if that doesn’t suit your schedule, do it once a day. As a rule of thumb – start with 10-minutes a day for a puppy. Build up to 50-minutes a day as a healthy, mature dog and then gradually start reducing minutes as a senior citizen. This is just a rule of thumb. Adjust the time to suit your dog. If he starts lagging behind at 9-minutes, it means he’s tired. Stop for www.ToyBreeds.com 9 Live with a Cavalier day. If he’s still bouncing off the walls at 40-minutes, add time. Not a watch dog Cavaliers love everyone even burglars so don’t get one expecting him to protect you. Get a Cavalier and burglar alarm. www.ToyBreeds.com 10 Live with a Cavalier Best Households for a Cavalier Have time for His heavy double-coat requires regular brushing. Ideally, you maintenance should spend at least 15-minutes a day on it. If that is just too much, brush him every other day. Otherwise his heavy coat may develop mats sometimes referred to as “felt rug” mats. You may be able to work these out with your fingers but more often you must cut them out. See the Grooming sections for more information. No small children I do not recommend a Cavalier for any household with small children (6-years or younger). Cavaliers love the attention, but they may look like a stuffed toy to a young child. Even a loving, 2-year-old may inadvertently play too hard for the small bones of these dogs. Other children Cavaliers are good family dogs and if your children are old enough to be trusted with a pet, a Cavalier is a great choice. In fact, this is one of the few Toy breeds I recommend for families. Other dogs The Cavalier is a sociable dog who gets along well with other animals including cats. If you have other or larger dogs in the household, however, you’ll have to watch the new dog very carefully to see how the dogs interact. A puppy or small dog may look like dinner to a large dog so always be present when the dogs are together until you’re sure they’ve become friends. It’s a good idea to keep a spray bottle of water on hand so you spray any too-aggressive dog in the face to stop fights. I do not recommend pulling their tails to get them apart although many old-timers still do that. Other pets Although he’s a natural extrovert and loves company, he has an innate prey instinct and may chase small animals. Watch him carefully around small pets like rabbits and birds until you’re sure he sees them as companions and not prey. Novice owners and Cavaliers are fine for first time dog owners. They train readily apartment dwellers and want to please their owners. They can live in apartments or condominiums provided they can get exercise outdoors every day. They need more exertion www.ToyBreeds.com 11