Happy Pet Blog

 
Now-How-Cute-Is-This?  photo credit: jeckman

This is an ideal dog for newly (or seasoned) retired people. My girlfriend, just recently retired, just got one. It is just too cute. Ideal for those small condominium settings.  I can see this little rascal will bring tons of joy and companionship to my friend!

The extremely social nature of the Cavalier KC Spaniel means that they require almost constant companionship from humans or other dogs, and are not suited to spending long periods of time on their own. This breed is the friendliest of the toy group.

Some Cavaliers have been known to exhibit traits in common with cats, such as perching in high places (the tops of couches, the highest pillow, etc), cleaning their own paws and can also show some birding qualities. Cavaliers have been seen to catch small birds in mid-flight that are flying too close to the ground. Such behavior is a result of their earlier use as a hunting dog, and as such, they can develop habits that predispose them to chase small animals such as chipmunks, squirrels, etc. Because of this, it is recommended that care should be taken when walking a Cavalier off-leash, as they can single-mindedly chase a butterfly or squirrel onto a busy road or other dangerous situation without regard for their own safety if not properly trained.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog usually considered one of the toy dog breeds. It is a small spaniel with substantial silky coat of moderate length, often with a mild wave, and long ears. Four colours are recognized. The breed originated in the 20th century, though has its roots in the older King Charles Spaniel of the Restoration.

Build: Small, balanced
Weight: 10-18 pounds (5-8 kg.)
Height: 12-13 inches (30-33 cm.)
Coat: Silky, sometimes with a slight waviness
Color: Blenheim, tricolor, ruby, or black & tan
Head: Proportionate to body
Teeth: Scissors bite
Eyes: Large, round, but not prominent and set well apart; color a warm, very dark brown; giving a lustrous, limpid look, with dark rims and cushioning under eyes contributing to the soft expression.
Ears: Set high, but not close, on top of the head, with leather long with plenty of feathering
Tail: Well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back
Limbs: Parallel
Feet: Compact with well-cushioned pads
Life span: Median 9-14 years

thanks to wikipedia

The Cavalier (along with the Pug) is perhaps the largest toy breed: though clearly a lap dog, fully-grown adults tend to fill one rather amply. It is nonetheless quite small for a spaniel, with fully-grown Cavaliers roughly comparable in size to adolescents of more conventional spaniel breeds. Breed standards call for a height between 29 and 33 cm (12–13 inches) with a proportionate weight between 4.5 and 8.5 kg (10 and 18 lb). Unlike most other spaniels, the Cavalier has a full-length tail well-feathered with long hair, which is typically carried aloft when walking.

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