The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the world’s most problematic breeds. The beautiful little dogs have so many qualities that are hugely appealing to their human owners – their range of coat colours, their ever wagging tails, and the relaxed nature of their personalities.
As far as dogs go, this is one that will fit into most people’s lives – they are happy to go with the flow, and will walk as much – or as little – as you want, and if you skip a walk because of the rain, these happy little guys won’t start eating the walls desperate to out like some larger dog breeds.
But it is this convenience of the breed that makes it so problematic.
Because as the old saying goes, ‘if it looks too good to be true, it usually is’. And unfortunately, that is the case with these gorgeous compact little dogs.
The breed is known for being riddled with health issues – and as a result, buying one without any health issues can be a massive headache.
Unfortunately, the health issues that Cavaliers face are not minor. Heart problems – even from birth – can be present, as well as neurological illness that cause the dog extreme pain and, sadly, death. There are countless stories of dogs having to be put to sleep because their brains literally do not fit in their skulls. And if you think it’s just a matter of their brain being placed under pressure by their skulls causing them a headache – think again. MRI scans show the brain actually sliding out of the back of the skull and down towards the rest of the spinal column. So just imagine if your brain couldn’t fit in your skull and was popping out for a jaunt down your neck – I think you’d want the best medical care money can buy. Not to mention the anxiety that a condition like that could cause.
On top of that, these fragile little spaniels suffer from patella issues, which means they can suffer from knee problems. If you think that’s a minor issue, since it won’t actually kill them to have a sore knee – think again. It means that the kneecap keeps slipping out of joint. Ouch. Which at best means you’ll be paying for pain relief medication for the rest of their lives, something like Metacam (costing £££ per month), or forking out between £2000 – £6000 for surgery. And that cost is likely to be PER KNEECAP. If all four knees need surgery over the dog’s lifetime, you’ll be forking out £8000 – £24,000. Many pet insurance policies wouldn’t even begin to cover what these dogs might need, so you better get a really solid policy with a high level of coverage, or have extremely deep pockets.
Getting a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – whether rescued or as a puppy can be a hugely expensive – and heartbreaking experience. Vet bills are likely to be higher than other, more healthy breeds, and as a result, pet insurance is also more expensive for these fragile little dogs.
Don’t get me wrong, I love these little dogs for everything they provide – the endless snuggles, the ‘I love everyone’ personality akin almost to a Golden Retriever, and their easy going nature. A dog that is happy so long as they are with you. Being small and portable means they can go almost anywhere and feeding them smaller portions could work out cheaper than a larger breed of dog (though this is true of pretty much any smaller dog).
But I really believe that the breed has been allowed to perpetuate with the horrific genetic illnesses that it often has BECAUSE of the traits it has. If this dog had a faulty personality in any way, the breed would most likely be on the verge of extinction. Who would want a dog that might die young that also had a yappy and aggressive personality?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have been bred and bred and bred because of their pretty little faces, obedience, and convenience (not many dog breeds will be happy with a walk around the block most days and be capable of agility on the weekends!).
But unfortunately the breed is just so sickly that in 2023, Norway BANNED the breeding of Cavaliers, as the pain and suffering that these dogs face violates animal welfare laws.
On top of that, in 2008, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel won the Championship at Crufts at just 18 months old, who had already sired seven litters of puppies without proper health testing. Which means that prospective puppy parents can’t even trust the Kennel Club breeders to adequately test their dogs for genetic illnesses before they breed from them. Which means you can buy a Kennel Club registered puppy that might either be carrier of the diseases, or turn out to be affected themselves. A heartbreaking – and expensive – revelation that might mean you’d have to put your pup to sleep well before the end of their natural lifespan, at like, four years old or something.
And this is why I just cannot reconcile within my mind whether Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should be allowed to perpetuate as a breed. In many ways, they are the ‘perfect’ dog – but their faults are just so massive that they shouldn’t be ignored.
Whatever you do, if you’re considering this breed, first of all try looking elsewhere for a similar breed that is genetically healthier. There are so many other dogs out there that have qualities that might fit your lifestyle that won’t burn a hole in your pocket with expensive vet bills.
And if you do decide to go ahead with a Cavalier, be prepared to do your research – especially into comprehensive pet insurance and veterinary costs. And whatever the fuck you do, definitely stay away from sites like Pets4Homes or any website where you can pay for your pup by PayPal, as those are 100% gonna be puppy farmers, who will sell you a sick pup for a high price.
Good luck out there – choosing a pup can be a fun time, but it also determines how expensive the next 10 – 18 years of your life will be – both financially, and emotionally.
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