If the spaniels are built for royalty, that means the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is king. This regal toy spaniel dates back to the Renaissance, where King Charles I and his son Charles II were particularly fond of the breed. Eventually, the cavalier was dubbed after their namesake. It’s time for your pup to strut their royal stuff.
Grooming goal: shine with minimal fuss
Looking pristine is easy when it comes to the cavalier’s glossy coat. However, if you want your dog to really shine, brushing your cavalier out daily to keep them looking their best. With a medium bristle brush appropriate for a small breed, brush out their hair evenly throughout their body. This helps stimulate the natural oils in their skin, making their coat shine.
A cavalier’s hair naturally provides a soft wave that can sometimes lead to tangles. Before you’re finished brushing completely, don’t forget the feet! The cavalier is one of the very few breeds that have hair that continuously grows on the feet. This will require trimming from time to time. When the hair on the feet gets knotted, it can cause difficulty when walking.
Bathing and dryness: balance natural oils
When it’s time to bathe your cavalier, remember: once a month is more than enough. Too much bathing removes the natural skin oils that make your dog shine. Noticing your cavalier’s fur not soaking in your shampoo? That is because cavaliers have water-resistant coats! Experts suggest shampooing the coat twice to remove the residue build-up. When shampooing, lather up your cavalier with lukewarm water and shampoo, rinse and repeat. You only need to do a conditioner once thereafter.
When washing, avoid getting any soap in your dog’s eyes and face. Because a cavalier is water-resistant, drying your pup off immediately with a towel after their bath is pivotal unless you want water sprayed all over the house. After the initial dry off, use a dog-friendly hairdryer on the lowest setting and start brushing your dog while you blow-dry.
Styles for show and daily wear
Ready for your cavalier pup to shine? The cavalier is king for a reason, they love being the center of attention. An easy-going and happy breed, the cavalier is one of the most popular toy breeds at the Westminster Dog Show. The show-ready cut fluffs out the cavalier’s hair, including their legs and feet, and groomers cut the ear fur in a nice straight line. Though your cavalier may not be a puppy anymore, any time is a good time for a puppy cut. Puppy cuts work well on a lot of breeds, as it’s both low maintenance and keeps your dog comfortable in the warmer months. The hair is the same short length all over and is about an inch or two in length, with the exception to the cavalier’s iconic ears which are usually kept longer.
When you have a dog as perfect as a cavalier, why change what they already have in spades? Before being 100% finished with the cavalier’s new do, check their ears for signs of infection.
