Description

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an endearing toy dog that has boundless energy and love. They are an excellent family dog and will do well with older, considerate children that are aware of the small size of this breed, especially as a puppy. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is both athletic and active for its size but can also be a quiet companion dog. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is graceful and elegant. They are most associated in history with those of nobility and aristocracy. They are a well-balanced toy Spaniel that display an affectionate and loving nature.  This breed is a true companion and lap dog. They are gentle, but also have a sporting character, which enables them to do well in agility and hunting events. This breed loves to swim and is a natural retriever. 

Coat Description

The coat is moderately long, silky and very well feathered on the legs, chest, ears and tail. The feet will also have feathering and this is a standard of the breed.  There are four color types which were formerly considered separate breeds: tricolor (‘Prince Charles’), red and white (‘Blenheim’), black and tan (‘King Charles’) and red (‘Ruby’). The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a moderate, average shedder.

History

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (affectionately known as a ‘Cav’) is an offshoot of the King Charles Spaniel. The King Charles Spaniel was created by crossing small Spaniels with a short snouted breed such as the Pug or Japanese Chin. It was brought to Scotland from Continental Europe (possibly by Mary, Queen of Scots) in the 1500’s or 1600’s, where it became a fashionable lap dog and companion for the noble class. King Charles Spaniels were also popular lap warmers (and flea magnets) for the lower class. King Charles II, for whom the breed is named, grew up with a pet King Charles Spaniel (then known as the Toy Spaniel), and was such a big fan of the breed that he was accused of neglecting his official duties to spend time with his pet Spaniels. He once issued a decree that the breed could not be forbidden entry to any building, including Parliament! Some King Charles Spaniels, such as the red and white ‘Blenheims’, served as hunting dogs, but most strains were bred for appearance rather than work capacity. Over the years, the breed became smaller with a shorter nose. In the 1920’s, a wealthy American man named Roswell Eldrige traveled to England and offered 25 pounds, a large sum at the time, for an ‘old style’ or ‘pointed nose’ version of the breed, similar to Charles II’s actual dog. The effort was successful, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel eventually surpassed its short nosed cousin in popularity, achieving American Kennel Club recognition in 1996.

Temperament

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a wonderful temperament and is ideal for single people, couples or even families. They are curious and playful by nature but also enjoy just cuddling up on a favorite cushion or even better on their owners lap. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel loves interacting with people and likes a lot of human attention on a regular, ongoing, daily basis. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel loves to be with its family and craves attention. It is cheerful, playful, and intelligent—an ideal dog to carry with you and share your time with. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not bark frequently. They are generally well behaved companions.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an excellent companion dog for dogs in the family or even other pets such as cats. They are natural "chasers" so do need proper socialization to understand not to chase the other pets in the house. They do well with other dogs and are not a dog-aggressive breed.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is best suited for a pampered indoor life.  The Cavalier prefers to be with their family or other dogs.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will bark when strangers come to the door and may take a few visits before they warm up to new people. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel gets along well with children,, other dogs, and any household pets. It is friendly, happy, and loving. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are devoted to loved ones but can be suspicious around strangers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel bonds with family members and will often choose a favorite family member although they will get along with everyone. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a dog that enjoys being outdoors and going on walks and outings despite its small size. They are moderately active if left inside and will play and romp through the house or apartment with toys.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a natural pleaser and is a very easy dog to train and teach. They respond best to positive rewards and attention and love to be the center of attention.

Grooming

As an average shedder it is important to keep the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel well groomed on a regular basis. The dead hair, if not removed from the coat, will result in matting and tangling of the fine, silky hairs that make up the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat.

Grooming can be easily done in a quick five to ten minute a day or every other day session, depending on how active and how much outside time the dog has. A stiff bristle brush and a grooming comb are all that is needed. Start by brushing the coat in the direction of hair growth, which is down and slightly back along the body and down on the chest and neck. Always brush first before bathing to prevent making any knots or mats worse through the shampooing process. This breed can tolerate regular bathing either full wet bathing or dry powder treatments, but try to avoid bathing too frequently, especially in cold weather. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel may become quickly chilled so always dry completely before letting them outside after a full bath.

It is important to carefully trim the long hair on the feet and especially between the pads. Use blunt edged grooming scissors and make sure that you have help to hold the dog or puppy, especially if they are new to the process. Gentle pressure on the top and bottom of the foot will cause the pads to spread apart, making it easy to clip and check for any possible mats or debris that may be trapped.

 

Exercise

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a very adaptable breed of dog that can adjust to the level of activity within the home. They do need regular exercise just as any other breed, but they are happy to just walk around the house with the owner or go for a brisk walk or a morning jog. This adaptability towards levels of exercise is what makes this breed such a versatile dog for seniors, families, very active individuals and even people with limited mobility.


As with most toy dogs the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a lot of spirit and loves to be involved in everything that the family does. They are great travelers and quickly learn to love going in the car. This makes them easy to exercise as they can go anywhere the family goes for changes in exercise locations. As a spaniel breed the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will retrieve small balls and chew toys and typically do this very naturally and will little specialized training.

The exercise needs of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are uncomplicated. It enjoys walks, but its needs can usually be met with indoor play; it will adapt itself to the activity level of your family. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is well suited to apartment life. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should be leashed, provided a fenced are or watched closely around roads as it tends to give chase to small animals and naturally curiosity may lead them in harms way.

Training

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a very easy dog to train as it is so eager to please and to earn the owners praise and attention. Since they have been used as a companion dog throughout history they are naturally very responsive and well mannered, although like all dogs, they do need to be carefully, positively and consistently trained.

Like most toy breeds they can be challenging to housetrain since they are so tiny as puppies. Carefully monitoring the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and taking them outdoors after eating, drinking, waking or playing will greatly help this process. They are naturally clean dogs and will also respond very well to crate training as a housetraining method.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is highly intelligent and eager to learn.  The Cavalier makes an excellent therapy dog. They respond well to gentle training and high praise.

Description

The Coton de Tulear is most easily identified by the soft, fluffy, cottony looking coat that is typical of the breed. They are a relatively uncommon breed outside of their native homeland of Madagascar but are gaining in popularity with dog fanciers the world over.  The Coton originated in the island of Madagascar in the early 20th century. They are still considered to be a rare breed in the United States, where there are only perhaps 5,000 total.

This breed has no significant genetic diseases built into it due to its rarity. Breeders have been very careful to keep the Coton line pure.
 

Coat Description

Coton is French for cotton. Hence, this breeds coat is fluffy and cottony, not silky. There is a long topcoat that is dry, dirt shedding, and non-oily. Most but not all Cotons will have a fine, thin, downy undercoat.

The Coton de Tulear is different from most breeds of dogs in that the cotton, dry textured coat is more like hair than it is like a traditional dog fur. This makes the coat appear very fluffy and light, almost tussled in appearance. The coat is moderately long and very full, with mature dogs often clipped or trimmed when not being used as show animals.

The Coton de Tulear has a breed-distinctive medium length, cotton-textured coat which is composed of hair rather than fur, with a long topcoat. The Coton de Tulear is pure white, or white with lemon, black, grey, or brown markings. Some standards allow black and white, tricolor (white and cream with black markings on the head), ‘honey bare’ (black spots fading to brown or lemon), ‘ferret’ (dark brown mixed with black), or all black. The Coton de Tulear sheds little and is a good breed for those with allergies.

History

The Coton de Tulear is originally from Madagascar, more specifically the port of Tulear. It is believed that a dog closely resembling the Coton de Tulear was found after a shipwreck off the port city, although there is no record of the name of this ship or where it was sailing from. Many breeders believe it is more likely that the European ships sailing to this African port likely had small companion type dogs of various mixtures with them, that then were left behind as gifts or simply left behind to mate with other dogs already in the city.

The result was a small, athletic and uniquely coated dog that came to be known as the "Royal dog of Madagascar". They were then brought back to Europe and reintroduced, giving rise to the debate as to whether they are originally a European breed rather than an African breed of dog. Regardless they are a relatively rare breed of dog that is slowly but surely becoming more popular around the world.

The Federation Cynologique Internationale or FCI accepted the breed in 1971 and has since moved to change some of the standards used by the other breeding associations and kennel clubs. They have moved to a more Maltese looking breed standard that is not accepted or recognized by other associations.

Temperament

The Coton de Tulear has a wonderful, lively and intelligent personality that makes them ideal for any type of home or family situation. They are a great dog to interact with children or the elderly and can adjust to the amount of exercise that the home can provide. They are also very easy to train, very willing to please, and enjoy being with their families as much as possible. Not a toy dog, the Coton de Tulear, despite its fluffy and somewhat toy like appearance is a very sturdy small breed that loves to play, fetch and romp around with the family.

The Coton de Tulear is an excellent companion dog for either smaller or larger breeds. When properly socialized the Coton de Tulear will accept other dogs into their area without being overly protective or dog aggressive.  They are also excellent with non-canine pets and tend to interact very well with cats and other household pets.

The Coton de Tulear is a very happy breed. They seem to constantly be smiling, wagging their tails and wanting to be around the family. They do best when they are left alone only for brief periods of time. The Coton de Tulear is an adaptable and boisterous companion. They thrive on being an integral part of the family, and do not like to be left alone for an extended length of time. They are content to be on your lap or at your feet, but are also instantly ready for play or a ride in the car.

The Coton de Tulear is gentle, affectionate, loyal, and friendly. It is very playful and grows highly attached to its family, even to the point of developing separation anxiety! The Coton de Tulear is lively and enthusiastic, making frequent vocalizations. Cotons make good watchdogs.

The Coton de Tulear is very sociable and gets along easily with children, dogs and other animals. Some are cautious or shy around strangers, but most are affectionate towards everyone. The Coton de Tulear is full of surprises; some Cotons like to amuse their owners by walking around on their hind legs.

The Coton de Tulear is alert and territorial. They form strong attachments to both Master and family. They will alert to danger by barking, but only when it is necessary. They are extremely intelligent and love all of the attention they can get. The Coton is very social and enjoys outings and experiences. They get along well with other pets and children.

Grooming

Daily grooming is key to keeping the coat of the Coton de Tulear looking its best and free from mats and knots. While they are not a shedding breed the longer, dead hairs if not removed from the coat will cause skin irritations as well as mats and tangles in the coat. Daily grooming either by brush or comb will keep the coat looking soft and tangle free with just a simple routine that shouldn't take more than five minutes.

The Coton de Tulear usually only sheds hair when been groomed, much like a human loses hair when they brush. Since the hair is so dry to the touch and silky, it is typically easy to groom using a wide toothed grooming comb or a pin brush. Start at the neck and groom down and back, following the direction of hair growth. The Coton de Tulear will never have a sleek, lie down on the skin type of coat so it is not essential to worry about exactly how the hair appears on the body, a windblown look is considered the best for the breed. The coat of the Coton de Tulear is naturally very clean and does not require frequent bathing.

 

Exercise

The Coton de Tulear is a great indoor dog in that he or she will keep active in the house and does not need to be regularly outside in the yard. As with all types of dogs the Coton de Tulear does need regular exercise to stay fit and healthy, but this can be complete through inside activities such as fetch as well as going for regular, shorter walks. The Coton de Tulear will also adjust to long, lengthy walks or romps outside in the yard with the family.

Due to its soft and cotton appearance many people mistakenly assume that the Coton de Tulear is a very delicate or fragile dog, which really isn't the case at all. These dogs love to run and play, especially with other dogs and pets. One of the best forms of exercise for the breed is a companion dog that will keep them active either in or outside of the house. The Coton de Tulear is naturally very playful and is a wonderful natural retriever, enjoying a game of fetch for as long as the owner is willing to throw the ball or toy.

The Coton de Tulear is also an avid swimmer and loves to get into the water. With their cottony white coats this can often be a bit of a concern, but they are a water loving dog and will take every opportunity they can find to go in for a swim. They love long walks and hikes and are even a great jogging companion for an active family or individual. Traditionally the Coton de Tulear used to run alongside the owner's horse, able to go for miles at a brisk jog or light running pace.

The Coton de Tulear requires only a moderate amount of exercise, though it has a surprising amount of stamina that enables it to come along for very long walks or even horseback rides. The Coton de Tulear can get its exercise from playtime in the yard, but if not given outdoor exercise it will become more active indoors. Most Cotons like to swim. They are well suited to apartment life.

This breed is an indoor companion. They do not require high levels of exercise, but do need a short walk every day. They also appreciate play sessions as often as possible. They adjust and adapt well to apartment, condo, and urban living. They have the capability and endurance for long hikes.

Training

Training the Coton de Tulear is a very pleasant experience although they are occasionally a bit headstrong and stubborn. The breed is very lovable and wants to please the owner, making them very responsive to positive training methods that use praise and small rewards. They are quick to learn good habits and will find many endearing little things to do to amuse you. Many Coton de Tulear are naturally adept at learning tricks like walking on their hind legs and sitting up to beg.

The Coton de Tulear, bred as a companion dog for so long, seems to have the ability to understand what the owners is wanting before the command needs to be given. They are ideal obedience and agility dogs and seem to love competition and being in the spotlight.

Most Coton de Tulear are very clean dogs and puppies and will almost housetrain themselves given the opportunity to get outside when needed. They are also excellent dogs to crate train although the owners must be committed to following the routine and ensuring that the puppy gets outdoors or to the designated areas when in the crate.

Teaching the Coton de Tulear tricks and entertaining routines is very easy. Unlike some dogs they will be able to understand multiple commands and are reported to have an uncanny ability to understand what their owner is saying. To avoid any confusion when first training the Coton de Tulear it is recommended that one person train the dog first, then have other members of the family work with the dog using the same commands and signals.

Description

The Havanese is a small and sturdy dog, and part of the Bichon family of breeds. This family also includes the Bichon Frise and the Maltese. They are just slightly longer than tall with untrimmed wavy hair. The Havanese has traditionally been a family pet in their native country of Cuba. In fact, for many years, the Havanese was the traditional lap dog of Cuban aristocracy. Throughout the years, this breed has also been used to herd poultry. They are recognizable for their especially springy gait in walking. This gait is caused by the fact that their front legs are slightly shorter than their hind legs.

The Havanese is a toy dog, so they are quite small, though they don't appear fragile or delicate.  The Havanese is a small breed that is happy and affectionate. They are true companions who love to be part of the family. They are extremely social and will lavish attention on those who lavish attention on them. Since this breed is odorless and low shedding they are popular choices for allergy sufferers

The Havanese has very well boned and muscular legs with round feet. These dogs have a double coat that is designed to protect them from the tropical heat. It is light and soft in texture, and should never be wiry. They have long hair over their eyes, and unlike other toy dogs this hair is never gathered up in a topknot, as it is also part of their unique heat fighting design.   The Havanese are neither aggressive nor timid, and do not exhibit a possessive nature. They truly have an endearing personality that makes them a lovely house pet.

The Havanese is a true delight. They are intelligent, curious, and playful. This breed thrives on companionship and adores children. The Havanese are good watch dogs who will alert their family to danger or visitors. They will look to their family for reassurance before welcoming strangers. Once they befriend someone they are friends for life.

Coat Description

Havanese come in three coat types - smooth, curly and wavy.  Their coat grows to about 6-8 inches in length and has a pearly sheen. Their coat is thick, but light since it is designed to act as a sunshade. It is not protective from the cold. The hair has a very silky feel and hardly sheds. Hair should never be coarse. The Havanese requires regular brushing to prevent tangling, unless you decide to keep it short. The Havanese hardly sheds, and for this reason, even though they are considered hypoallergenic to most allergy sufferers.

The original Havanese Silk dogs were all white, but today's Havanese can be found in any color, including gold, cream, white, silver, blue and black. Some dogs are tri or parti-colored, as well. A favorite color in North America is chocolate. In order to qualify as a chocolate Havanese, the dog must have at least a one inch patch of chocolate colored hair.

The Havanese is a double-coated breed that is low shedding. The hair is soft in texture, very long and in great abundance. The Havanese coat has different types from straight to curly. They come in many colors such as pure white to cream, black, silver, chocolate, or parti-colored. In the adult Havanese the coat reaches a length of 6-8 inches.

History

The Havanese breed originated in Cuba, and is part of the Bichon group of breeds. The breed was created from the Bichon lapdogs brought to Cuba from Europe during the 17th century. The original Bichons that came from Europe were not suited to the Cuban climate, and over the years, the dogs adapted, eventually giving way to an entirely new breed, the Blanquito de la Habana, also known as the Havanese Silk Dog. These dogs were smaller than the original Bichons and entirely white, with a silkier coat. During the 19th century, French and German poodles began coming to Cuba from Europe and the Cubans began to cross them with the Blanquito de la Habana, creating today\'s Havanese. The Havanese was the preferred pet of Cuban aristocracy during the 18th and 19th centuries. Their unique coats survived the intense tropical heat of Cuba quite well. Cubans bred the dogs throughout the 20th century.

Breeding began in the US in the 1970s, using Havanese dogs brought with Cuban families that immigrated to the US. Somewhere along the way, some German breeders began to have some litters that included puppies with shorter coats that were close lying on the body, but with some feathering on the skirts, tail, ears and legs. It has now been discovered that there is a short haired recessive gene carried by some Havanese dogs. If two Havanese with this recessive gene are bred together, some of the puppies will have these smooth coats. These odd coated Havanese are now called Smooth Coated Havanese or Shavanese.

 

Temperament

The Havanese is a very playful dog that tends to be quite clever in getting attention. Havanese can often be seen performing tricks in order to get the attention of new guests in the home. In fact, because of their propensity to do tricks, this breed has long been used in the circus. This is a great family dog, because they are small enough to be easy to keep in the house, but they are not snappish or yappy like many other toy breeds. They love children and make very good playmates for them. Unlike other toy breeds, they can tolerate clumsy and sometimes rough play of children.

Havanese are intelligent and very playful. They want to be near their owners and they want attention and playtime. This dog is known to follow their owners around from room to room. They can be taught to do tricks and are eager to please their owners. However, as much as they love their owners, they are not possessive of them nor aggressive when their owners express affection for people or other animals. In fact, Havanese do quite well with other pets in the home and often make playmates of them.

Havanese are not prone to excessive barking, but they will bark to alert you to visitors and will be wary of strangers until you have welcomed them. Once the dog observes that you\'re comfortable with a visitor, however, he will be very friendly. These dogs are not prone to shyness. And, despite their size, they do not show any fear. Their combination of friendliness, eagerness to please and comfort will all kinds of people and animals makes this one of the best dogs, particularly for families with allergies or who need a small pet.

Grooming

The Havanese has a fairly long coat that does not shed.  If your Havanese is not to be shown, you can keep the coat clipped short to make grooming much easier. However, keep in mind that the Havanese's coat was designed to protect him from the heat, so you should not clip his coat very short if he is to be left outdoors during hot weather, as he will actually be hotter. Though the Havanese naturally has a long and wooly looking coat, it is designed to protect from heat, not from cold, so this dog is not designed to spend long periods of time out in the cold, either. However, since most Havanese dogs live primarily indoors with their families, a short coat is far more practical.

The Havanese is designed to have a natural appearance in his coat. Therefore, even for show dogs, back combing and fussing of the coat is not allowed. The dog's coat should be well groomed of course, but never "styled" in appearance nor clipped for showing. The very long hair around the feet, however, can be clipped.

Exercise

The Havanese needs a moderate amount of exercise. They are quite energetic, but are small enough to be able to run off some of their energy in the house. They'll be quite happy with a small yard area where they can run around some each day. They can also get sufficient exercise from accompanying their owner on a daily walk.

The Havanese is well suited to living indoors, though they are a very active breed. They will be happiest indoors where they can be part of the family, but they will do best with an outdoor area where they can be allowed to run off some of their energy. This dog doesn't shed and tends to be hypoallergenic, so they make a great house pet, even for allergy sufferers.

The Havanese has an energetic nature that requires walking, a play session, or a swim. However, they do not require an inordinate amount of exercise. They do well in apartments and also homes with small yards. Since they are adept at learning tricks, they benefit from this activity. The Havanese are moderately active indoors but do need toys and social stimulation so as not to become bored and irritable.

Training

The Havanese is very intelligent and eager to please. These two qualities make them quite easy to train. They are eager to do tricks to entertain you, so once you\'ve completed the basics of training, they\'ll be eager to learn some fun tricks. They have an exceptionally good sense of smell and will love to play games of "find" where you hide an object and they hunt it down.

Your Havanese should be very easy to house train, as they will quickly understand your displeasure when they use the bathroom indoors. Because of their size and sensitivity to the cold, many owners choose to paper train their Havanese if they live in a very cold climate. This allows them to avoid sending the dog outside in cold weather and snow. Whichever method of house training you choose will work well with a Havanese.

Whenever you're training a puppy, use a firm voice for commands and admonishments is important, as your dog will respond to the firmness in your voice. However, it is very important that you not be too harsh in speaking to your Havanese, as it will only frighten him and make it difficult to accomplish any training results.