This spaniel with the fancy name was a common companion dog for ladies in the 18th and 19th century. Its name refers to King Charles II, who made a decree that these spaniels be allowed into the House of Parliament and any other public place. The breed was nearly lost but re-established as the Cavalier King Charles in the 1920s.

The Cavalier King Charles is a cute looking, small spaniel with a short muzzle, big brown eyes and a silky coat that comes in black and tan, ruby, red and white and tricolour. The dog stands 30-33 cm tall and weighs between 5.5 and 8 kg.

This is a wonderful dog for a family with children or for older people. The Cavalier is clean, friendly, eager to please and undemanding. It is very easy to train and happy to follow orders.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is so affectionate it will even warmly greet strangers, so don’t get one if you want a guard dog. These dogs get along well with people of all ages and all kinds of pets, including cats.

You will need to give your dog regular exercise to prevent it from gaining weight, but it will be equally happy with a little or a lot of walking.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does shed, but if you groom it well once a week you shouldn’t have too much hair around the house. Pay extra attention to the ears, nails and the hair on its paws.

Common health issues in Cavaliers include heart murmurs, cataracts and slipping knee caps. Make sure you get a healthy pup, look after it well, and your Cavalier can be your lovely companion for 13-15 years.