This breed originated in the Renaissance era in Great Britain as a companion dog, set apart for. royalty. King Charles Spaniels come in a variety of colors. Professional dog shows prefer the black and tan, but many are white, have chestnut markings, or are even tri-colored. Their coats tend to be long, with silky hair, which is best kept uncurled. Not surprisingly, the King Charles Spaniel is a great looking dog, with beautiful, large, dark eyes. They are very companionable, and would like nothing more than to be constantly by the side of their owner like a second shadow.
The King Charles Spaniel is bred to be a loving dog, and the majority of them are good natured and fond of kids. They make a good companion regardless of age and energy levels. A King Charles can be just as good a dog for a family with a couple of young kids as they can be for an elderly person living alone. Like all dogs, the King Charles needs its walks and exercise, but it is not a very high energy dog. A King Charles Spaniel will be happy to run in the field, or to just lie at your feet or by your side on the couch during a quiet night of television.
A fearless, lively little dog with a cheerful disposition, they are sociable with both people and other dogs. One of the most popular of all the Spaniels, the King Charles Spaniel is a friendly, happy, loving companion. They need early training like any other dog, but because of their social nature, the time spent training is seen as a bonus and makes it a little easier. Grab a couple of special doggie treats and watch your relationship grow!
The King Charles Spaniel is a good looking dog and will require weekly grooming with a firm bristle brush. Comb them at least once a week, more if the hair mats or knots up. Special attention should be given to their ears. A King Charles Spaniel should bathe only when necessary and only with a protein-enriched shampoo to add to the luster of the fur and to repair damaged hair. These dogs need to be dried thoroughly after a bath as well. Be sure to buy all the things necessary for grooming them. You should look at purchasing a slicker brush, clippers, metal combs, blades, thinning shears, and scissors.
Thinning shears can come in handy for this breed to touch up the appearance by eliminating straggly hairs. You can expect to find them around the back feet and sometimes around the ankles of the front legs. Be sure to take care of these issues as they come along. Though a weekly brushing is enough, extra attention needs to be paid to the fine, feathered hair on the ears to prevent mats and tangles from forming there and in other sensitive places.
The King Charles Spaniel still holds a degree of elegance and the great traits that made it worthy of being a royal companion. As a friend, there are few breeds to match these dogs, and their relatively low energy makes them a better choice all round than many of the equally loyal, but energetic dog species.
