Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need to be groomed daily to keep their coats in good condition. Like all other dogs, they shed more during the Spring and Autumn which is when their coats need to be brushed more frequently to keep on top of things. It is also worth trimming back the feathers and hair between the toes which can become very unruly if left too long and where mats can easily form making it uncomfortable for a dog to walk.
It is also worth taking a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to be professionally groomed every 3 months or so which means their coats can be hand stripped which makes keeping things tidy that much easier.
When it comes to exercise, Cavaliers need to be given a minimum of an hour's walk on a daily basis otherwise they will start to plough on the pounds. These little dogs would quite happily curl up on a sofa and turn into couch potatoes if they are allowed to.
They also need to be given lots of mental stimulation in the form of interactive games to keep them busy because like any other breed, Cavaliers can get easily bored and this can lead to them developing some unwanted behaviours.
Some Cavaliers can be quite picky eaters which can be frustrating. However, with a little perseverance and finding the right type of food, they will eat what is put down for them. Puppies like any other breed need to be fed the same diet they were used to with the breeder to avoid any upset tummies. However, their diet can gradually and safely be changed over a few weeks. Puppies need to be fed a good quality, nutritious diet and fed at regular intervals and ideally this needs to be 3 to 4 times a day.
Older dogs also need to be fed a nutritious diet to suit their ages and any health issues they may be suffering from. It's important to keep an eye on a Cavalier's weight as they get older because they do have a tendency to put on too much weight if they are not given the correct amount of exercise.