Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Calm, gentle and made for the sofa.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small spaniel of 5–8 kg (11–18 lb), calm, gentle and very sociable with children and other animals. It suits homes that can keep it company almost all day. It is not for anyone who would leave it alone for many hours, or who cannot take on regular heart check-ups.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the gentlest dogs with children and with other animals. Calm at home, it enjoys a walk without demanding one; what it does demand is company.
- Adult size
- 30–33 cm (12–13 in) · 5–8 kg (11–18 lb)
- Energy
- Low
- Temperament
- gentle · calm · sociable
- Care
- Medium
- Health
- Tests on the parent dogs: heart exam (MVD), syringomyelia, eye exam, patellar luxation.
Before you go on
Does it fit your life?
It is for you if…
- You want a calm, very affectionate dog.
- There are small children or older people at home.
- You can keep it company almost all day.
It is not for you if…
- Your dog would spend a lot of time alone.
- You want a dog for sports or the mountains.
- You cannot take on regular veterinary check-ups.
Our parent dogs’ health tests
Every parent has health tests you can see and verify.
The pages of this breed’s parent dogs, with their tests and documents, are published in Meet the parents.
Climate and life in Colombia
Does your city suit a Cavalier?
It lives better in temperate and cool climates: Medellín, the Coffee Region (Eje Cafetero), Bogotá. In the hot lowlands it is only viable with strict heat management — a cool home, short walks at dawn, weight control — and heart monitoring. We say so on this page because it is the honest thing to do.
| City | Altitude and climate zone | Cavalier |
|---|---|---|
| MedellínAntioquia | ≈ 1,470 m (4,820 ft)Temperate | Suits it wellThe climate it lives best in. |
| BogotáBogotá D.C. | ≈ 2,550 m (8,370 ft)Cool | Suits it wellIt does well; dry it off after rain. |
| PereiraRisaralda | ≈ 1,320 m (4,330 ft)Temperate | Suits it wellThe climate it lives best in. |
| CaliValle del Cauca | ≈ 950 m (3,120 ft)Hot | With reservationsA fairly short muzzle and a predisposition to heart disease: only with a cool home, short walks at dawn and strict weight control. |
Casa Trufa’s general view based on each city’s altitude; it does not replace your veterinarian’s assessment.
Frequently asked questions
What we are asked most about the Cavalier.
How much does a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel cost in Colombia?
It is the breed with the widest spread of the seven: in October 2026 there are ads from about COP 3,500,000 and breeders who publish between COP 15,500,000 and COP 16,500,000. The real difference should lie in the parents’ heart and neurological tests, and there are very few breeders in Colombia. Casa Trufa tells you the figure on WhatsApp.
What health problems do Cavaliers have, and which tests should I ask for?
The two that define the breed are mitral valve disease (MVD) and syringomyelia. Ask for a heart evaluation of both parents by a veterinary cardiologist, an eye exam and a patella check, each with its date and document. At Casa Trufa they are on each parent dog’s page.
Is the Cavalier the same as the Cocker Spaniel?
No. The Cavalier is a companion spaniel, smaller, at 5–8 kg (11–18 lb), and low in energy; the FCI places it in Group 9, companion dogs. The Cocker Spaniel is a gundog in Group 8, larger and with a much greater need for exercise.
Is it a good dog for an apartment and for older people?
Yes. It has low energy, is calm indoors and enjoys a walk without demanding one, so it fits an apartment and life with older people. What it does demand is company: it copes badly with being left alone. You should also plan for a heart check-up every year for its whole life.
Can it handle the heat of Cali or Barranquilla?
With reservations. Because of its fairly short muzzle and its predisposition to heart disease, in the hot lowlands it needs a cool home, short walks very early in the day and weight control. To be honest, it is a breed that lives better in a temperate or cool climate, and we prefer to talk it through with each family before a handover on the Caribbean coast.
“A dog is not just a pet; it is a companion for life. That is why every decision matters.”
Casa Trufa