Breed Group: Toy Size:  Small Exercise Required:  About 1 hour per day Length of Coat:  Medium

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a kind and affectionate breed, which gets along well with people of all ages, children and other animals.  They make wonderful companions due to their easy-going nature and their love for both long walks, as well as sitting on a lap in front of the fire.

They weigh from 5.5 to 8kg and grow between 30 and 33cm, they come in several colours such as black and tan, red and white (Blenheim) and also tri-coloured.  A thorough groom once a week should keep their coat in order and moulting to a minimum.  Although they don’t crave exercise, make sure they get regular walks as they do have a tendancy to become overweight.

As they are so popular, over-breeding has lead to an increase in a heart condition called Mitral Valve Disease, which often results in premature death, it is therefore vital you check the medical history several generations back before buying your puppy.  Other common ailments include heart murmurs, cataracts, hanging tongue (neurological inability to fully retract the tongue) and fly catching syndrome (a hallucinating condition).