Here is the most critical part of raising this dog to its ideal health and longevity! A breeder can provide you with the best blood lines and the most healthy pup from health cleared elders and grandparents on back for generations but if you over feed or feed this dog incorrectly he/she’ll get Too Large, die early of heart problems, have skin conditions, finish up with hip and patella, problems from carrying too much weight.
Do not expect children solely accountable for the care of this dog. Adults need to take responsibility and supervise the care for the dog.
Do not feed between meals with nibbles or treats. If you are coaching the dog you can use treats but they should count against the volume of the next meal. Do not let the youngsters feed your dog treats; playtime, love and attention should be the treat provided.
Until the dog is 5 months old he gets fed 3 times a day with NO in between meal treats except for small quantities of training treats.
After 5 months of age the dog is reduced down to 2 meals a day and that’s what he gets for the remainder of his life. Feed 2 times a day. It keeps their blood sugar on an even keel and they generally tend to be more settled and quiet.
At no time in a Cavalier’s life should he get more than one to 1 1/2 cups of food per day TOTAL - spread over the 2 meals! His tripe (the dry Food), table scraps in his dry food and everything mixed together should never amount to more than 1 CUP of food TOTAL for all day. In a few cases 1 cup of food is TOO much for a specific dog. Some dogs have a lover base metabolism and need LESS than 1 cup each day to keep trim. It is the rare Cavalier that is so active to need 1 1/2 cups of food. Spayed/Fixed dogs need less food!! The idea is to keep the dog lean (not thin) and never let him get fat. They are never to go over 20 pounds irrespective of what their bone structure is. If you can lightly push where their ribs are and you can not feel your dogs ribs he’s too fat. The larger boned males can get up to 20 pounds but only after they are adults “NOT AS PUPPIES!!! The undeniable fact that he has got a large frame does not always mean that he/she should ever carry more than 20 pounds of weight, ever. There is not any excuse for a fat dog. It is bad for THEIR HEART!!
Do not keep food down all the time for them to pick at. That is called “Free Feeding”. This sort of feeding will either produce a fat dog or a very underfed dog. They’re underfed because they never build up a sufficient appetite to really eat the correct quantity required. I know it sounds a bit like a contradiction but I have seen it in many different dogs. Free feeding usually makes difficult eating, skinny Cavaliers.
Some puppies ARE PICKEY EATERS. Add a tablespoon of Cottage Cheese or shredded chicken to the moistened (not soaked) dry kibble and leave it down for 1 hour only (in a confined area-either in their crate with the door closed or in their exercise pen) with no interruptions and whatever the puppy does not eat take away after 1 hour.
If you ever change the puppy or dog food please change the food slowly over roughly a week so they do not get and upset digestive track. If you’ve got any questions you should contact your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeder.
Lyn Jones has been breeding and showing for over 10 years. As a breeder of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in Oregon she welcomes the opportunity to answer questions and to supply info to families looking for King Charles Cavalier puppies for sale




















