Shedding

King Charles Cavaliers are bountiful, happy, and energetic dogs, which make for a perfect companion to have in the home. Shedding is something you should always consider before getting any dog because heavy-shedding pooches can be high maintenance. Do King Charles Cavalier shed a lot? They do, but only moderately, and it is one of the reasons why they are such a popular choice.

How Much Do King Charles Cavaliers Shed?

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has medium-length hair and a coat that shimmers. Throughout the year this coat will shed moderately, leaving silky hairs around the home. This natural breed has a single coat, and there is no specific shedding season to expect.

King Charles Cavaliers are something of an odd dog breed, in that it is both a spaniel and a toy breed. Often we think of Spaniels as being energetic and sporty dogs, used in hunting.

Toy breeds, on the other hand, are usually considered as being small, demure lap dogs with cute faces. King Charles Cavaliers, or 'Cavalier King Charles Spaniels' as they were once known, came to be in the late-17th Century. As the name suggests, they were once the favored lapdog of the monarchy in Britain.

When Does a King Charles Cavalier Shed?

Unlike double-coated breeds, Cavs shedding is not seasonal. Much like other single-coated breeds, a King Charles Cavalier sheds steadily throughout the year.

All dogs shed in this way, getting rid of old, dead hair, to make way for fresh, strong, and shiny new hair. As a result of this shedding, they are not considered hypoallergenic dogs, but certainly can't be accused of being heavy shedders.

Any increased shedding in the Cavs' life will be because they are maturing from puppy to adult, or because of health problems.

Why Do King Charles Cavalier Spaniels Shed?

Shedding, in any dog, is a natural process that they go through their entire life. This process rids old and damaged pet hair, to maintain a healthy coat.

Dogs do not have the same robust skin that humans do, and that is why their coats are so important. Shedding not only keeps the coat healthy but also ensures that the skin does too.

If we think about the origins of this dog breed, it is clear that historically it would not have had to put up with harsh conditions. Other breeds with excessive shedding, evolved to grow two coats for protection, owing to the environment in which they were used.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shedding Tips

King Charles owners who want to reduce shedding can do so in several ways. After all, dog hair all over clothing and furniture isn't a great look, and the loose hair from a King Charles can be highly noticeable.

Good Health

Making sure that you have a healthy dog is good practice for a variety of reasons, and it can also impact shedding behaviors. Knowing how healthy a King Charles Spaniel is, can often be determined by how much fur comes from the coat.

The fundamentals of a King Charles Spaniel's well-being are a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and a regular grooming schedule.

What a Good Diet Looks Like

A poor diet can easily lead to health issues for your King Charles Spaniels. If you notice an increased appetite or excessive drinking, it is a sign of concern that may be a result of a poorly-balanced diet.

King Charles Spaniels need a protein-filled diet, with protein coming from nutrient-dense sources like meats and fish. Make sure that you avoid kibble when feeding your Cavalier King Charles.

The reason for avoiding kibble is down to the volume of carbohydrates it has. No dog breeds require carbs in their diets, although there may be some metabolic benefits in large dogs.

Toy Spaniels have small and sensitive stomachs and digesting carbs can upset their gut. Additionally, many kibble products out there have too many hormones that could cause illness in your King Charles. Meat-rich food is a far better option.

Aim for a balance of 25% fruit and veg, and 75% meat, poultry, fish, organs, or bones. This will be just the right diet to keep any Cavalier King Charles Spaniel healthy and with a glossy adult coat.

How Much Exercise Does a King Cav Need?

When dogs do not get enough exercise their anxiety and cortisol levels can build, resulting in excessive shedding. To reduce shedding and keep your dog in great shape, you have to ensure that they get enough exercise.

In the case of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, it needs an hour per day. Remember that a toy spaniel still has that athletic background in its DNA, hence the need for plenty of running around.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should be taken for at least 2 walks each day, totaling a minimum of 1 hour. If you can achieve this, any other running and jumping at home will be a bonus.

Why You Need To Groom Your King Charles

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels love to be loved, and that is reason alone to groom them regularly. There are also numerous health benefits when brushing through that medium-length coat.

Grooming mainly involves brushing your dog's hair, but you can also trim its nails and cut its hair too if you feel confident. If you prefer not to cut the hair, a professional groomer can take care of it.

When you brush through the dog hair, you will help to remove dead hair, reduce dander in the home, and prevent the dog hair from becoming matted. Given the hair type of King Charles Spaniels, it can matte easily.

Matted hair reduces airflow through the coat, trapping moisture and causing irritations and occasional pain. King Charles owners sometimes like to put a cute sweater on their pooch, and this increases the chances of matting.

Matted hair will upset the natural skin oils on your dog's body and can lead to excessive shedding as well. Grooming helps to contain hair loss, making cleaning up that little bit easier.

Managing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shedding 

Whether dealing with excess shedding or normal, moderate shedding, knowing how to manage it can make an owner's life easier. Cleaning up loose fur from your Cavalier's coat, however, isn't as big a job as it may sound.

Area Restriction

If your Cavalier King Spaniel is shedding a lot, or if you simply don't want to have to clean the entire house, restrict where they can go. This way you will only have to clean a couple of rooms, as long as you are not tracking hair across the house.

The best option for getting hair off flooring and throw rugs is a vacuum cleaner, preferably one designed for lifting dog hair. A good option here is a HEPA vacuum cleaner, they have strong motors and great filters for a dog's hair.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Grooming Tips

A King Charles Spaniel should be groomed once every day or two, and the more that you do it, the quicker a job it will become. As mentioned, grooming in this fashion can reduce excess shedding and lower stress levels in your dog.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have sensitive skin, and you should be careful not to pull on the hair, as this could be painful for it. A pin brush is an ideal option for the Cavalier King and its silky hair.

Brush down from the dog's head to its toes, taking your time to get as much loose hair out as possible. Try using olive oil for any matting, and then slowly try to pull the matte out with a bristle brush.

What you are looking for here is a tangle-free dog, and no excess hair in the coat. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels also have hairy ears, inside and out, so don't forget to brush through those too.

Bathing is only necessary once every month for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, to keep the coat in good condition. Of course, if you have a dog covered in muck, you may have to wash it sooner. Washing too often can result in dry skin.

Summary

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are beautiful dogs with plenty of energy, and they are ideal for any household. Making sure that you stay on top of grooming will be important, both for their health and to reduce excess shedding. Not to mention it has that gorgeous, medium-length coat, which is so eye-catching. This is also why we see this lovable pooch in dog shows around the world.

FAQ

Let's try to answer some of your burning questions about the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Are Cavalier King Charles high maintenance?

This breed is favored by so many because, beyond moderate shedding, it is relatively low maintenance.

Are King Charles Cavaliers hypoallergenic?

King Charles Spaniels are not hypoallergenic. Given the way that the breed sheds, they leave a lot of pet dander in the air. Allergies act up much more with dander in the house so those who do have dog allergies will struggle with this breed.

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bark a lot?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are an easygoing breed and they won't bark excessively. The only time you'll hear these small dogs is when they are excited to meet someone new.