Suppose you are the owner of the famous King Charles Spaniels (Cavalier). In that case, it is quite evident that you will find this article interesting. It is an excellent breed of dog
Your a new owner or you are you want to find out if the king Charles is right for you. One thing you might want to know is how much they shed?
Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Shed?
Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Shed? Yes, King Charles Spaniels do shed. The amount of shedding is categorized as average compared to other breeds. While they shed regularly throughout the year, it is far less noticeable then in spring and autumn. Regular grooming can help reduce the amount of shedding.
A look At The Coat Of The King Charles Spaniel
The coat of the King Charles Spaniels (Cavalier) is silky and long all over. However, the hair coating is not too significant as far as the face is concerned. The face hair is shorter when compared to the body.
However, these dogs tend to have longer hair around their ears.
There are a few things about their hair coating of these breeds of dogs. Compared to many other breeds with longer hair, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels mostly come with what is known as a topcoat. This is not only great looking but also the owners find it easier to maintain and groom.
However, on the flip side, we need to bear in mind that these dogs’ hair tends to tangle easier than other breeds of dogs with shorter hair. It would also be interesting to have some basic understanding of the hairy coat of these dogs.
They come in four different variations, Solid Red, Red and White, Black and White, and Tricolor. They have a single layer of hair coating. As mentioned above, the texture of their hair is extremely silky.
The King Charles Spaniels (Cavalier) are classified as belonging to the long hair breed. When it comes to shedding, according to many owners of these dogs and dog experts, the level of hair shedding is moderate.
When it comes to grooming, difficulty levels, it usually ranges from being moderate to high.
How bad is The Hair Shedding Of King Charles Spaniels?
If you would like to know whether your entire home will be full of hair from the King Charles Spaniel? The answer is that though these dogs do shed hair, the level of shedding is not as bad as we often make it out to be.
You could categorize this breed in the average shedding category compared to other breeds of hairy dogs and the hair shedding among them. Therefore it is very much ordinary and can be controlled easily provided you know how to go about it.
What Type Of Coat Does A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Have?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a double coat. The soft, silky and free from curl. They have lesser fur on their body when compared to other dogs with a double coat.
Hence, this makes things a bit comfortable for the owners of a King Charles Spaniel. They are not known to shed unmanageable fur and hair across the year. Unlike some other hairy dogs, they also do not shed too much hair during season changes.
There are many counterparts of King Charles Spaniels who shed large amounts of hair during season changes, and managing it certainly is a big challenge.
However, be sure that you will have to manage with a moderate amount of hair shedding all the twelve months of the year. This is very much manageable and controllable, provided the dog owner knows how to follow the right grooming ritual and practices.
Grooming A King Charles Spaniel?
It is obvious from the above that the King Charles Spaniels does not belong to those breeds of dogs that require the highest maintenance, grooming, and hair fall management.
Having said this, there are a few things that you have to bear in mind if you have this breed of dog in your home. Their skin is prone to tangles and Mats.
Though hair length is not too big, the hairs do tend to mat and tangle, perhaps because of their texture and makeup. The problem is across the body, and it is particularly quite noticeable around the ears. This is because the hair is longer around this part of the dog’s anatomy.
Since we are aware of the above fact, grooming the hair of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should not be a big challenge or problem.
Experts and vets recommend that you brush it’s hair around two to three times a week.
It will help keep the hair healthy, but it will also be free from knots, Mats, and other such problems.
Further, studies have shown that regular brushing could also help in keeping excess shedding under control. When you have a regular brushing regimen under practice, you will be able to remove loose fur. It will also go a long way in improving natural oil and secretion from the dog’s skin.
Regular Bathing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Stimulates Shedding.
When it comes to bathing your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, please keep a few things in mind.
These dogs belong to a breed of clean dogs. Hence, it would be better to keep away from regular bathing. Regular bathing, could be counterproductive. It could lead to dry skin, and if this happens, it may also lead to excess hair shedding, and you could have a problem in hand.
Some people clip their hair. While there is nothing wrong with doing it once in a while, it is not needed. As mentioned above, regular brushing and grooming should be good enough to keep hair shedding of this breed of dogs very much under control.
Tips For Effective Brushing
- For regular brushing, you could use a pin brush or a good quality bristle.
- If you have a problem with tangles and Mats, it would be better to use a good quality brush.
- Using a deshedding tool them once in a while could also help quite a bit in reducing hair shedding as far as this breed of dog is concerned.
While regular brushing and grooming stimulate the oil gland, they also go a long way in preventing Mats and tangles. However, please bear in mind that when compared to many other hairy dog breeds, matting, tangling and hair shedding is not at all a major problem.
This certainly makes your job quite easy and manageable. Therefore, you can spend more time playing and having fun with your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel because that is what they are known for.
A Few More Interesting Things About The Cavalier King Charles
The King Charles Spaniels sheds most of their hair during spring and fall. Monitor these months closely.
Try not to always keep them indoors or exposed to indoor lighting. This may make them shed hair throughout the year, though the shedding will be small and manageable.
Families of these dog breeds are likely to shed more hair after heat.
The shedding also will increase if they have a litter.
The puppies of King Charles Spaniels are born without their adult coat. It is the same with almost all breeds of dogs. The adult coating takes some time to develop. It could take anywhere between one or two years before these beautiful dogs get their permanent coat of hair.
Puppies of this breed are known to shed coats at any time of the year. It is not restricted to fall or winter, as mentioned above.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel produces less dander than other breeds, but they are not hypoallergenic. You can read more about this topic in my post here.
Reasons For Abnormal Shedding Of A King Charles Spaniel
Ticks, fleas or a poor diet are few more reasons for abnormal hair shedding of these breeds of dogs.
Keep a watch on the diet you give to them. A poor diet can increase hair shedding. Always give them the best quality dog food with the right combination of carbs, proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Fruits and vegetables come under the category of high-quality carbs.
Stay away from cheap and empty filters like soy, corn, and wheat.
Keeping your King Charles Spaniels (Cavalier) free from ticks and fleas will increase shedding quite significantly. If a dog starts scratching regularly, it will lead to the shedding of hair. If you see them scratching, make sure they are put under a routine medication to address fleas and ticks.
Conclusion
It is clear and evident from the above that Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the best dogs you can have as pets.
They are fun-loving and intelligent. Most importantly, they do not shed hair crazily as it often happens with other breeds of hairy dogs.
You can expect hair shedding in spring and fall. You can easily manage it with regular grooming and other such activities. Try to keep the coat free from tangles, ticks, and lice because this could exacerbate the problem.