Are you planning to add an adorable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to your family? Well, you would certainly have the question that do Cavalier King Charles bark a lot.
Most individuals, even dog parents for that matter, have the misconception that all small dogs bark a lot. That may not be true for every species or every individual doggo in a species.
Cavaliers are petite and oh-so lovesome. They are the ideal lapdogs for any dog lover. Read on to discover about Cavalier King Charles history and traits to find out if they are barkers.
Cavalier King Charles
Cavaliers are one of the sweetest dog breeds that you will come across. These furballs share a massively-strong connection with their humans and are also quite friendly to strangers.
History
As you would understand by its name, Cavalier King Charles descends from royalty. However, this breed is actually a recreation of toy spaniels.
The little, furry babies were a favorite of the royals, especially of Mary, the Queen of Scots. Cavaliers got their names from Mary’s grandson and great-grandson—Charles I and II, as they adored these pooches to bits.
What followed next was the trend of royalty having short-faced breeds and multiple crossbreeds for shows. As a result, the original King Charles Spaniels lost their fame.
It was due to an American—Roswell Eldridge’s curiosity in the 1920s that the dog was found. Miss Mostyn Walker, who presented this dog, won a handsome sum of money for the same.
In 1945, the doggo was given the name Cavalier King Charles to distinguish it from the English spaniels.
Appearance and Personality Traits
Cavaliers are usually no taller than 12-13 inches, with big round eyes. They will greet you with their soft, lovesome expressions that will instantly melt your heart.
These doggos are also known for their shiny fur, that you would be compelled to run your fingers through. Their coat color ranges in combinations of white, tan, black, and ruby.
Cavaliers love a long belly rub and chilling beside you on their cozy settee all day long. At the same time, they get the sporty traits from their spaniel ancestors. So, you can very well take them on hikes and trips.
If they are not lazing around, you will find the little pooch running across your yard, chasing birds and squirrels. However, they may or may not bark at the passersby (mostly not).
In case you want a doggo for a watch guard, a Cavalier King Charles is certainly not the right pick. Still, they may bark at people and other dogs as a display of their friendly nature.
Apart from that, Cavaliers are big-time humorists. They can get you rolling on the floor with their funny yet extra-cute acts.
You may be wondering if they are such cheerful little mates, why would they bark unnecessarily? Here are a few reasons why Cavalier King Charles may bark excessively.
7 Reasons Cavalier King Charles Bark
All doggies may bark from time to time. It may be due to some activity that grabs their attention or when they hear other dogs bark. Still, if the bark persists for a long time, that is when you need to worry.
These lovely puppies long for companionship. It tears them to see you step out the door without tagging them along. Also, they love their owner’s attention and would do anything to grab it. That is why separation is one of the biggest reasons why Cavaliers bark.
Separation Anxiety
Cavalier King Charles is one of those species which are gravely affected by being separated from their owners. That is, even if the dog parents are leaving home for a few hours.
The canines get highly distressed when left alone at home or elsewhere. If you see that your doggo is getting anxious or hyper when you prepare to go, the possibility is it is suffering from separation anxiety.
Here are a few other symptoms of separation anxiety to look out for in your Cavalier.
- Persistent howling and barking only when left alone
- Excess urination or defecation in your absence
- Pacing back and forth in a regular pattern
- Chewing and destroying house objects or rigorous digging
- Trying to escape from the house; jumping over the fence
Separation anxiety is one of the major causes as to why your Cavalier may be barking excessively. You must know here that you may or may not notice the other symptoms mentioned above.
These pooches may start barking just after a few minutes of you leaving the house. They may also stop you from going by tagging on your clothes.
The good news, however, is that you can resolve this issue. Still, you need to understand the root cause first. Though most Cavaliers bark due to separation anxiety, here are a few reasons for this condition.
- Change of house, dog parents, and environment
- Sudden variations in the daily regime causing the dog parent to spend more time outside
- Temporary or permanent absence or loss of a family member
Other Reasons for Barking
While separation may be the primary cause of your doggo’s excessive barking, there can be a few other reasons.
Illness
On average, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are healthy doggies. Still, like every other pooch, they do have some health conditions, which they may express through excessive barking.
Here are a few significant illnesses that your Cavalier is prone to.
- Mitral Valve—a heart disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Episodic falling—seizure
- Keratoconjunctivitis sicca—drying of eyes
- Syringomyelia—brain and spine
- Patellar luxation—kneecap dislocation
If your furry mate is suffering from an illness, it may resort to continuous barking and howling. You must ensure that you regularly take your furry friend to a vet to avoid any such problems.
Fear of Strangers
If your little pooch does not socialize much, it may likely bark in fear of strangers. That is, when you have guests or if some stranger appears at the door. You need to train the pup to mingle with other pets and humans.
Hunger
You may have skipped the baby’s meal or perhaps, your furry kiddo did not like what it got served. Cavaliers usually do not have a big appetite, but you must serve quality food to the pup.
Doggies are bound to bark to express their hunger or other needs. Besides, there may be a possibility that your doggo is not well, which is why it did not eat.
Claiming Territory
Your Cavalier may bark excessively if there is a new member (pet or human) that threatens its territory. Doggos are particular about their area and territory, which is why you must clarify your leadership from the beginning.
Comfort Issues
If you change your house, the possibility is that the doggo does not like the new place. You need to ensure that you make your canine friend comfortable.
Boredom
Though Cavaliers can find ways to entertain themselves by chasing squirrels and rabbits in the yard, they long for companionship.
If you are busy working and do not give the pooch time, it may bark continuously to grab your attention.
10 Ways to Stop Your Cavalier from Barking
There can be many reasons why your favorite baby is barking excessively. The good part is—there are enough solutions to resolve this problem.
Train Your Pooch
The best way is to train your pup to adapt to your schedule. It is usual for a Cavalier to get anxious when you leave, especially in the early days.
The first thing that you need to do is showing the canine that you are the alpha. Further, you need to teach the baby manners as soon as you bring it home. Here are a few ways to deal with it.
- Make coming and going a normal activity.
- Do not react to your doggo’s behavior like hugging as soon as you return.
- Decide on some gestures or expressions to make your pooch stop barking.
- Do not go away when it barks. Stay there and instruct the pup to calm down.
Your little furball may require special training for a while, but the job is not challenging if you are consistent. Cavaliers are relatively easy to train, and you must take advantage of this trait.
Praise with Treats
One way to calm down your barking baby is by hushing it through gestures and praising when it listens. You can give the pooch its favorite treat when you return or leave your house.
Regular Grooming
Grooming is not just required for cleanliness but also for the overall well-being of your puppy. Though these furballs are not heavy shedders, you must brush them 2-3 times a week, at the least.
In case your doggo is barking excessively, you can brush it more often. Doing this will help the pooch relax and calm its nerves. Also, your doggie may be barking too much due to fleas and ticks on its body.
Distractions
Giving the Cavalier chew toys and other play items are the best types of distractions. You can do this whether you are working from home or not.
Besides, you can opt to leave the television or radio on when you leave the house. It will keep the baby distracted and prevent continuous barking or sad feelings.
Rigorous Work Out and Play
Another way to quiet your pup is by engaging it in a heavy workout. It may be in the form of multiple short training sessions, morning runs, or active playtime.
If your pooch invests most of its energy in exercise, it will not have any left for barking. Moreover, the doggo will more likely be in a fresh state of mind the whole day and will not bark much.
Consider Getting a Dog Sitter
If you cannot get the Cavalier to bear with separation anxiety or continuous barking, get a dog sitter. You may hire a trained dog walker or leave your doggo with a friend or an elder member of your house.
Cavaliers hate loneliness, and if they have a companion at all times, they will not feel anxious.
Herbal Remedies
Are you laughing at the thought of using human treatment for dogs? Well, believe it or not, it does work. You can choose to feed your pooch with herbal treats that have proven useful to calm humans.
Apart from that, you can also consider aromatherapy. Essential oils like lavender, sage, mint, etc., are widely used around the globe for treating anxiety. You can choose to light-up aroma candles and place them out of your doggo’s reach.
Dog Camera
What if you could communicate with your Cavalier even when you are away? You can easily get your hands on dog cameras and other communication devices on the internet.
In this way, you can keep a close watch over your doggie and talk when the pooch is barking.
Get a Companion
How about getting your Cavalier a permanent playmate? It may be a female Cavalier, another breed pup, or another pet.
Needless to say, they will take time to mingle and become friends. Still, once they have settled in, your furry baby will never be lonely, plus you will get extra time on your hands. How? The two babies will be busy playing all day long!
Quality Time
The most important way of helping your little friend is by spending quality time with the pooch. You may have several people to meet and a plethora of chores to complete, but the pup only has you.
It waits for you to come and spend time, even if a short cuddle. Make sure you spend enough time with the furry baby even if you have a job.
You can take the workout-freak to morning runs, keep it on your lap while watching TV in the evening, etc.
Final Words
All dogs crave their dog-parents’ attention, and when it comes to Cavaliers, it is a little extra. If they do not get enough of their humans, they can fall prey to anxiety and depression.
So, do Cavalier King Charles bark a lot? The answer is no, they do not usually bark excessively. However, they may do so due to separation anxiety, loneliness, fear, illness, boredom, or hunger.
Cavaliers are lovesome babies, and all they need is a little training and attention to keep them happy and healthy!
