Five Fast Facts About the Cavalier King Charlies Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not cheap. On average you can expect to pay $2,000-$3,000 for one.

However, if you've socked away your "puppy fund" and are considering buying a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, or "Cav" as enthusiasts call them, there are five things you might not know. Before you fall under the spell of the big eyes and floppy ears, a few tips from a Cav owner...

1) While Cavs slow down as they age, don't take this as an excuse not to walk the dog. They love walks, even though they may seem to sleep most of the time when at home. As your Cav turns seven or eight, regular walks become more important, and the exercise will keep you moving too.

2) Cavs get knots in their fur more easily than any breed I've ever known with the exception of the Maltese--I co-owned one with my grandmother and kept its coat short. Cav coats are naturally short on top, long around the paws, tail, throat, ears, and belly, which is where the tangles appear. They also get leaves and grass stuck in their fur, especially in the long tail. However, a good rinse in the sink will take care of the grass and leaves. As for the tangles, a Love Glove, available from pet stores, is gentler on the Cav's sensitive nerve endings than other dog brushes.

3) Cavs are easily distractible and will chase after rabbits and birds like bloodhounds. Be aware of this now. Invest in obedience training from the start. However, they're also terrific at alerting you to noises at night.

4) I call the Cav eyes "hypnotic eyes" because once they look at you, you reach in a trance for a morsel from your plate or for the Beggin' Strips. Instead, repeat this mantra after me: vet bills, vet bills, vet bills...

5) Cavs are the most sensitive dog on the planet. In bed with the flu? Just try and pry that dog away. Sad? Your Cav will lick your tears away. Feeling slightly blue or have the sniffles? The dog will be right by your side. Priceless.

Just refer to this pre-owner's manual and your Cav will be a loyal, delightful companion for years to come.

Movie reviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson is owned by two Cavaliers. She composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com to order your personalized memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest Book Review "enthusiastically recommended" pick Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

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table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://online.barrons.com/article/SB122335392400810941.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_barronscid=0ei=2QzsSM2PDY3W6gPvtYj1CAusg=AFQjCNFQtGE0rOpfpAdYo7MV6X2NgJU1WgbPet/b Stocks Are Going to the Dogs/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBarron'snbsp;-/font nobr2 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By JOHANNA BENNETT As bpet/b lovers curb spending on their animals, shares of PetSmart, VCA Antech and others could continue to feel pressure. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.click2houston.com/news/17642089/detail.htmlcid=1255303776ei=2QzsSM2PDY3W6gPvtYj1CAusg=AFQjCNHEFiGEHbKsFPy0TJ9f_s2bmsPrcwbPets/b Displaced By Ike Go To Minnesota/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fClick 2 Houston.com,nbsp;TXnbsp;-/font nobr10 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1HOUSTON -- More than 100 bpets/b that were displaced during Hurricane Ike will find new homes in Minnesota, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/30577179.htmlcid=1255250300ei=2QzsSM2PDY3W6gPvtYj1CAusg=AFQjCNE5lFR6hlBIZxAEA0LW1CKpp8cv7APolice Rescue bPets/b from Vacant Apartment/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fWSAZ-TV,nbsp;WVnbsp;-/font nobr5 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) —Huntington police rescued 5 dogs and a cat from a vacant apartment in Huntington. The animals were in a 2nd floor apartment in the b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view/2008_10_06_Woof_and_worship:_Weymouth_church_welcomes_pious_pets/srvc%3Dhome%26position%3Drecentcid=1255198354ei=2QzsSM2PDY3W6gPvtYj1CAusg=AFQjCNHeGE2601AoFH8r_v_eKYWBtzKnVwWoof and worship: Weymouth church welcomes pious bpets/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fBoston Herald,nbsp;United Statesnbsp;-/font nobrOct 6, 2008/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1By AP WEYMOUTH - The Pilgrim Congregational Church in Weymouth is going to the dogs, and that’s just fine with the Rev. Rachel Bickford. b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.kval.com/news/local/30597364.htmlcid=0ei=2QzsSM2PDY3W6gPvtYj1CAusg=AFQjCNHY_BTPsaL4RdcoEVq-HD_6w0cb8gEconomy hurting family bpets/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fKVAL,nbsp;ORnbsp;-/font nobr1 hour ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1Forced out of homes by foreclosures or struggling to afford bpet/b care, many families are giving up their bpets/b. Scout, a two-year-old pit bull, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
table border=0 width= valign=top cellpadding=2 cellspacing=7trtd valign=top class=jfont style=font-size:85%;font-family:arial,sans-serifbrdiv style=padding-top:0.8em;img alt= height=1 width=1/divdiv class=lha href=http://www.citywebshopper.net/articles/includes/redirect.php?url=http://www.thedailyjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article%3FAID%3D/20081007/LOCAL05/810070354cid=0ei=2QzsSM2PDY3W6gPvtYj1CAusg=AFQjCNF87X4ZdSyR_02UH_CuabwExibuhwDon#39;t cut costs with cheap food for bpets/b/abrfont size=-1font color=#6f6f6fVineland Daily Journal,nbsp;NJnbsp;-/font nobr3 hours ago/nobr/fontbrfont size=-1It can be a very different story if you are bargain hunting for your bpet/b food. Keep in mind that, while people eat a variety of food throughout the day, b.../b/font/div/font/td/tr/table
pets - Google News


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