Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Good Dogs? What Science Says

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022

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Introduction to the Temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.

In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed.

We obtained our description of the temperament of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.

The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.

Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.

The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.

The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:

  1. Aggression towards stranger
  2. Aggression towards its owner
  3. Aggression towards other dogs
  4. How well they get along with other dogs
  5. Fear of strangers
  6. Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
  7. Fear of other dogs
  8. Separation anxiety
  9. Clinginess
  10. Trainability/ Stubbornness
  11. Prey drive
  12. Excitability
  13. Touch sensitivity
  14. Energy level

In this article, we will discuss the score of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

The summary table below shows the score of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for the different behavioral characteristics.

High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.

Behavior Score
Dog Directed Aggression 9.3 percent
Attachment Attention Seeking 66.5 percent
Excitability 50.2 percent
Dog Directed Fear 49.5 percent
Energy Level 47.6 percent
Prey Drive 39.8 percent
Separation Related Behavior 33.2 percent
Dog Rivalry 31.5 percent
Stranger Directed Fear 30.6 percent
Stubbornness 24.0 percent
Nonsocial Fear 20.2 percent
Owner Directed Aggression 18.1 percent
Touch Sensitivity 17.0 percent
Stranger Directed Aggression 12.5 percent

Note that with proper training, you can better your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Aggressive Towards Strangers?

Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.

Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.

Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not aggressive towards strangers.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks very low for aggression towards strangers.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 114 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 12.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are not aggressive towards strangers just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score
111 French Bulldog 14.4 %
112 Bearded Collie 14.2 %
113 Golden Retriever 13.1 %
114 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 12.5 %
115 Flat-Coated Retriever 11.1 %
116 Dingo 11.0 %
117 Whippet 10.9 %

The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Dachshund
  3. Miniature Pinscher
  4. Dachshund (Miniature)
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:

  1. Siberian Husky
  2. Greyhound
  3. Irish Wolfhound
  4. Samoyed
  5. Black and Tan Coonhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most stranger-aggressive breed to the least stranger-aggressive breed.

Temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Aggressive Towards their Owners?

Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.

Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.

A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are somewhat aggressive towards their owners.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks average for aggression towards its owner.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 51 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an owner-directed-aggression score of 18.1 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat owner-aggressive just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Owner-Directed-Aggression Score
48 Parson Russell Terrier 19.8 %
49 Australian Cattle Dog 19.0 %
50 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 18.5 %
51 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 18.1 %
52 Schipperke 18.1 %
53 Rottweiler 17.4 %
54 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 17.1 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:

  1. Pekingese
  2. Basenji
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Lhasa Apso
  5. Alaskan Husky

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Pointer
  3. Irish Water Spaniel
  4. Rhodesian Ridgeback
  5. Italian Greyhound

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to their owners to the ones that are least aggressive to their owners.

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Aggressive Towards other Dogs?

Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.

A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs

A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not aggressive towards other dogs.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks very low for aggression towards other dogs.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 122 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a dog-directed aggression score of 9.3 %.

Other dog breeds that are not dog-aggressive just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Aggression Score
119 Eurasier 13.2 %
120 Keeshond 13.2 %
121 Irish Wolfhound 10.3 %
122 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 9.3 %
123 Black and Tan Coonhound 6.3 %
124 Pointer 0.0 %

The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:

  1. American Eskimo Dog
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Pit Bull mix
  5. Dachshund

The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:

  1. Pointer
  2. Black and Tan Coonhound
  3. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  4. Irish Wolfhound
  5. Keeshond

Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most aggressive to other dogs to the ones that are least aggressive to other dogs.

Personality of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Afraid of Strangers?

Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.

Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.

Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are somewhat fearful of strangers.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks average for fear of strangers.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 56 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a stranger-directed-fear score of 30.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat stranger-fearful just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Stranger-Directed-Fear Score
53 Cairn Terrier 32.2 %
54 Pit Bull mix 31.5 %
55 Belgian Malinois 31.0 %
56 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 30.6 %
57 Redbone Coonhound 30.0 %
58 Beagle 29.9 %
59 Chinook 29.5 %

The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Chinese Crested
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:

  1. Old English Sheepdog
  2. Irish Wolfhound
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Siberian Husky
  5. Giant Schnauzer

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of strangers to the ones that are least fearful to strangers.

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Afraid of Other Dogs?

Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.

A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite a bit fearful of other dogs.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks high for fear of other dogs.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 33 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a dog-directed-fear score of 49.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit other-dog-fearful just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Dog-Directed-Fear Rank Breed Dog-Directed-Fear Score
30 Rat Terrier 51.2 %
31 Miniature Schnauzer 51.2 %
32 Lagotto Romagnolo 49.6 %
33 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 49.5 %
34 Cocker Spaniel (English) 49.2 %
35 Dalmatian 48.8 %
36 Pomeranian 48.8 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Dachshund (Miniature)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Chihuahua
  5. Lhasa Apso

The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Ibizan Hound
  3. Eurasier
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of other dogs to the ones that are least fearful of other dogs.

Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel a good pet

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Have Non-Social Fears?

Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a little bit fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks low for non-social fear.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 88 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a nonsocial-fear score of 20.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit nonsocial-fearful just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Nonsocial-Fear Rank Breed Nonsocial-Fear Score
85 Poodle (Standard) 21.0 %
86 French Bulldog 20.9 %
87 Havanese 20.7 %
88 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 20.2 %
89 Scottish Terrier 19.9 %
90 Bernese Mountain Dog 19.8 %
91 Belgian Malinois 19.7 %

The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Dingo
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. English Bulldog
  5. Italian Greyhound

The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:

  1. Giant Schnauzer
  2. Siberian Husky
  3. Irish Setter
  4. Kuvasz
  5. Borzoi

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations to the ones least fearful of unfamiliar situations.

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Get Along Well With Other Dogs?

Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.

These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a little bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks low on dog rivalry.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 86 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a dog-rivalry score of 31.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit competition-driven just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Dog-Rivalry Rank Breed Dog-Rivalry Score
83 Vizsla 31.7 %
84 Irish Water Spaniel 31.5 %
85 Borzoi 31.5 %
86 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 31.5 %
87 Papillon 31.4 %
88 Greyhound 31.3 %
89 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 31.1 %

The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Miniature Pinscher
  2. Parson Russell Terrier
  3. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  4. French Bulldog
  5. Treeing Walker Coonhound

The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:

  1. Chinook
  2. Saint Bernard
  3. Norwegian Elkhound
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Scottish Terrier

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Is it aggressive?

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Easy to Train?

Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.

Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite a bit easy to train.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks high for trainability.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 39 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the trainability of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a trainability score of 76.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit easy to train just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Trainability Rank Breed Trainability Score
36 Chinook 76.4 %
37 Poodle (Miniature) 76.4 %
38 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 76.3 %
39 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 76.0 %
40 Bouvier des Flandres 75.8 %
41 Newfoundland 75.1 %
42 Havanese 74.7 %

The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:

  1. Belgian Tervuren
  2. Belgian Malinois
  3. Border Collie
  4. Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
  5. Irish Water Spaniel

The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:

  1. Dingo
  2. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  3. Basenji
  4. Afghan Hound
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the ones that are easiest to train to the ones that are most difficult to train.

Learn more about how intelligent the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is and how the intelligence of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is.

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?

Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a little bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks low for small-pet-chasing.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 86 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a chasing score of 39.8 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Chasing Rank Breed Chasing Score
83 Pomeranian 40.8 %
84 Poodle (Miniature) 40.7 %
85 Scottish Terrier 40.0 %
86 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 39.8 %
87 Chow Chow 39.6 %
88 Havanese 38.9 %
89 American Bulldog 38.8 %

The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Basenji
  2. Dingo
  3. Ibizan Hound
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Borzoi

The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:

  1. Pug
  2. Bulldog
  3. Shih Tzu
  4. Bernese Mountain Dog
  5. Great Pyrenees

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.

Things to know before getting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?

Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.

These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.

Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks high for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 34 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 66.5 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit attachment/attention-seeking just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank Breed Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score
31 Dalmatian 67.6 %
32 Pit Bull mix 67.5 %
33 English Springer Spaniel 67.1 %
34 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 66.5 %
35 Belgian Sheepdog 65.5 %
36 Portuguese Water Dog 65.1 %
37 Chinese Crested 64.7 %

The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:

  1. Poodle (Toy)
  2. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  3. Australian Silky Terrier
  4. Australian Cattle Dog
  5. American Eskimo Dog

The dog breeds that are aloof are the:

  1. Norwegian Elkhound
  2. Borzoi
  3. Kuvasz
  4. English Setter
  5. Chow Chow

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.

Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?

Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.

These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.

They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are somewhat prone to developing separation anxiety.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks average for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 69 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a separation anxiety score of 33.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are somewhat prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Separation-Related-Behavior Rank Breed Separation-Related-Behavior Score
66 Black and Tan Coonhound 34.7 %
67 Great Dane 34.6 %
68 Rat Terrier 33.5 %
69 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 33.2 %
70 Bullmastiff 33.1 %
71 Havanese 32.5 %
72 West Highland White Terrier 32.5 %

The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:

  1. Treeing Walker Coonhound
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. Chinese Crested
  4. Miniature Pinscher
  5. Australian Silky Terrier

The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Giant Schnauzer
  4. Eurasier
  5. Bernese Mountain Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.

Temperament Profile of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?

Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.

These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not touch-sensitive.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks very low for touch sensitivity.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 106 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a touch-sensitivity score of 17.0 %.

Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Touch-Sensitivity Rank Breed Touch-Sensitivity Score
103 Bouvier des Flandres 18.9 %
104 Boston Terrier 18.5 %
105 Collie 17.4 %
106 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 17.0 %
107 Rottweiler 16.8 %
108 Irish Wolfhound 16.6 %
109 Akita 16.4 %

The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  2. Miniature Pinscher
  3. Pekingese
  4. Australian Silky Terrier
  5. Chihuahua

The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Borzoi
  3. Pointer
  4. Gordon Setter
  5. Portuguese Water Dog

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?

Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:

  • going for walks
  • car trips
  • sound of the doorbell
  • arrival of visitors, and
  • the owner arriving home

Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite a bit hyper (excitable).

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks high for excitability.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 47 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an excitability score of 50.2 %.

Other dog breeds that are quite a bit excitable just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Excitability Rank Breed Excitability Score
44 American Pit Bull Terrier 51.0 %
45 Beagle 50.7 %
46 Giant Schnauzer 50.6 %
47 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 50.2 %
48 American Bulldog 49.3 %
49 Weimaraner 49.2 %
50 Pointer 49.0 %

The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Australian Silky Terrier
  2. Fox Terrier (Smooth)
  3. American Eskimo Dog
  4. Parson Russell Terrier
  5. Miniature Schnauzer

The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:

  1. Borzoi
  2. Samoyed
  3. Great Pyrenees
  4. Italian Greyhound
  5. Anatolian Shepherd

See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Playful? What is the Energy Level of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a little bit energetic.

This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks low for energy level.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks number 85 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.

This information is based on what 46 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in a research survey.

Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an energy-level score of 47.6 %.

Other dog breeds that are a little bit energetic just like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are listed in the table below

Energy-Level Rank Breed Energy-Level Score
82 Chinese Shar-Pei 48.3 %
83 Shih Tzu 48.3 %
84 Chinese Crested 48.1 %
85 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 47.6 %
86 Bouvier des Flandres 47.3 %
87 Saint Bernard 46.7 %
88 Pug 46.5 %

The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:

  1. Belgian Malinois
  2. Belgian Tervuren
  3. Fox Terrier (Toy)
  4. German Shorthaired Pointer
  5. Ibizan Hound

The dog breeds that are laziest are the:

  1. Kuvasz
  2. Anatolian Shepherd
  3. Greyhound
  4. Great Pyrenees
  5. Pekingese

See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.

Conclusion on Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Temperament

The temperament of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is exposed to.

You cannot change your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to.

Exposing your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to what you desire.

Again, with proper training, you can better your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.

I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.

Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

If you think the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Cavalier King Charles Spaniels cost and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy buying guide.

Also, see our list of reputable Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeders in the United States and the prices of their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies.