3 Common Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Behaviour Problems (And How To Fix Them)

Remember: Cavaliers are sweet, loving souls who were bred purely for companionship. With gentle guidance and patience, these devoted dogs become the perfect, affectionate family members they were meant to be.

Where Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Come From?

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recreated in the 1920s to resemble the dogs in 16th-18th century paintings of English royalty. King Charles II was particularly obsessed with the breed.

Originally bred as companion dogs for nobility, they sat on laps in carriages and kept ladies company. Their sole purpose was companionship and comfort, not work.

What were they bred to do?

Cavaliers had a very specific role:

• Provide comfort, charm, and company
• Remain close to their owners at all times
• Offer affection and emotional support
• Sit on laps and warm their people
• Be gentle family pets

They were expected to be constant companions, never working or guarding.

Key breeding traits:

Cavaliers are gentle, affectionate, and deeply social. Their loving nature and emotional sensitivity make them incredibly bonded to their people.

They were selectively bred for gentleness, adaptability, and a cooperative spirit. Their entire genetic makeup revolves around human presence and companionship.

Why Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Have These Behaviour Problems?

Your Cavalier isn't being difficult. Today, Cavaliers remain one of the most beloved companion breeds. They thrive on social interaction, respond well to training, and often bond deeply with multiple family members.

Their loving nature, intelligence, and adaptability make them excellent therapy dogs and ideal family pets (if you're at home a lot).

However, they were bred for centuries with the single purpose of providing constant companionship to royalty who literally never left them alone. They have no independent working history whatsoever.

Problem 1: Severe Separation Anxiety

What's happening: Your Cavalier becomes extremely distressed when you leave, showing signs of panic, destructive behaviour, or excessive barking when alone.

Why it happens: Cavaliers were bred for centuries with the single purpose of providing constant companionship to royalty who literally never left them alone. They have no independent working history whatsoever. Their genetics are built entirely around human presence. Being alone contradicts their entire breeding purpose more than perhaps any other breed. They were bred to be "velcro dogs."

The fix: Practice "near but not on" training: when you sit down, they must settle on their bed nearby (not on your lap) initially for just 30 seconds, gradually extending to 5 minutes before allowing them up.

Practice mini-departures obsessively - leave the room for 20 seconds, return and ignore them completely for 5 full minutes until calm. If they whine during your absence, wait for 5 seconds of silence before returning, gradually building to 30 seconds.

Make departures completely boring: pick up keys and put on your coat randomly throughout the day without leaving. Practice 30-40 mini-departures on weekends.

When you return home and they're excited, freeze completely with no movement or sound until they're calm and quiet (could take 5 minutes - wait it out).

Struggling with separation anxiety? This is THE biggest issue with Cavaliers and needs work from puppyhood. Join our free Skool community for detailed separation protocols and get support from trainers who specialise in this breed during weekly Q&As.

Problem 2: Excessive Barking

What's happening: Your Cavalier barks constantly, often triggered by separation anxiety or demanding attention.

Why it happens: This is commonly associated with separation anxiety but can appear independently. This is a major issue for this breed as they've been selectively bred to avoid this exact scenario. If this becomes a problem, you'll need to really commit to solving it as they never "grow out of it."

The fix: Establish a two-part "thank you" sequence: when they bark at something, calmly acknowledge it by saying "thank you" once whilst looking toward what they're alerting to, then turn your back and walk away. If barking continues, immediately place them in a separate room without a word. Release only after they've been silent for at least 30 seconds.

Set realistic expectations. Cavaliers and Cavoodles are common family dogs. Many owners get annoyed by ANY barking. This breed barks, usually a lot. If you have one that likes to bark, getting this to zero is very low probability.

Everyone in the household must be on board, no exceptions. Do not shout at them - you need to show through action that there are no concerns. If you yell, you're reinforcing the behaviour.

Excessive barking driving you mad? Cavaliers can be persistent barkers. Our Skool community has household-wide protocols to ensure everyone responds consistently, plus troubleshooting for stubborn cases during live webinars.

Problem 3: Attention-Seeking Behaviour & Excessive Neediness

What's happening: Your Cavalier constantly paws at you, whines for attention, stares at you, or demands interaction throughout the day.

Why it happens: Their genetics are literally programmed for demanding and receiving constant attention - this was their job for 400+ years. What owners see as problematic neediness is actually the dog successfully performing its bred purpose of being perpetually engaging and demanding human interaction. They were bred to be impossible to ignore.

The fix: When they paw, whine, bark, or stare for attention, immediately freeze (no eye contact, speaking, or movement). If they persist for more than 30 seconds, calmly stand and leave the room without a word, staying out for 2-3 minutes. Return and ignore them until they're calm and lying down, then invite interaction on your terms.

Don't allow them to space invade. This is very common when they're on the couch. Obviously you can give them a cuddle, but on your terms.

Implement "work for attention" protocols: before receiving any affection, they must perform a simple command (sit, down, touch) - nothing is free.

Finding the neediness overwhelming? Teaching boundaries to a breed programmed for constant attention is tough. Join our Skool community to learn "work for attention" protocols and get advice on maintaining consistency from experienced Cavalier owners.

Is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Right for a New Owner?

A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel might be perfect for you if you're looking for:

A gentle, affectionate family dog - Cavaliers are sweet-natured and loving. They're excellent with children of all ages and form strong bonds with every family member.

A dog perfect for apartment living - With moderate exercise needs (30-60 minutes daily), Cavaliers adapt beautifully to smaller living spaces. They're quieter than many breeds and very adaptable.

An ideal companion for seniors or first-time owners - Their gentle temperament, trainability, and size make them perfect for people new to dog ownership or those wanting a calm, loving companion.

A dog that gets along with everyone - Cavaliers are excellent with other pets and friendly with strangers. They're social butterflies who love meeting new people and animals.

A devoted lap dog who loves being close - If you're home frequently and want a dog that truly enjoys being by your side, Cavaliers are ideal. They thrive on companionship and closeness.

If you're ready for moderate grooming needs, can be home frequently (or work on independence early), and want a gentle, loving companion, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will fill your life with warmth and affection.

Get the Full Support System for Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This guide gives you real solutions you can start using today. But raising a well-behaved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix.

That's why we created our free Skool community - to give you continuous support every step of the way.

Inside the community, you'll get:

• Weekly live Q&A sessions where you can ask about YOUR specific Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and get personalised advice from experienced trainers
• Full breed-specific courses covering everything from puppy raising to advanced behaviour modification
• A supportive community of other Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners who understand exactly what you're going through
• Video demonstrations so you can see techniques in action, not just read about them
• Troubleshooting help when things don't go to plan (because they won't always!)
• Updated resources as we add new courses and training blueprints

Best part? It's completely free. No subscription. No catch. Just dog owners helping dog owners.

Join The Toe Beans Co community today and get the ongoing support you need to build the best relationship with your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.