Cavalier King Charles spaniels have a double coat which consists of a downy undercoat next to the dog’s skin for warmth and a longer, outer coat which provides some weather and physical protection.
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel does moult and, at times, this can be quite significant, particularly during spring as the weather improves and the dog sheds hair. In this respect his level of moulting is no different to any other spaniel breed. However with regular grooming, brushing and care the amount of moulting can be controlled and kept to a minimum.
What is moulting?
Moulting is a natural process which occurs in many animals, humans included. Many people use the term ‘shedding’ and the two are exactly the same process.
Dogs, including the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, undergo a process which results in a thicker coat growing in the winter and cold months, this provides effective cold and bad weather protection, keeping the dog warm and is a basic dog survival process.
When the weather improves, this coat is too heavy and warm, so the dog moults or sheds the excess hair so that he is not too warm or uncomfortable.
You would not want to wear a thick winter coat during the summer and the same if true of your Cavalier King Charles.
Moulting or shedding is just like the dog taking his coat off. It is normal.
A Look at the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s Coat
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a coat that is known for being silky and soft to the touch.
The coat is long and shaggy everywhere but their face.
The dog’s coat is unique in that there are no layers of longer fur as there are with many other breeds. Instead, these dogs simply have a top layer of hair that protects an inner, downy undercoat.
This makes them a groomer’s dream client, but it can cause the fur to more easily become tangled so regular grooming is a must.
There are four different colour variations of the fur. They include tricolor, black and white, red and white, and solid red.
A healthy diet is important to help with moulting
Moulting can also occur if your Cavalier King Charles has a poor diet or experiences a sudden change of dog food.
Feeding a good quality dog food to your Cavalier King Charles spaniel can help to keep the levels of moulting to a minimum.
Consider purchasing a high quality dog food to reduce moulting.
Tips for grooming a Cavalier King Charles spaniel
There are a few tips that you need to be aware of when grooming your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The breed is prone to knots, tangles, and hair matting. This is all due to the length of their hair. The most common place for problems is around their ears.
Brushing
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should be brushed two or three times per week to keep them knot-free.
Brushing is the main grooming that needs to be done. This will help with shedding too and you will notice that your new dog sheds less when they are groomed regularly.
Brushing helps to reduce the excess fur while also increasing the natural oil content on the skin for healthier skin and coat.
Bathing
Bathing should not happen too often for several reasons. One of these is that the breed is a clean dog.
Another is that washing too often in a bath will strip the natural oils from the skin and can cause skin damage or dry skin. Always use a good quality dog shampoo.
Clipping is a good option, but only with regular and frequent brushing.
Always use the best dog grooming tools that you can afford as these can help to reduce the levels of moulting that your Cavalier King Charles spaniel experiences.
Get covers for your furniture and car
When your dog moults you’ll often find that your furniture and car interior become covered in dog hairs that can be really difficult to remove.
A good solution is to purchase washable covers that you can use to protect your furniture and car seats.
These covers are often machine washable and are easy to fit and remove enabling you to easily minimise the impact of dog hair.
Pet Vacuums
Having the right tools to reduce dog hair is important but often you’ll find that your Cavalier just moults and you have to clean it up and you’ll need to get a good pet vacuum.
Pet vacuum cleaners vary in quality and price with many offering filtration systems, high powered suction, additional tools and extra features.
Vacuums are available in a wide range of shapes, sizes, colours and designs as well as mains powered and rechargeable options.
Final thoughts
Do Cavalier King Charles spaniels moult?
There are many reasons that people love the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They are cheerful and fun to play with while also being highly intelligent.
These dogs are known for their characteristic long silky coat and having a face that many have fallen in love with.
The Cavalier King Charles does moult but, as a breed that loves people and loves to be fussed over, you will have no problems with regular grooming which will keep moulting to a minimum.
