Cavalier Quirks

Cavaliers lick............. a lot

If you’re familiar with canine body language, you
know that licking has a variety of meanings. In
puppies, it can be a plea for food from their mother, actually stimulating her to regurgitate food for them.

Later, it signals friendliness or submission, sending
the message, "I’m not a threat.”

Licking also signals respect for the leader of the
pack: you. Cavaliers want to make extra certain
you get the message that they love and respect you.

One of our Cavalier wanted to lick you non-stop if
you would let him, and when you stopped him
he would lick the air beside you because
he just had to kiss you.

Who, Me? Naughty?

The Cavalier’s ability to wrap people around his little paw is another issue. Although easy to train,
Cavaliers get away with a lot because they’re so adorable. It’s important to set boundaries
and provide consistent obedience training.

Cavaliers are smart and will use their good looks to manipulate their owners, this is especially true at
mealtime. Many Cavaliers are overweight because owners find it hard to say ‘no’ to them, but when
it comes to health, you need to look past those
brown eyes and do what’s best for them.

More licking.........

Every Cavalier I have ever owned like to lick
the body lotion off my skin right after I put it on.

When my Cavaliers see that I grab my bath
robe and towel and head off to the shower they
start doing what I call the excitement dance.

They start bouncing all over and doing circles
because they know that after I come back from
my shower that I put lotion on.

They start lining up as soon as I come back into
the bedroom after showering to be in position
to get licks in once I put lotion on my legs.

This ritual happens every time I shower.

Cavaliers can be mischievous

Cavaliers can be mischievous, and when it has
anything to do with food....they have
memories like elephants.

We have caught our Cavalier in the dishwasher the
first time when one of the kids needed me and I left
the dishwasher open and unattended. I came
back to finish loading it and he was right in the
middle of licking the plates clean.

Once he figured out that the dishwasher could
have yummy plates anytime we were loading it he
was right there like a dirty shirt watching us. This dishwasher sometimes didn't close properly
and he learned to check it after we loaded
it to see if he could open it.

Cavaliers like to chase things.

This is great if you want a dog who will retrieve
tennis balls or flying discs, but it also means that
Cavaliers will run right in front of a car in pursuit
of a bird or squirrel, and many have done so.

Even the best-trained Cavalier never should be let
off-leash in an unsecured area. Once they’re
focused on that object in motion, only the promise
of something better — like a steak — will
draw them to your side.

To lure them with that better option, you have to
regain their attention, which isn’t easily done.

And even more licking........

One of my Cavaliers is a foot licker. Soon as my
foot is sockless she is right there looking to lick it.
I don't mind it, it kind of tickles but when
she tries to lick the kid's feet they hate it.

Two of our Cavaliers like to lick ears. I think they
would spend hours licking them if we let them.

Two of our Cavaliers like to lick necks once
we get into bed at night they lie right on top
of us and the lick fest begins.

All the dogs will lick faces if you pick them up, we
don't like our faces to be licked so all of them have been taught to only give kisses on the nose.