June 12, 2014

Last Updated on May 31, 2023 by Dominique de Merteuil

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Essentials for your new puppy

If you don’t own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life.

Roger Caras

In this post, I will share with you my favourite products for a puppy.

The Must-Have Products for Cavalier Puppy

1. Dog crate
2. Vet bed
3. Collar and leash
4. The Spaniel bowl
5. Grooming essentials; (Mason Pearson) brush, slicker brush, comb
6. Toys, toys, toys.
7. Clothes-only the essentials
8. Pet steps
9. Miele Cat & Dog vacuum cleaner

Introduction to the Luxurious Dog Section

After a very short deliberation, I started a new section on It’s Beyond My Control entitled The Luxurious Dog, for matters concerning all things important for your pampered pooch. And as the title suggests, these won’t be short on luxury but at the same time, I intend them to be practical items that should be considered essential to best present your pedigree.

The reason for this new section is quite simply a dream of mine. I can take great pride in welcoming into the de Merteuil family, Isia-Lilith, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy who has been keeping me away from writing for so long.

I’ve been preparing for this moment for over five years. And by preparing, I don’t simply mean shopping, though I have to admit, excess has been on occasion my middle name and at times I’ve spent more money at Mungo & Maud than I perhaps should have, it’s beyond my control.

For the most part, however, this time was about studying and educating myself on the health and care issues of my beloved Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed (chosen because they have the face of an angel and the kindest predisposition toward people).

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel & Health Issues

Unfortunately though, as with all pedigree dogs, such beauty comes at a price; health problems, that can’t be ignored.

In the case of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, it is hereditary illnesses such as; Syringomyelia, MVD, hip dysplasia, congenital deafness, and luxating patella that the future owner needs to be aware of.

The reason why I’m writing about it instead of jumping straight to what the post is really about, meaning the essentials for your new puppy, is that I’m in shock and disbelieve how many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel owners out there are completely oblivious to their dog’s needs and have never heard of SM.

I’m of the belief that the majority of our four-legged friends end up in dog shelters because of the ignorance and selfishness of their previous owners, who didn’t take the time to read about their chosen breed.

If I can give one piece of advice to anyone considering a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, it’s to either adopt a dog from a shelter or please do your research, and find a breeder who tests their dogs and is proud to show you the results! DON’T EVER buy a puppy from a pet shop, someone selling dogs on the street or from an ad you saw in a newspaper! Don’t support puppy mills!

Isia-Lilith-My Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

That out of the way, I’d like to introduce my child, who has changed our lives forever; Isia-Lilith, a beautiful Blenheim girl for whom Mr Merteuil and I moved countries. Yes, that’s right, I prepared for my puppy for five years and ultimately, had to move countries in order to have her.

The reason is that if you’re familiar with the London property markets and have a dog then you’ll sympathise when I say that finding an apartment in London with a dog-friendly landlord is about as easy as winning the lottery.

I signed with over 20 real estate agents, or as I call them, perpetrators of pure evil, four years passed and it didn’t look as if we were getting anywhere with our search. One day, however, the phone rang, and a perfect apartment in Richmond had been found.

Unfortunately, when we went to see it and immediately fell in love with the place, the Devil aka the real estate agent asked; how flexible we were about the dog because the landlord didn’t want tenants with pets! It was the first time that I lost the plot!

So we gave up on living in London and now make the commute to work there from a perfect apartment in beautiful Warsaw and with the perfect puppy, half German, half English, the offspring of champion parents, we couldn’t be happier.

We will be forever grateful to her breeder Katarzyna Trojanowska, an incredible veterinary doctor at the Katarzyna Trojanowska Veterinary Clinic in Warsaw, who helped make our dream possible and who we are lucky to consider our friend.

Isia-Lilith on a beautiful French footstool we bought at Studio Rococo @GregoryMichaelKing

And when you finally find your perfect puppy, that’s when the shopping spree begins!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – Essentials for Your New Puppy

1. The Dog Crate

Getting a crate should be the number one item on the shopping list for your new puppy. You might find it somewhat barbarian to be putting your luxurious puppy behind the bars. That couldn’t be further from the truth, trust me, it will be the quickest way of housetraining your baby, and will also allow you to leave the new member of your family in a safe space.

Your Cavalier puppy will learn that being left alone for an hour or two every now and then is not the end of the world.

Let’s face it, we all need to shoe shop sometimes and not all the shops are dog-friendly. Joking aside the one thing you don’t want to have to deal with is a puppy with separation anxiety. 

You will have to cover the crate with a blanket and I suggest something pretty that will match your interiors, after all, you will be looking at it a lot. I bought a couple of blankets from the Designers Guild and I swap between them every week.

2. The Vet Bed

You’ll also need a vet bed, which is very warm, and cosy, cover the bottom of the cage and has drainage properties in case of an accident.

I also purchased an incredibly soft blanket by Oscar Newman, which beautifully matches the coat of my Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Unfortunately, she adopted it more as a toy than something to sleep on. In fact, Mr de Merteuil and I did exactly what we were not meant to do and allowed Isia-Lilith to sleep in our bed.

She chose my Ralph Lauren bathrobe as her blanket. My child is already showing signs of having a rather expensive taste, like her mother.

3. Collar and Leash

I bought mine five years prior to owning the puppy because I simply couldn’t resist. Mungo & Maud is my top destination when it comes to shopping for the luxurious dog and I’m usually out of control when I visit their shop on Elizabeth Street in London.

It’s heaven for any dog owner with class and good taste. For a new puppy, I recommend a light collar and very long lead so that the, oh so important training of walking on a loose lead, can begin immediately.

*EDIT 2022 I now have four collars with plush lining that are very soft on the skin, perfect for everyday use. I keep the Mungo and Maud one for special occasions.

4. Spaniel Bowl

Food and water bowls come in different shapes, sizes and colours but I strongly recommend a Spaniel bowl, which prevents Cavaliers’ ears to get wet due to its shape. Don’t forget, as I did, that you’ll also need a bowl for their crate.

5. Grooming Products for Your Cavalier Puppy

It doesn’t matter if you have a show dog or not, you will want your dog’s coat to be long, silky and wave-free at all times. The sooner you start a daily grooming routine the easier and more pleasant it will be for both you and your puppy.

All you need is; a small comb, a slicker brush, demoting lotion and a bristle brush. I opted for the Mason Person one but if you rather not part with £75 you can choose a cheaper option from your local pet shop.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a breed prone to eye and ear infections so please make sure, that you pay attention to both and keep them clean!

Thornit Powder is a real lifesaver when it comes to ear infections so make sure you always have a bottle in your grooming kit.

Part of the daily grooming routine should be teeth brushing and checking nails which should always be trimmed.  The whole process takes me 15 minutes a day so not a big deal and I have a tangle-free dog.

Always brush your Cavalier before bathing and make sure that if you use a hairdryer afterwards, the stream of hot air goes with the growth of your Cavalier’s coat.

Essentials for your new puppy. Mason Pearson brush, slicker brush, comb.

6. Toys for a Cavalier Puppy

Lots of different toys especially chew toys, lots of chew toys unless you want your puppy to start nibbling on your Jimmy Choo.

Tug toys, plush toys, little balls (make sure the toy is not too big or too small for their mouths!) Your puppy will let you know what he likes or doesn’t like. I bought a frisbee that Isia-Lilith didn’t want to play with for the first three years, but now it’s one of her favourite toys.

7. Winter Coat for Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Clothes are essential for any puppy, especially around wintertime but also on those rainy days. Cavalier coats are very long and get dirty so easily, that you will find yourself bathing or semi-bathing their muddy paws every day.

I would like to point out that you should bathe your pooch as often as it’s necessary. I spoke to several groomers and my vet, and there is no such thing as bathing too often. Please make sure that your four-legged baby is fully dry before you take him or her out for a walk.

You might not like to hear this but it’s rather cruel to dress dogs in warm weather just because they look cute.

8. Pet Steps

Pet steps should be high on your shopping list. Jumping on and off the sofa can cause an injury to your puppy and a senior Cavalier.

9. Miele Vacuum Cleaner

Miele S8 Cat & Dog is the most brilliant vacuum cleaner I’ve ever had! Absolute must-have for those who love their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s coat on their dog but not so much on their antique rug.

Final Thoughts!

Photography by Gregory Michael King.

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DISCLOSURE:  As of 2019, I’m part of an affiliate program, and I get a small commission for purchases made through the Shop My Favourites links in this post. That’s how I keep my website alive, for which I’m very grateful to you. All opinions expressed here are mine! 

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