Considering their charming appearance, high intelligence, and lovable nature, it’s no wonder that King Charles Spaniels are among the favorite dog breeds. With a royal name and cute, melting-like faces, these little ones will steal your heart at first sight.
Knowing the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel growth stages is critical to ensure that your pet receives the best care and training possible. There are various development stages that Cavalier pups go through, some of which will be more or less difficult.
In this article, we’ll talk in detail about each stage as well as different factors that may affect the dog’s growth.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Growth Stages
The expected life span for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is about 12 – 15 years. These dogs reach full maturity at about two years. Until then, they go through phases of intense physical and mental development.
Newborn Stage
This phase lasts very short, and your little blind and deaf furballs depend entirely on the mother. Their senses and thermoregulatory system are still undeveloped, so they would die if separated from the litter.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies weigh only half a pound at birth, with a height of just half an inch.
They do nothing but eat and sleep, so they enter the next growth stage quickly. And Cavy moms are always around, keeping their babies clean and warm.
Birth to Two Weeks: Neonatal Stage
In the neonatal stage, Cavalier pups double their weight, while their height usually remains the same as at birth.
They’re still dependent on their moms because, through their milk, they get antibodies that help them build immunity.
These babies spend most of their time sleeping, but now they can move away from their moms for a short time. So you can find them wandering around.
Cavalier puppies still can’t see or walk, so they just crawl until they snuggle with mom or other pups. They may not get anywhere, but that’s how they develop limb muscles.
Two to Four Weeks: Transitional Stage
Cavy pups ‘meet’ the world at this stage. Their eyes are now open, and as they are aware of their surroundings, these little ones start to walk and separate from their moms for longer.
By the end of this stage, Cavalier King Charles puppies triple their birth height and weight.
The bladder emptying mechanism has been developed, and now Cavalier pups can defecate alone.
Also, their auditory receptors begin to receive signals from the outside. This means puppies can now recognize their family’s voices, which further encourages the development of ‘speech.’
Four to Eight Weeks: Socialization Stage
This life stage is vital for the psychological and social development of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Now they can play and run, showing the first signs of disobedience. So this is the time to start with basic training.
Pups gain an additional 3 to 4 pounds in weight and almost triple their height.
Since their teeth are starting to grow, mothers are slowly weaning them from breastfeeding. This means that Cavalier pups are slowly transitioning to solid foods.
Eight to 12 Weeks: Fear Stage
As the pups’ vision and hearing fully develop, they begin to get acquainted with new sensations, which are not always pleasant.
So at this stage, anything can scare them. That’s normal, so you should slowly bring new people and things into the pup’s life.
In the third month, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels weigh between 5.7 and 7.9 lbs and are about 8 inches tall.
They’re big enough to take them for a walk, but make sure they’re not over-exposed to anything that can cause them fears, such as noise or too many unknown people.
Three to Six Months: Juvenile Stage
Entering the fourth month of life, puppyhood in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels ends.
Now begins the rebellious, ‘teenage’ age when these dogs become more playful but also more disobedient. Their high energy level must be channeled into the right path.
Puppies may be physically developed (weighing 7.9 and 14 lbs and 8 and 11 inches tall), but they still need to reach mental maturity.
So you should intensify the pups’ training. If you don’t teach them obedience now using positive learning methods, it may be too late later.
Six to 12 months: Adolescence
Upon entering the adolescent phase (the penultimate Cavalier King Charles Spaniel life stage), your doggy reaches 90% of its final height.
Generally, by the end of the first year, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels will be between 12 and 13 inches tall. As for the weight, it won’t change much after the first 12 months – from 13 to 18 lbs.
Physical maturity doesn’t always mean emotional maturity. Testosterone levels in male pups reach a high level, so they begin to mark their territory.
Females show sexual interest even earlier since they start experiencing heat at the beginning of this stage.
As these dogs begin to show an interest in socialization, it must be done correctly. During this period, they should have intensive contact with kids, other dogs, and other animals to develop good social skills.
One to Two Years: Maturity
After reaching physical maturity at the end of the first year, the second year of the life of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is reserved for the peak of social and emotional development.
In other words, the pups may be physically developed but aren’t fully mature until their second year.
By the 18th month, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels should have good social behavior. Also, from now on, their hair gets thicker, and their nails become longer, so it’s the right time for regular visits to the groomer.
Read Also: Why do Cavalier King Charles Sleep so Much?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Weight Chart by Age
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel pups are petite compared to most other breeds, but they’re still the largest toy dogs. They reach their final height and weight at the end of their first year.
You may monitor your puppy’s development using the age-specific Cavalier King Charles Spaniel size chart below.
| Pup’s Age | Weight (lbs) | Height (in) |
| 1 month | 1.5 – 2.5 lbs | 1.5 – 1.7 in |
| 2 months | 4.0 – 5.2 lbs | 4.0 – 5.0 in |
| 3 months | 5.7 – 7.9 lbs | 7.5 – 8.0 in |
| 4 months | 7.5 – 10.1 lbs | 7.8 – 9.5 in |
| 5 months | 9.2 – 12.5 lbs | 9.4 – 10.2 in |
| 6 months | 10.3 – 14.1 lbs | 10 – 11 in |
| 7 months | 11.4 – 15.6 lbs | 11 – 12 in |
| 8 months | 12.0 – 16.5 lbs | 11.5 – 12.2 in |
| 9 months | 12.3 – 17 lbs | 11.8 – 12.5 in |
| 10 months | 12.6 – 17.3 lbs | 12 – 12.8 in |
| 11 months | 12.8 – 17.7 lbs | 12 – 13 in |
| 12 months | 13.0 – 18 lbs | 12 – 13 in |
Factors That Affect the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s Growth
The average height and weight of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels apply to most members of this breed. However, there are always deviations due to the influence of various factors.
Gender
In smaller breeds like the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the physical differences between males and females aren’t drastic.
They’re mostly the same weight and height, and what differentiates them may be the build type.
Boys generally have a more ‘masculine’ body, while Cavy ladies are leaner and have less muscle mass.
Genetics
The genetic influence on the growth of these pups is an important factor. The offspring of healthy and large parents will be the same.
Dogs descended from parents or grandparents with congenital diseases have a higher chance of getting them, but that’s not a rule.
Nutritional Habits
The healthy development of every dog depends on the correct intake of vitamins and minerals. That’s crucial during the Cavy pups’ growth and development when they can increase their body weight 20 times.
Due to their tiny build, Cavies don’t have an excessive appetite. Still, their small meals should be rich in energy and nutrition.
So their diet should be based on premium quality food since it’s the most beneficial for the dog’s body, both in growth and development and adulthood.
Activity Levels
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels don’t need much exercise but like being on the move. Physical activities, daily walk, and playing will help these pups develop strong musculature and gain a healthy weight.
It has been noticed that dogs with a lower level of activity tend to be overweight, which is why they look larger.
Owners often don’t notice that their Cavaliers are big, but these dogs can have many health issues if neglected.
When Do Cavaliers Stop Growing?
Most Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies stop growing after reaching the one-year mark. However, some puppies may continue to grow until they are 15 months of age.
It’s a good idea to monitor the growth of your furry friend so that you have an idea of its development through different stages of life.
However, it’s important to stress that each dog is different. Genetics, nutrition, and health can also affect a dog’s growth stage and final size.
Feeding your doggy with a balanced and nutritious diet, in addition to moderate exercise, can significantly impact healthy growth and development.