Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bite?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a happy, affectionate dog that loves to be petted and near its owners. But before you choose this breed, you may ask yourself if Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can bite and be aggressive.
It depends. Typically, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not aggressive and do not bite. The breed is characterized by an extremely friendly, happy nature and loves to cuddle and be petted. Of course, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can bite. For example, if they get too little exercise and attention in the long run, they might snap out of frustration. But also fear can be a reason when a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel snaps.
Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bite?
Of course, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can bite. They can reach a weight between 6 and 8 kilograms at a size of up to 33 cm and are, therefore, not very small.
Even though a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a relatively low bite force of about 200 PSI, it can still do considerable damage if it snaps at a hand accidentally or on purpose….
Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels aggressive?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not aggressive in principle. Instead is characterized as being friendly, fond of children, and loving. Few breeds are more peaceful than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Of course, there can be exceptions to this behavior. Not every Cavalier fulfills these character traits 100%.
But suppose your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should show aggressive behavior. In that case, this usually has reasons you should get to the bottom of.
Why Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can bite and be aggressive
So, as a rule, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a loving family dog that likes to be cuddled and petted. Nevertheless, we must consider the exceptions that cause a Cavalier to exhibit undesirable behavior.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel bites because he is bored
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs regular exercise. You should be able to offer him two walks of about 30 minutes each, where he can sniff and explore the surroundings.
Dogs need activity and exercise.
Suppose your Cavalier gets too little exercise for a long time. In that case, it can lead to boredom and stress, resulting in undesirable behavior.
It can be that your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel barks more or starts to snap and bite.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel bites because he is scared
Dogs can also snap out of fear. If you have rescued your Cavalier from the shelter, you often do not know what he has experienced.
Possibly, he was abused in the past, and now he is afraid of people and bites as soon as someone approaches him.
But fear during thunderstorms can also be why a Cavalier suddenly snaps in fright.
Biting out of food envy
Dogs have a natural need to defend resources. Food, of course, is at the top of the list and is the most critical resource. In the worst-case scenario, your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel will growl at you and want to bite if you try to take his food bowl or chew bone away from him.
Food envy can develop or develop for a variety of reasons. Mostly it has one exact origin. Be it a puppy at the breeder or a second dog in a family. Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel had to fight for his food from the beginning to get enough.
Stress leads to aggressive behavior.
Stress, in general, is always negative and can lead to undesirable behavior like aggression against people or other dogs. So a stressed Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can bite.
A wide variety of situations can trigger stress. The common problem is that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels don´t like to be left alone. So if you leave him alone for several hours a day, this can trigger aggression.
Too little sleep can be the reason for aggression.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need a lot of sleep. If they sleep too little, because you constantly keep them busy, this can lead to stress in the long run and consequently to aggressive behavior.
How to keep your Cavalier King Charles from biting
To prevent your Cavalier King Charles from being tempted to bite, you should keep a few basic things in mind.
- Make sure your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is exercised. Take him for a walk every day. Let him sniff and explore the area on the walk. This is what makes a dog happy and content.
- Work on being the leader from the beginning. Your Cavalier needs to accept you as the pack leader. You decide on all sorts of resources, such as food. It is not acceptable for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to growl at you or even bite you when he has his food or a chew bone. This usually happens when he does not accept you as the pack leader. The best way to learn how to strengthen your role and build a good relationship with your dog is through online dog training or a dog school.
- Avoid unnecessary stress. Stress is always wrong. Some situations can’t be avoided, and even a dog must go through them repeatedly. But if your Cavalier King Charles doesn’t like to stay alone, you should solve this situation as soon as possible. First, you should slowly get him used to the fact that he can at least bear it for a specific time. If you have to leave him alone for longer, get a dog sitter or bring him to friends. Separation anxiety can become a big problem and harm overall health in the long run.
- Suppose your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel came from the shelter, and you don’t know exactly what he’s been through and why he bites. In that case, a good dog trainer can help correct the behavior.
Cavalier King Charles puppy bites
As with all dog breeds, it is normal for Cavalier King Charles puppies to bite and chew on everything.
This has nothing to do with misbehavior. It is simply the instinct to chew. Besides, in the first months, puppies discover everything with their mouths.
Besides your furniture or unique chew toys for puppies*, it also happens that the Cavalier King Carles puppy bites your hand. Now it is up to you to stop this behavior as soon as possible.
Stop playing or rubbing immediately if you are playing with your puppy or petting him and he starts biting your hand. If he backs off, you can continue.
If your puppy does not respond, you can combine stopping the petting with a short yelp such as “Ow.” Again, do not continue until the puppy stops biting.
If even the yelp is not enough, the yelp and the end of the interaction are joined by getting up and walking away. So you punish your puppy with absolute disregard. With time he learns that biting is not desired and only leads to the fact that he is no longer stroked or even left alone.
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Conclusion: When do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bite?
Of course, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can bite when frustrated or stressed. But fear can also lead to negative behavior. Usually, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a friendly and happy dog that loves to be petted and is not known for aggression.
@ Lenkadan-depositphotos.com (contributed image)
