Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite a popular breed and if you are thinking of having one yourself, then as with most dogs it is much better to have one from a puppy. You should always make sure that you get your dog from a reputable breeder - either one recommended by someone you know or one recommended by the Kennel Club of Great Britain. All Cavalier breeders have to comply with a code of ethics and supply owners with certain information.

If you have previously owned a dog who was quite happy to spend time in a kennel then you might want to reconsider acquiring a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. A Cavalier has not been bred as a kennel dog, they developed as a lap dog and so the Cavalier will make a great companion. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is usually happy and outgoing, this means that he or she generally gets on well with both people and other dogs and cats.

Don't buy a Cavalier Charles Spaniel unless you have the time to spend with it. Most breeders recommend that if you have young children then you might be better advised to get an older dog than a puppy because Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies are so small. They are intelligent dogs and this makes them easier to train. They enjoy regular, but short walks as they are so small. Whether you have a male or a female puppy is up to you, but there are pluses and minuses whatever you choose. Most people prefer a male puppy because unless they intend to breed they don't want to be troubled with the female's half yearly season. On the other hand dogs are far more territorial than a bitch and will mark their territory - even indoors unless you are very persistent with toilet training.

When you have chosen your puppy the breeder will supply you with information on three generations of his or her forebears, correct feeding information, a vaccination certificate and dates of worming along with any other details relating to the dog's health.

Finally you can take your dog home. If you have a garden then you'll need to make sure that it is secure as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small enough to get through most holes in a fence - and probably will. It is perfectly ok to use a cardboard box with one side cut out for a first bed. Put some clean bedding in there so the puppy will be comfortable - you can get a proper bed at a later date. Make sure that your dog's bed is kept in the same place, ideally somewhere near the back door if you have a garden as this will simplify toilet training in the early days. Then get to know and enjoy your dog.