Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Bark a Lot? + 4 Reasons

King Charles Spaniels are an energetic, playful, and affectionate dog, which is some of the reasons they are one of the most popular breeds. But do they bark a lot?

There can be a wide number or reason for wanting to know how loud your dog is likely to be before committing to a particular breed.

Perhaps you live in a flat and have several neighbours who you don't want woken up or irritated by excessive barking, or you have a new baby who needs peace to sleep.

Whatever the reason this article will answer all of your questions around King Charles Spaniels barking. If this has piqued your interest read on to lead everything you could want to know about the barking habits of Cavaliers!

Do King Charles Spaniels Bark a Lot?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are moderate barkers. The American Kennel Club scored them as a 3/5 for barking.

This means that your dog is unlikely to bark a lot just to hear the sound of their own voice but may make some noise now and again if something triggers it.

Let's take a look at what could cause your Cavalier to bark next.

What Causes a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to Bark Excessively?

As I eluded to above while Cavaliers bark now and again its far more likely that there will be triggered by a situation or event.

Here are the main reasons your Cavalier may bark.

Fear/Territorial

One reason your dog could bark is out of fear. This could be of strangers or even just unusual noises. Often this happens at home which is why territorial barking ties into it. This type of barking can be pretty common among most dog breeds. All you can do about it is try to desensitise your dog to what is causing this fear.

Excitement

Not all reasons for a Cavalier barking are negative. Another cause for your dog barking is excitement. This can happen when you are playing and your dog gets hyped up and is pretty normal.

If your Cavalier is becoming a bit more excitable just slow things down a little and the barking will ease off.

Boredom

Another reason for your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel barking is boredom. This can occur along with other destructive behaviours.

The main way to avoid this type of barking is to ensure your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is getting enough exercise. A tired dog will not be acting up with their physical and mental needs satisfied.

Separation Anxiety

Cavaliers are very social dogs and love to be around their family. If left alone your King Charles Spaniel will become lonely and bark and howl to try call you back. This breed are one of the top affected by this separation anxiety.

Unlike many other Spaniels King Charles Spaniels were bred as companion dogs and not hunters, they need a lot of love!

The best way to deal with this type of barking is to make sure your Cavalier is not left alone for long periods. At max a few hours at a time.

There are a few ways you can help ease any separation anxiety these little toy dogs could face. A few suggestions include:

• Coming home during your lunch break from work if your dog is alone
• Getting a dog walker to take your Spaniel out during the day
• Having a neighbour or dog sitter stop by during the day
• Leaving the radio or tv on if its for a shorter time
• Leave clothes with your scent for your Cavalier to cuddle up to

Given how severely the Cavalier King Charles deal with this type of anxiety you will definitely want to take steps to ensure you deal with it effectively. Some owners even get a dog camera to keep an eye on how their furry friend is getting along while they are away.

It can be very difficult to know that your dog is barking while your away unless someone else tells you about it. Which, unfortunately, already means someone is annoyed by it!

What if I Can't Stop my Cavalier from Barking Excessively?

If you have a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is barking quite a lot and you can't tie it down to one of the reasons above and get better results when addressing the issue you may need to seek a little extra help.

This would be pretty rare and is not a behaviour commonly seen in this breed. If you are experiencing it you may have to take action to ensure you don't have more problems further down the road and this turns into a habit that is hard to break.

To address this find a local dog behaviour specialist in your area who can find the root cause of the barking and help you deal with it.

Conclusion

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels don't have a reputation for being big barkers but that doesn't mean they are quiet dogs either.

Generally speaking, there will be a reason for your Cavalier barking excessively. This could be boredom, excitement, or separation anxiety, or even just being scared. No matter what the reason there is a way to deal with your little Charles Spaniel barking excessively.

Have patience, take your time, and over time your Cavaliers barking situation will ease off a bit. And remember, not every time your dog is barking is negative.

Allan  Noble
Hi, my name is Allan! I am the owner of Spaniel Advisor and I've got over seven years experience of owning Spaniels.  
I hope this article was helpful for you!