This Affectionate Dog Breed That Loves Its Humans Deeply Is Also Highly Adaptable

Sometimes, all it takes for a dog to steal your heart is for it to place its head on your lap or snuggle up next to you on the sofa. When a dog shows you love, it's hard to not reciprocate. Such affection is a trait many people hope to find after bringing home a new dog. Adjusting to changing environments might also be an important factor, especially for someone who moves frequently or travels often with their canine companion. One particular breed that's loving and adaptable is a member of the spaniel breed: the Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

These spaniels can be born with a silky, wavy coat of medium length that's black and tan, black and white, chestnut, or Blenheim (a blend of chestnut and white named after the British palace of the same name) in color. Their large, floppy, and feathery ears hang like a set of fluffy pigtails. Of course, to maintain a clean, neat coat appearance, it's important to know how to bathe and groom a Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

As a small breed, they weigh 13 to 18 pounds when fully grown, making them an ideal pet for apartment dwellers or anyone who prefers a lap dog over larger breeds. They're also great with children and other dogs and don't mind meeting strangers. When you consider the many positive traits of the breed, what's not to like?

The American Kennel Club and other sources list the behavioral characteristics of various breeds, but that doesn't necessarily mean that every single dog of a specific breed will have those characteristics. However, social media posts suggest that the positive attributes of Cavalier King Charles spaniels do apply to most of them.

A Quora user referred to the breed as "the love sponge," adding that these dogs love to cuddle and "will do whatever you want to do." Another agreed, saying their dog is "like Velcro." A third said their Cavalier King Charles spaniel is "the sweetest, most loving, and affectionate dog" they've ever encountered with "a gentle temperament." It's no wonder that so many people include this breed in their lists of friendliest dogs or overwhelmingly affectionate dog breeds.

On Reddit, a Cav owner said that their two pups follow them everywhere, but that one is "more cuddly than the other." Others said "they demand attention," "demand snuggling," and love laps. One said they find male Cavaliers to be more affectionate than females. In terms of adaptability, one parent said the breed is "very adaptable and tolerant of living a couch potato lifestyle." The extreme likability of these dogs might be why you won't find many of them available for adoption online. However, you'll likely have more luck buying from a reputable breeder.