Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Prices in 2024: Purchase Cost, Vet Bills, and More!

Written by Chanel Coetzee
Updated: July 21, 2023
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The first year of owning a Cavalier King Charles spaniel will be the most expensive, including the purchase price, training costs, and health insurance, with total costs of around $3,000. Annual costs after the first year drop to around $1,000.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a beloved breed for its loving and gentle personality. These dogs make incredible family pets and thrive on attention. They are ideal for households with children and other dogs due to its friendly and patient nature. However, Cavalier King Charles spaniel prices in 2024 are not cheap, and you need to ensure that you can afford not just the purchase cost but insurance, vaccinations, medical bills, food, and enrichment. Luckily, this article will detail all the costs involved in owning one of these gorgeous spaniels so you can make an informed decision.

How Much Does a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy Cost?

When purchasing a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from a reputable breeder, expect to pay around $1,800 to $3,500 depending on lineage, breeder, location, and other factors. For example, show-quality pups from a champion bloodline are more expensive and cost about $4,000. While this is a lot of money, these puppies have strong genetics and won’t rack up too many vet bills.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels are so expensive because they are popular but rare. Therefore, there is a high demand for these gentle dogs. However, if you are on a budget and want one of these spaniels, there are cheaper ways to get one. For example, you could settle for a mixed breed. But please stay away from puppy mills as they breed irresponsibly.

Adoption is another option. Depending on your location, obtaining a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel from a shelter or rescue could cost between $150 to $600. While finding one of these expensive spaniels at a shelter is unlikely, you never know. Ask to be put on a waiting list and see what happens. Furthermore, some breeders offer adoption for their older dogs.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels are so expensive because they are popular but rare.

Cavalier King Charles spaniels are so expensive because they are popular and rare.

©David Shankbone from USA, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons – License

Other Factors That Influence the Purchase Price of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

There is a massive difference in the price of a Cavalier King Charles spaniel because of several factors. While many people blame the breeders, the standards are set by the puppies’ appearance, bloodline, kennel club papers, quality, and more. These spaniels are valued by the following:

  • Coat Color – these spaniels come in several colors, like ruby, Blenheim, tan, or black. The rarer the color, the more expensive the dog.
  • Bloodline or pedigree – Champion, show-quality pups are more expensive due to their impeccable genetics.
  • Breeder’s location – You might not have a breeder nearby, so additional costs come into play, like traveling to the destination or having the pup delivered.
  • Vaccinations – Breeders who fully vaccinate their pups will be more expensive than breeders who do not. However, this means you will have to wait until your pup receives all its injections before bringing it home.
  • Kennel Club Documentation – If you want your pup registered with the Kennel Club, your breeder will incur more costs to certify the dog as a purebred. Therefore, they will raise the price of the pup.

In addition, other factors that affect the price are medical tests, gender, and the breeder’s reputation. Lastly, the size of the dog also affects the cost. For example, there are two types of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, the regular and the teacup. As they are rarer, the teacup spaniels cost more.

Two young Сavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy sit inside basket at summer park

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels come in several colors, like ruby, Blenheim, tan, or black. The rarer the color, the more expensive the dog.


Image: Ermolaev Alexander, Shutterstock

©Ermolaev Alexander/Shutterstock.com

Cost of Vaccination and Other Medical Expenses for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppies need to visit the vet every three to four weeks until they reach the age of four months. However, the breeder is responsible for all the vet visits and vaccinations until the pups are ready to go to their owners between 8 to 10 weeks. And the cost should be included in the purchase price. After that, the owners are responsible for medical bills and vaccinations. As a result, in the first year of owning a Cavalier King Charles spanning, you can plan on spending between $1,400 to $3,000 on vet bills.

Close up of a young handsome bearded male veterinarian working at his office examining ears of an adorable fluffy spaniel puppy copyspace medicine pet care profession occupation job owner.

Cavalier King Charles spaniel puppies need to visit the vet every three to four weeks until they reach the age of four months.


Image: Nestor Rizhniak, Shutterstock

©Nestor Rizhniak/Shutterstock.com

Cost of Food and Supplies for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The cost of food will vary depending on the brand you choose for your Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Owners should always opt for high-quality food unless their pups need prescription food, which is more expensive. As these dogs are so small, they don’t eat a lot, so splurging on top-quality food is possible because it lasts longer. Therefore, feeding your pup can cost between $10 to $50 a month.

Cavalier King Charles Puppy lying in front of an empty metallic dog bowl, 2 months old, isolated on white

As these dogs are so small, they don’t eat a lot, so splurging on top-quality food is possible because it lasts longer.

©Eric Isselee/Shutterstock.com

How Much Does It Cost to Insure a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

There are many factors that impact the price of insurance for Cavalier King Charles spaniels. For example, the type of coverage you are looking for and the insurance company you choose. If you are on a budget, your best bet is the Basic accident and illness plans for emergencies, as they have the lowest installments. However, it is more expensive if you want coverage that reimburses the cost of wellness care. Therefore, average insurance costs between $20 to $50 a month.

Unfortunately, these spaniels are susceptible to genetic health issues, so pet insurance is necessary. For example, they are prone to Mitral valve disease, and treating this disease can cost between $1,000 to $5,000.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Canis familiaris) - running with stick in mouth

Unfortunately, these spaniels are susceptible to genetic health issues, so pet insurance is necessary.

©Martin Mehes/Shutterstock.com

How Much Does It Cost to Train a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?

If you are a novice dog owner, investing in a professional trainer is better. However, this does cost a lot, up to $2,000. Therefore, if you are on a budget, there is a cheaper option. You can find many self-help videos on how to train a Cavalier King Charles spaniel, which are very informative. Owners still have to pay for these guides, but they are a few hundred dollars instead of thousands. But, ensure you have the time and patience to train your pup yourself, as if you are unsuccessful, you will end up paying even more to hire a trainer.

Spaniel King Charles Training School

If you are a novice dog owner, investing in a professional trainer is better. However, this does cost a lot, up to $2,000.


Image: Chris Alcock, Shutterstock

©Chris Alcock/Shutterstock.com

Overall Annual Expenses for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The first year of owning your Cavalier King Charles spaniel will be the most expensive, as it includes the purchase price, training costs, and health insurance. Therefore, owners must consider spending around $3,000 in the first year. As a result, these spaniels are more expensive to maintain than most other breeds, as they require more care and grooming. However, their maintenance costs drop to around $1,000 annually after the first year.

Saving Money When Caring for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Here is a short guide on how to save money when caring for a Cavalier King Charles spaniel:

  • Train your spaniel yourself with the use of training guide videos.
  • Groom your Cavalier King Charles spaniel yourself, as grooming costs can eat into your budget. Ensure to brush your spaniel at least three times a week, keep their teeth and ears clean, and trim their nails every six weeks.
  • Invest in good pet insurance. It can save you thousands of dollars for a small premium each month. Anything can happen, no matter how healthy your dog is, so ensure you are doing everything to protect your gorgeous pup. It will save you money in the long run.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Liudmila Bohush/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Chanel Coetzee is a writer at A-Z Animals, primarily focusing on big cats, dogs, and travel. Chanel has been writing and researching about animals for over 10 years. She has also worked closely with big cats like lions, cheetahs, leopards, and tigers at a rescue and rehabilitation center in South Africa since 2009. As a resident of Cape Town, South Africa, Chanel enjoys beach walks with her Stafford bull terrier and traveling off the beaten path.

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