Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Description

An Owner's Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Description
You can greet me as Charlie, Chaz or even Charles, but I prefer you don't ever greet me with "What's up, Chuck?" That sounds too much like I'm about to heave my dinner! I'm easy: if you have a lap I can sit in, I'm good. I love sitting in laps while a hand is stroking my head and back.

Just in case you didn't know, I'm a toy breed. Not like those sissy little brats with bows in their hair, but a large toy, or if you prefer the nomenclature, a small spaniel. I don't particularly like to go hunting, but I enjoy catching an occasional bird that flies a bit too close to the ground. I also like to climb and find myself a perch where I can get a good view of things going on around me. People are so much fun to watch, and they act so peculiar sometimes! Not my owner, though. She is the best! Even when I do something bad -by mistake of course - she's really cool about it and never gives me anything more than a mild scolding. That's usually followed with a treat of some kind, you know, a liver bit or some such. It kind of makes me want to goof up now and again, just to get the treat. I'd rather get the treat without the scolding, though, so most of the time I try hard to remember her rules and live by them.

Anyway, life is good here on her country estate. We get a lot of sunshine and daily walks to stay healthy. I also get a lot of brushing to keep my silky coat shiny and soft. I hate when burrs get all caught up in my hair, don't you? Maybe when you visit, we could play a little fetch the ball; would you like that? I hope you're good at retrieving and know how to drop it at my feet. It's no fun if I have to constantly be fetching your ball for you.

 

 

Introduction

In the 1920s, Roswell Eldridge offered prize money at Cruft's Dog Show in London to anyone exhibiting these Spaniels with a longer nose, as they had appeared in King Charles II paintings. By the 1940s, these dogs were classified as a unique breed given the prefix "Cavalier" to differentiate them from their forebears. They are great family dogs, willing to lay around with you or accompany you on walks and liking both. When selecting one of these dogs, it is important to check the medical history of several previous generations because of the possibility of overbreeding due to their popularity. They are easy to train and get along with other dogs. They require lots of grooming. Small in stature, they typically weigh 12 to 18 lbs. and stand 12-13" at the shoulders. Contact the dog breeders below for your next family friend.

History

Small breeds of Spaniels have always been popular in England and Toy Spaniels later became pets of the royal family. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was named after England's King Charles II, who "rarely was seen without his little dogs" according to chroniclers of his day. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, along with the aristocratic families who kept them as pets, has appeared in paintings and tapestries for ages. This indicates that although bred for shooting small game, the breed was indeed a luxury pet and led an easy life.

General Description

Historically the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is considered to be a lap dog, and it is the smallest of the spaniels. However, by lap dog standards, it is the largest toy breed. The Cavalier has a full length tail and a small, tightly knit body. They show their noble heritage in their elegant and royal gait. The head is almost flat between the ears, with a well-defined nose, held on a strong, somewhat arched neck. Long pendant ears are feathered and these, combined with the breed's large, round eyes, give a characteristically endearing expression. The Cavalier has a silky, moderately long coat, free from curls and slightly wavy. With maturity, these dogs develop lengthy feathers on the ears, chest, legs, feet and tail. The four recognized colors of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are: - Blenheim, a rich chestnut on white (named for the palace of the Duke of Marlborough, an early breeder) - Tricolor, black and white with tan color on cheeks, inside ears, eyebrows, inside legs and underside of tail - Black and Tan, tan markings on black colored body - Particolored, that includes white, Blenheim and Tricolor.

Temperament

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the friendliest toy dogs. Extremely social, they require constant company from humans and dogs and are not comfortable being alone. Overall they are friendly and calm with an extroverted temperament. They are easy to train and can be trusted while playing with children. Sometimes Cavaliers exhibit cat-like traits, like a fondness of perching in high places or for catching birds flying near the ground. Although their coats never need trimming, they do require regular combing (at least once a week). Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can suffer from a wide variety of genetic disorders. Two of these, mitral valve disease and syringomyelia, are the most common and can be severe. It is recommended that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are bought only from reputable breeders who ensure the screening of their breeding dogs. In short, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an energetic toy breed, elegant in appearance. They are compatible with both city and country life.

 

Colors

Red and White (Blenheim), black and tan (King Charles) tricolor (Prince Charles) and solid, dark red (Ruby).

Living Area

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does very well in small spaces such as apartments but is also ideal in larger settings. They will self-exercise if indoors and must be kept in a fenced yard or on a leash when outside.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

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