The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small breed of dog from Great Britain. It is one of the classic company and companion dogs and is accordingly listed by the FCI in Group 9, Section 7 (English company spaniels).
Thanks to its compact size and its lovable nature, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an excellent companion dog for young and old alike, which can also be kept in a slightly smaller apartment without any problems.
Key facts at a glance:
- FCI: Group 9, Section 7, Standard No. 136 (without working test)
- Life expectancy: 13 to 15 years
- Origin: Great Britain
- Size: 30-33cm
- Weight: 5.5-8kg
- Colours: Ruby, Black and Tan, Blenheim, Tricolour
- Character: happy, affectionate, cuddly, easy to train
Origin and History of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a long history. Its origins probably go back to the 15th century. However, it was above all the English kings Charles I and Charles II who learned to love the little four-legged friends in the 16th century and for this reason made a significant contribution to the development of the breed.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel also owes its name to this circumstance. The first entry in the stud book of the British Kennel Club finally took place in 1892 as a King Charles Spaniel.
In the meantime, the dogs had become significantly short-nosed. The American Roswell Eldridge wanted to recreate the appearance as seen in a portrait of Charles I with his spaniel. For this reason, in London in 1926, he offered prize money for every King Charles Spaniel with a long nose.
Today’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which was recognized as an independent breed in 1945, finally emerged from these animals.
Description of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
With species-appropriate husbandry and care, owners of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can, with a bit of luck, look forward to a life expectancy of up to 15 years. The shoulder height of the small dogs is between 30 and 33 centimeters and the weight is 5.5 to 8 kilograms, with males usually being slightly larger and heavier than females.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a moderately developed chest, straight back, and short, closed loins. His legs have a moderate bone strength and ensure a free and elegant movement.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a flat top and stop. Its muzzle is about 3.8 centimeters long. Its jaw is strong and is said to have a perfect scissor bite. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel also has large, dark eyes and long, heavily feathered ears.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a long, silky coat. Curls are undesirable according to the breed standard. However, a slight wave of the coat is permitted.
The following four coat colors are recognized in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
- Black and Tan (Black with tan markings)
- Ruby (ruby red)
- Blenheim (pearl white with maroon markings)
- Tricolor (Black and white with tan markings)
Character of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lives up to its name. Because he is a true cavalier. He is neither argumentative nor does he tend to get nervous. Instead, he proves to be a friendly and loving companion in everyday life.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is extremely people-friendly and gets along well with both children and the elderly. His friendly nature is also shown towards strangers, whom he usually meets openly and in a good mood.
Considering his small size, he is surprisingly fearless. Since the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is very easy to train, it is perfect for beginners who have not yet had any experience with owning a dog.
Possible uses for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has always been a classic companion dog. He does not have the necessary physical or character requirements for use as a working dog.
Nonetheless, even a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel needs a certain level of activity. In addition to long walks and extensive stroking, he can also be enthusiastic about one or the other dog sport.
Suitable employment opportunities are, for example, agility or retrieval. However, it should always be ensured that sporting activities are adapted to the small body size of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Diseases
Like many pedigree dogs, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is also prone to some diseases typical of the breed. Among other things, there is a genetic predisposition to endocardiosis, a progressive degeneration of the heart valves.
In addition, the following health problems can occur more frequently in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:
- conjunctivitis
- shoulder dislocation
- retinal dysplasia
- syringomyelia
In order to avoid high treatment costs, it is advisable to take out dog health insurance for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Not every King Charles Spaniel is a Cavalier
In addition to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, there is another King Charles Spaniel. Both variants are basically quite similar, with the King Charles Spaniel having a flatter nose and being slightly smaller.
Both variants are recognized as separate breeds. The FCI also lists the King Charles Spaniel in Group 9, Section 7 (Standard No. 128). He is the ancestor of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.