One of the most beloved toy breeds today is the King Charles spaniel, also called the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. His happy and loving disposition has melted hearts and warmed laps for centuries. The King Charles spaniel is descended from small spaniels crossed with Asian breeds that included Tibetan spaniels and the Japanese chin. The result was a toy breed that served as a lapdog, or comfort dog, for Europe’s royalty and wealthy class. During the 1700s, King Charles II became highly enamored with his dogs, and his association and devotion to them led to the name of King Charles spaniel. During the 20th century, an American by the name of Roswell Eldridge was visiting England and offered a sizable monetary incentive for breeding the highly regarded King Charles spaniels to display their earliest physical traits that included pointier muzzles and down-turned mouths. Over time, the segment of King Charles spaniels with upturned mouths and shorter muzzles won out in popularity, and this variation became known as the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1996 as a member of the toy group.
The King Charles spaniel is a toy spaniel with a regal appearance. His has a slightly stocky build and a slightly long body. He stands 12 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 13 to 18 pounds. His silky coat is medium in length and comes in one of four colorings, which are solid ruby, black and tan, a tricolor combination of white, black and tan and a variation of white and ruby that is referred to as Blenheim, named for the estate of the Duke of Marlborough. Longer, feathering hair provides the King Charles spaniel with a plumed tail, a skirt, draping ears and tufts of hair on their paws. King Charles spaniels have a sweet and docile expression. The Cavalier looks royal and elegant mainly because of its silky, slightly wavy coat. It is known for its sweet and gentle facial expression. Its coat needs regular brushing and it needs regular maintenance.
Personality
The Cavalier is the ideal dog breed for children or the elderly. It is gentle, friendly, sweet and affectionate. It needs daily exercise in the form of moderate walks or short romps. It’s friendly towards other dogs and people. The King Charles spaniel has a quiet, sweet, gentle and loving disposition. He loves the adoration of his family and is eager to please, which makes him relatively easy to train. He is equally happy to be paraded on long walks as he is to participate in cuddle time on the couch. A true throwback to his heritage as a pampered lapdog, he will be perfectly content to spend his days lazing around the house. Encouraging him to partake in some daily exercise will be an important step toward preventing obesity. Once taken outdoors, his spaniel instincts will kick in and prompt him to explore his turf and to chase everything that moves. King Charles spaniels are affectionate and playful. They get along well with every member of the household, including children and other pets. They are outgoing with strangers and not territorial, a combination that does not make them ideal watchdogs. King Charles spaniels are adaptable dogs, making them just as well suited to apartment living as they are to living in rural areas.
Breed Characteristics
| Type: | Pure |
| Family: | Spaniels |
| Function: | Companion |
| Origin: | Europe |
| Preferred Climate: | Any Climate |
| Group: | Toy |
| Life Span: | 10-14 Years |
| Nicknames: | King Charles Spaniel |
| Hypoallergenic: | No |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Build Information
The King Charles spaniel is a toy spaniel with a regal appearance. His has a slightly stocky build and a slightly long body. He stands 12 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder and weighs 13 to 18 pounds. His silky coat is medium in length and comes in one of four colorings, which are solid ruby, black and tan, a tricolor combination of white, black and tan and a variation of white and ruby that is referred to as Blenheim, named for the estate of the Duke of Marlborough. Longer, feathering hair provides the King Charles spaniel with a plumed tail, a skirt, draping ears and tufts of hair on their paws. King Charles spaniels have a sweet and docile expression.
| Size: | Small |
| Length (Male): | 8-12 in. |
| Length (Female): | 14-16 in. |
| Weight: | 15 – 25 lbs |
| Litter Size: | 5 – 10 Puppies |
| Tail Dock or Crop: | Docked |
Behaviour and Personality
The Cavalier is the ideal dog breed for children or the elderly. It is gentle, friendly, sweet and affectionate. It needs daily exercise in the form of moderate walks or short romps. It’s friendly towards other dogs and people. The King Charles spaniel has a quiet, sweet, gentle and loving disposition. He loves the adoration of his family and is eager to please, which makes him relatively easy to train. He is equally happy to be paraded on long walks as he is to participate in cuddle time on the couch. A true throwback to his heritage as a pampered lapdog, he will be perfectly content to spend his days lazing around the house. Encouraging him to partake in some daily exercise will be an important step toward preventing obesity. Once taken outdoors, his spaniel instincts will kick in and prompt him to explore his turf and to chase everything that moves. King Charles spaniels are affectionate and playful. They get along well with every member of the household, including children and other pets. They are outgoing with strangers and not territorial, a combination that does not make them ideal watchdogs. King Charles spaniels are adaptable dogs, making them just as well suited to apartment living as they are to living in rural areas.
| Activity Level: | Moderately Active |
| Affection Level: | Very Affectionate |
| Aggressiveness Level: | Easy |
| Barking: | Quiet |
| Dominating or Submissive?: | Submissive |
| Energy Level: | Moderately Active |
| Good to Other Pets: | Friendly |
| Guardian Skills: | No |
| Independant: | No |
| Kid Friendliness: | Friendly |
Appearance
A King Charles spaniel’s coat should be brushed every other day to detangle the hair and prevent matting. Inspect the ears during these brushing sessions, and keep them clean to prevent infections. Making home dental care a part of the grooming routine will maintain oral and overall health. Its coat needs regular brushing and it needs regular maintenance.
| Colors: | Black & Tan, Blenheim, Mahogany, Ruby, Tri-Color |
| Shedding: | None |
| Grooming: | Medium Maintenance |
| Coat Type: | Feathered |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Common Health Conditions
King Charles spaniels live an average lifespan of 9 to 14 years. Some genetic conditions to be aware of in the King Charles spaniel include patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, entropion, retinal dysplasia, mitral valve disease and a progressive neurological disease called syringomelia.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
Get a Free Pet Insurance Quote
Breed Talents and Facts
The King Charles spaniel, originated in England, is also called the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. The King Charles spaniel is gentle and loving, and he is eager to please. The King Charles spaniel stands 12 to 13 inches tall and weighs 13 to 18 pounds and has a moderate energy level. The King Charles spaniel requires moderate grooming. The average lifespan for a King Charles spaniel is 9 to 14 years.
| Training: | Moderately easy to train |
| Hunting Companion: | No |
| Jolly for Jogging: | No |
| Sighting Capabilities: | No |
| Ideal for Tracking: | No |
| Retrieving Skills: | No |
| Pointing Breed: | No |
| Herding Skills: | No |
| Dutiful Watchdog: | No |
| Security Guard Capable: | No |
| Police Performer: | No |
| Wet Water rescues: | No |
| Assist Disable Owners: | No |
| Dog Sledding: | No |
| Able to Perform Dog Carting: | No |
| Agile/Zippy: | No |
| Fun with Lure Coursing: | No |
| Obedient: | Yes |
| Possible Schutzhund Work: | No |
| Trainable for Tricks: | No |
