CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Care

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Many people find it hard to distinguish between the King Charles and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel; the Cavalier is larger, and there are marked differences in the head formation the skull is almost flat between the ears and its stop is much shallower than that of the King Charles. However, it has the same characteristics of courage, hardiness and good nature, which make it a suitable pet for any age group.

Origin and history

Reports by Pepys and other British diarists tell us that King Charles II spent more time playing with his 'toy spaniels' during Council meetings than he did dealing with matters of state. He even took his dogs into his bedchamber.

The Cavalier and the King Charles originate from common stock. When it became fashionable to produce a King Charles Spaniel with a short nose, the original type almost disappeared; but in the late 1920s a group of breeders combined to bring back the old type of King Charles, prefixing its name with the word 'cavalier' to distinguish it from the newer, quite separate variety.

Today the Cavalier is popular with a number of well-known people in the United States - Ronald Reagan among them - but it does not enjoy championsl1ip status.

Good points

Hardy, despite small stature
Clean
Loves children
Usually gets on with other pets

Take heed

Needs monthly bath (except in cold weather)
Needs frequent grooming

Size

Weight: 12-181b (5.4-8.2kg). A small, well-balanced dog within these weights is desirable.

Exercise

Normal exercise requirements. Will adapt easily to town or country living. It should not, however, be kennelled out of doors.

General appearance
An active, graceful and well-balanced dog. Absolutely fearless and sporting in character and very gay and free in action.

Colours
The only recognized colours are:

(1) Black and tan raven black with tan markings above the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest and legs and on underside of tail. The tan should be bright.

(2) Tricolour - black and white well spaced and broken up with tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, inside legs and on underside of tail.

(3) Blenheim rich chestnut marking well broken up on a pearly white ground; the markings should be evenly divided on the head, leaving room between the ears for the much-valued lozenge mark or spot (a unique characteristic of the breed).

(4) Ruby - whole coloured rich red. Any other colour or combination of colours is undesirable.

Head and skull
Head almost flat between the ears, without dome. Stop shallow. Length from base of stop to tip about 1V2in (4cm). Nostrils should be well developed and black in colour. Muzzle tapered. Lips well covering but not hound-like. Face should be well filled out underneath the eyes. Any tendency to appear snipy is undesirable.

Tail
The docking of tails is optional. No more than one-third to be removed. The length of the tail should be in balance with the body.

Feet
Compact, cushioned and well feathered.

Grooming

Regular brushing with a bristle brush is essential. Examine paws for any trace of interdigital cysts, and ears for canker, often detectable by an unpleasant smell. Wipe eyes with cotton wool dipped in a weak saline solution to keep them clear of unsightly tear streaks.

Feeding

About 5-70z (142-198g) of a branded, meaty diet with biscuit added in equal parts by volume; or, if a dry food, complete diet iE> used, 1 cupful 01 feed mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of dry feed to V2 cupful of hot or cold water.

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