The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a charming and elegant breed known for its distinctive appearance and friendly disposition. These small dogs are characterised by their beautiful, silky, and often tri-colour coats, which typically feature a combination of rich chestnut, black, and white markings. Their expressive, large, dark eyes give them an endearing, almost puppy-like appearance, and their well-proportioned bodies exude grace and poise. As companion animals, Cavaliers are incredibly affectionate, social and gentle, making them ideal family pets. They thrive on human companionship. Despite their dainty appearance, they have a playful and lively spirit, enjoying leisurely strolls as much as spirited playtime. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s (CKCS) sweet temperament and regal appearance have endeared them to dog lovers worldwide, earning them a special place in the hearts of many.
Did you know?
The USA’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and England’s King Charles Spaniel are often mistaken for the same breed. They are actually two separate breeds with distinct differences between them, although they did share a history before the split.
History
Despite their grandiose name, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels haven’t held recognition in their current form for long. Spaniels have a long history, with reference to pet spaniels being made right back in the 16th century. One memorable story suggests that a lapdog spaniel nestled in the petticoats of Mary Queen of Scots during her execution, while a stronger literary record ties King Charles I and Charles II to the breed’s progenitors. Queen Anne was a fan, too, while the Marlborough family are credited with developing the Blenheim coat (earthy brown and white).
By the 19th century, the toy spaniel had hit the big time. Queen Victoria’s much-loved Dash achieved celebrity status, and dog shows soon ran heavy with well-groomed spaniels. As the years passed, however, the King Charles became affected by shorter faces and rounder skulls. Today, it is widely believed that some owners selectively bred their spaniels with pugs, Pekingese and other increasingly popular Asian toy breeds to achieve this look. The new look quickly gained popularity, and in the early 20th century, these dogs were officially recognised as the King Charles Spaniels.
For Roswell Eldridge, a wealthy American, this was unacceptable. He simply couldn’t believe that the long-nosed, flat-skulled spaniels of the past had disappeared, and so orchestrated a new Crufts class to encourage their resurgence. The move created limited but persistent interest, and, in 1928, the first Cavalier Club came into being. Having agreed on their goals, the members worked to refine and promote their dogs, achieving separate breed recognition in 1945.
Thanks to their close relationship, the two King Charles breeds still share much in common. Both types have floppy, feathered ears and expressive eyes, while straight backs and rolled-back shoulders are also characteristic. The difference between the two really becomes apparent with the head. The muzzle and skull variations are pronounced, and Cavaliers also have straight jaws with an even bite. As a final difference, Cavaliers are often larger than Kings, weighing up to eight and a half kilograms.
Appearance
There are four recognised coat colours for the CKCS, each of them highly distinctive. Most complex is the Tricolour, a three-shade coat that mixes extensive black and white sections with tan markings on a dog’s face and legs, while Ruby dogs counter with a solid but luxurious gingery red. Black and Tans and Blenheims, meanwhile, both show off two shades. For the former, the clue lies in the name; Black and Tans are predominantly black with vivid tan sections that run around the muzzle, the chest, and up all four legs. Blenheims, named after the Oxfordshire estate in the UK where they originated, mix bright white with earthy brown sections. A fuzzy oval right on top of the skull is another unique Blenheim quirk.
Personality
No matter the colour, the Cavalier now enjoys much popularity due to their gregarious, loving personality. CKCS simply love to be around life and make easy, lasting bonds. They are very suitable for family life and multi-dog homes, and their enthusiasm and easy-going nature make them a good fit with children. As shameless attention seekers, CKCS relish physical displays of affection and are happiest on their owner’s lap. They don’t like to be left alone for long periods of time.
As if their wonderful characters weren’t enough, the breed is particularly adaptable. Many owners introduce these ‘lapdogs’ to lengthy walks, obedience and agility training with tremendous results, while less active individuals find that a Cavalier will happily work at their speed.
Health issues
Food-focused and highly adept at getting their way, the CKCS are prone to becoming overweight, and this can result in serious health problems. Chief amongst these is mitral valve disease, a widespread degenerative condition of the heart valve that is potentially fatal. It occurs when the valve between the aorta and left ventricle loses strength, allowing blood to flow in the wrong direction. Blood flow to the body is therefore disrupted and decreases, and the heart gradually becomes damaged. An audible heart murmur can be heard, and this, thankfully, allows the condition to be recognised early. Sadly, MMVD currently has no known cure, although early diagnosis, medication and lifestyle adaptation can lessen symptom severity.
Equally concerning is syringomyelia, an extremely distressing disease where pockets develop above the spinal cord, fill with fluid and exert pressure on the spine and brain. The condition has been linked to Chiara-like malformation, a situation where a dog’s skull is too small for the brain within it. No cure has yet been developed. Syringomyelia is currently mostly managed with painkillers, steroids, physiotherapy and, in some cases, surgery. Afflicted dogs can suffer substantial pain and poor coordination, while some exhibit ‘phantom’ scratching around the neck.
On a happier note
Outside of the health issues that can plague these dogs, if you just take one look at those sparkling eyes and wide grin, you’ll be hooked for life. A healthy CKCS is a pretty unbeatable companion.
