Is a King Charles Spaniel a Cavalier?

The overall appearance of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is regal and sophisticated, yet charmingly cute.

Its diminutive figure is 12 to 13 inches high at the withers and 13 to 18 pounds (6 to 8 kilograms). It is among the largest toy breeds. The face of the Cavalier is distinctive for its sweet, gentle expression that owes much to its large, round, dark brown eyes, set well apart. The skull is slightly rounded, and the muzzle full, but mildly tapered. The long, feathered ears, which are set high and wide on the crown, fan forward slightly to frame the face when the dog is alert.

The neck is fairly long and set atop sloping shoulders. The chest is moderately deep and the body is compact. The tail is carried gaily when in motion.

The coat is long, silky and soft and comes in four color combinations: red and white with a partial red mask and ears and red patches on a white body; tricolor (black and white with tan points); ruby (solid red); and black and tan.

Personality:

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is an enchantingly affectionate, playful, intelligent dog that eagerly indulges its guardians with endearing devotion. Shyness and aggression, fortunately, are not part of this breed's behavioral milieu. These happy little dogs are excellent with children, and their desire to interact with their guardians makes them pleasurable household companions.

Living With:

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is easy to keep. Ideal as a family dog or as a companion for "empty nesters," the Cavalier loves to cuddle and has been described as the perfect lap dog. Although these dogs have a proclivity for noisy greetings, Cavaliers generally are not protective. Regular grooming is key to keeping the Cavalier's coat lustrous. Little more than a thorough weekly brushing is required, in addition to routine bathing and professional trimming as desired. Light shedding, which occurs in the spring and fall, generally arouses little notice.

History:

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is the descendant of a small toy spaniel depicted in many 16th, 17th and 18th Century paintings of northern Europe. This dog was originally bred to warm laps in drafty castles and on chilly carriage rides. A prescription written in Olde English for the Queen of England directs her to keep this "comforte dog" on her lap to treat a cold. The Cavalier's other job was to attract fleas and thereby spare their masters the flea-transmitted bubonic plague.

During Tudor times, toy spaniels were common as ladies' pets and, under the Stuarts, they were given the royal title of King Charles spaniel. King Charles II was seldom seen without two or three Cavaliers at his heels, and he wrote a decree — still in effect today — that his namesake spaniel be accepted in any public place, including the Houses of Parliament, which were generally off-limits to animals.

In the early days, breed standards were not recognized, although toy spaniels generally had flat heads, pointed muzzles and high-set ears. By the mid-19th century, the English fashioned a new look for the toy spaniel and standardized its appearance. These modern King Charles spaniels, also known as "Charlies," had flatter faces, undershot jaws and domed skulls. In the early 1900s breeders attempted to recreate the earlier version of the breed; they were largely successful and so was born the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. Breeding of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel in the United States took hold on a limited basis in the 1950s, but the breed was not fully recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1996.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is one of the largest toy dog breeds and is very popular in the U.S., especially with families. Two key characteristics of this lap dog: affectionate and outgoing.

Here are five things you may not have known about the Cavalier King Charles spaniel:

1.  Breed Mix-Up

The U.S.’s Cavalier King Charles spaniel and England’s King Charles spaniel are often mistaken as the same breed. They are actually two different breeds, although they did share the same history until they diverged many years ago. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is currently ranked as the 19th most popular dog in the United States by the American Kennel Club.

2. Royal Favorite to Outcast

The original King Charles spaniel originated — experts think — during the early 17th century. Named after King Charles II (also known as the “Cavalier king”), the breed was a favorite amongst royals but nearly became extinct when King William III and Queen Mary I (also known as the founders of the esteemed College of William & Mary in Virginia), took over the United Kingdom. Queen Mary preferred pugs, so the King Charles spaniel quickly became canine non grata.

3. New Face, New Breed

To save the King Charles spaniel from extinction it was crossbred with the queen’s favored pug breed, resulting in a flatter nose, an upturned face, a rounded head and protruding eyes. Nearly 230 years later, a group of American breeders took on the challenge of reproducing the original 17th century look of the King Charles spaniel (longer nose, flat head, and almond-shaped eyes). Following World War II (and another phase of near extinction), the American breeders were granted a separate registration status for their burgeoning breed: Cavalier King Charles spaniel, also known by many as “Cavaliers.”

Six surviving dogs became the starting point from which all modern day Cavaliers have descended: Ann's Son, his litter brother Wizbang Timothy, Carlo of Ttiweh, Duce of Braemore, Kobba of Kuranda and Aristide of Ttiweh.  

4. What Do You Mean, “Average”?

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is ranked 44th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, listed as having “average” intelligence in working or obedience (to give you an idea, 131 breeds were tested and ranked). That being said, Cavaliers are successful in obedience and agility and make excellent therapy dogs due to their sweet, gentle natures. Since the breed has an instinct to chase most things that move including cars, "street-wise" is a description most Cavaliers will never acquire. Also, since the breed tends to regard all strangers as friends, they usually do not make good guard dogs.

5.  Health Concerns

The three most common health issues for the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, based on Nationwide pet insurance claims, are mitral valve degeneration (which leads to heart failure), ear infections and skin allergies, all of which are eligible for Nationwide pet insurance benefits.

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