Key Facts:
Size: Small
Height: 35- 37 cm (14 - 15 inches)
Weight: 5.4- 8.2 kg (12 - 18 lb)
Life Span: 13 years
Grooming: Medium
Exercise: Medium
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Friendly & easy-going
Country of Origin: England
AKC Group: Toy
Other Names: Cavalier
Temperament:
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is happy, active, placid, affectionate and easy-going. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a popular family pet, as they get on well with children, strangers and other dogs. They love to please people and make good watchdogs as they can be quite fearless. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are easy to train and they can be very obedient.
Grooming:
The coat of the Cavalier King Charels Spaniel needs to be combed regularly, especially around the areas that tangle more easily such as the chest, ears and between the legs. The ears also need to be checked for excessive hair and dirt.
Exercise:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt themselves to the daily family activities, which provides them with some exercise. But Cavaliers are built on athletic lines and do enjoy their exercise.
Feeding:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have hearty appetites and with their placid, friendly nature they often induce people to feed them titbits that encourage obesity.
History:
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has similar origins in Britain to that of the King Charles Spaniel. They date back to the times of Tudor and Stuart from the 16th century and their popularity wasn't really established until the mid 17th century by Charles II, who was rarely seen without one at his heels. At about the same time this breed was also popular with the aristocracy in Holland and Spain, where many artists included them in their paintings. In the early 19th century, the English breeders selectively bred for shorter muzzles and produced a dog with a flat face profile. In 1926 an American who disapproved of the flattened muzzle, offered prize money at the following five annual Crufts Shows in London, for the best specimen of the earlier type with a longer muzzle. This resuscitated the original Cavalier breed, which is the type that we know today.
Physical Characteristics:
General Appearance: Charming, gentle and well-balanced body.
Color: Black/tan, Ruby, Blenheim (red and white) and tricolor.
Coat: Long, silky and plenty of feathering. Wavy coats are permissible but not curly coats.
Tail: Docking is optional and it is rarely carried above the level of the back.
Ears: Long, hanging and feathered.
Body: Strong back with a level topline and well-angulated hindquarters.
Additional Comments:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a true favourite for a family pet, with their charm for both the elderly and the young.
