History and Characteristics of the
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
You may be interested to know that when you make the decision to own a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, you've made the choice to own the favored breed of royalty! The charming Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can trace his ancestors back to the small toy spaniels that are found in many paintings of the 11th, 17th and 18th centuries.
During Tudor times (1485-1603) these small spaniels were highly popular as ladies' pets and under the House of Stuart (1603-1714) they were given the name King Charles Spaniels. What is known as the lozenge spot on the head of some Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is highly prized and is sometimes called: "The Queen's Thumbprint".
Cavaliers can boast of many Royal masters. Queen Victoria had a beloved Cavalier named, Dash. Other Royal Cavalier fanciers include: Mary Queen of Scots, Princess Margaret and King Charles the II. Some more recent Cavalier owners you may be familiar with are: President Ronald and First Lady Nancy Reagan, Kirk Douglas, Michael J Fox, Courtney Cox, The Osborne Family, Frank Sinatra, Liv Tyler, Teri Hatcher, Diane Sawyer, Brad Paisley and Sylvester Stalone! As you can tell from this diverse list, Cavaliers have a very wide appeal!
During Tudor times (1485-1603) these small spaniels were highly popular as ladies' pets and under the House of Stuart (1603-1714) they were given the name King Charles Spaniels. What is known as the lozenge spot on the head of some Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is highly prized and is sometimes called: "The Queen's Thumbprint".
Cavaliers can boast of many Royal masters. Queen Victoria had a beloved Cavalier named, Dash. Other Royal Cavalier fanciers include: Mary Queen of Scots, Princess Margaret and King Charles the II. Some more recent Cavalier owners you may be familiar with are: President Ronald and First Lady Nancy Reagan, Kirk Douglas, Michael J Fox, Courtney Cox, The Osborne Family, Frank Sinatra, Liv Tyler, Teri Hatcher, Diane Sawyer, Brad Paisley and Sylvester Stalone! As you can tell from this diverse list, Cavaliers have a very wide appeal!
Physical Characteristics
Cavaliers can vary quite considerably in size, but on average they should weigh between 12-18 pounds and be 12 to 13 inches at the withers. The range of colors now includes Blenheim (rich chestnut and white), Ruby, Black and Tan and Tricolor (black & white with tan markings). Blenheims and tricolors should have their markings well broken up and tricolors should have the tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, inside the ears and legs as well as on the underside of the tail. Black and tans are considered whole colored and any white would be considered incorrect. Rubies are also considered whole colored with a rich red coat. No trimming, sculpting or artificial alteration of the coat is necessary. Coats should be moderately long with feathering on the ears, chest, legs and tail. Tail should be long and carried happily just below the back. The head should appear almost flat between the ears. The muzzle should be slightly tapered and be neither too long nor too short, and the eyes should be large and round without being too prominent.
Personality
A Cavalier is a most amenable breed, being equally happy with a boisterous family of children, or a more sedentary life with an older, less active person. They are very adaptable and are often described as a "people dog". You can expect lots of cuddle time with this charming breed. They enjoy being involved in human activities and will want to be "just one of the family". A Cavalier generally gets along well with other dogs and household pets, rarely showing jealousy or possessiveness. Don't expect a guard dog though! Cavaliers generally regard any stranger as just a friend they haven't been introduced to yet! They are a happy-go-lucky lot with oodles of love and affection for everyone.
