King Charles Spaniel

 

An obvious relative of the Cavalier King Charles spaniel. In some countries he is known as the English Toy Spaniel, and derives his name from a dog which was a great favourite of King Charles II. He is compact, with a very distinctive domed skull, and has wide, deep turned-up muzzle. His large eyes give him a soft, appealing expression. His long, silky coat is easily cared for, and he is clean and quiet in his habits. A true aristocrat, he is elegant and cheerful, and makes a very affectionate, devoted companion.

 
General Appearance   Active,graceful and well balanced, with gentle expression, Refined, compact and cobby.

Characterisics Sporting, affectionate,absolutely fearless. Intelligent toy s[aniel, with a distinctive domed head.

Temperament Gay, friendly, non-aggressive, no tendency towards nervousness. Gently and affectionate

 

Head & Skull Skull large in comparison to size, well domed, full over eyes. Nose black with large, wide open nosytrils,very short and turned up to meet skull. Stop between skull and nose well defined. Muzzle square, wide and deep, well turned up, lower jaw wide, lips exactly meeting, giving nice finish. Cheeks nt falling away under eyes, but well cushioned.

 

 
Eyes Large, dark, round, but not prominent, spaced well apart.pleasing expression.

Ears Long, set high, with plenty of feather,hanging quite flat to cheeks, very long and well fleathered.

Mouth Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

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Neck Of medium Length, arched giving proud carriage of head.

ForeQuarters Legs short, straight. Shoulders well laid back, elbows close to ribcage, turning neither in nor out.

Body Chest wide and deep, back short and level.

 

HindQaurters Sufficient muscle to give positive driving movement, Stifles well bent, hocks well let fdown and defined. Straight viewed from behind, turning neither in nor out.

Feet Compact, well padded and feathered, toes well knuckled, round cat-shaped foot, well cushioned, pasterns firm. Occasionally central pads and nails fused together.

Tail Well feathered, not carried over or above level of back. Docking optional.

 

 

 
Gait & Movement Free, active and elegant, driving from behind. highly desirable.

Coat Long, silky and straight, slight wave allowed, nevr curly. Legs, ears and tail profusely feathered.

 

 
Colour Black and tan, rich glossy black, with bright mahogany-tan markings, on muzzle, legs, chest, linings of ears, under tail and spots over eyes. White patch on chest undesirable. 

Tricolour Ground pearly white, with well distributed black patches, brilliant tan markings on cheeks, linings of ears, under tail and spots over eyes. Wide white blaze between eyes and up forehead.

Blenheim  ground pearly white, with well distributed chestnut-red patches. Wide, clear blaze with the spot in centre of skull, should be a penny. 

Ruby Whole coloured, rich chesnut red White patch on chest highly undesirable.

 

 
Size & Weight 3.6-6.3 Kgs [ 8 - 14 Ibs ].

Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousnes with which the fault should be regarded should be exact proportion to its degree.

Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully decended into the scrotum.

 

 

  Breed History 

The Calvalier King Charles Spaniels of today are directly descended from the European toy spaniels of the fifteenth century. It is not certain which country they originated from, but ther were toy spaniels in most of the Eurtopean Royal Courts between the fitteenth and eighteenth centuries.

 

 

   King Charles II  

Was particulary fond of the toy spaniels, and gave his name to them. Well over the years it became fashionable to breed the King Charles Spaniel with a shorter face. Until then, the only toy spaniel were the King Charles Spaniels that we know today.

In 1926 an American, Mr. Roswell Eldridge, visited Crufs dog show in London, and was so concerned that there were no toy Spaniels with the longer noses, that he offered prizes of twenty five pounds at crufts for the best Dog and the best bitch exhibited in a class for Blenheim Spaniels of the old type, as shown in the pictures of Charles II's time; that is -- ...Long face ,no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be domed with a spot on centre of skull. These prizes were offered each year for five years. A handful of breeders subsequently set about breeding back to old type, long nosed Toy Spaniels, and it is from these dogs that all our Calvaliers are directly descended.

 

  

 

 

   Cavalier King Charles  Spaniel 1928  

In 1928 the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was founded in England by those pioneering breeders. The word Cavalier was added to the name King Charles Spaniel to differentiate between the long and short faced dogs. In 1945 the kennel Club in England acknowledged the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a separate breed from the King Charles Spaniel. Since that time the Calvalier has become one of the most popular toy dogs, not only in England, but all over the world.

 

  

               

 

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