The paws are notable for their well-developed feathering, giving the Cavalier a soft, padding stride. The limbs should not be delicate good examples of the breed should have strong bone structure and proportionate muscling. The ribs are well-sprung to accommodate a large lung capacity. The neck is slightly arched, leading to quite a short, level back. They are very expressive and ever-cheerful. The large, round eyes are dark and should not protrude. The ears are set high on the side of the head, quite long, and well feathered. The lips are loose but not pendulous, and any tendency to an over- or under-bite is undesirable. The head should not be domed, but instead flat between the ears, with a shallow stop leading to a tapering muzzle of moderate length in proportion to the skull. The Cavalier is a well-balanced small breed dog which should be built for activity. Despite this late development, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has soared in popularity to now rank as the 19th most popular breed on the AKC register. However, due partly to its late introduction to the United States, but also because of very stringent rules surrounding the registration of new breeds, the Cavie was not recognised by the American Kennel Club until 1995. It was recognised as a pedigree in its own right by the Kennel Club in 1945. A dog named ‘Ann’s Son’ won the prize in 1928, leading to the establishment of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed club, and the breed’s subsequent development. While the short-nosed spaniel type was recognised as the King Charles Spaniel (without the ‘Cavalier’ tag), an American cynologist, Roswell Eldridge, offered a large cash prize at Crufts in the 1920s for anyone that could present toy spaniels which were good examples of the traditional type of hunting dog. The modern Cavie retains similarities to this line, and the red-and-white variation of the breed is now called ‘blenheim’ in recognition of this fact. However, the Dukes of Marlborough remained long-time fans of the older type of spaniel, retaining a line of hunting toy spaniels at Blenheim Palace that were required to be capable of keeping up with a trotting horse. Because of extensive crossbreeding with these new arrivals, the spaniels’ conformation changed dramatically, with shortening of the face, protrusion of the eyes, and loss of athletic prowess. Unfortunately, in the years after Charles’ death, the popularity of these dogs waned, as ‘cute’ breeds, such as the Pug became more fashionable as companion dogs. The toy spaniels at the time were true hunting dogs, being athletic and capable of many hours of vigorous activity, in common with other breeds such as Irish Setters and English Springer Spaniels. Toy spaniels were especially popular with Charles II, being often featured in paintings from his reign, and it is said that he never went anywhere without several of these little dogs. Spaniels were very popular in the courts and estates of the European nobility throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, when hunting and other outdoor pursuits occupied much of the aristocracy’s free time. ![]() The life expectancy for the breed is in the range 9–11 years, with heart failure being the life-limiting factor in most individuals. The Cavie sheds moderately, and requires regular brushing by the owner, as well as routine visits to a professional groomer. The smallest and weakest pup in any litter is far more likely to suffer some of the problems discussed below. The Cavalier suffers from several significant health problems, notably heart disease, and care should be taken when choosing a puppy not to select one out of pity. ![]() They need to be in constant contact with their owners, and should not be left on their own for long periods, as they can become upset and depressed with regular isolation. They are suited to indoor-only living, but are at heart a down-sized sporting breed and therefore need a moderate amount of exercise every day. ![]() Although its name invokes its origins in the court of Charles II, the Cavalier King Charles, or ‘Cavie’, is actually a recently developed breed, modelled after the toy spaniels seen in many old paintings of European royalty.Ĭavies are highly adaptable and will learn to live happily in most environments. The breed’s large eyes and constantly wagging tail are sure to endear them to everyone, and they are patient and affectionate towards other pets and children. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a charming and lovable little companion dog.
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