THE four varieties of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, namely, Black-and-Tan, Tricolour, Ruby and Blenheim, are all descendants of the small spaniels that were the favourites of Charles II. Although they are identified with that monarch, they were actually well known in the time of Elizabeth, being called spaniels gentle or comforters.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Except for markings, the points of the four varieties are identical. In shape they are compact and cobby; wide and deep in chest; low to ground. Best size from 6 lb. to 12 lb. Skull massive; well domed, and full over the eyes. Nose very' short and turned up to meet the skull. Deep stop; cheeks well cushioned; ears very long, well feathered and set low. Eyes dark and large, and set wide apart. Coat long, silky, and straight with profuse feathering on the usual parts.
The Black-and-Tan variety^hould be a rich, glossy black, with bright mahogany tan markings. The Tricolour has a ground of pearly white, with well distributed black patches and brilliant tan markings; wide white black between the eyes and up the forehead. B'enheim, on a ground of pearly white, chestnut red patches; a wide blaze with a red mark in the centre of the skull. Ruby, whole colour, rich chestnut red.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels History, Origin and Purpose
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a much-admired Royal Spaniel. Descended from the Toy Spaniels of Europe, the breed was variously known as the “comforter” or “Spaniel Gentle” and first appeared in the courts of England with the reign of Queen Mary I. The breed, which appears in many of the great paintings of the Masters, received its name from King Charles II. It became virtually extinct in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, as short-nosed breeds took the fore. By 1923 the King Charles Spaniel (today’s English Toy) with its flat nose had replaced the old-type Toy Spaniel.
In 1926 the incentive for the revitalization of the old-type Toy Spaniel was provided by Mr. Roswell Eldridge, an American who offered prizes of 25 pounds for the Best Dog and Best Bitch of this type at Crufts. The name Cavalier was added when the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was founded in 1928 to further develop the breed. It was not until 1945 that The Kennel Club (England) granted separate registration from the King Charles Spaniel. The popularity of these companion dogs has spread around the world and in 1957 the breed gained Canadian Kennel Club recognition.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel General Appearance
An active, graceful, well-balanced dog, very gay, and free in action.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Temperament
Fearless and sporting in character yet at the same time gentle and affectionate.
Height 30-33 cm (12-13 inches). Weight proportionate to height 5 – 8 kg (12-18 lbs.). Slight variations permissible. A small, well-balanced dog well between these heights and weights is desirable. Overall type and quality should not be sacrificed for size alone. A weedy specimen is to be penalized as severely as a coarse one.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Coat
Long, silky and free from curl, though a slight wave is permissible. Feathering on ears, legs and tail should be long, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. It is common and permissible for bitches to carry less coat than dogs. No trimming, scissoring, clipping or artificial colouring is allowed and this should be severely penalized.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Colour
Blenheim
Bright chestnut red markings well broken up on a pearly white ground. The red on the head must extend around the eyes as well as down over the ears. A pure white muzzle is preferred. There must be a distinct white blaze between the eyes. Between the ears may be the lozenge or spot unique to the Blenheim, which is a highly desirable, but not essential, characteristic.
Tricolour
Jet black markings well broken up on a pearly white ground. The black on the head must extend around the eyes as well as down over the ears. There must be a distinct white blaze between the eyes. A pure white muzzle is preferred. Rich tan markings appear over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, under the tail and around the vent. Tan should appear inside the legs where it is adjacent to black.
Ruby
Whole-coloured rich red. White marks are undesirable.
Black and Tan
Jet black with rich tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks and muzzle, inside the ears, on throat and chest, on forelegs from knees to toes, on the inside of the hind legs also extending from hocks to toes, on the underside of the tail and surrounding the vent. White marks are undesirable.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Head
Almost flat between the ears, without dome. Stop moderate. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 1-1/2 inches (4 cm.). Nostrils should be well developed and the pigment black. Lack of stop or too deep a stop are to be penalized equally.
Eyes: Should be large, round and set well apart. Colour should be a warm dark brown, giving a lustrous, limpid look. Eye rims should be dark. Small, light or bulging eyes, or a white ring surrounding the iris are very undesirable.
Ears: set high, but not close to the top of the head. Leather long with pleanty of silky feathering, and wide enough so that when the dog is alert, the ears fan slightly forward to frame the face.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Tail
Set on so as to be carried level with the back. Tail should be in constant motion while the dog is moving. Docking is optional, leaving 2/3 of the tail and the tail must balance the body. A white tip must be left on the tails of Blenheims and Tricolours.
Muzzle: Tapering slightly to the nose. Lips well covering and well cushioned but not hound-like. There should be cushioning beneath the eyes, which contributes much to the sweet, gentle expression characteristic of the breed.
Mouth: Teeth strong and even, meeting in a scissors bite. Level and undershot mouths are to be discouraged. However, a slightly undershot bite in an otherwise wellbalanced head with the correct sweet expression should not be penalized in favour of a scissors or level bite with a plain head or hard expression.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Body
Short-coupled with ribs well sprung but not barreled. Chest moderately deep leaving ample heart room. Back level. Slightly less body at the flank than at the last rib, but with no tucked-up appearance. Bitches may be slightly longer at the loin.
King Charles Spaniel Hindquarters
Hind legs moderately muscled, well angulated at the stifles. Hocks relatively short and at right angle to the ground when standing. Hind legs should parallel each other from hock to heel with no tendency to long, cow or sickle hocks.
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