Despite being bred to be a companion dog, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog breed preserves the sporting temperament of its spaniel predecessors.
Nothing gets them happier than flushing a bird and then attempting to retrieve it if they aren’t sitting on a lap or receiving a belly rub.
Despite the fact that these are purebred canines, you can still find them at shelters and rescues.
Some have even demonstrated their abilities not just only as a hunting dogs but also as a therapy dog.
See the list of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel features below for a complete list!
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Table of Contents
Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels suitable as family pets?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an endearingly friendly, playful, and intelligent dog that readily indulges its caretakers.
These happy tiny dogs are great with kids.
Their willingness to socialize with their owners makes them great house pets.
History
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, owned red and white King Charles spaniels for hunting in the early 18th century.
They were able to keep up with a trotting horse, according to the duke.
In celebration of his victory at the Battle of Blenheim, his estate was named Blenheim.
The red and white variant of the King Charles Spaniel, and hence the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, became known as the Blenheim as a result of this influence.
Attempts were attempted as early as the turn of the twentieth century to replicate the original Cavalier King Charles Spaniel using now-extinct Toy Trawler Spaniels.
Distinction from the King Charles Spaniel
Roswell Eldridge, an American, offered a $25 sterling silver dog show class reward in 1926 for the best male and female.
The breeders of the time were appalled, though several entered what they considered sub-par Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in the class.
Eldridge died before his proposal could be realized, but numerous breeders believed in what he stated, and the first Cavalier club was created in 1928.
The first standard was developed based on Mostyn Walker’s dog “Ann’s Son,” and the Kennel Club recognized the breed as “King Charles Spaniels, Cavalier type.”
The Second World War dealt a severe blow to the growing breed, destroying the great bulk of breeding stock due to wartime hardship and food shortages.
For example, in the 1940s, the Ttiweh Cavalier Kennel’s population of sixty dogs was reduced to three.
Few dogs survived the conflict as the fresh beginning from which all modern-day Cavaliers descended.
In 1945, the Kennel Club officially recognized the breed as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The breed’s history in America is quite new. W. brought the first reported Cavalier to the United States from the United Kingdom in 1956.
A group of breeders formed the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club in 1994 in order to apply for recognition by the American Kennel Club.
In 1995, the American Kennel Group recognized the Cavalier, and the ACKCSC became the parent club for Cavaliers.
Description
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was historically a lap dog and is petite for a spaniel, with fully grown adults being comparable in size to adolescents of other larger spaniel breed.
Cavalier breed standard suggest that a Cavalier’s height should be between 12 and 13 inches (30 and 33 cm), with a comparable weight of 13 to 18 pounds (5.9 to 8.2 kg).
The tail is normally not docked, and the Cavalier should have a smooth, medium length and silky coat.
The standards indicate that it should be free of curl, but a minor wave is permitted.
Adults can develop feathering on their ears, feet, legs, and tail.
Standards stipulate that this be kept long, with the feathering on the feet being a particularly essential trait of the breed.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the English Toy Spaniel are frequently confused.
The English Toy Spaniel is known as the King Charles Spaniel in the United Kingdom, whereas one of the colors of the Toy Spaniel is known as King Charles in the United States.
The two breeds have a similar history and only separated roughly 100 years ago.
There are some significant distinctions between the two cocker spaniel breed, with size being the most significant.
The Cavalier weighs 13 to 18 pounds (5.9 to 8.2 kg) on average, whereas the King Charles averages 9 to 15 pounds (4.1 to 6.8 kg).
Finally, the Cavalier Spaniel muzzle length is longer than that of its King Charles cousin.
Temperament
The breed is exceptionally friendly, lively, patient, and ready to please.
As a result, Cavaliers get along well with youngsters and other dogs.
Cavaliers are not afraid to socialize with much larger dogs.
They adapt rapidly to practically any environment, family, or location and are suitable for both city and country living.
Because of their propensity to bond with both larger and smaller dogs, they are great for homes with more than one breed of dog, as long as the other dog is taught.
Color
The breed is distinguished by four distinct colors.
Cavaliers with rich chestnut markings on a pearly white background are known as Blenheims, after Blenheim Palace, where John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough nurtured the ancestors to the Cavalier breed in this color.
The “Blenheim” spot is a chestnut spot in the centre of the forehead found in some Blenheim dogs.
The Blenheim spot is also known as the “Duchess Thumb Print,” based on the legend that Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, pressed the head of an expecting dam with her thumb while awaiting news of her husband’s safe return from the Battle of Blenheim, resulting in five puppies bearing the lucky mark after news that the battle had been won.
Black and Tan dogs have black bodies with tan highlights, especially on the brows, cheeks, legs, and under the tail.
In the King Charles Spaniel, black and tan is referred to as “King Charles.”
Although some Ruby Cavaliers may have some white in their coats, this is considered a fault under American Kennel Club conformation show guidelines.
The fourth color is Tricolor, which is black and white with tan patterns on the cheeks, inner ears, brows, inside legs, and tail underside.
In the King Charles Spaniel puppy, this color is known as “Prince Charles.”
Popularity
Cavaliers were the sixth most popular dog in Great Britain on United Kingdom in 2007, according to Kennel Club figures, with 11,422 registrations in a single year.
With 45,079 registrations that year, Labrador Retriever were the most popular breed.
In America, their popularity is growing in 1998, they were the 56th most popular breed, but in 2007 and 2008, they were the 25th most popular.
Year 2008, they were ranked higher in certain individual US cities, including Nashville and Minneapolis-St.Paul, as well as Boston, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C., and New York City and San Francisco.
The popularity of the breed has grown steadily, with the breed placing 18th in 2013.
With 3,196 registrations in 2009, the Cavalier was the fourth most popular breed in Australia, trailing only Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dogs, and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
National breed clubs can also be found in Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden.
Today, Cavaliers are a popular choice for cross breeding with other dogs such as poodles by the charles spaniel breeder, though it should be noted that these breeds are not purebred dogs suitable for AKC registration like the american cocker spaniel.
A Cavalier adult dog have also made an appearance in popular culture.
Cavaliers were pets of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
President Ronald Reagan was well-known for his Blenheim Cavalier, Rex (dog).
Cavalier puppy were also Queen Victoria’s preferred dog, as featured in the film The Young Victoria, starring Emily Blount.
King Charles Cavalier Cocker Spaniels Common Health Problems
Here are some of the most common health problems or inherited disease that is commonly found on cavalier cockers:
- Heart Disease
- Ear Infection
- Mitral Valve Disease
Other Dog Breeds Aside From The Cocker Spaniels
- Japanese Chin
- Labrador Retriever
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Scottish Terrier
- Golden Retriever
- Great Dane
- Bull Terrier
- Yorkshire Terrier
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Cockalier is one of the most loving and affectionate mixed dog breeds available.
They are devoted and loyal, and will create lifelong ties with anyone who shows them love and kindness.
They are bright and typically respond well to training, making them an excellent choice for first-time dog owners.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which dates back to Renaissance times, is noted for its aristocratic nobility and mild nature.
Their charming smile and wide eyes, bred through generations of royals such as King Charles I and his son Charles II, make them difficult to resist.
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Barbara Luddy plays Lady, an American Cocker Spaniel who serves as the film’s main point of view character.
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