|
|
The origin of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dates back to the 1600’s, and the reign of King Charles II of England. The original breed, called the King Charles Spaniel, was a favorite of the aristocracy in the 17th and 18th centuries. Over time, the original look of the dog was replaced with the snub-nosed, round headed look of what is now known as the English Toy Spaniel or in England, the King Charles Spaniel. In 1926, an American by the name of Mr. Roswell Eldridge went to England in search of the best examples of the ‘Blenheim Spaniels of the Old Type, as shown in pictures of Charles II’s time, long face, no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be domed with spot in centre of skull.’ A prize was offered to go to ’the nearest to type required’. This was the beginning of the challenge to breeder’s to see what they could produce, and the basis for the Cavalier King Charles breed. The name of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was adopted in 1928, and the breed standard was drawn up by the newly formed Cavalier Club. |
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel are sweet-tempered, gentle, and playful little dogs, which should weigh between 12 and 18 pounds, and should be around 12 inches tall at the shoulder. There are four colour combinations which are: Blenheim: chestnut red & white Tri-Colour: Black markings on a white background with tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, and under the tail. Ruby: Whole coloured rich red Black & Tan: Jet black with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, and muzzle, inside the ears, on throat and chest, on forelegs, on the inside of the hind legs, and on the underside of the tail, Cavaliers are just as happy to cuddle in your lap as to play a game of fetch. They love to spend as much time as possible on your lap, so much so, that a lot of people refer to them as 'the ultimate lap dog'. However, a fenced yard or a leash are musts at all times, because some do like to chase whatever happens to move, They do have more athletic tendencies than you might think, and can move extremely quickly when given the chance to run. They will do so with no regard for their well-being with potentially tragic results unless care is taken. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is people-oriented and friendly, though there is some potential for timidity. To prevent this, early socialization and exposure to unusual experiences is necessary. Most Cavaliers have no problems with meeting new people and adapt well to new surroundings. On the other hand, they are very social, and some do not react well to being left alone for long periods. Some companionship (whether human or other pets) during the day is a good plan if possible. With other dogs and cats, they are usually peaceful, but as mentioned, they'll chase little creatures that run or flutter, so letting your budgie or hamster out to play with the dog is probably not a good idea. They do well with children also, but as with any animal, gentleness is a must. Cavaliers are willing to please and respond well to praise and encouragement, so are usually fairly easy to train. There have been many that have done extremely well in obedience competition. Cavaliers have a silky coat with long hair on the ears, belly, feet and legs. Regular brushing and combing is an absolute must to prevent matting. Shedding can be heavy at times. This breed tends to gain weight easily, so over-feeding must be avoided at all costs. Just as with people, being overweight is not good for them! A good quality dog food is all they need. |