The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel dog is a miniature, full of elegance and very active breed. Moreover, it is a born companion, inseparable from its master, with an extroverted temperament. This dog can also be quite lively and even a little too vocal.
The History and Origin of the Breed
Spaniel dogs have been great companions to humans for centuries. Tapestries and paintings from the 1400s depict small dogs, very similar to the spaniels. The Cavalier Spaniel is somehow taking after these spaniels. This spaniel miniature used to be so beloved by King Charles that the breed was eventually named after him. King Charles II also appreciated and perpetuated the breed. This breed was the favorite pet of the aristocracy. Upon the fall of the house of Stuart, though, the breed's popularity plummeted. It was associated with wealth and luxury and seemed to have the only purpose of being pets. Furthermore, the middle class people could not afford to take care of an animal that produced nothing. What is more, William and Mary, the leaders in those times, preferred the Pug.
However, the fate of this breed changed during the reign of Queen Victoria, when this breed became popular once again, even though it suffered some alterations in terms of looks and name (English toy spaniel).
Physical Appearance
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a petite dog. The breed has a somewhat rounded head with a tapered muzzle. The ears are quite long, ornamented with hair tufts. The eyes are round, protruding and large. Its coat is medium length and very silky. Its fur is not normally very wavy, but may present some fine waves. The ears, tail and feet are covered by longer hair. The coat can have 4 types of colors: Blenheim, tricolor (with black, white and dark brown), red ruby, and black and tan. The Cavalier spaniel's height is 30 to 33 cm and its body weight ranges somewhere between 5 to 8 kg.
Personality Traits
This breed hates to be alone, always looking for his master's company or other dogs companionship. It is a cute and affectionate dog. This breed makes an excellent lap dog, but it is also sporty, a good swimmer and a good hunter as well.
Do not forget that it loves to be pampered and enjoys living indoors. Due to their small size, this breed is happy to live in an apartment if you spend enough time with it, and if you provide a proper amount of exercise for the little darling. This dog is as happy in a house as it is on a farm in the countryside, where it will voluntarily attend to different activities, as long as you allow it to sleep and rest inside the house. Even if this dog is gentle and affectionate, the Cavalier King Charles spaniel will have no patience and tolerance for the mischievous children who would dare to bother it; consequently, early socialization and training are important for the well-being of this loveable member of the family.
