If you want to have a cute, lovable little dog, you must adopt an English Toy Spaniel. Why would it be the right breed for you? Because this small dog breed has an affectionate personality, it is always playful and extremely intelligent. It is not at all difficult to take care of this dog, and you can be sure that it will be the best family companion.
Who is in fact the English Spaniel?
Although it was thought that it originated in the Far East, this breed is associated with King Charles II of England, and that is the origin of its other name, King Charles Spaniel. Since King Charles, these dogs have been related to English royalty, as many members of the royal family used to own a toy Spaniel.
The dogs that we have today as relevant representatives of the breed are the result of crossing toy spaniels with the Pug and then getting new varieties with certain characteristics that were „trendy”: the reduced the size of the nose, the flat face, the length or the color of the hair. There are four varieties of English Toy Spaniel, which differ in color and other traits.
Description of the breed
It is extremely easy to identify a member of this breed. The dogs are small, with round head, large, dark eyes and a short nose. The ears are long, a specific characteristic of the breed. The body can be 23-28 cm long and weigh 4 to 6.4 kg. The long coat comes in four colors with markings: black and tan, tri-colored (white with black patches and tan markings), red and white or simply red.
How do they behave?
This breed is one of the friendliest breeds, so the King Charles Spaniel would never be a good watch dog or a hunter. It is not highly energetic, so it will do well even in a small apartment, as it is mostly a lapdog. It does not bark very often and tends to be extremely tolerant, even with overly-active children and other pets. Its stable temperament, its obedience and intelligence also make it a good therapy dog.
You can not have a sweeter dog than the English Spaniel! It is always happy and loving, as long as it receives the same amount of love from its owners. However, if not trained properly, it tends to disobey and act like it rules the home, which can lead to various behavior issues that could get difficult to handle at some point.
What do we need to know about their health?
Even if there are no serious health problems discovered about the breed, these dogs seem to rarely develop some disorders or diseases concerning their eyes, the respiratory and endocrine system, as well as heart conditions. Their life span, however, can be up to 14 years.
Do not forget that your companion needs daily walks so that you keep it happy and fit. Take an English Toy Spaniel home and you will see that it will be a pleasure to have it around.
