Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Group: Toy
Size: Small
Lifespan: 9 - 14 years
Exercise: Moderate
Grooming: Moderate
Trainability: High
Area of Origin: England
Date of Origin: 1600s
Original Function: Flushing small birds, lapdog

History
Developed from a cross between the King Charles and a Cocker Spaniel, the Cavalier differs greatly from its forebears. Its breeders were trying to reproduce a toy dog similar to those seen in portraits from the time of England's Charles II, who was said to dote on these small dogs. In the 1920's the American, Roswell Eldridge, offered prize money during a Cruft's Dog Show in London, to any person exhibiting King Charles Spaniels with long noses. He was looking for dogs similar to those appearing in Van Dyck's paintings of King Charles II and his spaniels. By the 1940's these dogs were classified as a separate breed and were given the prefix Cavalier, to differentiate them from their forebears.

Temperament
The Cavalier in many ways fits the bill as an ideal house pet. It is sweet, gentle, playful, willing to please, affectionate and quiet. It is amiable toward other dogs, pets and strangers. Outdoors, its spaniel heritage kicks in, and it loves to explore, sniff and chase. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel is an eager, affectionate tail-wagger. Lively, outgoing and sporty, these fearless lively little dogs want to please. They are intelligent enough to understand what you want and therefore are usually easy to train and respond well to gentle obedience training.

Upkeep
The Cavalier needs a fair amount of exercise every day, either in the form of a moderate walk on leash or a romp in a safe area. This is not a breed that should live outdoors. Its long coat needs brushing every other day.

Breeders

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