The Cavalier King Charles
General Description
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the ultimate companion dog. With a calm temperament, he adapts to all lifestyles. An active, graceful, well-proportioned dog with a gentle expression. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a very good companion for children and the elderly.
A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lives in an apartment without any problem. He adapts quite well to the city but contrary to popular belief, he loves outdoor activities. Relatively small and easygoing, it is an ideal travel companion.
Origin and history
The Cavalier King Charles is descended from the small spaniels represented in the paintings of painters of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, such as Titian and Gainsborough. Around 1800, the snub-nosed variety became very popular and the original spaniel almost disappeared. Only the Duke of Marlborough kept a line which he bred at Blenheim Castle. In 1926, an American, Roswell Eldrige, tried to revive the Cavalier as it originally was by offering a reward for any dog resembling the portraits of the time. A then substantial reward of £25 was handed out at the Crufts dog show.
Morphology
The Cavalier King Charles is a small dog, in adulthood the male and the female measure between 32 to 36cm. Its weight is between 6 to 8 kg. He is a small spaniel with a short but well marked muzzle, large brown eyes and a silky coat.
Coat
The color can be black and tan, ruby red, red and white (Blenheim) and tricolor (chestnut colored markings on a pearly white background)
- Black and Tan: Crow black with tan markings above the eyes, on the cheeks, inside the ears, on the chest, limbs and under the tail. The tan color should be bright.
- Rubis : Unicolore, d’un rouge intense.
- Blenheim : Marques châtain vif bien réparties sur un fond blanc perle. Les marques doivent se scinder de façon égale sur la tête, laissant la place entre les oreilles pour la tache ou pastille qui est très appréciée (c’est une caractéristique de la race).
- Tricolore : Noir et blancs bien espacés et bien répartis avec des marques feues au‐dessus des yeux, sur les joues, à l’intérieur des oreilles, à l’intérieur des membres et sous la queue.
Grooming
The coat of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel must be groomed carefully and regularly. Claws and hair between the fingers should be trimmed once a month. The ears should be carefully monitored because, due to their drooping, the circulation of air is very reduced in the auditory canals and the risk of infection is possible.
Personality and behaviour
He is an affectionate and undemanding companion dog that is ideal for children and the elderly. He does not bark excessively but will alert you to the presence of any strangers. It is not a guard dog because it makes a warm welcome to most people. The Cavalier gets along with everyone, even cats and other small pets. Full of energy, affectionate, he is not really afraid of anything. Cheerful, friendly, non-aggressive; no tendency to be fearful.
Health
Among the common hereditary conditions in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is heart disease. Like many breeds, he can also be affected by various hereditary eye disorders. Eye tests, and heart auscultation should be performed before breeding.
Exercise
He will adapt to the level of physical activity that you offer him, but he needs to exert himself regularly so as not to gain weight. agility, oberhythm.
Nutrition
He must receive a well-balanced and quality food. It is important to regularly check that his body condition is ideal. Give him two meals a day following the recommendations given by the food manufacturer. Small breed dogs have a fast metabolism, meaning they burn a lot of energy, while their small stomach forces them to eat often, in small amounts. Food for small dogs should contain all the essential nutrients in appropriate amounts and be offered in kibbles adapted to the size of their jaws. Kibbles that encourage chewing also improve digestion.
Industrial food companies have developed kibbles adapted to age, size and physical activity which allow the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to keep his weight in shape. I invite you to take a look at our “food” section.
He must always have fresh water available.
fci Classification
The Cavalier King Charles belongs to Group 9 of the fci (Fédération Cynologique Internationale), the group of Companion and Companion Dogs. Within this group, it is more precisely part of section 7 which includes the English pleasure spaniels.
Useful Links
https://www.centrale-canine.fr/le-chien-de-race/cavalier-king-charles
