As PetsĬavalier King Charles are popular pets due to their friendly demeanor and relatively small size. Eventually, it made its way to America where it was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 and remains highly popular to this day. Following dedicated revival efforts during the last 100 years, the breed was recognized by the Kennel Club in 1945. The long-nosed spaniels depicted in paintings from earlier centuries were almost extinct. Following the death of King Charles, the popularity of these Spaniels waned and in many places, the breed was altered by cross-breeding with flat-faced breeds. The breeds that became the modern-day Cavalier King Charles were initially used for hunting but eventually became obsolete in favor of larger breeds. From these dogs that arrived from Asia, several modern breeds were formed including the Cavalier King Charles and the stouter, shorter-nosed King Charles Spaniel. It is thought that they likely share a common ancestor with the Pekingese and Japanese Chin dog. Indeed, they received their namesake after King Charles II of Great Britain and Ireland who made the breed popular along with other royal family members over the centuries.Įarly versions of the breed were gifted to European royalty by Japanese diplomats. They have long been linked with British royalty. The Cavalier King Charles originated in East Asia and arrived in Europe in the 1500s. The Blenheim variety, for example, was named by the Duke of Marlborough in honor of his residence, Blenheim Palace. Each of these varieties has its own history. Finally, ‘ruby’ Cavaliers are a rich reddish-brown color with no white markings at all. The ‘black and tan’ variety is similar but has more tan and less white than the ‘tricolor’. There is also the ‘tricolor’ Cavalier, which has black markings on a white coat with some tan over its eyes. Cavaliers occur in four color variants, namely, the Blenheim, which is a rich brown color on white. Adults have wavier fur and often develop feathering on their ears, paws, and tails. The Cavalier King Charles has a medium-length coat that is soft and smooth. Cavalier King Charles are the largest ‘toy’ breed and are popular pets Besides having a longer muzzle, the Cavalier King Charles is slightly larger as well. However, King Charles Spaniels were eventually bred with pugs and other short-muzzled dogs, ultimately distinguishing them as separate breeds. King Charles Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles share much of their history. The breed has a domed head, large eyes, and long, hanging ears that are typical of most spaniel breeds. They have very smooth coats and smooth, undocked tails. AppearanceĬavalier King Charles spaniels are small, weighing about 13-18 lbs (5.9-8.2 kg) and standing 12-13 inches (30-32 cm) tall. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are distinguished from the very similar King Charles Spaniel primarily by their size and longer muzzles.
It is also a common companion and pet and has long been associated with British Royalty. One of the largest breeds in the ‘toy’ category, it is a show dog and therapy dog. The Cavalier King Charles is a small domestic dog breed.