The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a descendant of the King Charles Spaniel, which was so named for King Charles II. They we developed in the late 1600’s by breeding pugs with King Charles Spaniels. They are average shedders and do need a fair of amount of grooming, including regular brushing, trimming the hair between the pads of the feet and cleaning their ears. They are intelligent and very happy dogs that are eager to please their masters. They are popular pets as they are so pretty and good with children. They need a good amount of exercise every day, and do well if allowed a romp off the leash from time to time.
Appearance
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an extremely pretty dog. They have rounded muzzles that taper to a very shallow stop. They have black noses and dark brown eyes set quite far apart. They have long feathered, silky ears that are set high on their heads. Their coats are medium in length and have a lot of feathering on their chests, legs, ears and tails. They are usually either tricolour, ruby coloured or black and tan. Some have a chestnut coloured red spot between their ears on their heads which breeders like to see present. They are small dogs with heights at around 12-13 inches (30-33 cm) and weight at around 10-18 pounds (5-8 kg.)
Temperament
These make wonderful pets as they are so happy and affectionate and willing to please. They are intelligent so training is fairly simple. They are fearless and love the affection and companionship of humans. They are great with children and even get on well with other dogs and small animals. They should not be left in kennels for large periods of time as they need contact with humans, and if this is going to happen, should be taken for a long pack walk beforehand in order for them to go into a natural restful state whilst you are gone. They have an innate desire to hunt, so can sometimes disappear if they have picked up a scent. They learn quickly that humans are the pack leaders, but if this is not shown to them they will develop behavioural problems. They respond very well to obedience training.
Working and Tasks
This breed does very well when trained in obedience, and therefore make excellent show dogs. They enjoy the challenge of obedience and are very eager to learn. They also have remarkably good eyesight and a keen sense of smell so they can be taken hunting, so long as the hunt is fairly short