The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Origin:
The Cavi is named after King Charles II and is a descendent of the original King Charles Spaniel. In the 1600’s, it was a goal to create a smaller dog then the King Charles Spaniel that had a flatter nose, rounder head, protruding eyes and upturned face, so the King Charles Spaniel was bred with Pugs, creating a dog that’s face looked similar to the Pekingese we know of today.
In the 1920’s, Roswell Eldrige, an American, offered up prize money when in London to anyone who could bring him a King Charles Spaniel with a long nose, the same as shown in Van Dyck’s painting of King Charles II surrounded by his Spaniels. Thankfully, through American breeders, Eldrige’s hope of bringing back the original King Charles Spaniel, prior to the Pug being bred in, lived on and although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel we know today is slightly different to that of the original they are still the true royal spaniels of King Charles.
Due to the differentiation between the King Charles Spaniel and the modern breed we know today, the prefix of Cavalier was added to the breed name in the 1940’s, as they are classified as two separate breeds.
 
Purpose:
The original King Charles Spaniel was bred to hunt and kill weasels, lynx and bobcats however as the breed gained popularity and a level of status after being owned by King Charles II they quickly moved to trophy dogs, being ideal to snuggle on the laps of the wealthy when in their drafty castles or when travelling on carriage rides.

Coat care:
Daily brushing is required for the Cavi, focusing around the long fur between their pads, (unless this is clipped) their chest, underarms, ears, and feathers. The inside of their ears should be checked daily and cleaned as required. Cavi’s with particularly protruding eyes will need extra attention too. They should be bathed only as needed and ensure that they are thoroughly dry.

Health & Temperament:
The Cavalier is a gentle, loving, affectionate and happy little dog. Their sweet nature should not distract you from the fact they are also a fearless little dog that can often behave bigger than they actually are. Their willingness to please and love for their owner and food makes them easy to train. Their love is not restricted to just their humans, Cavis love all other animals, including dogs, cats and other small pets. They enjoy being an active part of a family so are not suited for outdoor only living. They do well in apartments or living without a yard providing daily exercise is provided. Being a social dog, they enjoy getting out and about to explore and meet everyone that is willing to give them a pat. They are a breed that is prone to weight gain so regular exercise is essential for their health.
Due to their breeding in the past, they are prone to eye issues, luxating patella (dislocating kneecaps) ear infections, spinal troubles, and early onset of deafness. Their average life expectancy is broad as breeding standards play a huge role in the health of the breed; they can live anywhere from 9 – 14 years.