• The Companion Cavalier
• History
• Health
• The Breed Standard

HE COMPANION CAVALIER

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, originating from the "Spaniel Gentle" or "Comfort Spaniel," as these toy spaniels were referred to in the 15th & 16th century, have maintained a noble position in society throughout history. They are a small 13-19lb toy spaniel that comes in four color combinations: ruby, black and tan, tricolor, and Blenheim (red and white). Their long ears frame the most irresistible and angelic face. A broad flat skull with large, expressive dark round eyes and plenty of lush cushioning on the face reveals the softest expression.

Bred for centuries to be a companion dog, Cavaliers make ideal house pets and family members. A sweet, affectionate and gentle spaniel, yet still a spaniel of a sporting nature, full of zest, energy, curiosity, even mischief, these little dogs are worthy of their status in society. Having no self protection instinct, they will approach any stranger and venture into un-chartered territory without a second thought. It is these endearing qualities that make them a wonderful companion or family pet, a dog that greets everyone it passes with the same enthusiasm. But this also means that they do not even fear things that may harm them, and must be protected by their masters. Their abundance of personality in a neat little package makes them the ideal small-breed spaniel. Far from being barky, yappy, or nervous, they are curious, happy, and welcoming.

Cavaliers require they be a central part of your life, sharing your household as a member of your family. Their favorite place is simple: with you, no matter what. While they love walks and play, even jogging and hiking. Their favorite place will be your lap, at your feet, or on your pillow. Cavaliers are a toy breed, with an uncanny ability to adapt to different situations, giving them the versatility to work into city or country living, quiet or active lifestyles.

A natural “wash and wear” breed, requiring no clipping or trimming, makes for easy grooming needs. They do shed, but that can be kept to a minimum with brushing and a bath every week or two. Trimming the nails, keeping the long hair on the feet tidied, and keeping the tangles out of ears and other furnishing completes the job. Always feed a premium dog food, as with any pet, and maintain an ideal weight. Provide a source of exercise, keep up on vaccinations and annual check ups with the vet and your Cavalier will be a healthy, happy addition to your family. Because Cavaliers never consider the possibility of danger, a fenced or secured area for them is essential. When outside those areas, they should be kept on a leash.

^ top

ISTORY

The “Spaniel Gentle" or "Comforter Spaniel”, as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is also called, has many endearing qualities, one of which is its history.

Their ancestry can be traced back to the 15th century in noble European societies. Charles II returned from exile in France and was crowned King of England in 1660, bringing with him his toy spaniels. He was known to have dozens with him everywhere he went.

His brother, James II, succeeded the throne in 1685. He, too, had a liking of the small spaniels, and they continued to maintain royal status during his reign. Queen Mary I and William of Orange, took the throne in 1689. Having a fancy for the flat-nosed Chinese Pug, the Pug and the spaniels both enjoyed a royal time at court. It is during this time, with the influence of the flat-nosed Pug, that the small toy spaniels began a transformation from the longer-nosed, tapered muzzle to the flat-faced spaniel commonly known today as the “King Charles Spaniel” or “English Toy Spaniel."

    

It wasn’t until 1926 that an American, Mr. Roswell Eldridge, having had no luck finding the historical longer-nosed toy spaniel, challenged breeders of the flat-nosed “King Charles Spaniel” to re-create the breed as it had been portrayed in the pictures of King Charles II. The reward offered twenty five pounds sterling (approximately $2,500.00 today) to the best dog and best bitch.

At the famous Crufts Dog Show in 1927, the dog winner, “Ann’s Son” was chosen as the best representative of the breed. “Ann’s Son” and the old paintings of the longer-nosed spaniels modeled the breed standard for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel today. Resulting from this contest were the 6 foundation dogs for the newly created breed, which all of today's purebred Cavaliers can be traced back to. In 1945 the governing English Kennel Club agreed to grant separation in the registry, distinguishing the flat-nosed spaniel from the longer-nosed spaniel, today’s “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel”.

In 1956 the first registering body for the breed was formed in the United States, the “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club-USA” (CKCSC-USA). The “American Kennel Club” (AKC) granted recognition to the Cavalier in its “miscellaneous division” in 1962 and gave them full recognition in 1996, at which time the CKCSC-USA registry served as AKC’s foundation stock registration platform. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club (ACKCSC) was established in 1995 and granted "parent club" status for the breed with the AKC in 1996. These are the only two legitimate Cavalier registries in the United States. Most vested breeders associated with the legitimacy of these organizations will also have a “kennel name” or “affix” registered with one or both registries in order to protect the integrity of their pedigrees. Both clubs and their perspective registries remain active and well participated in by Cavalier fanciers today.

^ top

ealth

As with all pure bred dogs, Cavaliers are not without their health concerns. It is fair to note that all genetics, good and bad, were compounded when the breed was re-created in 1927, at which time 6 foundation dogs became the groundwork from which all purebred Cavaliers today can be traced. This fact alone emphasizes how small the gene pool is for the breed, regardless of the combinations of genetics in each individual dog. Some problems in the breed are of more proportionate concern than others, and more challenging for breeders to manage. However, as a whole, cavaliers are a hardy, healthy little spaniel. Reputable breeders will have a good knowledge of pedigree traits and attempt to breed from stock that are free of major health defects, in hopes that their progeny will have a better chance at a healthy life.

Eye, hip, and patella problems do exist in Cavaliers, however they are conditions that can be tested for before a dog is ever incorporated into a breeding program. Responsible breeders will test & clear their breeding stock and will have very few incidences of these conditions. Still, recessive genes exist and can crop up when least expected.

Eye Problems:
While debilitating eye problems are not common, all breeders should have breeding stock seen by board-certified veterinary ophthalmologists to screen for the possibility of hereditary eye disease such as retinal dysplasia, detachment, and cataracts.

Patella Problems:
Many toy breeds are linked to having luxating patellas. Because the bones are small, the anatomy of a toy dog occasionally allows the knee cap to slip out of its groove. While luxating patella’s do not often hinder toy dogs, a surgical correction is available if the problem exists.

Hip Problems:
Hip dysplasia has been known to occur in a small percentage of Cavaliers. A condition where the hip socket is too shallow for the head of the leg bone. Again, toy breeds are usually not troubled by this condition, but in severe cases bone deformity can cause arthritis and pain can occur.

 

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) and Syringomyelia (SM) prove much more challenging problems to the breed and breeders. Both conditions can show up later in life and there is no test to predict if or when a dog will encounter onset. The actual mode of inheritance, genetic and environmental factors that influence these conditions are still unknown. Both are thought to be a complex poly-genetic combination of genes, that rely on a threshold level from one or both parents. All cavaliers are carriers of both conditions, irregardless of the blood lines. The answer to managing these problems may lie in the contributing threshold levels. Although major progress on improving hearts has been made over the past two decades, syringomyelia has only recently been discovered, currently posing more questions then answers. Unless and until the gene marker(s) for these diseases are identified, toy dogs will continue to be affected, and breeders will be challenged to manage the condition based on pedigree knowledge and symptoms. Any breeder saying they do not have these problem in their bloodline are either not telling the truth, or is uneducated about the disease.

Mitral Valve Disease (MVD):
Mitral Valve Disease, caused by endocardiosis, polysaccharide deposits in the valve leaflets which distorts the valve and allow it to leak. Although common in most toy dogs, it seems to present earlier in the cavalier. Cardiologist statistics world wide, indicate that about 50% of cavaliers will develop at least a mild heart murmur by the age of five, 70% by age 7 and over 98% by the age of ten. Cavaliers can still lead perfectly normal lives for years after developing a murmur, many never slowing down a bit from the disease. If affected with symptoms, it is usually very late in life and can be treated with medication.

Syringomyelia (SM):
A condition that has always been in the breed, as well as others- both large and small, is syringomyelia. Its symptoms vary drastically, thus a diagnosis was not made until recently. It is thought the condition is similar to Arnold-Chiari malformation, in humans. Based on current theory, of which many holes exist, the bottom half of the skull develops in a way that crowds the cerebellum of the brain, impeding the path of cerebrospinal fluid movement around the brain and spinal cord. The increased pressure and pooling of cerebrospinal fluid may cause irritation and damage to the spinal cord, resulting in symptoms of neck scratching, headache, and in extreme cases, paralysis. Dogs suffering debilitating symptoms of SM are rare.

^ top

he Official Breed Standard

Blenheim: Rich chestnut markings well broken up on a pearly white ground. The ears must be red and the color evenly spaced on the head, with a wide white blaze between the ears, in the center of which is the much desired lozenge (diamond), or "Blenheim Spot". The lozenge is a unique and highly desirable, though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim.

Tricolor: Jet black markings broken up on a pearly white ground; with rich tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks and on underside of tail.

Ruby: Whole-colored rich red.

Black and Tan: Jet black with rich tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest, legs, and underside of tail.

^ top