Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed

CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL

Royal miniature spaniel, that is how those little parlor dogs were called, at the beginning appeared in the royal courts of Italy, the Netherlands and France. Soon they could be found in the castle chambers of English Tudor dynasty and were favourite pets of the Queen Elizabeth I courtiers.
Those spaniels also won the heart of Charles II, he was more than an enthusiast of this breed. From his name they became KING CHARLES spaniels. Kings favorites had the right to romp through all the royal chambers, as well as accompanied His Majesty at all social events, also in parliament...
Vogue for these delightful doggies also overwhelmed mighty and aristocrats in England these days. John Churchill - Duke of Marlborough, was the first breeder of this breed,  because he crossed his spaniels with far eastern races.

There is also a legend involved with the prince and his wife princess Sara. In 1704 the prince was in Bavaria on the military expedition. Decisive battle took place in Blenheim. When his wife was waiting in excitement for the return of her husband she pricked her finger with a needle. Her favorite spaniel in advanced pregnancy was sitting on her lap then. The princess left a red mark of blood on white forehead of the bitch when she touched it with the finger. After several days, pups were born and each of them had a tiny red spot on their white forehead - a finger trace of princess Sarah. To commemorate prince’s victory at Blenheim, this name was given to red-white variety of this breed, and puppies with so called Sarah's finger are particularly prized by the breeders.

Scheduled King Charles spaniel breeding began in the mid-nineteenth century and sought to get the most flattened nose, so that the former type of spaniel extinct almost completely. Only a keen admirer - U.S. kynolog Roswell Eldrige decided to reactivate the original type of dog basing on old engravings.

Puppies were selected, and in 1945 the Kennel Club officially recognized the new race. At the beginning they were judged on one ring, and to distinguish flat-nosed King Charles from the original type,  ”cavalier " was added to their names in order to remind their noble ancestors.

ROYAL CAVALIER NOT ONLY BY NAME

Known as the king of carefree dogs on the countryside and in town, this little spaniel feels good everywhere. He inherited  self-confidence from his ancestors, but also unusual delicacy, especially for children, and charm.  For centuries, he is often visitor in the salons of  aristocracy at the side of elegant ladies, full of dignity, extremely gentle and caressing. He is now one of the most popular dogs for company.  Ruling elites chose this race not only in the seventeenth century- favorite of Princess Margaret (sister of Queen Elizabeth II) was beautiful “Rowley" and pet the U.S. presidential couple was also a delightful Blenheim cavalier.

EKSTERIER

Dog lively, full of tenderness and grace, of the proportional shape.

• Head: almost flat between the ears, stop hardly noticeable. The muzzle must not be pointed or long (up to 3.8 cm); nose black. Noticeable fill under the eyes.
• Eyes: large, dark and round, but not pop-eyed, rather widely spaced.
• Ears: long, set high, covered with long falling hair.

• Teeth: strong, with regular scissor bite.
• Forelegs: straight, medium strong bones.
• Torso: chest average in depth, in shape shall not be a barrel; loin short; straight topline. The torso is to be closed in a short rectangle.
• Hind legs: quite deeply bent. Feet compact and well padded, well-feathered.
• Tail: carried gaily but not over the back. White finish is preferred.
• Hair: long, silky, without curls. Light wave is allowed. Drooping tassels on the ears, legs and tail.
• Color: is a criterion for separating the breed in 4 varieties (just as King Charles spaniel).
  
  • King charles: black and tan, raven black with red markings above the eyes, cheeks, inside ears, chest, legs and under the tail. White markings are not welcomed.
  • Ruby: intensely red, single-colored. White is a fault.
  • Blenheim: brown patches spread evenly on pearl-white. White top of muzzle and forehead, small red spot on it - "the finger of Princess Sarah” is highly valued.
  • Prince charles: tricolor - black with white, evenly distributed, with no clear advantage of one of these colors. Red tan above the eyes, cheeks, inside ears, buttocks and under the tail.
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  All other color combinations are a fault.