King Charles Spaniel
The older, flatter faced spaniel that the cavalier was later bred back out of. Small, quiet, and content to spend the day on the cushion you left it on.
Photo by ralph and jenny, CC BY 2.0
Overview
The King Charles Spaniel is the same breed as the English Toy Spaniel, this being the British name and that being the AKC one. It is the older, flatter faced toy spaniel named for Charles II, whose attachment to them was well documented at the time.
The Cavalier was created in the 1920s by breeding these dogs back toward the longer muzzles seen in seventeenth century paintings, which makes this the parent breed rather than a variant.
It comes in four colour varieties with their own names: King Charles, Prince Charles, Blenheim and Ruby, and the Blenheim is named after Blenheim Palace where the strain was kept.
Temperament
Gentle, quiet and devoted. King Charles Spaniels are calmer and more reserved than Cavaliers, attaching closely to one or two people and being shy with strangers.
They are undemanding companions that will sit with a person for hours, and they can be timid without early socialisation. They are not suited to a boisterous household with small children.
Care and grooming
The long silky coat needs brushing two or three times a week, with attention to the ears and feathering. Moderate shedding.
The short muzzle brings airway problems, and the prominent eyes are vulnerable. Mitral valve disease, patellar luxation and hydrocephalus occur. Heat is a genuine risk.
Living and exercise
Twenty to thirty minutes a day plus play, in cool weather.
The breed is on the UK vulnerable native breeds list and is rare. Ten to twelve years is the expectation.
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