The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is usually a pampered house dog that requires frequent and careful combing and brushing to prevent matting. It is an ideal house pet and family companion that socializes well with other family pets. The Cavalier King Charles is noted to be particularly good with children. He has very few quirks in his personality and not many hang-ups either, which helps to make him a good companion for children.



The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is active and high-spirited. He enjoys pleasing his family in every way possible. The Cavalier King Charles is loving and loveable. Among his assets are intelligence and obedience. He is usually ready for walks or play time but will be just as content by himself dozing near his family when asked. This dog is charming and usually undemanding. The Cavalier King Charles also makes a good companion to senior citizens, young families and singles as well.

His exercise requirements are easily accomplished in daily household activities. His need for exercise is not great, although as mentioned above, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel does enjoy walks with his loved ones. If walking with his loved ones is not available he is just as content romping around in the backyard.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel enjoys consistent training. He will bond well with the entire family. He is blessed with an even and fairly predictable temperament. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel adjust well to most situations. They are especially good for agility and obedience training. They are fine athletes.

The roots of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as with all true Spaniels are probably found in Spain, although the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel claims origin in seventeenth-century England. It is felt by some historians that the breed probably has some of the ancient Oriental toy breeds among its ancestors as well. King Charles II favored a Cavalier type that evolved into a dog with a shorter muzzle and lighter body. In the early 1900s selective breeding created a swing back to the original head and body type.

Originally, Spaniels were sporting dogs used mostly to flush and retrieve game birds. In the 1600s the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel served a similar function, but the principal purpose at this time was to provide pleasure for its English royalty owners. They would lie at the feet in the beds of Kings and provide warmth to the master's feet. They provided companionship for dukes and earls.

The English Kennel Club distinguished them from the King Charles spaniel in 1945 as a separate breed by the addition of the Cavalier to its name. There was a long period of discord among American Cavalier fanciers. However, the breed was recognized by AKC in 1996.

The Cavalier King Charles stands 12 to 13 inches tall and weighs 10 to 18 pounds. He resembles a miniature hunting spaniel with a moderately long, full muzzle, long, high-set ears and a long or docked tail.

The coat of a Cavalier King Charles is soft, gently-waving and longish hair that is almost like silk. The red and white color type is called Blenheim after the Duke of Marlborough's estate. Other acceptable colors of the Cavalier King Charles are solid red, black and white and tricolor. The tricolor is a combination of black and white with russet brown accents.