Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The affectionate and gentle Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is among the American Kennel Clubs top twenty most popular breeds. These spaniels generally stand from 12 to 13 inches and weigh anywhere from 13 to 18 pounds. You can expect your Cavalier to have a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. This majestic breed is considered a toy breed, and they are one of the largest breeds in their category. 

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was named after King Charles ll, who created the toy spaniels and reigned in the 17th century. The breed remained very popular among the British elite through the 19th century. The toy spaniels were eventually believed to be crossed with pugs and Japanese Chin in the late 1800's. This newer version of the spaniel had a flatter face and more domed head shape than King Charles' spaniels. Today those spaniels are known as King Charles Spaniels. While many still appreciated and desired the flatter nose, in the early 1900's a handful of breeders began working toward making their spaniels have the "old regal look" with the longer, less flattened muzzles more similar to King Charles' original toy spaniels. Eventually the two were recognized as different breeds.The most notable difference between the two is the flatter face of the King Charles Spaniel versus the longer nose of the Cavalier.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have four unique color patterns: blenheim, tricolor, black and tan, and ruby. For a dog to be considered blenheim it must be a white dog with chestnut markings. Tricolor is simply white with black markings or spots. A black and tan spaniel is black with tan spots, and ruby is a deep red. 

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel combines the gentleness and attentiveness of toy breeds with the athleticism of your average sporting spaniel. Not only are they the best of both worlds, they are also adaptable to a variety of situations and settings. Your Cavalier can be active and playful or a couch potato depending on your lifestyle and activity levels. They are also known to do very well with children and other household pets. Since Cavaliers are so friendly they do not make very good guard dogs and they don't have a tendency to bark. Cavaliers form strong bonds with their owners and do best if not left alone for long periods of time. They have even gained the nickname "comfort dogs" due to their ability to always be there for their owners, no matter the situation.

All in all, if you are searching for a loving, affectionate, gentle, and sweet companion I highly recommend the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel for you.