Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: An Owner’s Guide. Nick Mays

long-faced ‘rejects’ from the kennels of the typical short-faced King Charles Spaniel breeders.

       Birth of a new club

      In 1928, the new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club held its first meeting at Crufts, where the original Standard of the breed was agreed, and, with just some minor alterations, it is much the same wording today. Ann’s Son was held up as the desired example of the breed and the breeders agreed that the Cavalier should be ‘guarded from fashion’, and there was to be no coat trimming or extreme variants bred.

      Optional tail docking was agreed as part of the Standard, with no more than one-third of the tail to be removed. However, the law changed in the UK in 2007, banning tail docking for all breeds except dogs bred specifically for working. All Cavaliers born after the introduction of the law will be undocked.

       This handsome Blenheim Cavalier is alert, inquisitive and energetic. Despite its diminutive size, this breed is notable for its confidence and utter fearlessness, even when faced with aggression from other dogs.

       This tricoloured Cavalier has magnificent ears with lots of feathering. Note his alert, intelligent expression.

       Kennel Club recognition

      Although the breeders worked hard, the number of Cavaliers grew, and new colour variants were produced, the Kennel Club still withheld formal recognition of the breed. At the end of the agreed five-year period, it decided that the dogs had not been bred in sufficient numbers, nor were of a single, distinct type to merit a separate, new breed registration from the King Charles Spaniel.

      The Cavalier breeders were a determined bunch, however, and throughout the 1930s they continued to breed their dogs. They persuaded some dog show societies to stage special classes for them – where no Challenge Certificates were awarded, of course – and they approached the Kennel Club several times to gain breed recognition.

      The onset of World War II put pay to many dog-related leisure activities, but, even then, the KC records show that 60 Cavaliers were registered between 1940 and 1945. Finally, in December 1945 the Kennel Club granted the breed separate registration and awarded Challenge Certificates the following year to allow the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to gain its own Championships.

       American recognition

      The breeders continued to fight for recognition in the US. Although in 1961 the American Kennel Club recognized Cavalier King Charles Spaniels by placing the breed in the Miscellaneous classes, it was not until 1995 that Cavaliers were granted full recognition as members of the Toy Group.

       Public recognition

      In 1963, a Cavalier named Champion Amelia of Laguna, owned by Mrs C. Fryer, won the Toy Group at Crufts, thereby placing the breed firmly in the public spotlight. Ten years later, the Cavalier’s reputation as a wonderful family dog was firmly cemented when Messrs Hall and Evans’ Alansmere Aquarius won Best In Show at Crufts. There was literally an explosion of interest in Cavaliers and the breed registrations rose accordingly as more and more ‘Cavvies’ were bred and sold as pets and show dogs.

      Sadly, the downside of this surge in popularity led to the Cavalier Club establishing its Rescue and Welfare Service to provide a means of caring for the dogs that had been abandoned, poorly treated or needed re-homing for a variety of reasons. Thankfully, the welfare problems bottomed out eventually, although, still being a popular breed, a large number of Cavaliers continue to find themselves, for a variety of reasons, languishing in breed rescue and animal charity rescue centres each year.

      Cavaliers continue to be an immensely popular breed of dog, equally loved as show animals and family pets alike. In 2007, they were ranked as the sixth most popular breed registered by the UK Kennel Club.

       The Breed Standard

      General appearance Active, graceful and well balanced, with gentle expression.

      Characteristics Sporting, affectionate, absolutely fearless.

      Temperament Gay, friendly, non-aggressive, no tendency towards nervousness.

      Head and skull Skull almost flat between ears. Stop shallow. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 3.8cm (1½in). Nostrils black and well developed without flesh marks, muzzle well tapered. Lips well developed but not pendulous. Face well filled below eyes. Any tendency to snipiness undesirable.

      Eyes Large, dark, round but not prominent; spaced well apart.

      Ears Long, set high, with plenty of feather.

      Mouth Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

      Neck Moderate length, slightly arched.

      Forequarters Chest moderate, shoulders well laid back, straight legs moderately boned.

      Body Short-coupled with good spring of rib. Level back.

      Hindquarters Legs with moderate bone; well turned stifle - no tendency to cow hock or sickle hocks.

      Feet Compact, cushioned and well feathered.

      Tail Length of tail in balance with body, well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back. Docking previously optional when no more than one-third was to be removed.

       Colours

       Tricolour

       Blenheim

       Ruby

       Black and tan

      Gait/Movement Free-moving and elegant in action, plenty of drive from behind. Forelegs and hindlegs move parallel when viewed from in front and behind.

      Coat Long. silky, free from curl. Slight wave permissible. Plenty of feathering. Totally free from trimming.

      Black and Tan: Raven black with tan markings above the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest and legs and underside of tail. Tan should be bright. White marks undesirable.

      Ruby: Whole coloured rich red. White markings undesirable.

      Blenheim: Rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white ground. Markings evenly divided on head, leaving room between ears for much valued lozenge mark or spot (a unique characteristic of the breed).

      Tricolour: Black and white well spaced, broken up, with tan markings over eyes, cheeks, inside ears, inside legs, and on underside of tail.

      Any other colour or combination of colours most undesirable.

      Size Weight: 5.4–8kg (12–18lb).