Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed description: Character & Co

Breed Characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is classified as Group 9 (Companion and Society Dogs), Section 7 (English Society Spaniels). As a typical companion dog, it is not required to pass a working test.

Size and gait

It is interesting to note that the breed standard only specifies a weight of 5.5 to about 8kg. In general, however, he reaches a height of 30-33cm. Despite his low height, he has a free and elegant movement with a lot of thrust from the hindquarters. The front and hind legs move parallel to each other seen from the front or from behind.

The head & muzzle

The skull between the ears should be flat, as should the stop.

The nose of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should be black and well developed, without flesh colored markings. The tapering length of the muzzle, which is well developed but without drooping flews, is equal to approximately 3.8cm from stop to tip of nose. Any sign of a weak, pointed muzzle is undesirable. The area under the eyes should be well filled.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel typically has a scissor bite, with the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower and the teeth set square to the jaws.

The Eyes & Ears

This breed of dog has relatively large and dark eyes that are round but not prominent and set well apart.

The long ears are set high with abundant feathering.

The rump

The neck of this dog breed is slightly arched, the back for it straight and the loins short-closed. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel should have well sprung ribs.

The tail

The length of the tail in a breed specimen is in harmony with the conformation. Well set, it is carried amusingly but never significantly above the topline. Tail docking was formerly permitted, but by no more than one-third.

The limbs

This breed of dog has medium bone strength. The shoulder is well laid back, the stifle joint is well angulated. There should be no signs of cow-hocking or over-angulation through the hock joint.

Both the front and hind feet are compact, padded and well feathered.

The coat

The coat of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which according to the breed standard should not be trimmed, is long, silky and without curl. However, a slight curl is permitted. Lush feathering is also characteristic.

The following colors are recognized according to the FCI breed standard:

• Black and Tan: Equivalent to raven black with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, on the inside of the ears, on the chest, on the legs and on the underside of the tail. The tan color should be bright, but white patches are undesirable.
• Ruby: Denotes a solid deep red coloration. White spots are also undesirable.
• Blenheim: Are well interrupted, intense chestnut red markings on a pearl white base color. The markings are evenly distributed on the head, leaving sufficient space for the much appreciated "lozenge spot" (a unique characteristic of this breed).
• Tricolour: This refers to a well-distributed and well-interrupted black and white with tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, on the inside of the ears, on the inside of the legs and on the underside of the tail.