Breed Profile: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The modern cavalier King Charles spaniel is a re-creation of a small breed of dog who served as a companion to English royalty from the 1440s through the mid-1800s. An American dog fancier named Roswell Eldridge first observed the breed in several European paintings from that time period but learned that the breed had since ceased to exist. In an attempt to re-create the cavalier, Eldridge offered a prize of £25 at the Crufts Dog Show from 1926 through 1929 to the male and female dogs who most closely resembled the cavalier in Sir Anthony Van Dyck’s portrait The Children of Charles I. Breeder Amice Pitt won this prize in 1927 and continued to breed cavaliers for more than 50 years. Pitt and Eldridge are responsible for the development of the breed as it is known today.

It is uncertain which dogs, apart from the King Charles spaniel, were used to re-create the cavalier, but possibilities include cocker spaniels, papillons, and Welsh springer spaniels. The breed first came to the United States in 1952 but did not receive official recognition by the American Kennel Club until 1995.

The following description is of an “ideal” cavalier. Not all cavaliers will fit the description exactly, but that’s not an issue unless you want one who can participate in dog shows.

This highly versatile breed can be a consummate show dog, a therapy dog, or simply a loving family pet. The cavalier is happy, friendly, and nonaggressive, with little tendency toward nervous or shy behavior. Even a cavalier who appears to exhibit shyness at first is likely to come out of his shell in a warm and loving home.

Here are some traits to consider when determining how well a cavalier is going to fit in with you and your family.

A cavalier loves people and wants to be involved in all family activities. No matter where he is or what he’s doing, your cavalier is going to want to be doing it with you. Quiet and mild-mannered, a cavalier fits well in any type of home, from a single adult to a family with children. In fact, the cavalier is well known for his affinity for children, but all children in the home should be taught the proper way to interact with a dog.

Cavaliers do well in almost any environment: They can be happy in apartments as long as their exercise needs are met or thrive in suburban or rural settings with a fenced yard for running and playing. However, they do not always understand the unspoken “language” of other dogs, and an angry dog can pose a serious threat to a heedless and over-friendly cavalier.

Cavaliers are highly energetic and enjoy long exercise sessions, but they can also thrive on relatively small amounts of exercise. They love water and are particularly good swimmers, and benefit a great deal from daily walks. However, though cavaliers can self-exercise, they are happiest in any activity when they share it with their owners.

Cavaliers are good-natured and have a powerful desire to please their owners, which is beneficial for training. Like many smaller dogs, they are slightly more difficult to housetrain given their smaller bladders, so patience and consistency are important. Keeping training sessions short, entertaining, and highly positive will yield the best results with this breed.