Where the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel came from
The Cavalier comes from toy spaniels kept in England in the 1600s, in the time of King Charles II. Breeders later aimed to recreate Charles II's spaniel. A popular claim says Charles II issued a decree letting these spaniels into any building in the UK, but there is no proof of that.
In 1926 an American named Roswell Eldridge placed a notice in the Crufts dog show catalog. He offered 25 pounds of sterling silver for the best male and female Blenheim spaniels of the old type, with a longer face. The first Cavalier club was formed in 1928. The Kennel Club in the UK recognized the breed on December 5, 1944.
The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was created in 1994, and the AKC recognized the breed in 1995. Cavaliers weigh about 13 to 18 pounds. Today they are gentle companions that love company.
- 1600s Toy spaniels are kept in England in the time of Charles II
- 1926 Roswell Eldridge offers prizes at Crufts for the old type of spaniel
- 1928 The first Cavalier club is formed
- 1944 The Kennel Club in the UK recognizes the breed
- 1995 AKC recognizes the breed
The job a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was bred for
The job was being a warm, affectionate lap companion in noble homes, with some bird flushing instinct in the background. That shaped a gentle dog who loves company and cuddling. At home they follow you around and may chase birds on walks.
Sports that fit a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Scent work. Good
- Rally. Fun
- Trick dog. Good
- Therapy work. Gentle
Training tips for a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Use food.
- Prevent separation stress.
- Recall with care.
- Short sessions.
Body and health
Heart disease is common. Do not push hard.
Fun fact. A popular story says King Charles II decreed that his spaniels could go into any building in the UK, but there is no proof.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
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