The Dog Centre - for professional dog trainers in the UK

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

General Appearance

Active, graceful and well balanced, with gentle expression.

  Below Average Above Key
Likelihood to wander Low      
Protectiveness     High  
Destructiveness     High  
Quietness   Medium    
Good with children     High  
Affinity to other dogs     High  
Size Low      
Lifespan   Medium   Below: < 10 years
Average: > 10 years
Above: > 15 years
Location   Medium   Below: Town only
Average: Town and Country
Above: Country only

Characteristics

Sporting, affectionate, absolutely fearless

Temperament

Gay, friendly, non-aggressive; no tendency to nervousness

Head and Skull

Skull almost flat between ears. Stop shallow. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 3.8 cms (11/2 ins). 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. upper teeth closely overlapping 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 cowhocks 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 optional. If docked, no more than one-third to be removed.

Gait

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.

Colour

Colour Recognised colours are: 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 highly undesirable.

Size

Weight: 5.4-8.2 kgs (12-18 lbs). A small, well balanced dog well within these weights desirable

Excercise Requirements

Moderate

Grooming Needs

Moderate

Notes

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum




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