Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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Dog ( domestic dog ) |
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) is a British
The Cavalier King Charles changed dramatically in the late seventeenth century, when it was inter-bred with flat-nosed breeds. Until the 1920s, it shared the same history as the smaller King Charles Spaniel. Breeders attempted to recreate what they considered to be the original configuration – a dog resembling Charles II's spaniel of the English Civil War period, when supporters of the king were known as Cavaliers.[3][4]
History
During the early part of the 18th century, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, kept red and white King Charles type spaniels for hunting. The duke recorded that they were able to keep up with a trotting horse. His estate was named Blenheim in honour of his victory at the Battle of Blenheim. Because of this influence, the red and white variety of the King Charles Spaniel and thus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel became known as the Blenheim.[5]
Attempts were made to recreate the original Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as early as the turn of the 20th century, using the now extinct Toy Trawler Spaniels. These attempts were documented by Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth, in the book "Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians" published under the name of the "Hon. Mrs. Neville Lytton" in 1911.[6]
Divergence from King Charles Spaniel
In 1926, the American Roswell Eldridge offered a dog show class prize of 25 pounds of sterling silver each as a prize for the best male and females of "Blenheim Spaniels of the old type, as shown in pictures of Charles II of England's time, long face, no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be domed, with spot in centre of skull."[7] The breeders of the era were appalled, although several entered what they considered to be sub-par Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in the competition. Eldridge died before seeing his plan come to fruition, but several breeders believed in what he said and in 1928 the first Cavalier club was formed.[7] The first standard was created, based on a dog named "Ann's Son" owned by Mostyn Walker,[8] and the Kennel Club recognised the variety as "King Charles Spaniels, Cavalier type".[7]
The
The first recorded Cavalier living in the United States was brought from the United Kingdom in 1956 by W. Lyon Brown who, together with Elizabeth Spalding and other enthusiasts, founded the Cavalier King Charles Club USA that continues to the present day. In 1994, the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was created by a group of breeders to apply for recognition by the American Kennel Club. It was recognised by the American Kennel Club in 1995,[1] and the ACKCSC became the parent club for Cavaliers.[11] Since 2000, it has grown in popularity in the United States and ranks as the 15th most popular pure-breed in the United States.[12]
Description
Historically the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was a lap dog and is small for a spaniel, with fully grown adults comparable in size to adolescents of other larger spaniel breeds. The tail is usually not docked,[13] and the Cavalier should have a silky coat of moderate length. Standards state that it should be free from curl, although a slight wave is allowed. Feathering can grow on their ears, feet, legs and tail in adulthood. Standards require this be kept long, with the feathering on the feet a particularly important aspect of the breed's features.[13]
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the English Toy Spaniel can often be confused with each other. In the United Kingdom, the English Toy Spaniel is called the King Charles Spaniel, while in the United States, one of the colours of the Toy Spaniel is known as King Charles. The two breeds share similar history and only diverged from each other about 100 years ago.[citation needed] There are several major differences between the two breeds, with the primary difference being size. While the Cavalier weighs on average between 13 and 18 pounds (5.9 and 8.2 kg), the King Charles is smaller at 9 to 15 pounds (4.1 to 6.8 kg). In addition, their facial features, while similar, are different; the Cavalier's ears are set higher and its skull is flat, while the King Charles's skull is domed. Finally, the muzzle length of the Cavalier tends to be longer than that of its King Charles cousin.[7][14]
Colour
The breed has four recognized colours. Cavaliers that have rich chestnut markings on a pearly white background are known as Blenheim in honor of Blenheim Palace, where John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough raised for assistance in hunting the predecessors to the Cavalier breed in this particular colour. In some Blenheim dogs there is a chestnut spot in the middle of the forehead: this is called the "Blenheim" spot.[15] The Blenheim spot is also known as the mark of the "Duchess Thumb Print", based on the legend that Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough while awaiting news of her husband's safe return from the Battle of Blenheim, pressed the head of an expecting dam with her thumb, resulting in five puppies bearing the lucky mark after news that the battle had been won.[16]
Black and Tan are dogs with black bodies with tan highlights, particularly eyebrows, cheeks, legs and beneath the tail.[17] Black and Tan is referred to as "King Charles" in the King Charles Spaniel.[7]
Ruby Cavaliers should be entirely chestnut,
The fourth colour is known as Tricolour, which is black and white with tan markings on cheeks, inside ears, on eyebrows, inside legs, and on underside of tail.[17] This colour is referred to as "Prince Charles" in the King Charles Spaniel.[7]
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A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, France (Credit: @caviemonty)
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Rich chestnut markings on a white pearly coat
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Black-and-tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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Front and top view of Blenheim Spot
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the window
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Portrait of a young female
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Tri-colour and Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
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Cavalier chewing on a wooden stick
Popularity
According to statistics released by The Kennel Club, Cavaliers were the 6th most popular dog in the United Kingdom in 2007 with 11,422 registrations in a single year.
In 2009, the Cavalier was the 4th most popular breed in Australia with 3,196 registrations behind only
Cavaliers have also appeared in popular culture. Cavaliers were among the pets of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and U.S. President Ronald Reagan, known for his Blenheim Cavalier named Rex.[28] Cavaliers were also the dog of choice for Queen Victoria.
Temperament
The breed is highly affectionate, playful, extremely patient and eager to please. As such, dogs of the breed are good with children and other dogs.[1] Cavaliers are not shy about socialising with much larger dogs.[29] They will adapt quickly to almost any environment, family, and location and suit city and country life.[1] Their ability to bond with larger and smaller dogs makes them ideal in houses with more than one breed of dog as long as the other dog is trained. Cavaliers rank 44th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being of average intelligence in working or obedience. Cavaliers are naturally curious and playful, but also enjoy simply cuddling up on a cushion or lap, making them excellent companion or lap dogs for medical patients and the elderly.[30]
Cavaliers are active and sporting. Cavaliers are successful in conformation shows, obedience and agility and they also make wonderful therapy dogs due to their sweet, gentle natures.[1] The breed is adaptable in their need for exercise, happy with either sleeping on the couch or taking long walks.[1]
They have an instinct to chase most things that move including vehicles on busy streets, and so most Cavaliers will never become "street-wise".
The Cavalier's coat requires weekly brushing, but no trimming.[1] However, some owners prefer to trim their Cavalier's long feathers and slippers that can become very dirty when walking or playing outside.
Health
A 2022 UK study of veterinary data found a life expectancy of 10.45 years compared to 11.82 for crossbreeds.[33] A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 11.8 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.[34] A 2018 Japanese study of pet cemetery data found a life expectancy of 13.1 years compared to 15.1 for crossbreeds and 13.7 overall.[35]
Cavaliers can notably be prone to
In 2022, the Oslo District Court banned the breeding of Cavalier King Charles spaniels in Norway due to their propensity for developing health problems. In its verdict the court judged that no dog of this breed could be considered healthy, therefore using them for breeding would be a violation of Norway's Animal Welfare Act.[39]
Mitral valve disease
Nearly all Cavaliers eventually have mitral valve disease, with heart murmurs that may progressively worsen, leading to
Veterinary geneticists and cardiologists have developed breeding guidelines to eliminate early-onset mitral valve disease in the breed, but it is unclear if a statistically significant number of breeders follow these guidelines.[42] The chairperson of the UK CKCS Club said in 2009: "There are many members who are still not prepared to health check their breeding stock, and of those who do, it would appear that many would not hesitate to breed from affected animals."[43] The MVD breeding protocol recommends that parents should be at least 2.5 years old and heart clear, and their parents (i.e., the puppy's grandparents) should be heart clear until age 5.[44]
Syringomyelia
Syringomyelia (SM) is a condition affecting the brain and spine, causing symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain and partial paralysis. It is caused by a malformation, commonly known as Chiari Malformation, in the lower back of the skull that reduces the space available to the brain, compressing it and often forcing it out (herniating it) through the opening into the spinal cord. This blocks the flow of
Not all dogs who show scratching behaviour appear to be in pain, though several leading researchers, including Dr. Clare Rusbridge in the UK and Drs. Curtis Dewey and Dominic Marino in the US, believe scratching in SM Cavaliers is a sign of pain and discomfort and of existing neurological damage to the
A veterinarian will rule out basic causes of scratching or discomfort such as
Episodic Falling (EF)
Episodic Falling causes "exercise-induced paroxysmal hypertonicity" meaning that there is increased muscle tone in the dog and the muscles cannot relax. Previously thought to be a muscular disorder, it is now known to be neurological. EF is caused by a single recessive gene, and a genetic test is available.[48] Except for severe cases, episodes will be in response to exercise, excitement or similar exertions. Although EF is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy, which typically results in loss of consciousness, the dog remains conscious throughout the episode.[49] Severity of symptoms can range from mild, occasional falling to freezing to seizure-like episodes lasting hours. Episodes can become more or less severe as the dog gets older and there is no standard pattern to the attacks. The onset of symptoms usually occurs when a dog is between 4 months and 4 years of age.[48] It is similar to Scotty Cramp, a genetic disorder in Scottish Terriers.[50] About 1% of Cavaliers are affected by the condition, with 19% being carriers. Dogs with whole coloured coats were more likely to be affected than dogs with parti-coloured coats.[51]
Thrombocytopenia and macrothrombocytopenia
As many as half of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels may have a congenital blood disorder called idiopathic asymptomatic thrombocytopenia, an abnormally low number of platelets in the blood, according to recent studies in Denmark and the United States. Platelets, or thrombocytes, are disk-shaped blood elements that aid in blood clotting. Excessively low numbers are the most common cause of bleeding disorders in dogs. The platelets in the blood of many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are a combination of those of normal size for dogs and others that are abnormally oversized, or macrothrombocytes. Macrothrombocytosis is also a congenital abnormality found in at least a third of CKCSs. These large platelets function normally, and the typical Cavalier does not appear to experience any health problems due to either the size or fewer numbers of its platelets.[52]
Hip and knee disorders
Hip dysplasia is a common genetic disease that affects Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. It is not present at birth but develops with age. Hip dysplasia is diagnosed by X-rays, but it is not usually evident in X-rays of Cavaliers until they mature. Even in adult spaniels with severe hip dysplasia, X-rays may not always indicate the disease.[53] In a series of evaluations by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, the Cavalier was ranked 78th worst out of 157 breeds. The worst affected breeds were the Bulldog, Pug and Dogue de Bordeaux.[54]
Cavaliers can be subject to a genetic defect of the femur and knee called luxating patella. This condition is most often observed when a puppy is 4 to 6 months old. In the most serious cases, surgery may be indicated. The grading system for the patella runs from 1 (a tight knee), to 4 (a knee so loose that its cap is easily displaced). If a Cavalier has a grade 1–2, physical rehabilitation therapy and exercise may reduce the grading and potentially avoid surgery. The grades 3–4 are most severe where surgery will most likely be needed to correct the problem to avoid the development of arthritis and lameness in the limb.[55]
Eye problems
A disorder commonly found in Cavaliers is
A 1999 study of Cavaliers conducted by the Canine Eye Registration Foundation showed that an average of 30% of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels evaluated had eye problems.
Ear disorders
Primary Secretory Otitis Media (PSOM), also known as glue ear, consists of a highly viscous mucus plug that fills the dog's middle ear and may cause the tympanic membrane to bulge. PSOM has been reported almost exclusively in Cavaliers, and it may affect over half of them. Because the pain and other sensations in the head and neck areas, resulting from PSOM, are similar to some symptoms caused by syringomyelia (SM), some examining veterinarians have mis-diagnosed SM in Cavaliers that actually have PSOM and not SM.[60]
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels may be predisposed to a form of congenital deafness, which is present at birth, due to a lack of formation or early degeneration of receptors in the inner ear, although this is relatively rare. In addition, more recent studies have found Cavaliers that develop a progressive hearing loss, which usually begins during puppy-hood and progresses until the dog is completely deaf, usually between the ages of three and five years. The progressive nature of this form of deafness in Cavaliers is believed to be caused by degeneration of the hearing nerve rather than the lack of formation or early degeneration of the inner ear receptors.[61]
Urban legend
An
The UK Parliament website states: "Contrary to popular rumour, there is no Act of Parliament referring to King Charles spaniels being allowed anywhere in the Palace of Westminster. We are often asked this question and have thoroughly researched it."[64] Similarly, there is no proof of any such law covering the wider UK. A spokesman for the Kennel Club said: "This law has been quoted from time to time. It is alleged in books that King Charles made this decree but our research hasn't tracked it down."[62]
See also
- Companion dog
- Companion Dog Group
- Toy Group
Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
- PMID 24206631.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-1455-7.
- ISBN 978-1-921537-13-4.
- ^ Moffat (2006), p. 19.
- ^ Lytton, Mrs. Neville (1911). Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians. London, England: Duckworth & Co. pp. 81–82. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g Coile (2008), p. 9.
- ^ Moffat (2006), p. 22.
- ^ "A Potted History". The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ "The Kennel Club". Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ^ Moffat (2006), p. 23.
- ^ "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
- ^ a b "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierKingCharlesSpanielClub.co.za. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club.
- ^ Lambert (2008), p. 14.
- ^ "The Legendary Blenheim Spot". Charming Cache Cavaliers. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
- ^ a b Lambert (2008), p. 15.
- ^ Jeff (2008), p. 16.
- ^ "AKC MEET THE BREEDS: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "2007 Top 20 Breed Registrations". The Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities Page 3". American Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ "Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities Page 1". American Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Top 10 Most Popular Breeds in the 50 Largest U.S. Cities Page 5". American Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ "The Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2022". American Kennel Club. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ "ANKC: National Animal Registration Analysis". Australian National Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Overseas Cavalier Clubs". The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. 2009. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- ^ "The Iron Lady's Dog". National Purbreed Dog Day. 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Training and Cavalier Dog Breed Info". Puppy-Training-at-Home.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ "Cavalier King Charles Spaniels". TerrificPets.com. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ "General Information". Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club – USA. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- ^ "Cavalier FAQ". Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club – USA. Archived from the original on 9 February 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- PMC 9050668.
- PMC 10834484.
- ISSN 0916-7250.
- OCLC 467711662.
- ^ Coile (2008), p. 69.
- ^ "Breed Profile: The English Toy Spaniel or King Charles Spaniel". English Toy Spaniel Club of America. Archived from the original on 8 December 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ "Norway bans breeding of British Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles spaniels". The Independent. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ "Summary Results of the Purebred Dog Health Survey for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels" (PDF). Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee Summary results. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Mitral Valve Disease and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Mitral Valve Disease Breeding Protocol for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ Wedderburn, Pete (27 March 2009). "Dog breeders in denial". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 13 August 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Important Findings At CKCSC, USA'S Heart Symposium" (PDF). Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Syringomyelia (SM) and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ OCLC 123300926. Archived from the original(PhD thesis) on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Primary Secretory Otitis Media (PSOM) in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ PMID 21821125.
- ^ "Episodic Falling Syndrome (Muscle Hypertonicity): Cavaliers Collapse Suddenly After Exercise". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-7216-8607-3.
- ^ "Frequency of two disease-associated mutations in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels" (PDF). Animal Health Trust. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ "Blood Platelets in Cavaliers: Too Few (Thrombocytopenia) and Too Large (Macrothrombocytopenia)". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Hip Dysplasia in Cavaliers: Painful and Expensive". Cavalier Health.org. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Hip Dysplasia Statistics". Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Patellar Luxation in Cavaliers: Genetic and Degenerative". Cavalier Health.org. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- ^ "Dry Eye Syndrome: A Life-Long Irritating Defect for Cavaliers". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "What is keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)?". Canine Inherited Disorders Database. 11 May 2000. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ISBN 978-0-9635163-2-9.
- ^ "Corneal Dystrophy and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Primary Secretory Otitis Media (PSOM) in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ "Deafness in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can be Congenital or Progressive". CavalierHealth.org. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Shops centre ban for 'royal' dog". Manchester Evening News (Jan 2007). 17 February 2007. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "King Charles and a point of law". Dogcast Radio.
- ^ a b "I want the act saying that King Charles spaniels have special rights in the Houses of Parliament". Parliament.uk. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Feeding your small breed puppy". Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ Pet, Garden (18 March 2020). "The Cavalier king Charles Spaniel full Profile". Pet Garden.
References
- "AKC MEET THE BREEDS: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
- "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- "A Potted History". The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club. 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2009.
- "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel". CavalierKingCharlesSpanielClub.co.za. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- Coile, D. Caroline (2008). Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (2nd ed.). Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-3771-6.
- "Cavalier King Charles Spaniels". Blenheim Company. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- Dupre, Malcolm. "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel History". Barkbytes.com. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
- Lambert, Cathy (2008). Getting to Know Cavaliers. AnimalInfo Publications. ISBN 978-1-921537-13-4.
- "2007 Top 20 Breed Registrations". The Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2009.
- Lytton, Mrs. Neville (1911). Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians. London, England: Duckworth & Co. pp. 81–82. Retrieved 29 November 2009.
- Moffat, Norma (2006). Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-74823-6.
- Wheeler, Cynthia A. (1999). Ocular Disorders Presumed to be Inherited in Purebred Dogs. American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists. ISBN 978-0-9635163-2-9.
- Youatt, William (1852). The Dog. Blanchard and Lea.
External links
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel at Curlie