King Charles Spaniel
King Charles Spaniel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Other names | English Toy Spaniel Toy Spaniel Charlies Prince Charles Spaniel Ruby Spaniel Blenheim Spaniel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Origin | Great Britain | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dog ( domestic dog ) |
The King Charles Spaniel (also known as the English Toy Spaniel) is a small dog breed of the spaniel type. In 1903, the Kennel Club combined four separate toy spaniel breeds under this single title. The other varieties merged into this breed were the Blenheim, Ruby and Prince Charles Spaniels, each of which contributed one of the four colours available in the breed.
Thought to have originated in
The King Charles Spaniel and the other types of toy spaniels were crossbred with the Pug in the early 19th century to reduce the size of the nose, as was the style of the day. The 20th century saw attempts to restore lines of King Charles Spaniels to the breed of Charles II's time. These included the unsuccessful Toy Trawler Spaniel and the now popular Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The Cavalier is slightly larger, with a flat head and a longer nose, while the King Charles is smaller, with a domed head and a flat face.
Historically the breeds that were merged into the King Charles Spaniel were used for hunting; due to their stature they were not well suited. They have kept their hunting instincts, but do not exhibit high energy and are better suited to being lapdogs. The modern breed is prone to several health problems, including
History
The fact that dogs are always part of a royal Japanese present suggested to the Commodore the thought that possibly one species of spaniel now in England may be traced to a Japanese origin. In 1613, when Captain Saris returned from Japan to England, he carried to the King a letter from the Emperor, and presents in return for those sent to him by his Majesty of England. Dogs probably formed part of the gifts and thus may have been introduced into the Kingdom the Japanese breed. At any rate, there is a species of Spaniel in England which it is hard to distinguish from the Japanese dog. The species sent by the Emperor is by no means common even in Japan. It is never seen running about the streets, or following its master in his walks, and the Commodore understood that they were costly.
Francis L. Hawks and Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1856)[1]
The King Charles Spaniel may share a common ancestry with the Pekingese and Japanese Chin.[2]
The red and white variety of toy spaniel was first seen in paintings by Titian,[3] including the Venus of Urbino (1538), where a small dog is used as a symbol of female seductiveness.[4] Further paintings featuring these toy spaniels were created by Palma Vecchio and Paolo Veronese during the 16th century. These dogs already had high domed heads with short noses, although the muzzles were more pointed than they are today. These Italian toy spaniels may have been crossed with local small dogs such as the Maltese and also with imported Chinese dogs.[3] The Papillon is the continental descendant of similar toy-sized spaniels.[5]
The earliest recorded appearance of a toy spaniel in England was in a painting of
King Henry III of France owned a number of small spaniels, which were called Damarets. Although one of the translations of John Caius' 1570 Latin work De Canibus Britannicis talks of "a new type of Spaniel brought out of France, rare, strange, and hard to get",[8] this was an addition in a later translation, and was not in the original text.[8] Caius did discuss the "Spainel-gentle, or Comforter" though, which he classified as a delicate thoroughbred. This spaniel was thought to originate from Malta and was sought out only as a lapdog for "daintie dames".[9]
Captain John Saris may have brought back examples of toy spaniels from his voyage to Japan in 1613,[2] a theory proposed by Commodore Matthew C. Perry during his expeditions to Japan on behalf of the United States in the mid-19th century. He noted that dogs were a common gift and thought that the earlier voyage of Captain Saris introduced a Japanese type of spaniel into England.[1]
17th century and Charles II
In the 17th century, toy spaniels began to feature in paintings by Dutch artists such as Caspar Netscher and Peter Paul Rubens. Spanish artists, including Juan de Valdés Leal and Diego Velázquez, also depicted them; in the Spanish works, the dogs were tricolour, black and white or entirely white. French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon would later describe these types of dogs as crosses between spaniels and Pugs.[5]
King
After Charles II
Toy spaniels continued to be popular in the British court during the reign of
English toy spaniels remained popular enough during the 18th century to be featured frequently in literature and in art. On Rover, a Lady's Spaniel,
19th century and the Blenheim Spaniel
The varieties of toy spaniel were occasionally used in hunting, as the Sportsman's Repository reported in 1830 of the Blenheim Spaniel: "Twenty years ago, His Grace the Duke of Marlborough was reputed to possess the smallest and best breed of cockers in Britain; they were invariably red–and–white, with very long ears, short noses, and black eyes."[22] During this period, the term "cocker" was not used to describe a Cocker Spaniel, but rather a type of small spaniel used to hunt woodcock. The Duke's residence, Blenheim Palace, gave its name to the Blenheim Spaniel. The Sportsman's Repository explains that toy spaniels are able to hunt, albeit not for a full day or in difficult terrain: "The very delicate and small, or 'carpet spaniels,' have exquisite nose, and will hunt truly and pleasantly, but are neither fit for a long day or thorny covert."[23] This idea was supported by Vero Shaw in his 1881 work The Illustrated Book of the Dog,[23] and by Thomas Brown in 1829 who wrote, "He is seldom used for field–sports, from his diminutive size, being easily tired, and is too short in the legs to get through swampy ground."[24] During the 19th century, the Maltese was still considered to be a type of spaniel, and thought to be the parent breed of toy spaniels, including both the King Charles and Blenheim varieties.[22]
The breeds of toy spaniel often rivalled the Pug in popularity as lapdogs for ladies. The disadvantage of the breeds of toy spaniel was that their long coats required constant grooming.[22] By 1830, the toy spaniel had changed somewhat from the dogs of Charles II's day. William Youatt in his 1845 study, The Dog, was not enamoured of the changes: "The King Charles's breed of the present day is materially altered for the worse. The muzzle is almost as short, and the forehead as ugly and prominent as the veriest bull-dog. The eye is increased to double its former size, and has an expression of stupidity with which the character of the dog too accurately corresponds." Youatt did concede that the breed's long ears, coat and colouring were attractive.[25] Due to the fashion of the period, the toy spaniels were crossed with Pugs to reduce the size of their noses and then selectively bred to reduce it further. By doing this, the dog's sense of smell was impaired, and according to 19th century writers, this caused the varieties of toy spaniel to be removed from participation in field sports.[23] Blunt-Lytton proposed that the red and white Blenheim Spaniels always had the shorter nose now seen in the modern King Charles.[3]
From the 16th century, it was the fashion for ladies to carry small toy-sized spaniels as they travelled around town.
The dogs continued to be popular with royalty. In 1896, Otto von Bismarck purchased a King Charles Spaniel from an American kennel for $1,000.[31] The dog weighed less than 2 pounds (0.9 kg), and had been disqualified from the Westminster Kennel Club the previous year on account of its weight.[31] The average price was lower than that paid by Bismarck. In 1899, the price ranged between $50 and $200 for a King Charles or Blenheim,[32] with the Ruby and Prince Charles Spaniel ranging between $50 and $150.[33][34]
Anne Brontë's "Flossy", given to her by the Robinson children when she left her governorship of them, was a King Charles Spaniel.
Conformation showing and the 20th century
In 1903, the Kennel Club attempted to amalgamate the King James (black and tan), Prince Charles (tricolour), Blenheim and Ruby spaniels into a single breed called the Toy Spaniel. The Toy Spaniel Club, which oversaw those separate breeds, strongly objected, and the argument was only resolved following the intervention of King
Blunt-Lytton documented her attempts in the early 20th century to re-breed the 18th-century type of King Charles Spaniel as seen in the portraits of King Charles II.[40] She used the Toy Trawler Spaniel, a curly haired, mostly black, small to medium-sized spaniel, and cross-bred these dogs with a variety of other breeds, including Blenheim Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels, in unsuccessful attempts to reproduce the earlier style.[30]
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel originated from a competition held by American Roswell Eldridge in 1926. He offered a prize fund for the best male and female dogs 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."[41] Breeders entered what they considered to be sub-par King Charles Spaniels. Although Eldridge did not live to see the new breed created, several breeders banded together and created the first breed club for the new Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in 1928, with the Kennel Club initially listing the new breed as "King Charles Spaniels, Cavalier type". In 1945, the Kennel Club recognised the new breed in its own right.[41] The American Kennel Club did not recognise the Cavalier until 1997.[42]
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, continued the connection between royalty and the King Charles Spaniel, attending Princess Anne's tenth birthday party with her dog Rolly in 1960.[43][44] Elizabeth II has also owned King Charles Spaniels in addition to the dogs most frequently associated with her, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.[45]
In 2008, the
The King Charles Spaniel is less popular than the Cavalier in both the UK and the US. In 2010, the Cavalier was the 23rd most popular breed, according to registration figures collected by the American Kennel Club, while the English Toy Spaniel was the 126th.
Description
The King Charles has large dark eyes, a short nose, a high domed head and a line of black skin around the mouth.[7] On average, it stands 9 to 11 inches (23 to 28 cm) at the withers, with a small but compact body.[52] The breed has a traditionally docked tail, except in the UK and some other European Countries where docking and cropping has been illegal since 2006.[53][non-primary source needed] Cropping of ears has been illegal in the UK for over 100 years.[54] It has the long pendulous ears typical of a spaniel and its coat comes in four varieties, trait it shares with its offshoot, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.[52][55]
The four sets of markings reflect the four former breeds from which the modern breed was derived. Black and tan markings are known as "King Charles", while "Prince Charles" is tricoloured, "Blenheim" is red and white, and "Ruby" is a single-coloured solid rich red.[52] The "King Charles" black and tan markings typically consist of a black coat with mahogany/tan markings on the face, legs and chest and under the tail. The tricoloured "Prince Charles" is mostly white with black patches and mahogany/tan markings in similar locations to the "King Charles". The "Blenheim" has a white coat with red patches, and should have a distinctive red spot in the center of the skull.[56][57]
King Charles Spaniels are often mistaken for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. There are several significant differences between the two breeds, the principal being the size.[41] While the Cavalier weighs on average between 13 and 18 pounds (5.9 and 8.2 kg),[55] the King Charles is smaller at 8 to 14 pounds (3.6 to 6.4 kg).[52] In addition, their facial features, while similar, are distinguishable: the Cavalier's ears are set higher and its skull is flat, while the King Charles' is domed. Finally, the muzzle length of the King Charles tends to be shorter than the typical muzzle on a Cavalier.[41]
The American Kennel Club has two classes, English Toy Spaniel (B/PC) (Blenheim and Prince Charles) and English Toy Spaniel (R/KC),[36] while in the UK, the Kennel Club places the breed in a single class.[58] Under the Fédération Cynologique Internationale groups, the King Charles is placed in the English Toy Spaniel section within the Companion and Toy Dog Group, along with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.[59]
Temperament
The King Charles is a friendly breed, to the extent that it is not typically as suitable as a watchdog as some breeds,[52] though it may still bark to warn its owners of an approaching visitor.[7] It is not a high energy breed, and enjoys the company of family members,[52] being primarily a lapdog.[7] Although able to bond well with children and tolerant of them, it will not accept rough handling. It prefers not to be left alone for long periods. Known as one of the quietest toy breeds, it is suitable for apartment living.[52]
The breed can tolerate other pets well,[52] although the King Charles still has the hunting instincts of its ancestors and may not always be friendly towards smaller animals.[36] It is intelligent enough to be used for obedience work and, due to its stable temperament, it can be a successful therapy dog for hospitals and nursing homes.[7]
Health
A
Eye and heart conditions
The eye problems associated with the King Charles Spaniel include cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichia, entropion, microphthalmia, optic disc drusen, and keratitis. Compared to other breeds, the King Charles Spaniel has an increased risk of distichia (where extra eyelashes or hairs cause irritation to the eye). Inheritance is suspected in the other conditions, with ages of onset ranging from six months for cataracts to two to five years for corneal dystrophy.[65]
Heart conditions related to the King Charles Spaniel include
Other common issues
Being a
There are several breed traits which may cause concern as health issues.
Urban myth
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."[78] [failed verification] 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."[76]
See also
References
- Specific
- ^ a b Hawks, Francis L.; Perry, Commodore Matthew C. (1856). Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan. Washington, D.C.: Beverley Tucker. p. 369.
- ^ a b Lytton (1911): p. 94
- ^ a b c Lytton (1911): p. 14
- ISBN 978-90-04-17101-5.
- ^ a b Lytton (1911): p. 15
- ^ a b Lytton (1911): p. 38
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7641-2095-4.
- ^ a b Lytton (1911): p. 16
- ^ a b Caius, John; Fleming, Abraham (1576) [1570]. De Canibus Britannicis (in Latin). London, UK: Richard Johnes. p. 6.
- ^ a b Shaw (1881): p. 162
- ^ Lytton (1911): p. 52
- ^ Pepys, Samuel (1893). "4 September 1667". In Wheatley, Henry B. (ed.). . George Bell & Sons – via Wikisource.
- ^ a b Lytton (1911): p. 17
- ^ Walsh (1876): p. 667
- ^ Moffat (2006): p. 19
- ^ Lytton (1911): p. 19
- ^ Browning, William Ernst, ed. (1910). The Poems of Jonathan Swift. Vol. 1. London, UK: G. Bell and Sons. p. 288.
- ^ Hogarth, William (1833). Anecdotes. London UK: J.R. Nichols and Son. p. 374.
- ISBN 978-0-89090-143-4.
- ^ Wood, John George (1862). Natural History Picture Book: Mammalia. London, UK; New York, NY: Routledge, Warne, and Routledge. p. 102.
- ^ Anderson, James (1800). Recreations in Agriculture, Natural–History, Arts, and Miscellaneous literature. Vol. 2. London, UK: T. Bensley. p. 241.
- ^ a b c Shaw (1881): p. 163
- ^ a b c Shaw (1881): p. 164
- ^ Brown (1829): p. 295
- ^ Youatt (1852): p. 78
- ^ Brown (1829): p. 301
- ISBN 978-0-7641-2419-8.
- ^ Brown (1829): p. 302
- ^ Lytton (1911): p. 36
- ^ a b Lytton (1911): p. 40
- ^ a b "Gillie Sells for $1,000" (PDF). The New York Times. 17 April 1896. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ Diehl (1899): p. 39
- ^ Diehl (1899): p. 41
- ^ Diehl (1899): p. 42
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7207-1889-8.
- ^ a b c "English Toy Spaniel Did You Know?". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ Diehl (1899): p. 38
- ^ Dalley, Jan (7 January 1996). "Grave Affairs". The Independent. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough: the aristocrat with attitude". The Telegraph. 7 February 2011.
- ^ Lytton (1911): p. 80
- ^ a b c d Coile (2008): p. 9
- ^ Moffat (2006): p. 23
- ^ "Princess Anne's 10th Birthday". The Herald. Newsquest. 16 August 1960. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ Gilmore, Eddy (29 August 1959). "Anne Happy, Phillip Miffed as Ike Leaves Family". Gadsden Times. Roger Quinn. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "Queen, Looking Well, Goes To Palace". The Evening Times. Newsquest. 18 January 1960. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ a b Donnelly, Brian (16 September 2008). "Crufts Hit by 'Deformed' Breeds Row". The Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ Sugden, Joanne (15 September 2008). "RSPCA Pulls Out of Crufts Over Breeding Row". The Times. News Corporation. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ Kiss, Jemima (12 December 2008). "BBC Suspends Coverage of Crufts Dog Show After Four Decades". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ "AKC Dog Registration Statistics". American Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 11 May 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ "Comparative Tables of Registrations For the Years 2001 – 2010 Inclusive" (PDF). The Kennel Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ Hankins, Justine (19 February 2006). "The Dying Breeds". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Palika (2007): pp. 232–233
- ^ "Animal Welfare Act: Section 6", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2006 c. 45 (s. 6)
- ^ "Traditionally Docked Breeds". The Kennel Club. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
- ^ a b Palika (2007): p. 190
- ^ "English Toy Spaniel" (PDF). Canadian Kennel Club. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ "King Charles Spaniel Breed Standard". The Kennel Club. December 2007. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ^ "Breed and Class Results: King Charles Spaniel". DFS Crufts. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "Breeds Nomenclature". Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "Routuesittely" (in Finnish). King Charlesin Spaniel r.y. Archived from the original on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ a b c d "Kingcharlesinspanieli Jalostuksen tavoiteohjelma" (PDF). King Charlesin Spaniel r.y. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- PMID 21352376.)
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- ^ "Breed Health Concerns/Research Interests". American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Mitral Valve Disease". American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ a b "Patent Ductus Arteriosus". American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
- ^ "Cardiac Statistics". Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ISBN 978-0-471-77963-6.
- ^ a b McKay, Scott Alan. "Brachycephalic Syndrome in Dogs and Cats". Peteducation.com. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
- ^ "Disorders by Breed: King Charles Spaniel". Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney. 14 July 2010. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Breed Profile". English Toy Spaniel Club of America. Archived from the original on 30 October 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "Patella Luxation Statistics". Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Archived from the original on 6 April 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
- ^ "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Dog Breed Information". American Kennel Club. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 22 June 2017.
- ^ "Feeding your small breed puppy". Kennel Club. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- ^ "Buchlyvie 513 OES". Buchlyvie chapter No 513 Order of The Eastern Star. Archived from the original on 5 July 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
- General
- Brown, Thomas (1829). Biographical Sketches and Authentic Anecdotes of Dogs. Edinburgh, UK: Oliver and Boyd.
- Coile, D. Caroline (2008). Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (2nd ed.). Hauppauge, NY: Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-3771-6.
- Diehl, John E. (1899). Toy Dogs. Philadelphia: The Associated Fanciers.
- Lytton, Mrs. Neville (1911). Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors. New York, NY: D Appleton and Company.
- Moffat, Norma (2006). Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Your Happy Healthy Pet (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-471-74823-6.
- Palika, Liz (2007). The Howell Book of Dogs: The Definitive Reference to 300 Breeds and Varieties. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-00921-5.
- Shaw, Vero Kemball (1881). The Illustrated Book of the Dog. London, UK; New York, NY: Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co.
- Walsh, John Henry (1876). British Rural Sports. London: Saville, Edwards and Co.
- Youatt, William (1852) [1845]. The Dog. Philadelphia, PA: Blanchard and Lea.
External links
- King Charles Spaniel at Curlie