Canis lupus familiaris
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Featured photocavalier-king-charles-spaniel.jpgThe Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a Roswell Eldridge's 1928 reconstruction of King Charles II's 17th-century toy spaniel. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was reconstructed from the early-17th-century English Toy Spaniel type favoured by King Charles II — distinct from the heavily-modified flat-faced Victorian King Charles Spaniel — by American breeder Roswell Eldridge, who offered prize money in 1926 for dogs of the older type and saw the modern Cavalier formalized by 1928.
Quick facts
- AKC group
- Toy
- Origin country
- United Kingdom
- Origin period
- 17th century (modern type reconstructed 1928)
- Coat type
- Long
- Coat colors
- Blenheim (Chestnut and White), Tricolor, Ruby, Black and Tan
- Average lifespan
- 9-14 years
- Recognition
- AKC 1995 · FCI 1955 · UKC 1948 · Group 9 — Companion and Toy Dogs (Section 7: English Toy Spaniels)
Origin
King Charles II of England (reigned 1660-1685) was famously fond of small toy spaniels of the type now called the King Charles Spaniel, which appear in dozens of contemporary court paintings (Lely, Kneller). Across the 19th century, English breeders extensively crossed the King Charles type with Pug and Japanese Chin to produce the flat-faced, domed-skull modern King Charles Spaniel — now a separate breed. American breeder Roswell Eldridge, dismayed by the modification, offered £25 prize money at Crufts from 1926 to 1929 for the best male and female 'Blenheim Spaniel of the old type, as shown in pictures of Charles II's time'. The reconstructed type was formalized in 1928 as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was founded in 1928. The Kennel Club granted full breed status in 1945; the AKC followed only in 1995.
Recognition
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1995, the United Kennel Club followed in 1948, and the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 136) in 1955. The FCI assigns the breed to Group 9 — Companion and Toy Dogs (Section 7: English Toy Spaniels).
Standard
The AKC and FCI standards describe an active, graceful, well-balanced toy spaniel, very gay and free in action, with a gentle expression. The defining features are the moderately long, silky coat (free from curl, with a slight wave permissible) and the large, round, dark-brown eyes set well apart but not prominent. Recognized colours: Blenheim (rich chestnut on a pearly white ground, with a chestnut blaze and central white spot — the 'Blenheim spot' — between the ears), Tricolour (black and white with tan markings), Ruby (rich solid red), and Black-and-Tan. The breed stands 30-33 cm at the withers and weighs 5.4-8.2 kg.
Sources & further reading (3)
- kennel-club-registry — accessed 2026-05-04
- encyclopedia — accessed 2026-05-04
- fci-standard — accessed 2026-05-04
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's AKC group?
The American Kennel Club places the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the Toy Group. The Toy Group gathers small companion breeds historically kept as lap dogs and household companions, including the Pug, Pomeranian, Maltese, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The breed's foundation working role was as a Roswell Eldridge's 1928 reconstruction of King Charles II's 17th-century toy spaniel.
When was the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel officially recognized?
The American Kennel Club admitted the breed in 1995; the United Kennel Club followed in 1948; the Federation Cynologique Internationale published the international standard (FCI No. 136) in 1955.
What is the average lifespan of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
Kennel-club longevity surveys place the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's average lifespan in the 9-14 years range. The figure here represents the spread reported by the major parent-club studies and the Kennel Club (UK) purebred-dog health surveys.
