Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Facts

 

 

Country/Region of Origin: Great Britain

Life span: 9 – 14 years

Weight:  10 – 18 pounds (4.5 – 8.1 kg)

Gestation:  61 - 65 days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cavalier King Charles Health issues:

- Heart Mitral valve disease (MVD)

- Syringomyelia (Disorder of the brain and spinal cord which may result in paralysis)

- Hip dysplasia

- Brachycephalic Airway Obstruction Syndrome (BAOS)

- Retinal dysplasia

- Luxating patella (slipping kneecap)

- Ear infections

 

Interesting Facts on the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:

 

King Charles II of England grew very fond of these dogs, hence their name.

 

In the late 1600’s King Charles Spaniels were crossbred with pugs to have shorter muzzles and smaller bodies.

In the 1920’s at the Cruft’s Dog Show in London an American by the name of Roswell Eldridge offered prize money for anyone that could bring him King Charles Spaniels that had long muzzles and similar features to the older breeds before they were crossbred with pugs.

As examples he used paintings done by Van Dyck of King Charles II with is King Charles Spaniels.  

A lady by the name of Miss Mostyn Walker won the competition with her dog named Ann’s Son.

Other breeders then continued to breed with the long muzzled spaniels and by 1940’s those bred were seen as a separate breed and were re-named to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

 

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was originally known as the "Old Type King Charles spaniel" and were bred to be companion and lap dogs

 

After the Second World War the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was almost extinct but their numbers increased after breeding programs were implemented.

 

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized by the AKC in 1995.

 

Famous people that had Cavaliers include Frank Sinatra, Ronald Reagan, Liv Tyler and Sylvester Stallone.

 

 

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breeders