King Charles Spaniel

Originally from Asia or Spain, King Charles Spaniels existed in sixteenth-century England. The ladies of Queen Elizabeth I’s court used to hide them beneath their skirts. The breed was very popular with King Charles II, who took a special liking to this spaniel named in his honor. The breed suffered a slow decline and came close to extinction in the early 1950s.

Adorable, loyal, affectionate, reserved, and even-tempered, the King Charles Spaniel has a heart of gold. He is merry and enjoys playing with children. He rarely barks and has a remarkable sense of smell. He needs gentle training.

He is an apartment dog and requires little exercise. He needs daily brushing and combing, and his eyes and ears should be checked regularly.

Head:Round. Voluminous, well-domed skull. Well-pronounced stop. Angular, wide muzzle. Very short, turned-up nose. Wide lower jaw. Slight underbite. Tight-lipped.
Ears:Set on low, hanging flat against the cheeks. Very long and feathered.
Eyes:Very large, dark, well-spaced.
Body:Short. Neck moderately long. Chest wide, well let-down. Strong hindquarters. Short, straight back.
Tail:Carried neither on the back nor above the topline. Well-feathered. Docking not obligatory.
Hair:Long, silky, straight, never curly. Slight waviness allowed. Abundant feathering on the legs, ears, and tail.
Coat:- Black and tan: rich, glossy black with tan and mahogany markings above the eyes and on the muzzle, legs, chest, insides of the ears, and underside of the tail. A white chest is not allowed. - Tricolor: pearly white ground with well-distributed black spots and rich tan markings on the cheeks, insides of the ears, and underside of the tail. Small tan spots above the eyes. Wide, white flare between the eyes and white blaze on the head. - Blenheim: pearly white ground with well-distributed chestnut-red markings. Wide, very distinct, white blaze (kissing spot) on the center of the skull with distinct chestnut-red markings. - Ruby: solid, rich chestnut-red. White chest is a serious fault.
Size:26 to 32 cm.
Weight:3.6 to 6.3 kg.
Group:Companion and Toy Dogs