Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Info

Head: skull is lightly rounded, but without a dome or peak; it should appear flat because of the high placement of my ears.

Eyes: Eyes should be Large, round and set well apart; the color a warm, very dark brown, giving a lustrous, limpid look. There should be slight cushioning under my eyes, contributing to the sweet, gentle expression characteristic of the breed.

Nose: nose should have a shallow stop, and the length from the base of the stop to tip of the nose should be at least 1 1/2 inches. Nostrils should be well developed and the pigment uniformly black.

Muzzle: Muzzle should be well tapered; mouth level; lips well covering.

Teeth: teeth should be strong and even, preferably meeting in a scissor bite, although a level bite is permitted. Undershot mouths are greatly to be discouraged; however, a slightly undershot bite in an otherwise well-balanced head with the correct sweet expression should not be penalized in favor of a level mouth with a plain or hard expression.

Ears: ears should be set high, but not close, on top of my head. Leather long, with plenty of silky feathering, and wide enough so that when alert, ears fan slightly forward to frame the face.

Neck: neck should be fairly long, without throatiness, well enough muscled to form a slight arch at the crest. Set smoothly into nicely sloping shoulders.

Body: body is Short-coupled with ribs well sprung but not barreled. Chest moderately deep, leaving ample heart room. The Back level, leading into strong, muscular hind quarters. Slightly less body at my flank than at my last rib.

Legs: Forelegs should be straight, bone moderate, and elbows close to the sides. Hind legs should be moderately muscled; stifles well turned; hocks well let down. Hind legs viewed from the rear, should parallel each other from the hock to the heel. Pastern strong, and feet compact with well cushioned pads.

Tail: tail should be set so as to be carried level with the back. Tail should be in constant, characteristic motion when I am in action. Docking: tail should be left natural. Tails of the broken-colored cavalier should always have a white tip.

Coat: the coat should be Long and silky and very soft to the touch; free from curl, though slight wave is permissible. Feathering on my ears, legs and tail should be long, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. Trimming: NO trimming of the coat is permitted. However, it is permissible, to remove the hair growing between the pads and the underside of my foot.

Size: The Cavalier should stand at a Height of 12 to 13 inches at the withers; weight should be proportionate to height, between 13 and 18 pounds. These are their ideal heights and weights; slight variations are permissible.

Colors: The following colors are the only ones that are acceptable:

Blenheim: Rich chestnut markings well broken up on a pearly white ground. The ears must be red and the color evenly spaced on the head, with a wide white blaze between the ears, in the center of which is the much desired "Blenheim Spot". The spot also known as the Queens thumb print, is a unique and highly desirable, though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim.

Tricolor: Jet black markings broken up on a pearly white ground; with rich tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks and on underside of the tail.

Ruby: solid colored rich red.

Black & Tan: Jet black with rich tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks, inside of ears, on the chest, legs, and underside of tail.

Cavalier Health Resources

Cavalier Health Foundation

Mitral Valve Disease

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Health