This is a comprehensive guide on the cavalier king charles spaniel breed standard! As a passionate advocate for this enchanting breed, I’m thrilled to take you on an enlightening journey into the heart and soul of what makes the cavaliers truly exceptional.
Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast seeking to deepen your understanding or a newcomer eager to learn more about cavaliers, you’ve come to the right place.
*This article mainly uses the breed standard from the British Kennel Club [1] because they’re considered the authority on the cavalier king charles spaniel, which originated in Great Britain.
What is a Breed Standard?
Breed standards are like guidelines or rules that describe the ideal appearance and characteristics of a specific dog breed, such as the cavalier king charles spaniel.
They are written and established by Kennel Clubs or breed associations that define the ideal physical, behavioral, and sometimes health characteristics of a particular dog breed.
Breed Standards typically include details about the dog’s appearance, such as size, coat color, and body proportions, as well as temperament and specific traits that are characteristic of the breed. This helps ensure consistency in breed type across different bloodlines and generations.
How Often Do Breed Standards Get Updated?
Breed standards are typically updated periodically by kennel clubs or breed associations to reflect changes in the breed, advancements in understanding health considerations, or shifts in preferences among breed enthusiasts.
The frequency of updates can vary depending on factors such as the popularity of the breed, emerging health concerns, or developments in breeding practices.
General Information About Cavaliers
Origin: Great Britain 🇬🇧
Utilization: Companion dog
FCI-Classification: FCI Group 9 – Companion and Toy Dogs
Kennel Club Classification: Toy Group
American Kennel Club Classification: Toy Group
The Characteristics and Temperament of Cavalier
General Appearance
Active, graceful and well balanced, with gentle expression.
Sporting, affectionate, absolutely fearless.
Behavior and Temperament
Gay, friendly, non-aggressive; no tendency to nervousness.
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Movement
Free-moving and elegant in action, plenty of drive from behind. Forelegs and hindlegs move parallel when viewed from in front and behind.
Coat and Color
Long, silky, free from curl. Slight wave permissible. Plenty of feathering. Totally free from trimming.
Recognized coat colors: Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, and Black&tan.
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The Anatomy of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Size
Weight: 5.4-8.2 kgs (12-18 lbs). A small, well-balanced dog well within these weights desirable.
Size – The Kennel Club breed standard is a guide and description of the ideal for the breed; the size as described does not imply that a dog will match the measurements given (height or weight). A dog might be larger or smaller than the size measurements stated in the breed standard.
Head and Skull
Skull almost flat between ears. Stop shallow. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 3.8 cms (11/2 ins). Nostrils black and well developed without flesh marks, muzzle well tapered. Lips well developed but not pendulous. Face well filled below eyes. Any tendency to snipiness undesirable.
Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
Eyes
Large, dark, round but not prominent; spaced well apart.
Ears
Long, set high, with plenty of feather.
Body Structure
Neck
Moderate length, slightly arched.
Body
Short-coupled with good spring of rib. Level back.
Forequarters
Chest moderate, shoulders well laid back; straight legs moderately boned.
Hindquarters
Legs with moderate bone; well-turned stifle – no tendency to cowhocks or sickle-hocks.
Feet
Compact, cushioned and well feathered.
Tail
Length of tail in balance with body, well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back. Docking previously optional when no more than one-third was to be removed.
Disqualifying Faults:
If a dog possesses a feature, characteristic, or color described as highly undesirable, it must not be rewarded in the show ring.
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
- Any dog clearly showing physical of behavioural abnormalities.
- Dogs not of an allowed color: chocolate, merle, albino, black and white, etc.
- Specimens, where the coat has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by artificial means, shall be so severely penalized as to be effectively eliminated from competition.
- Bad temper, shyness, and meanness are not to be tolerated and are to be severely penalized as to
effectively remove the specimen from competition. - Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
- Males should have two normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.
The Importance of Health in the Standard
The inclusion of health considerations in the breed standard serves as a valuable educational tool for breeders, owners, and the wider community.
It fosters a culture of awareness and accountability, encouraging breeders to stay informed about prevalent health conditions in the breed and take proactive measures to mitigate risks.
The emphasis on health in the breed standard reflects a commitment to breed preservation and sustainability. In today’s world, where genetic diversity is increasingly threatened and certain breeds face heightened susceptibility to inherited diseases, maintaining a focus on health is essential for safeguarding the breed’s future.
This education empowers individuals to make responsible decisions regarding breeding practices, health testing, and veterinary care, ultimately benefiting the entire cavalier king charles spaniel community.
How Does the Breed Standard Contribute to the Health of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
One important aspect of breed standards is that they highlight traits that are considered healthy for the dogs. For example, they might say that a cavalier should have clear eyes, a strong body, and a friendly personality. This helps breeders, judges, and owners know what to look for in a healthy dog.
Sometimes there can be a problem with some people focusing too much on trying to win dog shows, where dogs are judged based on how closely they match the breed standard. This can lead to breeders prioritizing traits that make a dog look good in the show ring, even if those traits aren’t necessarily healthy.
It’s important for everyone involved to remember that health should always come first. Winning ribbons at dog shows is nice, but it’s more important to make sure that the dogs are healthy and happy for their entire lives!
Here’s How the Breed Standard Contribute to the Health of the Breed:
First of all, the standard says “Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding”.
I have gathered some parts from the cavalier breed standard to demonstrate how it (in theory) should promote breeders to produce cavaliers without brachycephalic traits.
1. Head Shape
We know from research that dogs with dome-shaped skulls are more likely to be affected by syringomyelia than ones with gently sloping ‘wolf-like’ head shapes. The breed standard[1] states that the head should be “almost flat between ears”. This should help not to promote unhealthy globe-shaped heads in the show ring.
2. Eyes
From brachycephalic dogs, we’ve learned that prominent eyes in dogs can be unhealthy because they are more susceptible to injuries, infections, and other ocular issues due to their exposure and lack of protection.
The cavalier breed standard[1] states that the eyes should be “large, dark, round but not prominent”. In theory, this should encourage show judges not to reward googly-eyed cavaliers.
Dogs with flattened faces often have a distinctively forward-facing eye position, which can contribute to various health concerns. This positioning, known as “proptosis,” results from the shortened facial structure. The breed standard[1] specifically says “spaced well apart”.
3. Snout
This is a bit tricky. The breed standard[1] states: “length (of snout) from base of stop to tip of nose about 3.8 cms (11/2 ins)”. The 3.8 cm is on the shorter side, and I think it would benefit the breed if there was a *minimum of 3.8 cm added.
I measured my female cavalier’s snout for this purpose, just around 3cms. Even though she has a full set of healthy adult teeth, she unfortunately is on the snub-nosed side. This shows me that 3.8cm can work well even though it may not be desirable from a health perspective.
4. Teeth
One of the many problems of brachycephalic dogs is the fact that they can’t fit the full set of 42 teeth in their mouths. The snout should always be long enough to house the complete set of teeth!
The Cavalier breed standard[1] says “a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth”. This helps even more to steer away from the direction of cavaliers becoming flat-faced.
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Conclusion
The cavalier king charles spaniel breed standard encapsulates a meticulous set of criteria that defines the breed’s ideal form and function. Through its detailed guidelines on physical attributes, temperament, and health considerations, the standard serves as a crucial tool for maintaining the breed’s integrity and preserving its unique characteristics.
By adhering to the standards outlined by reputable kennel clubs and breed associations, breeders can strive to breed cavaliers that exemplify the breed’s quintessential traits.
Judges rely on these standards to evaluate dogs in conformation shows, ensuring that only those meeting the established criteria are recognized for their adherence to breed type.
Beyond the realm of competition, the breed standard also serves as a valuable resource for prospective owners, providing insights into what to expect from a cavalier king charles spaniel in terms of appearance, behavior, and care requirements.
In essence, the cavalier king charles spaniel breed standard is not merely a static document but a dynamic blueprint that guides responsible breeding practices, contributes to the breed’s overall health and well-being, and fosters a community dedicated to upholding the breed’s esteemed legacy for generations to come.
Sources
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, 12.01.2009, The Fédération Cynologique Internationale, https://www.fci.be/nomenclature/Standards/136g09-en.pdf
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Standard, 12/2007, The Kennel Club, https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breed-standards/toy/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel/
- Official Standard of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, The American Kennel Club, 29.03.2023, https://images.akc.org/pdf/breeds/standards/CavalierKingCharlesSpaniel.pdf
