http://www.akc.org/breeds/cavalier_king_charles_spaniel/history.cfm
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel History
Dogs of the small spaniel-type have existed for centuries and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has documented its place among them. They have been recorded in paintings and tapestries for centuries together with the aristocratic families who enjoyed their loyal companionship. Cavaliers were obviously a luxury item, for the average person could not afford to keep and feed a dog that did not work.
Today's Cavalier is directly modeled on its royal ancestors but this did not happen without the effort of an American fancier, Roswell Eldridge. Mr. Eldridge traveled to England in the early 1920's hoping to buy two spaniels. He was unsuccessful, finding a diversity of type and none of the "old type", particularly the head type he desired. Employing Yankee ingenuity and determination, Roswell offered prizes of twenty-five pounds to the best male and best female of the "old type" exhibited at Crufts each year. The motivator worked; interest was generated among breeders to revive the original spaniel.
In 1952, the first Cavaliers were sent to America and a national breed club was formed soon after, but because of the small numbers of Cavaliers they did not gain full breed recognition for 40 years. January 1, 1996 saw the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel enter American Kennel Club competition as the 140th recognized breed.
History of the Breed
(adapted and condensed from the book "Cavalier King Charles Spaniels" by Beverly Cuddy, T.F.H. Publications, photo from same)
In the last five hundred or more years, small dogs of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel type have brought immense pleasure to the lives of royalty, world leaders and countless ordinary men women and children. Few other breeds can claim an ancestry dating back to possibly the 13th century. The Cavalier--or the small Toy Spaniel as it was described--was the companion of the most aristrocratic members of society. The beloved pets frequently appeared in family portraits, providing breed historians with excellent visual records.
While the earliest history of the breed is a subject for speculation--some trace its origin to the 13th century when Italy and China enjoyed a lively mercantile relationship--it is sure that the Toy Spaniel was in England by 1554. A painting by Antonio Moro depicts Queen Mary I and Philip of Spain with a couple of Toy Spaniels at their feet. Earlier than this, Henry VIII had made a decree that only "some small spanyells for the ladies" could be kept in court. In 1570, an essay entitled "De Canibus Britannicus" was produced by Dr. Johannes Caius, Queen Elizabeth I's chief physician. It catalogued all breeds of dog known at the time. He included "Spaniell gentle or comforter--a delicate, neat and pretty kind of dog...chamber companions, pleasant play fellows"--words just as appropriate today.
In 1587, a small black and white spaniel was reputed to have been unable to save her cherished mistress's life. After Mary Queen of Scots' execution, her little dog was found hiding beneath her petticoats, loyal to the last. In 1648, when the second civil war led to Charles I's being held captive in Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight, his Toy Spaniel named "Rogue" was by his side. When he was beheaded the following year, Rogue was taken by one of the Roundheads and flaunted around London.
However, it was from King Charles II that the breed took its name. On the day the King returned to England from exile, Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary: "The King was rowed ashore in the Admiral's barge, while I followed in a smaller boat with Mr. Mansell, one of the footman and a dog the King loved." In fact, Charles was rarely seen without his dogs, causing Mr. Pepys to write that he was always in trouble for "playing with his dogs all the while, and not minding his business." Lord Rochester wrote: "His very dog at Council Board, Sits grave and wise as any Lord." The King's pets were given the freedom to do as they wished at court, and this was sometimes a cause for resentment among those who were not dog lovers.
Charles's brother, James II, succeeded him, and he proved to be another dog lover. When he was forced to abandon ship off the Scottish coast, he gave the order "save the dogs," adding "and Colonel Churchill" after a pause. Luckily, Colonel Churchill was saved. He later became the Duke of Marlborough and went on to keep his own red and white Spaniels. While fighting abroad in the Battle of Blenheim, his wife Sarah the Duchess is reputed to have been in a very anxious state at home waiting for news. For comfort, she stroked one of their Spaniels that was soon to have puppies. She repeatedly pressed her thumb on the dog's head. When news of the great battle victory arrived, five puppies were born bearing red thumbprints on their foreheads. This mark became known as the Blenheim spot.
In 1886, The Toy Spaniel Club was founded. The breed was divided into four types according to color--King Charles (black and whites, or black and tans), Blenheim (red and white), Rubies (solid reds), and Tricolors, described as Prince Charles or King Charles I Spaniels. In 1902, the club decided to change its name to the King Charles Spaniel Club but the Kennel Club, the regulatory body of the British canine world, wanted the breed to known as English Toy Spaniels. It was not just the breed club that wanted to ensure royal affiliation--King Edward VII informed the Kennel Club that he wished the breed to be known as the King Charles Spaniel.
Re-birth of the old-type Toy Spaniel can be traced to an advertisement in the catalog of Charles Cruft's Dog Show in 1926: "Blenheim Spaniels of the Old Type, as shown in the pictures of Charles II time; long face, no stop, flat skull not inclined to be domed, with a spot on the centre of the skull. The first prizes in classes 947 and 948 are given by Roswell Eldridge, Esq., of New York, and will be contined for five years. Prizes go to nearest to type required. The first year's classes attracted only four entries, but a few people became quite inspired by the crusade to revive the old breed and this hard core group banded together. In 1928, they formed the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club.
The Cavalier classes at Cruft's began to attract larger entries. In the years 1926-29, the winner for Best Dog was Ann's Son, a key figure in the breed's history. Ann's Son was a Blenheim of such outstanding quality that he attracted many new admirers to the breed. The ancestry of all Cavalier King Charles Spaniels today can be traced back to this dog.
http://www.rit.edu/~jmo5601/mickey.html
Character
Temperament is the primary consideration for responsible breeders. If a Cavalier isn't "active, fearless and very gay," it isn't really a Cavalier. With a dog of typical Cavalier temperament, you are off to a good start, but you must follow-through and train your pup to be a well-mannered adult. This breed is very eager to please but you can't expect it to read your mind--you need to show clearly and consistently the behavior you require. Pulling on the lead and barking in the car are habits that need checking early on.
Cavaliers are quite sociable animals and tend to enjoy the company of other dogs and cats, especially if they are brought up with them. They seem to particularly appreciate the companionship of other Cavaliers and will often snuggle up affectionately to a quite unrelated dog.
Appearance
An adult Cavalier should weigh between 12 and 18 pounds (approximately 5.5 to 8 kg). It's a small dog but the biggest Toy breed, usually standing at about 12 to 13 inches (30 to 33 cm) at the shoulder. The expression gives an impression of a generous, sweet nature. The eyes are large, round and very dark but should never appear to bulge or be set too close together. The ears are another distinctive feature. Set high on the head, leathers should be lengthy and covered with long silky coat. The ears frame the face, as long human hair does. The skull should be almost flat, unlike the King Charles which is more domed. In profile, the skull shouldn't meet the muzzle too abruptly. There should be a gentle slope of no great depth. The foreface is about one-and-a-half inches long and shouldn't be too snipey, coarse or blunt. There are four recognized color patterns; Blenheim (chestnut red and white), Ruby (wholecolor chestnut red), Tricolor (black, white and tan), and Black and Tan.
A.K.C. Standard
General Appearance: An active, graceful, well-balanced dog, very gay and free in action; fearless and sporting in character, yet at the same time gentle and affectionate.
Head: The skull is slightly rounded, but without a dome or peak; it appears flat because of the high placement of the ears.
Eyes: Large, round, and set well apart; color a warm very dark brown, giving a lustrous limpid look. Slight cushioning beneath the eyes, which contributes much to the sweet, gentle expression characteristic of the breed. Faults: small, almond-shaped eyes; white surrounding ring.
Nose: There is a shallow stop, and the length from base of stop to tip of nose is at least 1.5 inches. Nostrils are well developed and pigment uniformly black. Putty or "dudley" noses and white patches on the nose are serious faults, as are small pinched nostrils.
Muzzle: Well tapered; mouth level; lips well covered. Faults: sharp pointed or snipey muzzle. Full or pendulous lips. Flesh marks, ie., patches of pink pigment showing through hair on muzzle.
Teeth: Strong and even, preferably meeting in a scissors bite, although a level bite is permitted. Undershot mouths are greatly to be discouraged; it should be emphasized, however, that 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. Faults: weak or crooked teeth; crooked jaws.
Ears: Set high, but not close on top of the head. Leather long with plenty of silky feathering, and wide enough so that when the dog is alert, ears fan slightly forward to frame the face.
Neck: Fairly long, without throatiness, well enough muscled to form a slight arch at the crest. Set smoothly into nice sloping shoulders.
Shoulders: Slope back gently with moderate angulation, to give the look of top class and presence.
Body: Short-coupled with ribs well sprung but not barreled. Chest moderately deep, leaving ample heart room. Back level, leading into strong, muscular hindquarters. Slightly less body at the flank than at the last rib, but with no tucked-up appearance.
Legs: Forelegs straight and well under the dog, bone moderate, elbows close to the side. Hind legs moderately muscled; stifles well turned; hocks well let down. The hind legs when viewed from the rear, are parallel to each other from hock to heel. Pasterns strong and feet compact with well-cushioned pads. The dog stands level on all four feet. Faults: loose elbows; crooked legs; stifles turned in or out; cow hocks; stilted action. Weak pasterns and open feet.
Tail: Set so as to be carried level with the back. Tail is in constant, characteristic motion when the dog is in action. Docking is optional, but whether or not the tail is docked, it must balance the body. If docked, tail must not be cut too short; two-thirds is the absolute minimum to be left on the body, and the tails of broken-colored dogs should always be docked to leave a white tip.
Coat: Long and silky and very soft to the touch; free from curl, though a slight wave is permissible. Feathering on ears, legs, and tail is long, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. No trimming of the dog is permitted. However, it is permissible, and often desirable, to remove the hair growing between the pads on the underside of the foot.
Size: Height 12 to 13 inches at the withers; weight, proportionate to height, between 13 and 18 pounds. These are ideal heights and weights; slight variations are permissible and a dog should be penalized only in comparison with one of equal general appearance, type and quality. The weedy specimen is as much penalized as the oversized one.
Colors:
Blenheim: Rich chestnut red 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 valued lozenge (diamond), or "Blenheim spot." The lozenge is a unique and highly desirable, though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim.
Tricolor: Jet black markings well broken up on a pearly white ground, with rich tan markings over eyes, on cheeks, inside legs, and on underside of tail.
Ruby: Whole-colored rich red
Black and Tan: Jet black with rich tan markings over eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest, legs and underside of tail.
Faults: White marks on whole-colored specimins; heavy ticking on Blenheims or tricolors. It is important to remember that a dog can have one or more of the faults listed in the standard, in moderation, and still be an overall typical, gay elegant Cavalier. On the other hand, bad temper and meaness are not to be tolerated and any dog exhibiting these qualities shall be excused from the ring. It is the typical gay temperament, and "royal" appearance, which is of paramount importance in the breed
they are prone to corneal dystrophany with is corneal dullness
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Charles_Spaniel
History
The breed originated in Renaissance-era Great Britain as a companion dog for royalty, although in that era the breed more closely resembled the modern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel than contemporary English Toys. Crosses between long-snouted toy spaniels and short-snouted breeds such as the Pug or Japanese Chin in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the breed's current appearance. Weighs around 11 pounds.
[edit] Coat
Like its larger cousin, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the King Charles Spaniel has a silky, often slightly wavy coat. It tends to be shorter than that of Cavaliers.
This breed also comes in the same color varieties as the Cavalier: Blenheim (red-and-white), Prince Charles (tricolor), King Charles (black-and-tan), and Ruby (solid red).[1] Originally, each of these color patterns was regarded as a separate breed, but in the late 1800s the four varieties were consolidated into a single breed.
The AKC has two classes: English Toy Spaniel (B/PC) (Blenheim and Prince Charles) and English Toy Spaniel (R/KC) (Ruby and King Charles).
[edit] Health
The King Charles Spaniel may have health problems such as heart defects, eye problems, patellar luxation (kneecap slipping), and fused toes, which can cause incorrectly grown toenails. They tend to live 10 to 12 years.
Although there is less information available online, the King Charles Spaniel suffers from the same serious health problems as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
http://www.ckcs.com/about/history.html
History Of The Cavalier
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel of today is descended from the small Toy Spaniels seen in so many of the 16th, 17th and 18th Century paintings by the likes of Titian, Van Dyck, Lely, Stubbs, Gainsborough, Reynolds and Romney. These paintings show the small spaniel with a flat head, high set ears, almond eyes and a rather pointed nose. During Tudor times, Toy Spaniels were quite common as ladies' pets but it was under the Stuarts that they were given the royal title of King Charles Spaniels and history tells us that King Charles II was seldom seen without two or three at his heels. So fond was King Charles II of his little dogs, he wrote a decree that the King Charles Spaniel should be accepted in any public place, even in the Houses of Parliament where animals were not usually allowed. This decree is still in existence today in England. As time went by, and with the coming of the Dutch Court, Toy Spaniels went out of fashion and were replaced in popularity by the Pug. One exception was the strain of red and white Toy Spaniels that was bred at Blenheim Palace by various Dukes of Marlborough.
In the early days, there were no dog shows and no recognized breed standard, so both type and size varied. With little transport available, one can readily believe that breeding was carried out in a most haphazard way. By the mid-nineteenth century, England took up dog breeding and dog showing seriously. Many breeds were developed and others altered. This brought a new fashion to the Toy Spaniel - dogs with the completely flat face, undershot jaw, domed skull with long, low set ears and large, round frontal eyes of the modern King Charles Spaniel, also called "Charlies," known in the USA today as the English Toy Spaniel. Due to this "new" fashion, the King Charles Spaniel of the "old type" as seen in the early paintings was almost extinct.
It was at this stage that an American, Roswell Eldridge began to search for foundation stock in England for Toy Spaniels that resembled those in the old paintings, including the painting by Sir Edwin Landseer, "The Cavalier's Dogs," but all he could find were the short faced "Charlies." He persisted, persuading the Kennel Club in 1926 to allow him to offer prizes for five years at Crufts Dog Show -- 25 pounds sterling for the best dog and 25 pounds sterling for the best ***** -- for the dogs of the Blenheim variety as seen in King Charles II's reign. The following is a quotation taken from Cruft's catalog: "As shown in the pictures of King Charles II's time, long face no stop, flat skull, not inclined to be domed and with the spot in the center of the skull" and the prizes to go to the nearest to the type described. No one among the King Charles breeders took this challenge very seriously as they had worked hard for years to do away with the long nose. Gradually, as the big prizes came to an end, only people really interested in reviving the dogs as they once had been, were left to carry on the breeding experiment. At the end of five years, little had been achieved and the Kennel Club was of the opinion that the dogs were not in sufficient numbers, nor of a single type, to merit a separate breed registration from the "Charlies."
In 1928 a dog owned by Miss Mostyn Walker, "Ann's Son" was awarded the prize but unfortunately Roswell Eldridge died at age 70, only a month before Crufts in 1928, so he never saw the results of his challenge prizes. It was in the same year that a Club was founded and the title "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel" was chosen. It was very important that the association with the name King Charles Spaniel be kept as most breeders bred back to the original type by way of the long faced throwouts from the kennels of the short faced variety breeders. Some of the stock threw back to the long faced variety very quickly and pioneers were often accused of using outcrosses to other suitable breeds to get the long faces, but this was not true and crossing to other breeds was not recommended by the Club.
At the first meeting, held the second day of Crufts in 1928, the standard of the breed was drawn up and it was practically the same as it is today. Ann's Son was placed on the table as the live example and members brought all the reproductions of pictures of the 16th, 17th and 18th Centuries that they could muster. As this was a new and tremendous opportunity to achieve a really worthwhile breed, it was agreed that as far as possible, the Cavalier should be guarded from fashion, and there was to be no trimming. A perfectly natural dog was desired and was not to be spoiled to suit individual tastes, or as the saying goes, "carved into shape." Kennel Club recognition was still withheld and progress was slow, but gradually people became aware that the movement toward the "old type" King Charles Spaniel had come to stay. In 1945 the Kennel Club granted separate registration and awarded Challenge Certificates to allow the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to gain their Championships.
Meanwhile, in the USA, Mrs. W. L. Lyons Brown of Kentucky brought a Cavalier home from England. She found others in America who owned Cavaliers and organized the CKCSC-USA in 1956 with the idea of keeping a Stud Book and getting together with other American Cavalier Fanciers. At the beginning of the 1960's, friends gathered at "Sutherland" in Prospect, Kentucky, for the first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Specialty Show in America. By then 118 dogs had been registered, 68 of them born in the USA of 24 litters. To this day, the CKCSC-USA keeps complete and accurate records of litters, imported Cavaliers, the Stud Books, etc. in addition to organizing Specialty Shows (for Cavaliers only) around the country so that Cavalier owners have the opportunity for an objective evaluation of their dogs by knowledgeable judges and so that their dogs can compete for a Championship in the USA. The Club's stringent Code of Ethics, applying to all Club Members, makes the Cavalier in the USA a protected breed. This means that the Club expects its members to act responsibly with regard to the welfare and breeding of Cavaliers. It is hoped that the Code of Ethics would also help keep the Cavalier out of unethical hands which might turn the dogs over to puppy mills or pet shops. In 1985 the CKCSC-USA held a Silver Jubilee Show in Prospect, Kentucky, marking the 25th consecutive CKCSC-USA Specialty show.
In 1995, under increasing pressure by the AKC to move out of the Miscellaneous class, the Cavalier fancy split into two national breed clubs, and the Cavalier was fully recognized by the AKC in January of 1996. The original CKCSC-USA has repeatedly voted against recognition by the AKC and declined the offer to be the AKC recognized national breed club. The American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was subsequently formed, recognized by the AKC and wrote the current AKC Standard.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a delightfully affectionate, playful, intelligent little dog that repays his owner's care and attention with an endearing devotion.
A toy breed, they have a natural coat which needs no trimming, long silky ears, and large soulful eyes. More than one person has described them as looking like a Cocker Spaniel puppy all their lives. The tail is often left natural. The standard makes tail docking optional, but two thirds of the tail must be left intact. Dew claws are removed as they are thought to be a hazard to the prominent eyes.
They come in four color combinations: Blenheim (Red and White, with a red mask and ears, and red patches on a white body); Tricolor (Black and White with Tan Points), Ruby (Solid Red), and Black and Tan (without white).
In addition to being a fine companion, one of the jobs the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was originally bred to do was to warm laps in drafty castles and on chilly carriage rides (the other job was to attract fleas & thereby spare their masters in the days of the Plague). While so many other breeds of dog no longer perform the tasks for which they were bred (pulling milk carts, herding sheep, hunting lions, for example), Cavaliers still take their responsibility quite seriously. A prescription written in Olde English for the Queen of England directs her to keep a "comforte dog" (now known as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel) on her lap to treat a cold. It is almost as if the breed's motto is "so many laps, so little time." Cavaliers take cuddling so seriously that "If you want your pillow you must get there first" is often heard when Cavalier owners gather.
Cavalier Health
For the most part Cavaliers are healthy dogs, but like most breeds they have conditions to which they are susceptible. One of these, Mitral Valve Disorder (MVD) has been the focus of increased research as its occurrence has risen among Cavaliers. Other disorders such as hip dysplasia and luxating patellas have registering bodies that certify Cavaliers clear of these conditions and help insure the overal health of the breed.
hope this helps!:)