Different dogs: King Charles are not Cavaliers

Article about the difference between King Charles and Cavalier King Charles spaniels.
By Laure-Anne Viselé, June 2010

I am often surprised to see that that a lot of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels owners think it is the same breed as King Charles Spaniels. Dog geek that I am, I had to do some research. Here is what I found out:

Confusion all around

Even the professionals get confused, it seems. According to cavaliers.co.uk, ‘The media often incorrectly describes most Cavalier King Charles Spaniels … in the press as being King Charles Spaniels‘. Even vets get frequently confused, according to cavaliers.co.uk, occasionally going as far as suggesting that a perfect King Charles is a faulty Cavalier. In extreme cases, this can result in misdiagnoses and unnecessary surgical procedures such as:

• unnecessary surgery for fused toes
• incorrect hydrocephalus diagnosis (because the dog has a domed head)
• unnecessary surgery for undershot jaw

Facts true for both breeds

• Belong to FCI‘s Section 7 (English toy spaniels) of Group 9 (Companion and toy dogs).
• Coat colours allowed for showing are:
  • black and tan,
  • ruby,
  • Blenheim and
  • tricolour.

Traits unique to King Charles Spaniels

• FCI #: 128
• Character (FCI): Reserved
• Stop (FCI): Well-defined
• Nose (FCI): Very short and turned up to meet the skull
• Jaw (FCI): Lower jaw wide. Bite should be slightly undershot. This ‘prognate’ look is reminiscent of other ‘squashed-face’ dogs such as the pug.

Courtesy of cavaliers.co.uk

• Ears (FCI): Set low
• Chest (FCI): Wide and deep
• Weight (FCI): 3.6 to 6.3kg, making them the smallest spaniel breed.
• Head (FCI): domed

Courtesy of cavaliers.co.uk

• Foot (cavaliers.co.uk): Compact, with occasionally central pad and nails fused together

Courtesy of cavaliers.co.uk

• History (FCI): Documented (in Great Britain) since at least 15th century
• Numbers (cavaliers.co.uk): In the year 2000, 185 were registered at the UK Kennel Club

Photos of King Charles Spaniels:

Traits unique to Cavaliers King Charles Spaniels

• FCI #: 136
• Character (FCI): Fearless
• Stop (FCI): Shallow
• Nose (FCI): Well-developed
• Jaw (FCI): Perfect, regular and complete scissor bite

Courtesy of cavaliers.co.uk

• Ears (FCI): Set high
• Chest (FCI): Moderate
• Weight (FCI): 5.4 to 8kg
• Head (cavaliers.co.uk): Skull almost flat between the ears

Courtesy of cavaliers.co.uk

• Foot (cavaliers.co.uk): Compact

Courtesy of cavaliers.co.uk

• History (cavaliers.co.uk): Not recognized (by UK Kennel Club) until 1945
• Numbers (cavaliers.co.uk): In the year 2000, over 11,000 were registered at the UK Kennel Club

Sources

• Fédération Cynologique Internationale (central, worldwide breed standards)
• King Charles Spaniel or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: There IS a difference (article by cavaliers.co.uk)

Any comments

I would love to hear from you if you’d like to share your view on the topic. I would particularly like to hear your comments:

• If you own, breed, or have contact with King Charles and/or Cavalier King Charles.
• If you would recommend, or discourage people from getting these breeds? What are the pros and cons?
• If you have a breed of dog (or a mixed breed) that is frequently confused for another breed.
• If you are often advised, even by pet professionals, that your King Charles is a faulty Cavalier.

Further reading

Dog breeds

• Hit the spot – Fact sheet about Dalmatians
• Splash! – Photo report about water rescue training for Newfoundland dogs
• That’ll do Fly – Photo report about Dutch national sheep herding championship (Border Collies)
• Raising gentle giants – Interview with anatolian shepherd breeder
• Photographic breed identification project – Submit your breed pictures to Canis bonus education project
• Dog trip down memory lane – List of all breeds owned by Canis bonus, with character traits

Dogs and society

• Hot dogs – Quick poll about hotly debated dog issues (e.g. leash/no leash, treat/no treat, etc.)
• Dogs, my philosophical position – Canis bonus position statement on debated dog issues
• Thinking of getting a dog? Reality check – Article about responsibilities and chores of dog ownership

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