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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed Standard
 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel General Appearance
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an active, graceful, well-balanced toy spaniel, very gay and free in action; fearless and sporting in character, yet at the same time gentle and affectionate. It is this typical gay temperament, combined with true elegance and royal appearance which are of paramount importance in the breed. Natural appearance with no trimming, sculpting or artificial alteration is essential to breed type.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Size, Proportion, Substance
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Size - Height 12 to 13 inches at the withers; Cavalier King Charles Spaniel weight proportionate to height, between 13 and 18 pounds. A small, well balanced dog within these weights is desirable, but these are ideal heights and weights and slight variations are permissible. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Proportion - The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel body approaches squareness, yet if measured from point of shoulder to point of buttock, is slightly longer than the height at the withers. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel height from the withers to the elbow is approximately equal to the height from the elbow to the ground. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Substance - Bone moderate in proportion to size. Weedy and coarse specimens are to be equally penalized.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Head
Proportionate to size of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, appearing neither too large nor too small for the body. Expression - The sweet, gentle, melting expression is an important breed characteristic. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Eyes - Large, round, but not prominent and set well apart; color a warm, very dark brown; giving a lustrous, limpid look. Rims dark. There should be cushioning under the eyes which contributes to the soft expression. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Faults - small, almond-shaped, prominent, or light eyes; white surrounding ring. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Ears - Set high, but not close, on top of the head. Leather long with plenty of feathering and wide enough so that when the dog is alert, the ears fan slightly forward to frame the face. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Skull - Slightly rounded, but without dome or peak; it should appear flat because of the high placement of the ears. Stop is moderate, neither filled nor deep. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Muzzle - Full muzzle slightly tapered.Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lLength from base of stop to tip of nose about 1½ inches. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel face well filled below eyes. Any tendency towards snipiness undesirable. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Nose pigment uniformly black without flesh marks and nostrils well developed. Lips well developed but not pendulous giving a clean finish. Faults - Sharp or pointed muzzles. Bite - A perfect, regular and complete scissors bite is preferred, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square into the jaws. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Faults - undershot bite, weak or crooked teeth, crooked jaws.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Neck, Topline, Body
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Neck - Fairly long, without throatiness, well enough muscled to form a slight arch at the crest. Set smoothly into nicely sloping shoulders to give an elegant look. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Topline - Level both when moving and standing. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Body - Short-coupled with ribs well spring but not barrelled. Chest moderately deep, extending to elbows allowing ample heart room. Slightly less body at the flank than at the last rib, but with no tucked-up appearance. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Tail - Well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back, and in constant characteristic motion when the dog is in action. Docking is optional. If docked, no more than one third to be removed.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Forequarters
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel shoulders well laid back. Forelegs straight and well under the dog with elbows close to the sides. Pasterns strong and feet compact with well-cushioned pads. Dewclaws may be removed.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Hindquarters
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel hindquarters construction should come down from a good broad pelvis, moderately muscled; stifles well turned and hocks well let down. The hindlegs when viewed from the rear should parallel each other from hock to heel. Faults - Cow or sickle hocks.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Coat
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel of moderate length, silky, free from curl. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel slight wave permissible. Feathering on ears, chest, legs and tail should be long, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. No trimming of the dog is permitted. Specimens where the coat has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by artificial means shall be so severly penalized as to be effectively eliminated from competition. Hair growing between the pads on the underside of the feet may be trimmed.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Color
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Blenheim - Rich chestnut markings well broken up on a clear, pearly white ground. The ears must be chestnut and the color evenly spaced on the head and surrounding both eyes, with a white blaze between the eyes and ears, in the center of which may be the lozenge or "Blenheim spot." The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel lozenge is a unique and desirable, though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Tricolor - Jet black markings well broken up on a clear, pearly white ground. The ears must be black and the color evenly spaced on the head and surrounding both eyes, with a white blaze between the eyes. Rich tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears and on underside of tail. Ruby - Whole-colored rich red. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Black and Tan - Jet black with rich, bright tan markings over eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest, legs, and on underside of tail. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Faults - Heavy ticking on Blenheims or Tricolors, white marks on Rubies or Black and Tans.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Gait
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel free moving and elegant in action, with good reach in front and sound, driving rear action. When viewed from the side, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel movement exhibits a good length of stride, and viewed from front and rear it is straight and true, resulting from straight-boned fronts and properly made and muscled hindquarters.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Temperament
Gay, friendly, non-aggressive with no tendency towards nervousness or shyness. Bad temper, shyness, and meanness are not to be tolerated and are to be severely penalized as to effectively remove the specimen from competition.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Approved Date: January 10, 1995
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Effective Date: April 30, 1995
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