Page 36 - ShowSight Presents The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
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share much early history and even in the nineteenth century both types were bred together. Four colors evolved—the red and white Blenheims, Tricolors, Black & Tans, and solid red Rubys.
The Cavalier not only owes his origins to a kinship with the King Charles, but he is also a product of the breeding of several different types of spaniels in the early centuries—“little cocking spaniels” used for hunting woodcock, the some- what larger Blenheims bred by the Duke of Marlborough (of whom it was said that they “should be able to go all day behind a horse”), and even the Water Spaniel as suggested in the work of Mrs. Neville Lytton published in 1911 (Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors).
Although the Cavalier is keenly inter- ested in birds and small game, there is little evidence to suggest that historically he was set to the hunt. The chief “duty” of the Cavalier throughout history was as a companion. He was a small lap dog who was a cherished family member then as now. While small, ideally 13-18 lbs. and not over 13" at the withers accord- ing to the present breed Standard, he is not fragile. He is quite happy to go on long walks with his family or to with-
stand the vigorous ministrations of responsible children.
While the Cavalier was nurtured, developed, feted, and loved in England, it is ironic that it was an American million- aire from New York, Roswell Eldridge, who is credited with a major role in sav- ing it from obscurity. Having become interested in the type that was represented by the Cavalier, as opposed to the more popular “Charlie,” Mr. Eldridge offered £25 at Crufts in 1925 (and for 4 succeed- ing years) to winners of ‘Cavalier’ classes that he sponsored. This award stimulated a small and dedicated band of breeders to begin the difficult revival of the breed, and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club in the UK was founded in 1928. Early litters were undoubtedly born of the longer nosed Charlie “rejects’ because it was important to select for the character- istics that had been well nigh lost—the flatter skull and higher set ears, while maintaining the large round eyes that so contribute to ideal soft expression. None- theless, despite the hard work of the early breeders, the Cavalier King Charles Span- iel was not recognized as a separate breed in the UK until 1945. Today, it is the most popular Toy dog in England.
The first Cavaliers in the United States were imported in the 1940s. The Cava- lier King Charles Spaniel Club-USA was founded in 1954 as a registry separate from that of the American Kennel Club. It has remained an independent group that has resisted recognition of the Cavalier by the AKC. As a result, the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was founded in 1993 by former CKCSC-USA members and remains the Parent Club and custo- dian of the AKC breed standard. In 1996 the Cavalier was indeed recognized by the AKC as the 140th AKC breed of dog. At present there are 25 AKC regional clubs across the USA.
The Cavalier in the USA is something of a status symbol to some who have seen it on television and the movies, and remem- ber President Reagan’s Cavalier ‘Rex’ in the White House. The Cavalier ranked 20th in AKC registrations for the year 2012, up from 40th a mere 10 years before. Breed- ers have understandable concerns that the characteristics that endear the Cavalier to its devotees—its affability, easy trainability, gentleness, and compatibility with other dogs-- may also be responsible for increas- ing numbers of unwelcome puppy mill- ers, importers, and backyard breeders—all seeking to capitalize on the relatively high price tag associated with puppy purchases across the country. Erica Venier, Orchard Hill Cavaliers, worries that “ ...because it is so vastly popular, it is easy to purchase a dog on the Internet without necessarily consult- ing conscientious breeders. We have a good core group of breeders who really care about health issues as well as conformation. To lose that would be to lose your heart.”
Indeed, the heart is easily touched by the personality of the Cavalier—he is dif- ficult to anger, devoted and loyal to his family, and utterly at ease with most other friendly dogs. If you should add a Cavalier to a room full of other Cavaliers—within 5 minutes of gentle jostling, sniffing, and adjusting, the “new” dog will be an accept- ed member of the group. Fighting among Cavaliers is almost unknown in his totally “polite” society. A gently wagging tail is a hallmark of the breed. In addition to all these attributes, the Cavalier is an ‘easy keeper’—easy to feed, and relatively easy
