King Charles Spaniel

The aristocratic King Charles Spaniel loves interest in his person and is always the center of attention. He has good contact with children. The English Toy Spaniel is not suitable for the guarding function. The dog is endowed with kindness and looks for an excuse for every bad action. King Charles Spaniel needs care like no other.

Breed Photos

Origin History

Dogs are considered royal because of their centuries-old history. King Charles Spaniels are native to Great Britain. The development of the breed began in the 16th century. The first representatives of English Toe Spaniels were spotted in the homes of aristocrats. The lords were crazy about the dogs. They slept with them in one bed and ate at the common table. The animals were named after Charles II, King of England, Ireland, and Scotland. But after the fall of the monarchy, the popularity of the breed subsided. Representatives of King Charles Spaniels could not be found in any home. A century later, one breeder, who adored Toe Spaniels, began to restore the breed. Vintage pictures of the pets came to the rescue. Cross-breeding took place between representatives of different countries: the pug (China), the Japanese spaniel (England), and the Maltese spaniel (Italy). Although spaniels are recognized by nature as hunting dogs, modern dogs are not suited for that function. They act as companion pets who love comfort.

Appearance

The main difference between King Charles Spaniel and the Cavalier Charles Spaniel is height and weight. The English Toy Spaniel is smaller and lighter at about 25 centimeters and 6 kilograms. The muzzle is short and flattened. Convex dark eyes of large size, which is inherited from the pug. He has a compact build with a medium-sized neck. The lush coat makes it appear short. The head is small with large floppy ears.

The body of the dog has an elongated shape. The chest is strong but not particularly wide. The legs are short and muscular. The long tail is down and covered with silky hair. Throughout the body, the coat is soft with straight hair. They were officially recognized as black with tan, blenheim, ruby, tricolor.

Character

The aristocratic King Charles Spaniel loves interest in his person and is always the center of attention. He has good contact with children. The English Toy Spaniel is not suitable for the guarding function. The dog is endowed with kindness and looks for an excuse for every bad action. King Charles Spaniel needs care like no other. The dog does not accept loneliness and requires maximum attention from the owner. Otherwise, the pet may develop depression or apathy. English Toy Spaniels love to travel. They are not capricious, so there is no need to build a trip under the dog. They quickly find friendly contact with other animals.

Care

King Charles Spaniels are easy to care for. Bathe your dog as his coat gets dirty, but no more than twice a month. Use a special shampoo to keep the coat silky. Brush frequently, ridding your dog of dead hair.

Particular attention should be paid to the ears. Inspect your pet’s ear canals and pick up accumulations of earwax. You can seek help from a veterinarian or take a master’s class. Due to the specific nose structure, English Toy Spaniels suffer from the heat. As for everything else – they are hardy and robust dogs.

Training

Although the breed is congenitally good-natured, it can cause problems for the owner if not appropriately trained. It is recommended to start training as early as possible. First of all, you should teach behavior in public places and within the home. Later, such skills will make it easier to socialize the dog.

Common Diseases

To keep your pet healthy, it’s a good idea to follow the recommendations:

1. King Charles Spaniel is prone to obesity, so don’t overfeed your pet.
2. If your dog has cardiovascular disease, reduce the walking time and intensity of exercise.
3. Treat your body for skin parasites in the spring and summer.
4. Visit your veterinarian once a year for a checkup.
5. Regular vaccinations will help protect your pet from infections.

In general, English Toy Spaniels are dogs with good health. But diseases in the form of:

• epilepsy;
• ear and eye infections;
• respiratory problems;
• Legg-Perthes disease – necrosis of the femoral head;
• eyelid wiggle;
• cryptorchidism;
• hydrocephalus.

Nutrition

To feed a King Charles Spaniel, you should choose a natural diet. Porridge should be the basis. Dogs like buckwheat, rice, and oats. Add to this a portion of beef, poultry, lamb, or veal. You can give your pet boiled fillets of sea fish and sour-milk products. A mandatory item in the diet should be vegetables and fruits. The main thing is not to go overboard with berries – they cause bloating and disrupt digestion. It is forbidden to introduce milk, fatty, sweet, spicy, and smoked foods to the English Toy Spaniel ration. Treat your pet to a piece of cheese or dog cookies.