The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

(Breed Standard)

Partha Sekhar Chatterjee

International All Breeds Dog Show Judge

This dog is active graceful and well balanced. It has a gentle expression but absolutely fearless. It is a wonderful sporting and affectionate dog. It is never nervous, non aggressive, gay and friendly dog. 

The skull is flat between the ears. Its length from base of skull to tip of nose is about 3.8cms. They have black nostrils and are well developed without flesh marks. It has a tapered muzzle. The lips are not pendulous but are well developed. The eyes are not prominent but are large, round and spaced well apart. The ears are set high, long with plenty of feathering. They have strong jaws with a perfect and complete scissor bite. The neck is slightly arched and of moderate length. 

The chest is moderately developed with laid back shoulders. The legs are straight and moderately boned. The body is short with well spung ribs with a level back. 

The legs of the hind quarter are moderately boned. The stifle is well turned without cow, or sickle hocks. They have compact well feathered and cushioned legs. The tail is well balanced with the body, carried happily but not above the level of the back. Docking mar or may not be done. Docked dogs have a third of their tail remaining. The move freely and are elegant in action. The front and hind limbs moves parallel when viewed from front or from behind. 

They have long silky coat with slight waviness. They are feathered and need not to be trimmed. The coat colours are black and tan. The tan should be bright. White markings are undesirable. Ruby, whole coloured red. Blenheim, rich chestnut broken markings on pearly black background. The colouring between the ears should be a lozenge mark or spot (unique characteristics of the breed). Tricolour, where the white and black are well spaced with tan markings over eyes, cheeks and on underside of the tail. They weigh 5.4 to 8 kgs.  

Any departure from the above mentioned standards is not desirable. 

All the male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended in to the scrotum.

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