The TV programme Pedigree Dogs Exposed claimed that show
breeders were turning dogs into 'mutant freaks' by exaggerating various
features. This could not be further from the truth as far as the Cavalier King
Charles Spaniel is concerned. During Victorian times the foreface had become
flatter, but in 1928 when Mr Roswell Eldridge first put up a prize of £25
as a challenge for breeders to recreate the longer nosed spaniel depicted in
the old paintings, the aim of Cavalier breeders has always been to preserve the
breed, not to alter it. Contrary to popular thought, longer nosed King Charles
Spaniels still turned up in litters and it was from these 'throwbacks' that
that the modern Cavalier has been descended.
The Cavalier is a perfectly balanced spaniel with a
normal proportioned neck, back and legs. There should be no sign of short,
stumpy legs nor overly long limbs or back. The aim of this unexaggerated body
shape should be to provide a graceful ease of movement so that the dog moves
effortlessly and gracefully without the need to compromise in any way. This is
what breeders describe as soundness; and health and soundness are the main
criteria that all dedicated breeders strive towards.
Cavaliers are descended from the Marlborough spaniels
that were kept at Blenheim Palace by the 1st Duke of Marlborough and his
family. Although they were small toy spaniels, they were also reliable working
dogs that were highly successful at retrieving small game, notably woodcock
that was in abundance in the Oxfordshire countryside. As retrieving spaniels
they had to be fit and agile, despite their diminutive size. Even as recently
as the 1980s I knew of a huntsman that regularly worked his Blenheim spaniel,
and the soundness of a hunting dog is still required by breeders even though
their dogs never, ever work in the field.
A silky coat, well feathered ears and neatly placed
markings on a particolour are nice cosmetic extras, in other words the icing on
the cake. The most important attributes that breeders and judges are looking
for are well constructed, soundly made dogs with the wonderful, friendly and
fearless temperament that is the true character of the Cavalier King Charles
Spaniel.
Cavaliers have been around for many centuries and we are
merely the short term guardians of the breed. Our main objective is to preserve
this wonderful spaniel for future generations.
To illustrate how little the breed has changed over the
centuries below are details from some early paintings that featured small toy
spaniels.
From Adoration of the Magi by Francesco
Bassano, painted in 1585
A painting of a toy spaniel by Philip
Reinagle from the early 1800s
St. James's Park by George Morland.
Painted in the late 1700s
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