Breed library

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Also known as CKCS, Cavalier, Cavi.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel photograph.
CarterBIS.Tiki.13.6.09.jpg - Andreweatock. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CarterBIS.Tiki.13.6.09.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) is a British breed of toy dog of spaniel type. Four colours are recognised: Blenheim (chestnut and white), tricolour (black/white/tan), black and tan, and ruby; the coat is smooth and silky. The lifespan is usually between eight and twelve years. The toy spaniels which were the predecessors of the Cavalier changed dramatically in the nineteenth century, when they were inter-bred with flat-nosed breeds. Until the 1920s, the Cavalier shared the same history as the smaller King Charles Spaniel. Breeders attempted to recreate what they considered to be the original configuration - a dog resembling Charles II's spaniel of the English Civil War period, when supporters of the king were known as Cavaliers.

  • Country of origin: United KingdomBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • During the early part of the 18th century, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, kept red and white King Charles type spaniels for hunting.
  • His estate was named Blenheim in honour of his victory at the Battle of Blenheim.
  • The exact relationship of the different toy spaniels was a matter of much debate among dog writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • In the book "Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians" published under the name of the "Hon.
  • Neville Lytton" in 1911, Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth documented her attempts to investigate their lineage by crossing Blenheims with the now extinct Toy Trawler Spaniels which she considered the best living representative of the 17th-century type.

Size and appearance

Historically the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was a lap dog and is small for a spaniel, with fully grown adults comparable in size to adolescents of other larger spaniel breeds. The tail is usually not docked, and the Cavalier should have a silky coat of moderate length. Standards state that it should be free from curl, although a slight wave is allowed. Feathering can grow on their ears, feet, legs and tail in adulthood. Standards require this be kept long, with the feathering on the feet a particularly important aspect of the breed's features.

  • Body mass reference: 5.4 - 8 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 5.4 - 8 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Body mass reference: 6.7 kgBreed reference body mass.
  • Height reference: 31.5 cmBreed reference height.
  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Height category: short
  • Weight category: small

Personality and behavior

The breed is playful, patient and eager to please. They will adapt quickly to almost any environment, family, and location and suit city and country life. Their ability to bond with larger and smaller dogs makes them a good choice for households with more than one breed. Cavaliers are said to be naturally curious and playful, but can also be calm companions or lap dogs for making them good companions or lap dogs for medical patients and the elderly. Cavaliers are active and sporting. Cavaliers are successful in conformation shows, obedience and agility and are frequently used as therapy dogs due to their calm disposition.

  • Attachment and attention seeking (C-BARQ mean): 2.19 / 4Owner-reported attachment and attention seeking factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Chasing (C-BARQ mean): 2.00 / 4Owner-reported chasing factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Dog-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.42 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Dog-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.91 / 4Owner-reported dog-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Energy (C-BARQ mean): 1.71 / 4Owner-reported energy factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Excitability (C-BARQ mean): 2.00 / 4Owner-reported excitability factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Familiar-dog aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.36 / 4Owner-reported familiar-dog aggression factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Non-social fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.64 / 4Owner-reported non-social fear factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Owner-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.12 / 4Owner-reported owner-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Separation-related problems (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported separation-related problems factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Stranger-directed aggression (C-BARQ mean): 0.35 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed aggression factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Stranger-directed fear (C-BARQ mean): 0.66 / 4Owner-reported stranger-directed fear factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Touch sensitivity (C-BARQ mean): 0.67 / 4Owner-reported touch sensitivity factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Trainability (C-BARQ mean): 2.50 / 4Owner-reported trainability factor mean for US reference population Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat texture: smooth
  • Grooming frequency: weekly brushing

Health and lifespan

A 2022 UK study of veterinary data found a life expectancy of 10.45 years compared to 11.82 for crossbreeds. A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 11.8 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds. A 2018 Japanese study of pet cemetery data found a life expectancy of 13.1 years compared to 15.1 for crossbreeds and 13.7 overall. A 2024 Italian study found a life expectancy of 10 years for the breed compared to 10 years overall.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Breed history

During the early part of the 18th century, John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, kept red and white King Charles type spaniels for hunting. The duke recorded that they were able to keep up with a trotting horse. His estate was named Blenheim in honour of his victory at the Battle of Blenheim. Because of this influence, the red and white variety of the King Charles Spaniel and thus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel became known as the Blenheim. The exact relationship of the different toy spaniels was a matter of much debate among dog writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the book "Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians" published under the name of the "Hon. Mrs.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, revision 1377668712. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:CarterBIS.Tiki.13.6.09.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. CarterBIS.Tiki.13.6.09.jpg - Andreweatock. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CarterBIS.Tiki.13.6.09.jpg. License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.