9 Fascinating Facts About the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel captivates with its silky coat and gentle, expressive brown eyes.

1. The Cavalier King Charles spaniel originated from toy spaniels.

Although the Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a relatively modern breed, its ancestor, the toy spaniel, was highly sought after from the 16th to the 18th centuries. These petite lap dogs were transported from France to Scotland in the 1500s by the Queen of Scots. They became cherished companions of royalty, often depicted alongside their noble owners in artworks by masters such as Titian, Van Dyck, and Lely.

2. The breed was named after King Charles II.

The breed owes its name to King Charles II, who adored these dogs. It was rumored that the king always had at least three spaniels accompanying him. His affection for the dogs was so intense that some claimed he prioritized them over his royal duties. Known as the Cavalier King, this title contributed to the breed's name.

3. Urban legends suggest Cavalier King Charles spaniels were allowed in highly secure locations.

Legend has it that King Charles II adored his dogs so deeply that he declared they could enter any building, including the Houses of Parliament. However, this is merely a myth, as no concrete evidence supports the existence of such a decree.

4. The pug played a role in shaping the Cavalier King Charles spaniel’s appearance.

Following King Charles II's death in 1685, the breed's popularity waned, and dogs like the pug gained prominence. The King Charles spaniel was crossbred with these dogs, resulting in a shorter snout and a domed head. These traits persist in the modern King Charles spaniel, which is distinct from the Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

5. The breed was divided into two distinct types.

By the 1920s, King Charles spaniels were characterized by domed heads and short snouts. While some favored these traits, American enthusiast Roswell Eldridge sought the spaniels depicted alongside King Charles II in historical paintings. He traveled to England and offered 25 pounds for the finest examples of the “old type” spaniels—larger dogs with longer, more refined snouts.

Initially, breeders showed little interest in the challenge, having spent years refining the short-nosed variety. (Those who attempted it were mocked.) However, interest eventually grew, and a dedicated group of breeders embraced the task. The new variation was named the Cavalier King Charles spaniel to distinguish it from its pug-like counterparts. Sadly, Eldridge did not live to see the outcome, passing away in 1928. That same year, the first Cavalier King Charles Spaniel club was established, with a dog named Ann’s Son as its flagship example.

6. Cavalier King Charles spaniels were once used to attract fleas.

Known as comfort dogs, Cavalier King Charles spaniels were often placed in beds to lure fleas away from their owners, protecting humans from diseases like the plague.

7. Ronald Reagan owned a Cavalier King Charles spaniel.

In 1985, President Ronald Reagan gifted his wife a Cavalier named Rex for Christmas. Rex's first duty as the first dog was to activate the Christmas lights using his paw. He enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, including a luxurious doghouse designed by Theo Hayes, the great-great-grandson of President Rutherford Hayes. The doghouse featured red drapes and portraits of his owners. When Reagan's presidency ended, Rex received a new doghouse modeled after the White House, complete with carpet from Camp David.

8. The breed’s color variations have distinct names.

Cavaliers come in four color patterns, each with its own name: Prince Charles (tri-color), King Charles (black and tan), Ruby (mahogany), and Blenheim (chestnut and white).

9. The name Blenheim refers to a historic battle.

In the early 19th century, the Duke of Marlborough adored these dogs and maintained a group with chestnut and white coats. Legend says that while the duke was away fighting the battle of Blenheim, his wife remained home tending to a spaniel in labor. To calm both herself and the dog, she pressed her thumb on the dog’s forehead. When news arrived of the battle’s victory, the puppies were born with red marks on their heads. Though purely coincidental, many attributed these marks to the duchess’ thumb pressure. This distinctive marking, known as the “Blenheim spot,” was named after the battle. The family continued breeding Blenheim spaniels until the early 1900s.