GENERAL APPEARANCE
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an active, graceful, well-balanced toy
spaniel, very gay and free in action; fearless and sporting in character, yet at
the same time gentle and affectionate. It is this typical gay temperament,
combined with true elegance and royal appearance which are of paramount
importance in the breed. Natural appearance with no trimming, sculpting or
artificial alteration is essential to breed type.
SIZE, PROPORTION, SUBSTANCE
Size - Height 12 to 13 inches at the withers; weight proportionate to
height, between 13 and 18 lbs. A small, well balanced dog within these weights
is desirable, but these are ideal heights and weights and slight variations are
permissible.
Proportion - The body approaches squareness, yet if measured from point of
shoulder to point of buttock, is slightly longer than the height at the withers.
The height from the withers to the elbow is approximately equal to the height
from the elbow to the ground.
Substance - Bone moderate in proportion to size. Weedy and coarse specimens are
to be equally penalized.
HEAD
Proportionate to size of dog, appearing neither too large nor too small for
the body.
Expression - The sweet, gentle, melting expression is an important breed
characteristic.
Eyes - Large, round, but not prominent and set well apart; color
a warm, very dark brown; giving a lustrous, limpid look. Rims dark. There should
be cushioning under the eyes which contributes to the soft expression. Faults -
small, almond-shaped, prominent, or light eyes; white surrounding ring.
Ears - Set high, but not close, on top of the head. Leather long with plenty of
feathering and wide enough so that when the dog is alert, the ears fan slightly
forward to frame the face.
Skull - Slightly rounded, but without dome or peak; it should appear flat
because of the high placement of the ears. Stop is moderate, neither filled nor
deep.
Muzzle - Full muzzle slightly tapered. Length from base of stop to tip of nose
about 1 1/2 inches. Face well filled below eyes. Any tendency towards snipiness
undesirable. Nose pigment uniformly black without flesh marks and nostrils well
developed. Lips well developed but not pendulous giving a clean finish. Faults -
Sharp or pointed muzzles.
Bite - A perfect, regular and complete scissors bite is preferred, i.e. the
upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square into the jaws.
Faults - undershot bite, weak or crooked teeth, crooked jaws.
NECK, TOPLINE, BODY
Neck - Fairly long, without throatiness, well enough muscled to form a
slight arch at the crest. Set smoothly into nicely sloping shoulders to give an
elegant look.
Topline - Level both when moving and standing.
Body - Short-coupled with ribs well sprung but not barrelled. Chest moderately
deep, extending to elbows allowing ample heart room. Slightly less body at the
flank than at the last rib, but with no tucked-up appearance.
Tail - Well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back,
and in constant characteristic motion when the dog is in action. Docking is
optional. If docked, no more than one third to be removed.
FOREQUARTERS
Shoulders well laid back. Forelegs straight and well under the dog with
elbows close to the sides. Pasterns strong and feet compact with well-cushioned
pads. Dewclaws may be removed.
HINDQUARTERS
The hindquarters construction should come down from a good broad pelvis,
moderately muscled; stifles well turned and hocks well let down. The hindlegs
when viewed from the rear should parallel each other from hock to heel. Faults -
cow or sickle hocks.
COAT
Of moderate length, silky, free from curl. Slight wave permissible.
Feathering on ears, chest, legs and tail should be long, and the feathering on
the feet is a feature of the breed. No trimming of the dog is permitted.
Specimens where the coat has been altered by trimming, clipping, or by
artificial means shall be so severely penalized as to be effectively eliminated
from competition. Hair growing between the pads on the underside of the feet
may be trimmed.
COLOR
Blenheim - Rich chestnut markings well broken up on a clear, pearly white
ground. The ears must be chestnut and the color evenly spaced on the head and
surrounding both eyes, with a white blaze between the eyes and ears, in the
center of which may be the lozenge or "Blenheim spot". The lozenge is a unique
and desirable, though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim.
Tricolor - Jet black markings well broken up on a clear, pearly white
ground. The ears must be black and the color evenly spaced on the head and
surrounding both eyes, with a white blaze between the eyes. Rich tan markings
over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears and on underside of tail.
Ruby - Whole-colored rich red.
Black and Tan - Jet black with rich, bright tan markings over eyes, on
cheeks, inside ears, on chest, legs and underside of tail.
Faults - Heavy ticking on Blenheims
or Tricolors, white marks on Rubies or Black and Tans.
GAIT
Free moving and elegant in action, with good reach in front and sound,
driving rear action. When viewed from the side, the movement exhibits a good
length of stride, and viewed from front and rear it is straight and true,
resulting from straight-boned fronts and properly made and muscled hindquarters.
TEMPERAMENT
Gay, friendly, non-aggressive with no tendency towards nervousness or
shyness. Bad temper, shyness and meanness are not to be tolerated and are to
be so severely penalized as to effectively remove the specimen from competition.