Interactive Breed Standard

Move your mouse over the pictures of the two Cavaliers below to view the CKCSC breed standard corresponding with that portion of the dog.

Unfortunately at this time, our interactive breed standard only works with Microsoft Internet Explorer 4 and higher, apologies to those of you who run Netscape!

An active, graceful, well-balanced dog, very gay and free in action; Appearance: fearless and sporting in character, yet at the same time gentle and affectionate.

Coat: Long and silky and very soft to the touch; free from curl, though slightwave is permissible. Feathering on the ears, legs and tail should belong, and the feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. Trimming: NO trimming of the dog is permitted. However, it is permissible, often desirable, to remove the hair growing between the pads and the underside of the foot.

Size: Height 12 to 13 inches at the withers; weight, proportionate to height, between 13 and 18 pounds. These are ideal heights and weights; slight variations are permissible and a dog should not be penalized only incomparison with one of equal general appearance, type and quality.The weedy specimen is as much to be penalized as the oversized one.

Colors: The following colors are the only ones acceptable:

Blenheim: Rich chestnut markings well broken up on a pearly white ground. The ears must be red and the color evenly spaced on the head, with a wide white blaze between the ears, in the center of which is the much desired lozenge (diamond), or "Blenheim Spot". The lozenge is a unique and highly desirable, though not essential, characteristic of the Blenheim.

Tricolor: Jet black markings broken up on a pearly white ground; with rich tan markings over the eyes, on the cheeks and on underside of tail.

Ruby: Whole-colored rich red.

Black-and-Tan: Jet black with rich tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest, legs, and underside of tail.

Faults: White marks on whole-colored specimens; heavy ticking on Blenheims or Tricolors.

 

It is important to remember that a dog can have one or more of the faults listed in the Standard, in moderation, and still be an over-all typical gay, elegant Cavalier. On the other hand, bad temper or meanness are not to be tolerated and shall be considered disqualifying faults. It is the typical gay temperament, combined with true elegance and "royal" appearance, which are of paramount importance in the breed.

 

Here is what the breed standard says about the head properties of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: