Cavalier King Charles Spaniel E-Book

Juliette Cunliffe

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Serie: Comprehensive Owner's Guide
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 227

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2011

Beschreibung

With the confidence and personality of a dog many times his size, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is one of the world's most beloved toy breeds, continuing to rank as the most popular toy breed in his land of origin, "that sceptered isle," England. Author Juliette Cunliffe, a British dog specialist, well describes this charming and elegant purebred dog in this Comprehensive Owner's Guide, beginning with the breed's history and development in the U.K. and tracing the Cav to the U.S., where it has become a favorite choice as a purebred pet. The chapter on characteristics includes a discussion of the breed's physical traits, IQ, health considerations, and personality. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with photographs of handsome adults and puppies. In all, there are over 135 full-color photographs in this useful and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training will help the reader better mold and train into the most well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive and lavishly illustrated chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, preventing and dealing with parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical dogs, breeders, or kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.

Leseprobe

Physical Characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

(from the American Kennel Club breed standard)

Head: Proportionate to size of dog, appearing neither too large nor too small for the body. The skull is slightly rounded, but without dome or peak; it should appear flat because of the high placement of the ears.

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.

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.

Stop: Moderate, neither filled nor deep.

Muzzle: Full muzzle slightly tapered. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 1.5 inches. Face well filled below eyes.

Nose: Nostrils well developed. Pigment uniformly black without flesh marks.

Chest: Moderately deep, extending to elbows allowing ample heart room.

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.

Neck: Fairly long, well enough muscled to form a slight arch at the crest. Set smoothly into nicely sloping shoulders to give an elegant look.

Body: Short-coupled with ribs well spring.

Hindquarters: Moderately muscled; pelvis broad, stifles well turned and hocks well let down.

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.

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.” Other colors are Tricolor, Ruby and Black and Tan.

Tail: Well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back.

Size: Height 12 to 13 inches at the withers; weight proportionate to height, between 13 and 18 pounds.

Contents

History of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Examine the Cavalier’s history as the author reveals its 16th-century beginnings through references in art and literature and become acquainted with the early European breeders and monarchs who brought attention to this delightful toy spaniel.

Characteristics of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Discover what makes the Cavalier such a unique and adaptable dog: his practical size, glamorous but sensible appearance, good health, charm and charisma all qualify the Cavalier as a happy and healthy pet for the right owner or family.

Breed Standard for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Learn the requirements of a well-bred Cavalier by studying the description of the breed set forth in the American Kennel Club standard. Both show dogs and pets must possess key characteristics as outlined in the breed standard.

Your Puppy Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Be advised about choosing a reputable breeder and selecting a healthy, typical Cavalier puppy. Understand the responsibilities of ownership, including home preparation, acclimatization, the vet and prevention of common puppy problems.

Everyday Care of Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Enter into a sensible discussion of dietary and feeding considerations, exercise, grooming, traveling and identification of your dog. This chapter discusses Cavalier care for all stages of development.

Training Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

By Charlotte SchwartzBe informed about the importance of training your Cavalier, from the basics of house-breaking and understanding the development of a young dog to executing obedience commands (sit, stay, down, etc.).

Health Care of Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Discover how to select a proper veterinarian and care for your dog at all stages of life. Topics include vaccination scheduling, skin problems, dealing with external and internal parasites as well as allergies and food problems.

Your Senior Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Recognize the signs of an aging dog, both behavioral and medical; implement a seniorcare program with your veterinarian and become comfortable with making the final decisions and arrangements for your senior Cavalier.

Showing Your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Experience the dog show world, including different types of shows and the making of a champion. Go beyond the conformation ring to obedience and agility trials where the talented Cavalier excels.

Behavior of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Learn to recognize and handle common behavioral problems in your Cavalier, including aggression with people and other dogs, chewing, barking, mounting, digging, jumping up and more.

KENNEL CLUB BOOKS®CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIELISBN 13: 978-1-59378-877-3

Copyright © 2004 • Kennel Club Books® • A Division of BowTie, Inc.40 Broad Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 USACover Design Patented: US 6,435,559 B2 • Printed in South Korea

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by photostat, scanner, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the copyright owner.

Photographs by Carol Ann JohnsonAdditional photos provided by: Norvia Behling, David Dalton, Doskocil, IsabelleFrancais, Mikki Pet Products, and Karen Taylor.Illustrations by Renée Low.

Posing for a portrait must be counted among the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel’s natural abilities. These lovely dogs have sat for many famous painters (and photographers!).

The charming Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can trace his ancestors back to the small toy spaniels that are found in many paintings of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Such dogs were favorites of royalty and nobles of the day and because of this many were depicted with their owners and with children, making for some delightful family groups. The first portrait in England that depicts the breed is one of Queen Mary I with her husband, Philip of Spain, accompanied by a pair of small spaniels lying at their feet. It was painted in 1554 by Antonio Moro. Well-respected artists such as Titian, Van Dyck, Stubbs, Gainsborough and Reynolds all showed similar small dogs with flat heads, high-set ears and slightly pointed noses.

The devotion of the Cavalier is legendary as it was a little black and white toy spaniel that hid beneath the skirts of Mary Queen of Scots at her execution in 1587. Even after her death, it would not leave its dead mistress for it was recorded, “Then one of the executioners, pulling off her garters, espied her little dogg which was crept under her clothes which could not be gotten forth but by force, yet afterwards would not depart from the dead corpse, but came and lay between her head and her shoulders…”

Sir Edwin Landseer was the artist of choice for Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, for whom he painted a series of portraits depicting court life at Windsor. From 1845, this famous Landseer painting is entitled Cavalier’s Pets.

During Tudor times (1485–1603) these small spaniels were highly popular as ladies’ pets and under the House of Stuart (1603–1714) they were actually given the name King Charles Spaniels. King Charles I was accompanied by a small spaniel when he was a fugitive at Carisbrook Castle. After he had been executed, his dog, Rogue, was paraded around the city by a Roundhead, though the fate of the little dog is not known. But it was really thanks to King Charles II that the breed took its name.

A great lover of these dogs, Charles II was almost always seen with some of his small canine friends at his heels. The famous diarist Samuel Pepys made many references to them, showing dismay that the King played all the while with his dogs rather than minding business affairs. The King even decreed that these spaniels were to be allowed in any public place, including the Houses of Parliament.

James II was another king reputed to be fond of the breed, and there is record of him giving orders during a bad sea storm that the men were to “save the dogs! … and the Duke of Monmouth!” One can only wonder if there was any significance in his mentioning the dogs before the Duke! Undoubtedly spaniels of this kind were much in favor in many of the European courts, but although the red and white variety bred at Blenheim Palace retained its popularity, the others seemed to go somewhat out of fashion. This was thanks largely to the accession to the throne of William and Mary, who highly favored Pugs.

SPANISH ORIGINS

Some people believe that all spaniels originated in Spain and that they actually took their name from the word “espagñol,” which means Spanish. It is also believed that the black Truffle Dog may lie behind black and tan colored Cavaliers.

The merry toy spaniels that had scampered about the palaces and had appeared on numerous state occasions were, it might be said, demoted by the House of Orange. The Pugs smugly took their place. Some believe that it was because of the newfound popularity of the Pug that some enthusiasts of King Charles Spaniels decided that a certain change in the breed’s features would perhaps be an improvement.

During the early years of the 19th century, the small spaniel once again rose in the popularity stakes for the Duke of Marlborough used small spaniels as shooting companions. These were a little larger than the Cavaliers known today. In 1820 his dogs were described as “very small or carpet spaniels.” They were red and white, with very long ears, short noses and black eyes. Still today, what is known as the lozenge spot on the head of some Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is highly prized, and there is a delightful story as to how this came about. The Duchess of Marlborough had one of these spaniels as a much-loved pet which kept her company while her husband was away at war. At anxious times she had the habit of pressing her thumb on her dog’s head while awaiting news of her husband. When the bitch produced a litter of puppies the head of each was marked with her thumbprint.

The ever-popular red and white Cavalier, called the Blenheim, received its name from the Blenheim Palace where the dogs were bred.

Hitherto these spaniels had been brown and white, black and white or tricolor. In the past there were black spaniels but they were known as Gredin, although they were very much like today’s black and tans, with tan eyebrows, muzzles, throats and legs, known as “fire-marks.” It was not until the reign of Queen Victoria that ruby-colored spaniels appeared. In her youth, Queen Victoria owned a small spaniel called Dash, a tricolor. So fond was she of Dash that after her Coronation in 1838 she was said to have rushed home to give her dog his usual bath. Dash was a familiar little figure and appeared on many pieces of needlework sewn by Victorian women. The first known painting of a ruby is one in which the Duke and Duchess of Cumberland were pictured walking with such a dog. A gentleman by the name of Mr. Risum is reputed to have owned the first known ruby and this won second prize at the Alexandra Palace Show in 1875.

Once known as Gredin, the black Cavalier of yesterday much resembles the variety we know as Black and Tan.

MALTESE FOUNDER

Although the true origin of today’s Cavalier is not really known, the breed may originally have developed from a red and white spaniel of Malta or Italy, this having been crossed in the 13th century with a type of spaniel from the Far East.

Undoubtedly in the early years both size and type varied within the breed, so it may be surmized that at that time breeding was carried out in something of a haphazard way. However, as the 19th century moved on in Britain, dog showing was starting to become a popular pastime and the breed saw a new fashion emerge. Soon enough the so-called “old type” had begun to disappear: the longer nosed, flat-headed dogs having been replaced by a much shorter faced, dome-headed dog now known as the King Charles Spaniel. In the US, the breed became known as the English Toy Spaniel. It was believed that the Pug may have been used in breeding programs in order to help bring about this significant change. In 1886 the Toy Spaniel Club was founded, but in 1902 the organization changed its name to the King Charles Spaniel Club, even though initially the English Kennel Club was opposed to this change of name. Once again royal interest worked in favor of the breed and Edward VII intervened, subsequent to which the new name was approved.

The ruby colored Cavalier has been known since the late 19th century. It has never been as popular as the other three varieties.

The First World War had a disastrous effect on King Charles Spaniels, as indeed it did on so many breeds of dog. An American gentleman by the name of Roswell Eldridge had been to Britain to search for a pair of these dogs and dearly wanted to re-kindle interest in the breed.

In the Crufts show schedule for 1926, King Charles Spaniel enthusiasts were startled by an announcement that this same Mr. Roswell Eldridge of New York was offering two prizes of £25 each for “Blenheim spaniels of the old type as shown in Charles II’s time: long face, no stop, flat skull not inclined to be domed, with spot in centre of skull.” This was a far cry from the King Charles being shown at that time. Interestingly the suggested models to comply with this stipulation were those shown in Landseer’s painting, despite the fact that these did have a slight indentation between the eyes, known as a stop. Although this was shallow, the request for no stop was probably rather confusing for exhibitors, especially those who had already spent many years actually developing a more “squashed-in” nose, with a more accentuated stop and a domed skull.

To begin with, there were few competitors for the special prizes on offer, but a handful of breeders decided to re-develop the toy spaniels according to Mr. Eldridge’s description. Two years later, in 1928, a special club was formed for this particular type, although there were then still very few of them. The selection of a name caused much heart-searching for breeders did not want to lose the name “King Charles.” Eventually the name “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel” was selected. A standard of points was drawn up for the breed, using Ann’s Son, an early winner of Mr. Eldridge’s prize, as the dog on which the standard was based. In fact it is Ann’s Son and five other dogs that formed the foundation of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel we know today.

However, things could not progress as quickly as may have been wished. There were still only few dogs in number and the English Kennel Club was not prepared to grant the breed separate status, indeed not for the next 17 years! Meanwhile these dogs were known as King Charles Spaniels (old type) and were shown in the same classes as the King Charles.

In 1945 the English Kennel Club thought it right to grant separate classification to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and to grant the breed championship status. Sadly Mr. Roswell Eldridge had died long before, in 1928, so he did not have the fulfillment of knowing that the dogs he so loved had gained official recognition. The first Championship Show for the breed was held at Stratford-upon-Avon on August 29, 1946, when Best in Show was awarded to Mrs. Eldred’s Belinda of Saxham, a Blenheim. The first Cavalier to gain his Championship title, this in 1948, was Daywell Roger, who had been awarded Best Dog at the first Championship Show. He was a successful sire with several champion offspring who were to have great influence on the breed in the years ahead.

A tricolored Cavalier, the variety preferred by Queen Victoria, is black and tan with a white ground color.

FAMOUS FANCIERS

Among many well-known people who have owned Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in recent years are Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Nigel Lawson and former President Ronald and First Lady Nancy Reagan.

The breed quickly gained popularity in Britain and among the toy breeds was only surpassed in popularity by what were then described as the “rave breeds,” Yorkshire Terrier, Pekingese and Smooth Coated Chihuahuas. In Britain between the years 1954 and 1964, the number of Kennel Club annual registrations for the breed had risen from 794 to 2,352, by which time registrations for the King Charles Spaniel amounted only to 170. By 1966 the Cavalier climbed into The Kennel Club’s “Top Twenty” list of breeds. This was undoubtedly in part because the breed was by then winning well at shows. In 1963 Amelia of Laguna had won Best Toy at Crufts and then Best Bitch of all breeds on the first day of the show, while in New Zealand a Cavalier by the name of Sugar Crisp of Ttiweh had won Best in Show all breeds at a Championship Show. There was no turning back now.

As the 1960s drew to their close, Britain’s Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club had over 400 members, comprising a keen and lively body of people, helped and encouraged by its officers and committee. Many Cavaliers have won high accolades at shows and in 1973 Alansmere Aquarius, owned by Messrs. Hall and Evans, won what is perhaps the most famous award of all, Best in Show at Crufts.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized as a separate breed by the English Kennel Club in 1945. In no time at all, it became the most popular toy dog in Britain.

THE BREED AROUND THE WORLD

In Europe the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is shown under the rules of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in Group 9 and in Section 7, which is for English Toy Spaniels, the other breed in this group being the King Charles. The Cavalier is also divided by color into: a) Black and tan, b) Ruby, c) Blenheim and d) Tricolor. The number of entries at European shows varies considerably according to the country and the prestige of the show, ease of accessibility and so on. The World Dog Show moves from country to country and can attract approaching 100 Cavaliers, whereas at Crufts there may be as many as 400 or more.

In mainland Europe, Cavaliers had become fairly popular in Holland during the breed’s relatively early days, and certain interest in the breed has grown in Germany and in Italy. In Sweden the Cavalier went from strength to strength with registrations rising rapidly through the 1960s and 1970s, and now the breed has captivated the hearts of numerous dedicated breeders in many countries throughout the world.

In Canada the breed gained recognition in 1957, and by 1964 a small number of Cavaliers were being shown. The following year, 1965, saw the breed’s first Canadian Champion, Pargeter Flashback. Since then the breed has grown enormously in popularity, and in recent years has often found itself with the largest entry in the Toy Group at shows.

The breed did not arrive in Australia until 1960 where the Cavalier’s early history centered primarily around dogs in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. The Blenheim bitch, Soyland Begonia, imported in whelp from New Zealand, was to become the country’s first champion. Numbers grew steadily from then on, especially during the 1970s, and in 1978 Lady Forward, Patron of the New South Wales Club, was invited to judge the tenth anniversary show, beginning a tradition of continued co-operation with Cavalier breed enthusiasts throughout the world.

THE PASSION OF KING CHARLES

A member of King Charles II’s court complained about the general doggy disorder in the King’s apartments. One of the main complaints it seems was that the King permitted the dogs to whelp in his own bedroom!

Cavaliers are popular as show dogs and pets around the world.

THE CAVALIER IN THE US

The English Toy Spaniel (known in the Mother country as the King Charles Spaniel) had been established in the US since the early 20th century, when the first dogs were registered in 1902. The breed was divided into separate classifications for solids and parti-colors, which means that there are two English Toy Spaniels in the Group competition at all AKC shows.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a more recent phenomenon in the US, and when Lady Mary Forwood sent a black and tan pup here from England in 1952, there were only five Cavaliers in the whole country! The first Cavalier to enter the US, it is believed, did so in 1946, a male, Robrull of Veren, owned by Mrs. Harold Whitman of New York. The second arrived the following year, Bertie of Rookerynook, also a male, to Mrs. John Schiff, also of New York. These two pioneer Cavaliers, however, did not have the impact that Lady Forwood’s gift would have. Mrs. W. L. Lyons Brown (Sally) received Lady Forwood’s gift, Psyche of Eyeworth, to her home in Kentucky. Sally Brown became the president of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, United States of America (CKCSC, USA), which was founded in 1954 as the breed’s registering body.

The King Charles Spaniel, also known as the English Toy Spaniel, has fallen in popularity, while the Cavalier has topped the list of most popular toy dogs.

The first national specialty took place in 1962, when the club had 72 members and 76 Cavaliers registered. There were 41 entries by 26 fanciers and 35 dogs. Elizabeth Spalding of Maine won with her Pargeter Lotus of Kilspindie (Best of Breed) and her Pargeter Mermaid (Best of Opposite). Another fancier who had tremendous impact on the Cavalier in the US was Gertrude Polk Brown Albrecht, the tireless patroness of the breed, the first registrar of the breed and the club’s second president in 1962, a post she held for many years. She was followed upon her death, in 1983, by Elizabeth Spalding, who long had been active in the breed. Although the CKCSC, USA did not join the American Kennel Club, the breed entered the Miscellaneous Class in April 1962.

Cavaliers competed in the Miscellaneous Class from the 1960s to the late 1990s, though never in great numbers due to the member’s negative feelings about the registry. The club’s shows were well attended, and the breed had become quite popular in the US, as it had in every country around the world. The US was the only country where the breed was not accepted by the country’s major all-breed registry, the AKC. Most members of the CKCSC, USA strongly opposed the breed’s joining the AKC and club representatives told AKC representatives so at a meeting in 1993. The AKC, nonetheless, was firmly committed to accepting the breed, which had “parked” in the Miscellaneous Class for nearly 30 years. A vote in 1994 had 90% of the members voting against AKC membership, despite the AKC’s well-known position.

As a result, a second breed club was formed to be the Cavalier’s AKC parent club. The new club is called the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club, and it was founded in 1994 by a group of 150 dedicated Cavalier fanciers, most of whom were long-time breeders and members of the CKCSC, USA. The AKC accepted the new club as the parent club, and the breed was recognized on January 1, 1996, becoming the AKC’s 140th recognized breed. The new club’s first specialty was held in 1997. The CKCSC, USA operates today as an independent registry for the breed, holding its own specialty shows and offering its own championship titles.

At the 1997 Westminster Kennel Club Show, the Cavalier’s first appearance at this famous show, Ch. Partridge Wood Laughing Misdemeanor, a six-year-old Ruby bitch, bred by Debra King and owner-handled by Cindy Lazzeroni, became the first Best of Breed as well as Group 4 in the show. The Best of Opposite Sex was Ch. Ravenrush Gillespie, owned by John D. Gammon and Robert A. Schroll. Among the breeders who have made an impact on the breed in the US are Joan Twigg, Robert and Barbara Garnett Smith, John D. Gammon, Robert A. Schroll, Robbi Jones, J. Anne Thaeder, Albert and Meredith Snyder, Paul Camponozzi, Cynthia Roof, Ted and Mary Grace Eubank, Brigida Reynolds, Janet York Piccadil, Martha Guimond, J. G.A. Boelaars, Harold and Joan Letterly and Olive Darbyshire.

After much ado and “adon’t,” the Cavalier finally became the AKC’s 140th recognized breed.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a pet who quickly adapts to the lifestyle of his keeper—whether a city life or a country one.

There are many excellent reasons why one should select the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel as a pet, or even as a show dog. This is an affectionate, playful, intelligent, small dog that is only too willing to repay an owner’s care and attention with complete devotion.

Although undoubtedly considered a lap dog because of his size, the Cavalier is an absolutely fearless, sporting little dog. He is gay, friendly and non-aggressive and makes an excellent and adaptable companion for many different homes and lifestyles.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

This is undisputedly a small breed, but one that is neither too small nor too delicate. The largest of the breeds within the Toy Group, the Cavalier is considerably larger than his cousin, the King Charles Spaniel that weighs on average about 4 pounds. Cavaliers do vary quite considerably in size, but, on the average, should weigh between 12–18 pounds.

The disparity in size between the different Cavaliers one comes across can easily confuse those not familiar with the breed. The bone is fairly heavy and so a small dog can weigh perhaps more than one could expect at first glance. On the other hand, a taller, more lightly boned Cavalier may actually weigh less than a smaller representative of the breed. However, this is a Toy breed and should in no way compare, for example, to a small Springer Spaniel.

It is within most people’s capacity to pick up and carry the Cavalier when necessary, and at shows this breed is lifted onto a table for assessment by the judge. Because it such a charming breed, it is often a good choice of dog to be shown by children. Indeed, it can be quite amusing to see a young girl lifting her patient charge high onto the judge’s table for assessment, often her own little face barely peeping above the dog’s back, and yet the Cavalier seems to take this all in stride!

A Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is also a highly suitable breed to carry in a dog crate, something which is especially useful when traveling by car for this safety measure prevents the