King Charles Spaniel breed information, pictures and more...

English Toy Spaniels are the ultimate lap dogs, as they love to sit by their owners' side. They are sweet, shy, easygoing and affectionate to their owners and those they are familiar with. They make a wonderful companion for the elderly.

The King Charles Spaniel is a small, sturdy, square breed with a deep, pug nose that is black with very well open nostrils, a well-defined stop, and dome-shaped skull. The teeth should be slightly undershot. The have large, dark round eyes with a sweet expression.

Their soft, silky coat is well feathered and comes in four colors varieties: King Charles (black & tan), Ruby (solid red, sometimes with a few white hairs or small white patch on the chest), Blenheim (white with red markings, often with a red "thumb print" centered on the top of the head), and Prince Charles (tri-color:  white with black & tan markings). The tail is customarily docked.

Blenheim - rich chestnut markings, well broken up on pearly white ground; markings evenly divided on head, leaving room for lozenge spot between ears. Ruby - solid rich red, white markings undesirable. Black and tan - raven black with bright tan markings above the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, o chest and legs and underside of tail, white marks undesirable. Tricolor - black and white, well spaced and broken up with tan markings over eyes, cheeks, inside ears, inside legs, on underside of tail.

Long, silky, straight coat. Slight waviness permissible. They are average shedders. No trimming or stripping is needed. Regular brushing will due.

Some bloodlines are prone to respiratory ailments, heart disease (MVD), slipped stifle, patella luxation, cataracts, inguinal hernias, eye problems and ear infections. The eyes and ears should be cleaned to avoid some of these problems.

Like many other short-faced breeds, the English Toy Spaniel may wheeze and snore. He/she may have trouble breathing in hot weather or with over-exertion, because of its short muzzle.

To minimize the risk of your English Toy Spaniel developing any hereditary health issues, you should buy a King Charles puppy from a reputable breeder.

The English Toy Spaniel is playful, sweet, gentle, happy and loving, but it is sometimes timid. He/she will be sociable with those who approach it affectionately. They are friendly with other dogs. This breed is naturally well-behaved and intelligent, but is a bit willful. It's quiet, non-demanding, and needs to be treated gently.

This little dog needs to be with a lot of people to be happy. They are usually good with all children, but will do best with an older child. They are, however, considered exclusively a companion dog. Some are known to be picky eaters.

Apartment is adequate if some form of exercise is provided. Owners should be patient, calm leaders who want to enjoy a lap dog. They should be protected from extreme temperatures. This breed is relatively inactive indoors, and will do okay without a yard.