King Charles Spaniel

Toy spaniels of this general type were fixtures of European courts from the sixteenth century onward, and King Charles II of England was so devoted to the breed in the seventeenth century that he reportedly allowed them free run of Whitehall Palace and decreed they could not be barred from any public place, a legal privilege the breed's fans still cite today. Over the following centuries breeders favoured an increasingly flat face and domed skull, moving the breed further from its more moderate spaniel-like ancestors, which is what eventually distinguished it from the Cavalier, bred in the twentieth century to restore the older, longer-muzzled look.

Living with a King Charles Spaniel means living with an affectionate, calm companion suited well to indoor life and considerably less driven to exercise than many spaniel breeds. It is generally gentle with familiar people and enjoys lounging as much as playing, though its flat face brings breathing sensitivity in heat and during exertion, and its prominent eyes need protecting from scratches and require regular checking. The silky coat needs regular brushing, particularly around the ears and feathering, to avoid matting.

Today the breed is considerably rarer than its Cavalier cousin, kept by devoted specialist breeders more than as a mainstream family pet, and prospective owners should expect a longer search and should ask breeders directly about health screening for the breed's known flat-face and heart concerns.