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A small sporting spaniel once a great favourite of Charles II, and whose likeness appears in paintings dating to his time, the breed fell from grace after William of Orange came to the throne - snub-nosed, oriental-looking breeds were more in favour. Through crossbreeding, the King Charles Spaniel, as it was then called, was revamped to suit public taste. In 1926, an American visited Britain looking for dogs such as he had seen in the paintings of Charles II's time. But none were to be found. So he offered money prizes to be awarded at Britain's prestigious Crufts Dog Show to the male and female most closely resembling the original King Charles Spaniels. British breeders accepted the challenge, and by 1945 the recreated breed had arrived. To avoid confusion, it was given the name Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is a completely natural breed, measuring up to 13 inches at the shoulder and weighing up to 18 pounds. The Cavalier's coat is long and silky. Colours may be Blenheim (white with chestnut markings), ruby (all red), black-and-tan or tri-colour. The breed is enormously popular in Britain as a small, easily-cared-for family pet whose grooming and exercise needs are minimal.
