The “Cavalier King Charles Spaniel,” named after King Charles II, was the result of a cross between the King Charles Spaniel and the Pug in the late 1600s, resulting in a smaller dog with a flatter nose, rounded head, and bulging eyes.
Their predecessors have longer, pointier noses and were often featured in the paintings of famed Dutch artist Van Dyck.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a fairly long, silky coat and rather expressive eyes, weighing between 10-18 pounds, and living between 9-14 years.
The breed comes in a variety of colors, including tricolor, ruby, king charles (black and tan), and blenheim (red and white).
They tend to get along well with humans and most animals as well, and are moderately active.
Unfortunately, the King Charles Spaniel may be prone to a variety of serious heath ailments such as heart conditions, hereditary eye disease, ear infections, and hip dysplasia, to name but a few.
(breed info: dogbreedinfo.com)
(photo: tanakawho)