King Charles Spaniel

Country of Origin – Britain

Whilst the King Charles Spaniel became popular in Britain and gained their royal name and connection here, the truth of the matter is no one is really sure where their origins lie. In the 1500’s members of the European ruling classes and aristocracy enjoyed keeping small companion dogs, mainly as ladies’ pets, and similarly gifting small dogs brought back from adventures across Europe and beyond was a common occurrence.

The small Spaniels that came to court from Spain (probably) soon became firm favourites of King Charles II – although dwarf Spaniels had been in England for many years. The King became an avid breeder, and Samuel Pepys wrote in his diary at the time that the court was overrun with tiny Spaniels and that the King’s dogs went everywhere with him.

Their popularity grew – probably as a result of their royal connection – and were highly sought after. For a while they were known as Toy Spaniels and split into four distinct types determined by colour: black & tan (known as the King Charles), red & white (known as the Blenheim), tricoloured (known as the Prince Charles) and solid red (known as the Ruby).

Later all four variations would be amalgamated into one breed, and while the Kennel Club originally listed them as Toy Spaniels, they eventually became officially listed as the King Charles Spaniel in recognition of how popular they were with King Charles II.

These early dogs originally had a much more prominent muzzle and nose than the Charlies of today. The up-turned muzzle and flattened face were developed as part of the Victorian fashion for breeding dogs with shorter and shorter faces until a flat-faced dog was produced. This was done by crossbreeding to Pugs and other suitable short-faced longer coated breeds.

Despite their older heritage, they are often mixed up with the now more popular Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, a later breed developed in the 1920s by those who wished to resurrect the original, non-brachycephalic type.

Ideal King Charles Spaniel owners will be active and enjoy short walks every day, capable of grooming through that silky coat daily, and generally gentle, quiet people. Charlies get on well with other pets if introduced sensibly and can handle well-behaved older children or visiting children, but may not enjoy living with very young, bouncy toddlers or louder stompy teenagers.

This is a brachycephalic breed which can mean breathing problems, they also have large fairly prominent eyes and may have a skin fold between the eyes and nose. Extra care should be taken to clean eyes, skinfolds and nose, and owners should be mindful of weather conditions and high temperatures as they can easily overheat.

Generally healthy, check the breed club website and contact the breed club’s health officer, and the Kennel Club for further information on eye, heart and respiratory conditions.

An hour a day, split into two short walks and with some additional dog training and dog games around the home, will keep the King Charles Spaniel fit and happy, mentally and physically. Some enjoy far more exercise but avoid walking in the heat. Some hunting instinct does remain so this is a breed that will gain significant enjoyment from plenty of dog exercise that provide a lot of interesting scents.

Ideally sized for almost any home, King Charles Spaniels curl up small and are undemanding to house. A secure and dog-proofed garden will be welcomed as a safe space to play, run and train in but can adapt to small spaces. Better suited to quieter areas rather than busy urban living, but as long as their needs are met, the Charlie can thrive almost anywhere. 

Your dog's diet needs to have the right balance of all the main nutrient groups including a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed him at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of his particular food.

Although they are naturally friendly and easy-going, early and correct socialisation and habituation is necessary to ensure they learn to be a confident, happy dog. As with all breeds, a fearful or anxious dog is a dog who may make mistakes, and being a small breed, it is very easy for the King Charles Spaniel to be overwhelmed, frightened or hurt. 

Training a bomb-proof recall will allow them as much freedom as they need, and teaching a nice loose lead walk will help keep them safe from injuries that can be caused by pulling. Able to learn much more than this, they will enjoy learning tricks and even taking part in mini agility or other canine sports. They respond well to positive reinforcement-based training, they love food and toys and are easy to work with.

The silky long coat of the King Charles Spaniel is easy to groom at home as long as it is brushed through once a day and checked for debris after walks, so grooming your King Charles Spaniel won’t be too much of an arduous task. Although the coat on the body is unlikely to mat if left unbrushed for a day or two, the feathers, ears, eyes and paw pads should be checked daily. These areas can mat and tangle fast, particularly if wet.

Whilst the King Charles Spaniel is a delightfully friendly little dog, they will easily become anxious and nervous if handled roughly. Better suited to homes with older children who can respect a dog’s personal space and needs, and perhaps help with training. Great for people of all ages who can walk them every day and accommodate a dog who needs to come with them almost everywhere – as they do not like being left home alone. 

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.