Ironically, these dogs, named Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in honor of the Cavalier King, eventually outstripped their short-nosed counterparts in popularity, becoming one of the most popular breeds in England.

Breeders bred their old-type dogs together in an effort to gain the prize, and in so doing, many came to appreciate the old type. A twist of fate occurred when a wealthy American, Roswell Eldridge, came to England and offered outlandish prize money for the best “pointed-nosed” spaniels, most resembling the old type. The King Charles Spaniel continued to grace the homes of the wealthy for generations, but with time a shorter-nosed dog was preferred.īy the early 1900s, the few dogs that resembled the early members of the breed were considered to be inferior. After his death, the Duke of Marlborough took over as the major advocate of the breed the red and white “Blenheim” color, which was his favorite, is named after his estate. The dogs were so closely associated with him that they became known as King Charles Spaniels. In the 1700s, King Charles II was so enamored with his toy spaniels that he was accused of ignoring matters of state in favor of his dogs. In addition, they served the vital function of attracting fleas from their owners’ bodies! The toy spaniels became especially popular because they appealed to all members of the family. These Tudor lapdogs, known as “comforter spaniels,” served as lap and foot warmers, and even surrogate hot water bottles. The European toy dogs were probably the result of breeding small spaniels to Oriental toy breeds such as the Japanese Chin and perhaps the Tibetan Spaniel. As its name implies, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is derived from spaniel roots.

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