Toy Dog Breeds - King Charles Spaniel

It is said that King Charles the 2nd of England had such affection towards this dog that he was always absorbed by the play with this dog so much that he never paid attention to the affairs of State.

Dog Breed Appearance.
This dog has a straight, long, shiny coat, with a silky feel when you touch it. The colors are black with tendencies towards red, ruby-red, tricolor and blenheim. The head is convex; the muzzle is short, with prognathism ; the nose is black. Its eyes are big, dark colored and outstripped. Its ears are very long, pointing downwards (looking like a nobleman’s wig) reaching its cheekbones.

Dog Breed History.
The origins of this dog could be found in China or Japan. In the XVI th century it arrived in England from France, where it was used as a hunting dog. At the beginning of the last century he was also used for hunting wild birds, but through an intervention in the breeding process it was transformed in a dog used for company, with a great character and very gracious.

Dog Breed Temperament.
It is a loving dog, balanced, kind to children and very easy to train. It is peaceful towards other dogs. This dog’s coat needs to be constantly and carefully groomed. It does not require a lot of movement, although it loves to walk. It is suitable to live in an apartment with a family.

Dog Breed Health.
The King Charles Spaniel suffers from the same serious health problems as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The King Charles Spaniel may have health problems such as heart defects, eye problems, patellar luxation (kneecap slipping), and fused toes, which can cause incorrectly grown toenails. They tend to live 10 to 12 years. “Episodic Falling” is an 'exercise-induced paroxysmal hyper tonicity disorder' meaning that there is increased muscle tone in the dog and the muscles are unable to relax. Although it is often misdiagnosed as epilepsy, the dog remains conscious throughout the episode. Severity of symptoms can range from mild, occasional falling or freezing to seizure-like episodes lasting hours. Episodes can become more or less severe as the dog gets older. Onset of symptoms is usually before five months but may be noticed only later in life.