In short: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the King Charles Spaniel are two separate breeds with shared ancestors. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an almost flat skull, a longer muzzle (about 3.8 cm) and weighs 5.4–8 kg. The King Charles Spaniel has a domed skull and a very short, upturned nose, and it is smaller and lighter. Both breeds have the same four colours. In the USA the King Charles Spaniel is called the English Toy Spaniel.
The differences at a glance
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | King Charles Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Almost flat skull, muzzle about 3.8 cm | Domed skull, very short, upturned nose |
| Size | 5.4–8 kg | Smaller and lighter |
| Origin | "Old type" from paintings, recreated from 1926 | Older line, changed in the 19th century by the fashion for short faces |
| Colours | Blenheim, Tricolour, Black and Tan, Ruby | The same four |
| FCI classification | Group 9, section 7 | Group 9, section 7 |
| Name in the USA | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | English Toy Spaniel |
How to tell them apart
Look at the head in profile. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a shallow stop, an almost flat skull between the ears and a clear muzzle. The King Charles Spaniel has a round, domed head and a very short nose. In one sentence: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the "old" King Charles spaniel with a longer nose, recreated in the 20th century.
Why are there two breeds?
Both descend from the small spaniels loved by King Charles II in the 17th century. In the 19th century a fashion for flat faces gave the King Charles spaniels a domed head and a short nose. That is the look of today's King Charles Spaniel.
In 1926 the American Roswell Eldridge offered prizes at Crufts for Blenheim spaniels "of the old type", as in pictures from the time of Charles II. This started the recreation of the breed, which The Kennel Club recognised as a separate breed in 1945: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Read the full history with dates in The history of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Same colours, different names
Both breeds have four colours that are inherited the same way: Blenheim, Tricolour, Black and Tan and Ruby. In the English Toy Spaniel (King Charles Spaniel) the colour varieties also have traditional names: Black and Tan is "King Charles" and Tricolour is "Prince Charles".
More about colours and genetics in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel colours.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the King Charles Spaniel the same breed?
No. The FCI, The Kennel Club and the AKC recognise them as separate breeds. They share ancestors and the same colours.
Which one is bigger?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The FCI standard gives a weight of 5.4–8 kg. The King Charles Spaniel is smaller and lighter.
Does the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel have a short nose?
Its muzzle is clearly longer than the King Charles Spaniel's: about 3.8 cm from stop to tip of nose according to the FCI standard, which describes it as well tapered and well filled below the eyes.
Looking for a dog? Be responsible
If you are thinking about a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, look for a breeder registered with your national kennel club (in Poland: ZKwP, the only Polish member of the FCI). And remember that a dog is not a gift. A gift for a Cavalier person is a great idea; a Cavalier as a gift is not.
For Cavalier people
At Cavisie.pl we design sweatshirts and hoodies, t-shirts and mugs for owners and lovers of the breed, including the college-style CAVALIER hoodie.
Sources
- FCI – breed standard no. 136, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- AKC – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: history behind the breed
- Canadian Kennel Club – English Toy Spaniel standard
Author: Michał Mitek, founder of Cavisie.pl and owner of a Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Karmelek. The top image and the infographic drawing are AI-generated, and some frames in the videos are AI reconstructions.