General Appearance
An active, graceful, well-balanced dog, very gay, and free
in action.
Temperament
Fearless and sporting in character yet at the same time
gentle and affectionate.
Size
Height 30-33 cm (12-13 inches). Weight proportionate to
height 5 - 8 kg (12-18 lbs.). Slight variations permissible. A small,
well-balanced dog well between these heights and weights is desirable. Overall
type and quality should not be sacrificed for size alone. A weedy
specimen is to be penalized as severely as a coarse one.
Coat
Long, silky and free from curl, though a slight wave is
permissible. Feathering on ears, legs and tail should be long, and the
feathering on the feet is a feature of the breed. It is common and
permissible for bitches to carry less coat than dogs. No trimming,
scissoring, clipping or artificial colouring is allowed and this should be
severely penalized.
Colour
Blenheim
Bright chestnut red markings well broken up on a pearly
white ground. The red on the head must extend around the eyes as well as
down over the ears. A pure white muzzle is preferred. There must be a
distinct white blaze between the eyes. Between the ears may be the
lozenge or spot unique to the Blenheim, which is a highly desirable,
but not essential, characteristic.
Tricolour
Jet black markings well broken up on a pearly white ground.
The black on the head must extend around the eyes as well as down over
the ears. There must be a distinct white blaze between the eyes. A
pure white muzzle is preferred. Rich tan markings appear over the eyes,
on cheeks, inside ears, under the tail and around the vent. Tan should
appear inside the legs where it is adjacent to black.
Ruby
Whole-coloured rich red. White marks are undesirable.
Black and Tan
Jet black with rich tan markings over the eyes, on cheeks
and muzzle, inside the ears, on throat and chest, on forelegs from knees
to toes, on the inside of the hind legs also extending from hocks to
toes, on the underside of the tail and surrounding the vent. White
marks are undesirable.
Head
Almost flat between the ears, without dome. Stop moderate.
Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 1-1/2 inches (4 cm.).
Nostrils should be well developed and the pigment black. Lack of stop or too
deep a stop are to be penalized equally. Muzzle: Tapering slightly
to the nose. Lips well covering and well cushioned but not
hound-like. There should be cushioning beneath the eyes, which contributes
much to the sweet, gentle expression characteristic of the breed.
Mouth:
Teeth strong and even, meeting in a scissors bite. Level and
undershot mouths are to be discouraged. However, a slightly undershot bite in
an otherwise well-balanced head with the correct sweet
expression should not be penalized in favour of a scissors or level bite with
a plain head or hard expression.
Eyes: Should be large, round and
set well apart. Colour should be a warm dark brown, giving a
lustrous, limpid look. Eye rims should be dark. Small, light or bulging eyes,
or a white ring surrounding the iris are very undesirable.
Ears: set
high, but not close to the top of the head. Leather long with plenty of
silky feathering, and wide enough so that when the dog is alert,
the ears fan slightly forward to frame the face.
Forequarters
Forelegs straight and set well under the dog. Bone moderate.
Elbows close to the sides. Shoulders well laid back. Pasterns
strong and feet compact, well feathered and with well-cushioned pads.
Body
Short-coupled with ribs well sprung but not barreled. Chest
moderately deep leaving ample heart room. Back level. Slightly less
body at the flank than at the last rib, but with no tucked-up
appearance. Bitches may be slightly longer at the loin.
Hindquarters
Hind legs moderately muscled, well angulated at the stifles.
Hocks relatively short and at right angle to the ground when
standing. Hind legs should parallel each other from hock to heel with no
tendency to long, cow or sickle hocks.
Tail
Set on so as to be carried level with the back. Tail should
be in constant motion while the dog is moving. Docking is
optional, leaving 2/3 of the tail and the tail must balance the body. A white
tip must be left on the tails of Blenheims and Tricolours.
Gait
Free moving and elegant with good reach in front and sound
drive from the rear. Head carried slightly forward on the move. Back
level and tail carried straight behind as an extension of the line of
the back Good length of stride from the side. Front and rear should
move straight and true.
Note: The Cavalier should be moved on a loose lead
and never "strung up."
Faults
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered
a fault, and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded
should be in proportion to its degree.
• Nervousness, shyness and aggression in adults.
• Trimming, scissoring or artificial colouring.
• Lack of a white blaze in Blenheim or Tricolour.
• White marks on Ruby or Black and Tan.
• Small, light or bulging eyes, or a white rim around the
iris.
• Long, cow or sickle hocks.
• Tail carried well above the topline.
Disqualifications
• Colours other than the four above.
• Clown faces (white around one or both eyes or white ears.)
• Tricolours and Black and Tans lacking tan markings.
• Aggression.
Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel Club of British Columbia