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(C) Johnson County Animal Clinic
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June Dog: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 
Dogs of the small spaniel-type have existed for centuries and the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has documented its place among them. They have been recorded in paintings and tapestries for centuries together with the aristocratic families who enjoyed their loyal companionship. Cavaliers were obviously a luxury item, for the average person could not afford to keep and feed a dog that did not work.
The Cavalier was a favorite of King Charles I of Britain (the breed's namesake). When the house of Stuart fell, it became a political liability to be associated with the dogs of King Charles (the Tudors favored the Pug), and the Cavalier breed became extremely rare. Queen Victoria brought back the breed, but the Cavalier had changed radically from its original form; the original version of the breed had all but disappeared.
In 1952, the first Cavaliers were sent to America and a national breed club was formed soon after, but because of the small numbers of Cavaliers they did not gain full breed recognition for 40 years. January 1, 1996 saw the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel enter American Kennel Club competition as the 140th recognized breed. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is an active, graceful, well-balanced toy spaniel, very happy and free in action; fearless and sporting in character, yet at the same time gentle and affectionate. It is this typical happy temperament, combined with true elegance and royal appearance which are of paramount importance in the breed
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In 1928, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was founded in England in attempts to support a revival of the "Old Type", and since then, the dog has grown to become one of the most popular breeds in Great Britain.
Today's Cavalier is directly modeled on its royal ancestors but this did not happen without the effort of an American fancier, Roswell Eldridge. Mr. Eldridge traveled to England in the early 1920's hoping to buy two spaniels. He was unsuccessful, finding a diversity of type and none of the "old type", particularly the head type he desired. Employing Yankee ingenuity and determination, Roswell offered prizes of twenty-five pounds to the best male and best female of the "old type" exhibited at Crufts each year. The motivator worked; interest was generated among breeders to revive the original spaniel.