THE BREED STANDARD OF THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL
King Charles Spaniel Breed Standard
© The Kennel Club – Unauthorised Reproduction of Text and Images Prohibited.
Breed Standard
Last updated February 2020
A Breed Standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament and appearance including the correct colour of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function. Absolute soundness is essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions or exaggerations which would be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed. From time to time certain conditions or exaggerations may be considered to have the potential to affect dogs in some breeds adversely, and judges and breeders are requested to refer to the Breed Watch section of the Kennel Club website here http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/watch for details of any such current issues. If a feature or quality is desirable it should only be present in the right measure. However if a dog possesses a feature, characteristic or colour described as undesirable or highly undesirable it is strongly recommended that it should not be rewarded in the show ring
General Appearance
Refined, compact and cobby.
Characteristics
Happy, intelligent, toy spaniel, with distinctive domed head.
Temperament
Reserved, gentle and affectionate.
Head and Skull
Skull moderately large in comparison to size, well domed, full over eyes. Nose black with large, wide-open nostrils, short and turned up. Stop between skull and nose well defined. Muzzle square, wide and deep, well turned up, lower jaw wide, lips exactly meeting, giving nice finish. Cheeks not falling away under eyes, but well cushioned.
Eyes
Relatively large and dark, set wide apart, eyelids block square to face line, pleasing expression.
Ears
Set on low, hanging quite flat to cheeks, very long and well feathered.
Mouth
Bite should be slightly undershot. Protruding tongue highly undesirable.
Neck
Of medium length; arched giving proud carriage of head.
Forequarters
Legs short, straight. Shoulders well laid back, elbows close to rib cage, turning neither in nor out.
Body
Chest wide and deep, back short and level.
Hindquarters
Sufficient muscle to give positive driving movement, stifles well bent, hocks well let down and defined. Straight when viewed from behind, turning neither in nor out.
Feet
Compact, well padded and feathered, toes well knuckled, round cat-shaped foot, well cushioned, pasterns firm.
Tail
Tail Docking previously optional
Docked: Well feathered, not carried over or above level of back.
Undocked: Well feathered, not carried over or above level of back. In overall balance with the rest of the dog.
Natural short tail (bobtail) and kinked tail tolerated.
Gait/Movement
Free, active and elegant, driving from behind. Sound movement highly desirable.
Coat
Long, silky and straight, slight wave allowed, never curly. Legs, ears and tail profusely feathered.
Colour
Black and Tan: rich glossy black, with bright mahogany-tan markings on muzzle, legs, chest, linings of ears, under tail and spots over eyes. White patch on chest undesirable.
Tricolour: ground pearly white, with well distributed black patches, brilliant tan markings on cheeks, linings of ears, under tail and spots over eyes. Wide white blaze between eyes and up forehead.
Blenheim: ground pearly white, with well distributed chestnut-red patches. Wide, clear blaze with the ‘spot’ in centre of skull, should be a clear chestnut red mark about the size of a penny.
Ruby: whole coloured, rich chestnut red. White patch on chest highly undesirable.
Size
Weight: 3.6-6.3 kgs (8-14 lbs).
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 exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB
GENERAL CODE OF ETHICS
All members of the The King Charles Spaniel Club undertake to abide by its general Code of Ethics.
Club members:
Breeders/Owners:
1) Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2) Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon who performs an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operations to the Kennel Club.
3) Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4) Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5) Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6) Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7) Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
- Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9) Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10) Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
11) Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12) Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
13) Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind. Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
14) Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.
Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.
Reproduced by permission of the Kennel Club KC/GJ January 2011
The Kennel Club has passed an additional clause to The King Charles Spaniel Club Code Of Ethics, as follows:-
Members will not advertise on any Commercial Puppy Sale Web Site.’
AT A MEETING, THE COMMITTEE OF THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL CLUB EXPRESSED CONCERN AT THE RECENT SPATE OF SENSATIONALIST, BULLYING AND OFFENSIVE REMARKS BEING POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES, MANY BY MEMBERS OF THE CLUB.
THESE POSTS ARE BRINGING THE CLUB INTO DISREPUTE AND, AS SUCH, THOSE MEMBERS INVOLVED ARE BREAKING THE CLUB’S CODE OF ETHICS.
IN ORDER TO DISTANCE ITSELF FROM SUCH MATERIAL, THE COMMITTEE HAVE RESOLVED THAT NO COMMITTEE MEMBER SHALL BE INVOLVED, FROM HENCEFORTH, IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF ANY SOCIAL MEDIA SITE RELATING TO KING CHARLES SPANIELS.