English Toy Spaniel Information
The English Toy Spaniel is small breed of dog from the Toy category. It is also known as the King Charles Spaniel outside of the U.S. and Canada. This should not be confused with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, which is a different breed. The Cavalier is more closely related to Cocker Spaniels, while the King Charles Spaniel is more closely related to the Pug.
History
The breed originated in Renaissance-era Great Britain as a companion dog for royalty, although in that era the breed more closely resembled the modern Cavalier King Charles Spaniel than contemporary English Toys. Crosses between long-snouted toy spaniels and short-snouted breeds such as the Pug or Japanese Chin in the 18th and 19th centuries led to the breed's current appearance. Weighs around 11 pounds.
Health
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.
Although there is less information available online, the King Charles Spaniel suffers from the same serious health problems as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Please see the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel health section for more information.
Coat
Like its larger cousin, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, the King Charles Spaniel has a silky, often slightly wavy coat. It tends to be shorter than that of Cavaliers.
This breed also comes in the same color varieties as the Cavalier: Blenheim (red-and-white), Prince Charles (tricolor), King Charles (black-and-tan), and Ruby (solid red). Originally, each of these color patterns was regarded as a separate breed, but in the late 1800s the four varieties were consolidated into a single breed.