The modern-day Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that we know today is a direct descendant of the little Toy Spaniels depicted in so many paintings. These cute creatures were known commonly as Court ladies' pets during the Tudor Era, however, later during the Stuart era, they were awarded the royal title of King Charles Spaniels. King Charles II was rarely seen without two, three, or more men at his heels, according to history.
Toy Spaniels fell out of favour as time passed, and with the arrival of William III's Dutch Court, the Pug dog with the small black page in attendance took their place. Until the 18th and 19th centuries, we don't hear anything about Toy Spaniels. The Dukes of Marlborough's distinctive breed of red and white Toy Spaniels bred at Blenheim Palace were highly recognized at the time for their sports abilities as well as their claims as ladies' companions.
There were no dog exhibitions and no recognized standard of points in the early days, therefore type and size were extremely variable. Due to a lack of transportation, breeding was done in a haphazard manner. Breeders began to hold exhibits during Queen Victoria's reign, and enthusiasts began to breed dogs seriously and to a preferred type.
This ushered in a new era, with dogs with a shorter face gradually turning into the contemporary King Charles Spaniel's flat face. At that time, there were a lot of highly capable breeders who were successful in breeding dogs of the finest quality, with flat faces, high domes, and long ears placed low. This breed is still popular and a beautiful one.
Then Mr. Roswell Eldridge, an American who adored Toy Spaniels, arrived in England and was dismayed to see that none of the small nosey spaniels had survived. He immediately set about correcting this by awarding awards at Crufts for three years (later extended to five) - £25 for the best dog and best bitch, for dogs of the type seen during King Charles II's reign.
These classes were not taken seriously by the King Charles breeders. They'd been working for years to get rid of the long nose, so it wasn't exactly a popular decision. As the huge incentives ran out, just a few dedicated breeders were left to continue the breeding experiment. Mrs. Hewitt Pitt was the most prominent of them all. Little had been accomplished by the end of five years, as the Kennel Club believed the dogs were not sufficiently numerous or standardized to warrant a distinct breed registration.
The name "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel" was chosen in 1928 when a club was formed. The standard of the breed was drawn up at the first meeting, held on the second day of Crufts Dog Show in 1928, and it was nearly identical to what it is now. Ann's Son, owned by Miss Mostyn Walker, was the live pattern on the table. Members brought as many reproductions of paintings from the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries as they could find. It was agreed that the dog should be kept as far away from fashion as possible and that no trimming would be done.
For the next five years, progress was slow since Kennel Club approval was still pending, and without Challenge Certificates, few people were interested in trying to raise a breed that had no commercial value. The small group of pioneers entered their pups in Open classes at shows, and at a few shows where the Show Secretaries were cooperative, they were promised classes for their dogs. In most cases, there was no monetary compensation, but the dogs were exhibited to the public and became popular. People gradually realized that the movement was here to stay.
Cavaliers always led the Toy Group entries at the Championship tournaments by the end of the 1970s. The Club's Golden Jubilee was commemorated in 1978 with a social banquet at Royal Leamington Spa and a Championship performance at Stoneleigh, which drew a big attendance. Amice Pitt presided over the event as President, and for many members, it was the final time they saw her because this forceful and well-loved lady was not in good condition and died in December 1978. The Amice Pitt Rally, held by the many Cavalier Clubs each year, is intended to keep her memory alive and to recognize the debt we all owe her.
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