Absolut Bullmarket
French Bulldogs & a few very confused English Toy Spaniels.
English Toy Spaniels
The English Toy Spaniel or King Charles Spaniel
- From the ETSCA (English
Toy Spaniel Club of America) Website
Nicknames: E.T.s, King Charles Spaniel & Charlies
General Description:
The English Toy Spaniel (known as the King Charles Spaniel in the UK) is a toy breed that should weigh between 8 and 14 pounds. However, dogs weighing up to 20 pounds are not uncommon. Their most distinctive characteristic is their domed head, large dark eyes, pushed-in nose and broad ribcage. Their spaniel heritage is marked by long ears and coat, which may be profuse. Tails are frequently but not always docked. The breed comes in four colors: 1) red and white, 2) black, white and tan, 3) red, 4) black and tan.
History: The breed has a fascinating history that will keep any history buff entertained for hours. Long the breed of favor of royalty in England, it began as a small sporting spaniel and was named after King Charles II. Eventually King Charles Spaniels were crossed with oriental short-nosed dogs in the 1800s to create the modern King Charles Spaniel. These are only called English Toy Spaniels in North America. Their cousins, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were developed in the 1920s to look like the original small sporting spaniels in the days of Charles II.
Nomenclature:
Keeping names straight in this breed can be confusing. English Toy Spaniels (also known as the King Charles Spaniel abroad) are affectionately referred to as E.T.s' or Charlies'. These are not to be confused with their cousins, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels who are usually called Cavaliers. In addition, the names King Charles and Prince Charles may be used to describe black & tan and tricolor respectively when showing in the Blenheim and Prince Charles Variety or the King Charles and Ruby Variety. The easiest way to keep the breeds straight is to forget the King Charles' portion at first and focus on Charlie versus Cavalier. The rest will fall into place.
Charlies vs Cavaliers:
Charlies have a short pushed-in nose as compared to a Cavalier nose, which is about 1 inche from stop to tip. Charlie ears should typically be set low to accentuate the domed head and Cavalier ears should be set high to accentuate the flat appearance of the skull. Note, however, that some Cavaliers have lower earsets than preferred and some Charlies have higher earsets than preferred, so focusing on the roundness of the head and nose placement will probably help the most in this comparison. Charlie tails are typically docked and Cavalier tails are typically undocked and left long. Cavaliers are also slightly larger. Beyond that both breeds come in the exact same colors, which share similar but not identical names.
Colors:
Charlies come in four colors. The parti-colored dogs carry white in their coats. These include the Blenheim (pronounced blenum) and Prince Charles. Blenheims have red patches on a white background. Occasionally one finds the famous Blenheim spot on the top of the skull resting between the red that usually covers the eyes and ears. The Prince Charles, or tricolor, consist of black patches on a white ground with tan over the eyes, under the ears and under the tail. In solid or whole color dogs, one finds the King Charles and Ruby. The King Charles has a black body with tan points over the eyes, under the ears, across the chest and under the tail. This color is also called black and tan. Lastly, the entirely red dog is called a ruby. Sometimes white is found on the chests of black and tans and rubies. Also, in cases of cross-color breeding, white may be found on the head and feet of dogs that otherwise appear to be solids.
Special notes for Rescue Personnel: Charlies and Cavaliers often look alike to rescue personnel. Sometimes a short-nosed Cavalier or a longer-nosed Charlie fool even experienced people. Fortunately rescuers in both breeds have traditionally helped out when such mistakes are made and are usually willing to contact each other for assistance in these cases.
Temperament:
The English Toy Spaniel is a soft and quiet dog with a merry and sometimes
mischievous demeanor. Charlies are more likely to choose their owner
than to love everyone. Personalities range from the solitary to the
gregarious but Charlies always have their preferred loved ones. Many
Charlies are likely to become shy when confronted with situations or
people they are unfamiliar with. With their short noses and their exclusive
tastes in people, to be loved by a Charlie is a very intimate experience.
In addition, Charlies can be little clowns and show-offs whose antics
can entertain in unexpected ways.
Their small size and easy care-coats are perfect for the elderly or city dweller, especially since they are not generally known for barking. Charlies can become easily overwhelmed in chaotic households if children are too young and unsupervised. They are not likely to be aggressive but rather will bite if frightened or mistreated. They usually get along with other breeds of dogs when introduced properly. They are willing to please their owners although they can sometimes be stubborn.
Some have been difficult to leash train, others love to do whatever
the owner wants. They have just enough hunting instinct left to get
themselves into trouble and so should never be off lead unless in
a fenced-in area. They cannot tell the difference between a butterfly
and a grouse, which is both endearing and dangerous since they will
follow any blue bird that comes along!
Health Problems:
The biggest problem in the breed is likely to be slipped knees (slipped patellas or stifles). Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA,) a cardiac problem, which may not have been picked up on in puppies, is sometimes reported. Another cardiac problem is progressive Mitral Valve Disease (MVD) may be seen as Charlies age. There are some hereditary eye problems, such as glaucoma and cataracts. Retinal Dysplasia (mostly a few retinal folds) and Hyaloid Artery Remnant have been reported on a limited basis. There have been some cases of vertebrae disc problems in both neck and back. These can usually be treated with crate rest and/or cortisone. Hanging tongue may sometimes be found. This is not necessarily a cause for euthanasia but Charlies with hanging tongue must absolutely not be bred from and should be spayed or neutered. In general, however, there are few other hereditary problems affecting most puppies after they reach 12 weeks of age.
Things that are not health problems include:
Fused toes may be misdiagnosed as a health problem. This is a breed trait and not a cause for concern. Open fontanelles (a soft spot on the top of the skull) in dogs under a year are common and generally not a cause for concern. Occasionally, a Charlie must be put down for hydrocephalus (water on the brain). Usually this occurs during the puppy phase, and is unlikely to affect most pet owners. However, unless clear neurologic signs of hydrocephalus are present, a veterinarian should not be permitted to diagnose hydrocephalus based on the open fontanelle or the fact the dog has a domed skull alone. These are breed traits, and the opening in the skull, which is also called a molera, is even mentioned in the Chihuahua standard. Finally, it is typical for Charlies and Cavaliers to have umbilical hernias. Unless these are open, it is strongly recommended that the risk of surgical correction far outweighs any risks the hernias themselves may cause. If the animal needs such a correction, it should probably done along with other necessary surgery (i.e. spay/neuter, teeth cleaning etc.). The average life-span of a Charlie is 10 to 12 years.
General Care:
Charlies are known as wash and wear dogs. This means that they require little grooming as far as long-haired dogs go. But they do require some. Most important is keeping them free of mats and tangles, especially behind the ears, behind the elbows and between the back legs. Picking hair away from the mats carefully and gently will preserve the coat, however, it is better to cut out a mat than to overly frighten a dog by being impatient. Because the ears are long and pendulous they need regular care as well. Shaving the inside of the ears will help keep them clean of bacteria and improve air circulation. A routine ear cleaning after any bath will also prevent wax build up and alert the owner to other problems such as ear mites or infection. Keeping toenails short, including the nails on fused-toes is important. The veterinarian should check anal sacs and show the owner how to check for anal sac problems. Charlies should be bathed every two weeks to once a month and combed out once a week. Some Charlies even love having their faces washed daily!
Charlies do not require a great deal of food. Providing two meals a day may be preferable to once a day. If a Charlie goes off its food, one thing to check on is its teeth. Teeth in the breed can sometimes be problematic and should be brushed. In general one should lightly feel but not quite see the ribs in order to determine the proper weight for a Charlie. Most will eat between 1/4 to 1 cup a day of commercial dog food but may also require some canned food to make it edible.
Due to their short noses, Charlies do not do well in hot and humid weather, especially in heavily polluted areas. They may suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) if over exposed in these situations. It is best to provide them with air conditioning in these climates.
As mentioned above, Charlies should be kept on-lead or in a fenced -in yard. They should not be left outside unattended especially within an invisible fence or on a tie-out in case they are injured by a larger animal passing through. They should not be considered outdoor dogs. If their knees are in good shape, Charlies will enjoy some gentle hiking if they have been conditioned to it, but otherwise access to a small yard and some visiting around the neighborhood on lead is the most a Charlie will need to keep it in condition. Many city dwellers have paper trained their Charlies with success so they do not ever have to go outside. This helps in case of bad weather or late-night hours.
