STANDARD AND TEMPERAMENT
STANDARD
With a free-moving, elegant gait and a noble appearance, these dogs are truly the kings of our home. Their expression is of utmost importance and is undoubtedly one of the highlights of their standard. It should be sweet, gentle, and (almost) impossible to resist.
The head is proportional to the body, with a moderately flat skull and ears set high, well-positioned on the sides of the head. When alert, the ears and head form almost a straight line.
The stop should be well-defined but not exaggerated. The eyes should be large, dark, well-separated, expressive, and not prominent, with a sweet and alert expression.
The muzzle is of moderate length, approximately 3.8 cm long. It should be straight, full, not narrow or tapering.
The body is slightly longer than tall, with well-arched ribs and a deep chest, but not excessively wide.
The coat is long, silky, and slightly wavy, but not curly.
Nowadays, these small Spaniels weigh up to 8-10kg and can reach a height of up to 33cm. They are balanced and well-proportioned dogs. Their coat should be long (without exaggeration) and straight (with a slight wave), and it should be left natural, without any cuts.
They belong to Group 9, the companion dog group. There are four possible color combinations: Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, and Black and Tan.
Here you can see the full breed standard according to the Fédération Cynalogique Internationale (FCI).
TEMPERAMENT
They are loving, sweet, cheerful dogs, deeply bonded to their owners. They adore everyone, including all animals, so even a thief would be welcomed into the house (they are definitely not guard dogs). They bark very little and can be calm or energetic depending on the situation.
They have a strong desire to please and, because of that, they love to work as assistance dogs. They make excellent therapy dogs, whether for children, the elderly, or people with special needs.
Intelligent and highly adaptable, they adjust easily to their owners' lifestyle. If the owner spends the day on the couch, they’ll be the first to join, calm and serene. But if the owner decides to go for a run, they’ll happily follow with energy and enthusiasm.
Aggression, fear, and distrust are not part of their vocabulary.
HEALTH
CARDIAC
Among the most common health issues in the breed, heart problems stand out, especially Mitral Valve Degenerative Disease (MVD), which affects a key part of the heart.
Most small dogs are predisposed to similar heart problems. However, in the case of the Cavalier, the disease tends to appear earlier, and this is something most responsible breeders have been working hard to address.
The good news is that once diagnosed, the life expectancy of a Cavalier is usually longer than that of other dogs with the same condition. Still, we aim for this disease to never appear, or to appear as late as possible in their lives.
This condition can lead to heart failure, which is why it's crucial that breeders follow strict protocols to minimize the risk of occurrence.
Unfortunately, in Portugal, there is no legal requirement to follow specific protocols regarding heart health in breeding. However, there are countries that adopt such protocols, and it is based on these models that we guide our practices, combining the most up-to-date protocols with the best results. You can consult these protocols here.
It is highly recommended that all breeders of this breed perform regular echocardiograms and follow at least one of these protocols.
All of our dogs are regularly assessed by veterinary cardiology specialists through thorough auscultation and color Doppler echocardiograms, and they are only bred if deemed fit for breeding.
NEUROLOGICAL
(SYRINGOMYELIA)
Syringomyelia (SM) is a serious neurological condition that particularly affects small brachycephalic dogs, with the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel being one of the most predisposed breeds.
SM is often associated with Chiari Malformation (CM), a condition in which the brain is "compressed" within the skull, affecting the normal flow of cerebrospinal fluid. When the pressure increases, cysts or cavities can form in the spinal cord, leading to the development of SM. This condition can cause a range of symptoms, such as pain, weakness, coordination difficulties, and, in more severe cases, even paralysis.
In our breeding program, we only breed dogs that do not show signs of the disease. Additionally, we perform MRIs to assess the degrees of CM and SM. Based on these tests, we plan our breeding responsibly, aiming to maximize the chances of having healthy puppies free from SM.
You can read more about these conditions here.
ORTHOPEDIC
(PATELLA AND HIP)
The most common orthopedic condition in this breed, as well as in most small dogs, is patellar luxation. Patellar luxation occurs when the kneecap moves out of its usual position and out of the femoral groove. Depending on the severity of the condition, luxation can have different grades that affect the dog's quality of life.
Hip dysplasia is also a condition to watch out for. It is a malformation of the hip joint, which can cause pain and difficulty in movement.
All of our breeding dogs undergo orthopedic screenings. The results of these tests allow us to make the best breeding choices, reducing the likelihood of our puppies having orthopedic issues.
Read more about patellar luxation in Cavaliers here. And about hip dysplasia here.
GENETIC
Our bloodlines undergo genetic testing to ensure the absence of these conditions in all Edel Plass puppies. These tests are carried out at the LABOKLIN laboratory in Spain:
- Curly Coat Syndrome
(Click here to learn more about this condition)
- Dry Eye Syndrome
(Click here to learn more about this condition
- Episodic Falling Syndrome
(Click here to learn more about this condition)
Other more recent genetic tests that we are now beginning to introduce (these still require further studies to understand their relevance in the breed):
- MCADD
(Click here to learn more about this condition)
- MVDD
(Click here to learn more about this condition)
- Muscular Dystrophy
(Click here to learn more about this condition)
OCULAR
All of our breeding dogs undergo eye exams to screen for eye diseases. Some of the conditions that our ophthalmologist checks for include: hereditary congenital cataracts, retinal dysplasia, corneal dystrophy, progressive retinal degeneration, among others.
You can read more about this topic here.
OTHER PATHOLOGIES
In addition to conducting tests for the most common breed-specific conditions, we also pay close attention to other health issues, especially those that can be hereditary, such as: skin issues (allergies), ears (chronic recurring ear infections), digestive system (high sensitivities, frequent diarrhea), and respiratory system (breathing difficulties, both for running and resting properly).
We do not breed dogs that present these conditions. If there is any predisposition in the lineage for any of these problems, we always approach the matching combination with great care, keeping these issues in mind.
This way, we do our best to ensure that the puppies have a low chance of developing these problems.
