The Cavalier Breed Standard - UK version

All dogs recognized by the Kennel Club have a Breed Standard which is a useful guide when looking for a puppy. The standard is the perfection to which every breeder tries to aim and no dog born has all the points mentioned.

It is quite comprehensive so please read it and compare litters to the standard as you view them.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Active, graceful and well balanced, with gentle expression.

CHARACTERISTICS: Sporting, affectionate, absolutely fearless.

TEMPERAMENT: Gay, friendly, non-aggressive, no tendency towards nervousness.

HEAD & SKULL: Skull almost flat between ears. Stop shallow. Length from base of stop to tip of nose about 1 1/2 inches. Nostrils black and well developed without flesh marks, muzzle well tapered. Lips well developed but not pendulous. Face well filled below eyes. Any tendency to snipiness undesirable.

EYES: Large, dark, round but not prominent; spaced well apart.

EARS: Long, set high, with plenty of feather.

MOUTH: Jaws strong, with a perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth and set square to the jaws.

NECK: Moderate length, slightly arched.

FOREQUARTERS: Chest moderate, shoulders well laid back, straight legs moderately boned.

BODY: Short coupled with good spring of rib. Level back.

HINDQUARTERS: Legs with moderate bone; well turned stifle - no tendency to cow or sickle hocks.

FEET: Compact, cushioned and well feathered.

TAIL: Length of tail in balance with body, well set on, carried happily but never much above the level of the back. Docking optional. If docked no more than one third to be removed.

GAIT: Free moving and elegant in action, plenty of drive from behind. Fore and hind legs move parallel when viewed from in front and behind.

COAT: Long, silky, free from curl. Slight wave permissible. Plenty of feathering. Totally free from trimming.

COLOURS: Recognized colours are:

Black & Tan: Raven black with tan markings above the eyes, on cheeks, inside ears, on chest and legs and underside of tail. Tan should be bright. White marks undesirable.

Ruby: Whole colour rich red. White marks undesirable.

Blenheim: Rich chestnut markings well broken up, on pearly white background. Markings evenly divided on head, leaving room between ears for much valued lozenge mark or spot (a unique characteristic of the breed).

Tricolour: Black and white well spaced, broken up, with tan markings over eyes, cheeks, inside ears, inside legs, and on underside of tail.

Any other colour or combination of colours are most undesirable.

WEIGHT & SIZE: Weight - twelve to eighteen pounds. A small well-balanced dog well within these weights desirable.

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.

NOTE: Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.