This magnificent little dog is a direct descendant of the Toy Spaniels that you have probably seen pictures of from the 16th-18th century.
Mr. Roswell Eldridge, an American dog breeder, who adored the little ToySpaniels came to the UK in the 1920s, and because he could only find a few options, at the annual Crufts show, he offered a price for the best male and female breeds he could find. This sparked much interest in the King Charles Spaniels. However, they did not receive the American Kennel Club recognition until 1996.
In 1903, four separate spaniel toy breeds were combined by the Kennel Club to be called the King Charles spaniel. King Charles II loved the breed and that’s where they got the name from. Moreover, these dogs were occasionally featured next to their royal owners in paintings by some of the greatest artists of the time, including Titian, Van Dyck, and Lely. Being irresistibly charming, King Charles II would not go anywhere without at least three of his spaniels running at his heels. Some even criticized the king for neglecting his kingdom in favor of looking after his beloved dogs! He was also known too as the Cavalier King so that name also comes into the spaniel's title, that of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!
Can you believe that they were often brought into the beds of people with the aim of them attracting fleas instead of their owners, saving their owners from The Plague and other diseases?