AKC Toy Group · No. 12 in 2025
How to identify a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a toy spaniel, ranked No. 12 by the AKC in 2025. The long, feathered ears are set high and frame the face, which makes the skull look flat. It comes in only four colors: Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby and Black and Tan.
Field marks
These four marks are the ones the game gives you as clues. They paraphrase or briefly quote the AKC Cavalier King Charles Spaniel standard.
- Long, feathered ears set high, framing the face when alert
- Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, or Black and Tan only
- Skull slightly rounded with no dome; looks flat because of the high ear set
- “Large, round, but not prominent” very dark eyes; full muzzle
Tell them apart
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Cocker Spaniel?
Check the head and the ear set. A Cocker Spaniel has a rounded skull with a pronounced stop and ears set low, no higher than the lower part of the eye. A Cavalier’s ears are set high, so the skull looks flat. The Cavalier also comes in just four colors: Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby and Black and Tan.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Long, feathered ears set high, framing the face when alert
- Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, or Black and Tan only
- Skull slightly rounded with no dome; looks flat because of the high ear set
- “Large, round, but not prominent” very dark eyes; full muzzle
- Rounded skull with “clearly defined” eyebrows and a “pronounced stop”
- Broad, deep muzzle: stop to nose is half the distance from stop to back of skull
- Long, well-feathered ears set no higher than the lower part of the eye
- Docked tail carried level with the back, or slightly higher; silky feathering on ears, chest, belly, and legs
Test your eye
One photo, four names, ten dogs a day. Free, no sign-up.
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