English Toy Spaniel AKC Breed Standards
General Appearance
The English Toy Spaniel is a compact, cobby and essentially square toy dog possessed of a short-nosed, domed head, a merry and affectionate demeanor and a silky, flowing coat. His compact, sturdy body and charming temperament, together with his rounded head, lustrous dark eye, and well cushioned face, proclaim him a dog of distinction and character. The important characteristics of the breed are exemplified by the head.
Size - The most desirable weight of an adult is eight to fourteen pounds. General symmetry and substance are more important than the actual weight; however, all other things being equal, the smaller sized dog is to be preferred. Proportion - Compact and essentially square in shape, built on cobby lines. Substance - Sturdy of frame, solidly constructed.
Head
Head large in comparison to size, with a plush, chubby look, albeit with a degree of refinement which prevents it from being coarse. Expression Soft and appealing, indicating an intelligent nature. Eyes Large and very dark brown or black, set squarely on line with the nose, with little or no white showing. The eye rims should be black. Ears Very long and set low and close to the head, fringed with heavy feathering. Skull High and well domed; from the side, curves as far out over the eyes as possible. Stop Deep and well-defined. Muzzle Very short, with the nose well laid back and with well developed cushioning under the eyes. Jaw Square, broad, and deep, and well turned up, with lips properly meeting to give a finished appearance. Nose Large and jet black in color, with large, wide open nostrils. Bite Slightly undershot; teeth not to show. A wry mouth should be penalized; a hanging tongue is extremely objectionable.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck-Moderate in length; nicely arched. Topline - Level. Body - Short, compact, square and deep, on cobby lines, with a broad back. Sturdy of frame, with good rib and deep brisket.
The tail is docked to two to four inches in length and carried at or just slightly above the level of the back. The set of the tail is at the back’s level. Many are born with a shorter or screw tail which is acceptable. The feather on the tail should be silky and from three to four inches in length, constituting a marked "flag" of a square shape. The tail and its carriage is an index of the breed’s attitude and character.
Forequarters
Shoulders well laid back; legs well boned and strong, dropping straight down from the elbow; strong in pastern. Feet, front and rear, are neat and compact; fused toes are often seen and are acceptable.
Hindquarters
Rear legs are well muscled and nicely angulated to indicate strength, and parallel of hock.
Coat
Profusely coated, heavy fringing on the ears, body, and on the chest, and with flowing feathering on both the front and hind legs, and feathering on the feet. The coat is straight or only slightly wavy, with a silken, glossy texture. Although the Blenheim and the Ruby rarely gain the length of coat and ears of the Prince Charles and King Charles, good coats and long ear fringes are a desired and prized attribute. Over-trimming of the body, feet or tail fringings should be penalized.
The Blenheim (red and white) consists of a pearly white ground with deep red or chestnut markings evenly distributed in large patches. The ears and the cheeks are red, with a blaze of white extending from the nose up the forehead and ending between the ears in a crescentic curve. It is preferable that there be red markings around both eyes. The Blenheim often carries a thumb mark or "Blenheim Spot" placed on the top and the center of the skull.
The Prince Charles (tricolor) consists of a pearly white ground, with evenly distributed black patches, solid black ears and black face markings. It is preferable that there be black markings around both eyes. The tan markings are of a rich color, and on the face, over the eyes, in the lining of the ears, and under the tail.
The Ruby is a self-colored, rich mahogany red. The presence of a small white chest patch about the size of a quarter, or a few white hairs on the chest of a Ruby Spaniel are not to be penalized. Other white markings are an extremely serious fault.
Gait
Elegant with good reach in the front, and sound, driving rear action. The gait as a whole is free and lively, evidencing stable character and correct construction. In profile, the movement exhibits a good length of stride, and viewed from front and rear it is straight and true, resulting from straight-boned fronts and properly made and muscled hindquarters.
Approved June 13, 1989
Effective August 1, 1989
English Toy Spaniel Health Issues
A natural bobtail can be found in some members of the breed, which is not a mutation of the T-box gene, and so is allowed under conformation show rules. Health-related research on the breed has been limited, with no major studies conducted in Britain. However, it has been included in studies outside the UK, including by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in the United States. The King Charles Spaniel has a number of eye and respiratory system disorders common to brachycephalic dogs, and endocrine and metabolic diseases common to small breeds, as well as specific breed-associated health conditions. The average lifespan is just over ten years, and the breed should be able to reproduce naturally.
Eye and heart conditions
The eye problems associated with the English Toy Spaniel include cataracts, corneal dystrophy, distichia, entropion, microphthalmia, optic disc drusen, and keratitis. Compared to other breeds, the English Toy Spaniel has an increased risk of distichia (where extra eyelashes or hairs cause irritation to the eye). Inheritance is suspected in the other conditions, with ages of onset ranging from six months for cataracts to two to five years for corneal dystrophy.Heart conditions related to the English Toy Spaniel include mitral valve disease, in which the mitral valve degrades, causing blood to flow backwards through the chambers of the heart and eventually leading to congestive heart failure. Patent ductus arteriosus, where blood is channelled back from the heart into the lungs, is also seen and can lead to heart failure. Both of these conditions present with similar symptoms and are inheritable. The OFA conducted a survey on cardiac disease, where of 105 breeds, the English Toy Spaniel was found to be 7th worst, with 2.1% of 189 dogs affected.
Other common issues
Being a brachycephalic breed, English Toy Spaniels can be sensitive to anesthesia. This is because in brachycephalic dogs, there is additional tissue in the throat directly behind the mouth and nasal cavity, known as the pharynx, and anesthesia acts as a muscle relaxant causing this tissue to obstruct the dogs' narrow airways. These narrow airways can decrease the dogs' ability to exercise properly and increase their susceptibility to heat stroke. Other congenital and hereditary disorders found in the King Charles Spaniel are hanging tongue, where a neurological defect prevents the tongue from retracting into the mouth; diabetes mellitus, which may be associated with cataracts; cleft palate and umbilical hernia. The English Toy Spaniel Club of America recommends that umbilical hernias be corrected only if other surgery is required, due to the risk of surgery in brachycephalic breeds. In another study conducted by the OFA, the English Toy Spaniel was the 38th worst of 99 breeds for patella luxation; of 75 animals tested, 4% were found to have the ailment. However, surveys conducted by the Finnish breed club between 1988 and 2007 found that the occurrences were higher in some years, ranging from 5.3% to 50%.There are several breed traits which may cause concern as health issues. They include skull issues such as an open fontanelle, where in young dogs there is a soft spot in the skull; it is common in dogs under a year old. A complication from that condition is hydrocephalus, also known as water on the brain. This condition may cause neurological symptoms that require the dog to be euthanised. Fused toes, where two or more of the dog's toes are fused together, may seem to be a health issue but this breed trait is not a cause for concern.
English Toy Spaniel Temperament
The breed can tolerate other pets well, although the English Toy Spaniel still has the hunting instincts of its ancestors and may not always be friendly towards smaller animals. It is intelligent enough to be used for obedience work and, due to its stable temperament, it can be a successful therapy dog for hospitals and nursing homes.
Did You Know?
- Most authorities agree that the English Toy has its origins in the East, namely Japan (traveling to Europe as part of royal presents).
- Evidence that the English Toy was a favorite of Mary Queen of Scots, where it is said that her favorite refused to leave her, even on the scaffold.
- All English Toys seem to have been Black and Tan up to the time of King Charles II (these were later called the King Charles); the different colors emerged much later.
- English Toys still possess the natural hunting instinct.
- Celebrated professor and physician to Queen Elizabeth refers to the English Toys as "Spaniell Gentle, otherwise called the Comforter."
- In the U.S. the breed has appeared in the AKC’s records since the club was founded. Before 1903 all four colors were classified as separate breeds for show purposes, but were permitted to intermix for breeding. But in 1904 the AKC ruled that they should be combined into one breed, the English Toy Spaniel, and shown in two color varieties: King Charles and Ruby; and Prince Charles and Blenheim.
English Toy Spaniel History
Following the spread of civilization from East to West, it is natural
that most of the oldest breeds of dog trace their origin to eastern
countries; the history of the English Toy Spaniel follows this path.
Authorities agree the dog’s ancestry to be in Japan, and possibly China
of ancient times, but the exactness remains a matter of doubt. It is
certain the Toy Spaniel did not make its first appearance in England
during the reign of King Charles I, for whom the black and tan variety
took its name. The Toy Spaniel was present more than a hundred years
before.
The black and tan, King Charles, appear to have been the King’s favorite and the emphasis in early breeding programs was on this variety. For a long time the varieties were bred with out reference to color, producing several varieties in the same litter. Historians have noted that families of privilege had their favorites and breeding programs closely aligned with development of a single variety and purpose.
Although an adornment to many owners desiring a merry, affectionate dog of distinction the English Toy Spaniel was said to be a fine small hunting spaniel, particularly on woodcock. The English Toy Spaniel achieved breed recognition with The American Kennel Club in 1886.
English Toy Spaniel Pics
AKC Registered Breeders
English Toy Spaniel
Parent Club: English Toy Spaniel Club of America
Breeder Referral: Thomas O'Neal; CST (262) 279-6012
Parent Club: English Toy Spaniel Club of America
Breeder Referral: Thomas O'Neal; CST (262) 279-6012
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