The King Charles Spaniel - The original lap dog!

They were bred to do just that.  Be a lap dog to the aristocracy in Europe.

.

Various health issues affect this particular breed, most notably mitral valve disease, which leads to heart failure. This will appear in most Cavaliers at some point in their lives and is the most common cause of death.

The breed may also suffer from together, in which cavities are formed in the spinal cord, possibly associated with malformation of the skull that reduces the space available for the brain.

Cavaliers are also affected by ear problems, a common health problem among spaniels of various types, and they can suffer from such other general maladies as hip dysplasia, which are common across many types of dog breeds.

King Charles Cavalier Spaniels are not hypoallergenic, unfortunately. They are adorable though and need a lot of affection and attention. 

They became very popular and can be seen in many oil paintings in Museums all over the world.

The history of the breed in America is relatively recent. The first recorded Cavalier living in the United States was brought from the United Kingdom in 1956 by W. Lyon Brown, together with Elizabeth Spalding and other enthusiasts, she founded the Cavalier King Charles Club USA which continues to the present day. In 1994, the American Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club was created by a group of breeders to apply for recognition by the American Kennel Club. The Cavalier would go on to be recognised in 1997, and the ACKCSC became the parent club for Cavaliers

 

Allergies and the King Charles Spaniel

Most allergies are common to the KCS.  Because they are so inbred that you can count on either skin or food allergies.