The king charles spaniel's (also known as the English Toy Spaniel) origins probably trace back to Asian spaniels and perhaps the Pug, however the breed was primarily developed in the British Isles. This loving companion dog became a darling of the British royalty. One type of Toy Spaniel, the King Charles Spaniel, is named for King Charles II of England who owned quite a few of these charming little 'comforter' dogs.
During the nineteenth century, the breed underwent several changes. He was bred smaller, with flattened, upturned face, protruding eyes, and a more rounded skull. The result is today's King Charles Spaniel. The somewhat similar Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is based on the pre-nineteenth century Toy Spaniel.
The king charles spaniel should have a rather large head with clearly marked stop, very short and up-turned muzzle with a broad lower jaw. The eyes are large, round and dark with a mild expression. The ears are very long and set low, carried close to the head and well covered in hair. The neck is beautifully arched and held high and proud. The chest is deep and strong, the back short and straight. The tail should be well covered in hair. The coat is long, silky and straight.