English Toy Spaniel

Mary, Queen of Scots, had few devoted friends at the time of her death in 1587. Among them was her English Toy Spaniel, who remained with Mary to the end, hiding inside her wide skirts until the moment of her execution. After her death, he refused to eat, and died of a broken heart.

Most dogs won't have their loyalty put to the test like Mary's dog, but this story illustrates the depth of feeling these dogs can have, and also shows the kind of company they have kept throughout their history--royalty. The breed appears in numerous noble portraits of the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. They originated in the Far East; spaniels were mixed into the breed later.

The English Toy Spaniel's coat flows like a royal cloak. It is long and silky, with extra fringe on the ears. The breed is divided into four varieties based on color: Blenheim (rich mahogany red and white); ruby (rich mahogany red); Prince Charles (white with black and tan markings); and King Charles (black and tan). The coats in the Prince Charles and King Charles varieties are longer. All need twice-weekly combing and brushing.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: A compact, square-bodied toy dog with a short nose, domed head, and merry and affectionate personality.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Weight--8 to 14 pounds.

Fun Facts

One variety of English Toy Spaniel is called the King Charles. This refers to his color, black and tan; his breed is still the English Toy Spaniel. Calling him by his variety name could cause confusion with his cousin, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. They are two different breeds of toy spaniels.

Excerpted from The Complete Dog Book For Kids © 1996, John Wiley & Sons, Inc.