Cavaliers are renowned for their gentle and loving nature. They thrive on human companionship, forming strong bonds with their families and children. Their affectionate disposition makes them ideal lap dogs and loyal members of any household.

Whether living in a small apartment or a large home, Cavaliers adapt beautifully to various living situations. They are generally easygoing and content as long as they are close to their loved ones.

Known for their sweet temperament, Cavaliers are excellent with children and other pets. They are rarely aggressive and enjoy being part of family activities, making them wonderful additions to diverse households.

While they enjoy walks and playtime, Cavaliers don't require extensive exercise. Daily strolls and indoor play are usually sufficient to keep them happy and healthy, making them suitable for owners with varying activity levels.

With their soulful eyes and expressive faces, Cavaliers communicate a wide range of emotions. They are often described as having a "melting" look, easily charming their way into the hearts of everyone they meet.

King Charles II (reigned 1661–1685) adored these little spaniels so much that they became synonymous with him. Historical accounts describe him as rarely seen without several spaniels at his heels, and he even issued a decree allowing them into any public building, including Parliament.

This is where the “King Charles Spaniel” name originates.

The Cavalier retained the traditional spaniel colours:

• Blenheim

• Tricolour

• Black & Tan

• Ruby

These colours reflect the genetics of the original toy spaniels.

The modern Cavalier is known for:

• A gentle, affectionate temperament

• A longer muzzle and flatter skull compared to the King Charles Spaniel

• A strong connection to its royal and artistic heritage

• A breed standard shaped by both history and deliberate restoration

Modern Cavaliers officially come in four colours: Blenheim, Tricolour, Ruby, and Black & Tan. Solid black is not recognised. Over the past century, this has shaped the gene pool in three ways:

• Breeders stopped selecting for black coats, so the genes that could produce them became rare.

• Show standards discouraged non standard colours, meaning any black puppies that did appear were not bred from.

• The breed was rebuilt in the 1920s from a small number of dogs, which narrowed colour genetics even further.

As a result, the possibility of producing a true solid black Cavalier nearly vanished.

There are three main reasons some breeders are bringing them back:

1. Preserving historical diversity

Early toy spaniels,  the ancestors of Cavaliers, came in a wider range of colours, including darker and black based coats. Some breeders want to restore the colours seen in old paintings and early records, not just the four modern show colours.

A broader gene pool can support long term breed health. Some groups, such as CKCS United, advocate for reopening colour standards to reduce genetic bottlenecks and allow responsible breeding of non standard colours.

Families choosing Cavaliers as pets care more about temperament and health than show eligibility. This gives breeders room to work with rare colours, including black, without pressure from traditional show standards.

Because the colour is so rare, the few black Cavaliers that exist today come from:

• Carefully selected lines where the recessive genetics still survive

• Import programmes (like us here at Karadon Kennels) that locate and preserve these dogs

• Breeders committed to ethical, health first practices, not colour only breeding

These dogs are not “new inventions” — they’re a revival of something the breed once carried but lost through selective pressure.

Black Cavaliers appeal because they are:

• Historically meaningful

• Visually striking

• Extremely rare

• Still true Cavaliers in temperament and structure

For many families, owning one feels like owning a piece of the breed’s forgotten past.

Most adult Cavaliers fall into:

• Height: 30–33 cm at the withers

• Weight: 6–8 kg

This places them at the larger end of the toy group, giving them that perfect balance of being small enough for indoor living but sturdy enough for families and children.