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English Toy Spaniel

intelligent / playful / gentle
Toy Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

9-10 inches

Weight

8-14 pounds

Life Expectancy

10-12 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    40% 40%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    100% 100%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    100% 100%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    100% 100%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    60% 60%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    60% 60%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    60% 60%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    40% 40%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The joyful English Toy Spaniel was bred to be a king’s pet. However, ETS are spaniels first and lapdogs second. Underneath the ostentatious façade pulses the heart of a true dog—bright, caring, and eager to please.
A square, snub-nosed toy with the ETS logo weighs no more than 14 pounds. A well-known breed characteristic is the huge, conical head with its long, luxuriant ears, dark, melting eyes, and full cheeks. The extravagant coat is available in four different colors, each with its own official name: solid red (Ruby), white, black, and tan, and red and white (Blenheim) The ETS developed the personality of its aristocratic owners, like many other toy breeds that were maintained by royals. They have a tendency to be arrogant, stubborn, and very picky about who they choose as friends. They are affectionate at home and joyful and inquisitive during play when they are with their favorite humans.
What To Expect When Caring For a English Toy Spaniel

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

Although English Toy Spaniels are typically healthy dogs, there are a few health issues and genetic screening issues that are particular to the breed, such as eye issues, cardiac issues, and luxating patellas. Breed health and the maintenance of the breed's distinctive characteristics are the goals of committed breeders who frequently assess their breeding stock and collaborate with one another. The teeth should be brushed frequently with a toothpaste made for dogs, and the English Toy Spaniel's ears should be constantly examined for indications of infection. To ensure the dog has a long and healthy life, regular visits to the vet for checks and parasite management are recommended.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Ophthalmologist Evaluation

Grooming

Brushing with a pin brush or soft bristle brush is recommended at least twice a week for the English Toy Spaniel's long, wavy, silky, and abundant coat. To carefully massage through places where tangles may be forming, a long-toothed metal dog comb can be useful. Tangles and mats are irritating for your dog and can lead to skin issues if not addressed to. Your English Toy Spaniel's appearance can be maintained with regular trimming around the face, feet, and other places. A bath with a light shampoo made for dogs every four to six weeks will help to maintain the English Toy's coat and skin clean and healthy. The nails should be cut once a month. Checking the dog during a grooming session is a fantastic opportunity to look for any new lumps or skin issues, as well as to ensure that the eyes and ears are healthy and problem-free.

Exercise

When exercising outside, English Toy Spaniels are alert, playful, and enthusiastic; nevertheless, at home, they are staid and polite. They are calm canines that make great companions for city residents in studio apartments who can take the dogs on daily leash walks. The ETS is a short-faced breed that cannot handle extreme heat and should not be left outside on hot or muggy days.

Training

The breed, commonly referred to as the "Charlie," is calm, content, and dedicated to his owners. He has a kind heart and is meticulous about his appearance. The breed has kept characteristics from his sporting forebears and is regarded to be a good tiny hunting spaniel, despite serving as a companion to owners who want a happy, caring pet. They are intelligent but can be difficult to train; the secret to success is patience, perseverance, and a kind, upbeat attitude. Never use harsh techniques on this empathetic, loyal breed. Charlie will develop into a well-adjusted, well-mannered companion with early socialization and puppy training lessons, which are advised.

Nutrition

The English Toy Spaniel should be fed a premium dog food that is good for small or toy breeds and suitable for the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior). Watch your dog's calorie intake and weight level because certain dogs are prone to obesity. Treats can be a valuable training tool, but offering them in excess might lead to obesity. Give table scraps sparingly, if at all, and steer clear of cooked bones and too fatty foods. Discover which foods fit the bill for canine consumption and which don't. If you have any worries about your dog's weight or diet, consult your veterinarian.

History

Famously, toy spaniels are linked to the “Merry Monarchs” of the 1600s, Britain’s Charles I and II, whose active small dogs came to represent the House of Stuart. Toy spaniels were the only dogs permitted in the House of Parliament during the reign of Charles II, who was possibly Britain’s most dog-friendly king prior to Victoria.
The history of toy spaniels in Europe and Britain is unknown. According to some authorities, miniature spaniels were first introduced to Europe from China or Japan in the past. Others contend that toy spaniels were sent from Spain, the reputed birthplace of the spaniel breeds, to Asia, where Asian breeders improved the canines before exporting them to England, Italy, and other European countries.
Toy-sized versions of the sporting-spaniel breeds that the aristocrats of Renaissance England preferred were the in-vogue canines. A tiny spaniel accompanied Mary Queen of Scots to her beheading in 1587; they were known as “the Spaniel Gentle” or “the Comforter” in Shakespeare’s day. By the time Charles II came to power in 1665, some British aristocratic families had adopted toy spaniels as their mascots.
The English Toy Spaniel, also known as King Charles Spaniel in the United Kingdom, originated during the Victorian era when British toy spaniels were bred with Asian toys, most likely Pugs and Japanese Chin. Compared to toy spaniels from Charles’s era, this one featured a flatter face and a domed head. The classic toy spaniel of the Restoration era was practically dead as the new kind, the EST, quickly gained dominance. In the 1920s, the vintage toy was brought back to life, and American collectors now refer to it as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.