The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier have quite the history to lend to the King Charles Yorkie. Because he is a relatively new breed, he doesn't have much of an origin story to himself yet; so, by looking at his parent breed's tales, we can get an idea of why this hybrid may have been created and what makes him so unique. Let's first take a look at the rich history of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Although the Cavalier is a small dog, he more than lives up to his long name. As one of the smaller Spaniel breeds, the Cavalier was always a favorite of the royal courts and noble home in Spain, his home land. The people of France, England, and Scotland were also huge fans of the Spaniels and constantly used them as key items in their portraits and artwork. The name "Cavalier King Charles Spaniel" was given to this breed due to their popularity with both Charles the I and II. However, as Kings come and go, so did the love for the Cavalier. After King William took the throne, the little Spaniels took the back seat as Pugs moved into the spotlight. Crossbreeding between the two breeds soon became the new fad, greatly altering the original Spaniel's appearance; giving them a flatter face and much more domed of a head. If it hadn't been for the persistence of one very wealthy American, the breed may have completely faded out. This man, Rosewell Elridge, offered a price to anyone who could recreate the dogs he had seen in 17th and 18th century paintings; thus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was reborn. Today, these dogs are used for show, sport, and as companion animals. The second parent breed of the King Charles Yorkie, the classic blue and gold Yorkshire Terrier, is another unforgettable favorite. This feisty terrier is though to be descended from the Clydesdale Terrier and the Black-and-Tan Terrier; both of which have the typical, terrier personality. Spunky, smart, and complete love bugs, the terriers who were brought along to places like York and Manchester with their owners were eventually bred with local dogs, which then created the Yorkshire Terrier. This breed made a living for itself by providing ratting skills, a trait that they still maintain to this day. Initially, in the days of their early creation, the ratting terriers of Yorkshire were known as Broken Haired Scotch Terriers. But by the time 1870 rolled around, it was decided to shorten the name to Yorkshire Terrier, from where the dogs were first produced. It was around this time that the dogs became more companion animals and were bred to be smaller in stature. It didn't take long for the beautiful Yorkshire Terrier to make his way to America in 1872 and his popularity continued to rise from there. He is now used as a show and companion dog all over the world. When you combine these two popular breeds, you get the perfect companion dog. He is lively, fun, loving, and loyal; of course, he may have a bit of a stubborn streak but one look into those dark, intelligent eyes and that can almost be forgotten. If you are looking for a dog who knows how to make you smile with his personality, likes to keep you company both in and out of the house, and isn't too overly excitable the King Charles Yorkie may be the perfect fit for you.
