StructureType Guide General

CAVALIER PRIMER
Type and Structure

The goal of this Primer is to help newcomers to the breed learn about structure and Cavalier type. This will be a work in progress with many pictures--NOT illustrations--from 8 weeks to maturity with many, many more added over time. It will be split into several parts using the CKCSC, USA, Inc. club standard and going in order.

The first part will include Head, Eyes, Nose, Muzzle, Teeth and Ears. It will show various head types--hopefully the same dogs as puppies and mature adults. It will also break the head down into its various parts such as the eyes, the nose, the muzzle and the teeth and again will hopefully show the same characteristic in the same dog as both a puppy and an adult.

The second part will include the body, neck and topline. It will try to explain different body types from short, average and long backed to short, average and longer legged body types. Bone and substance will be discussed along with depth of body and body proportions. Differing lengths of neck will also be shown as well as good and poor toplines. Again we will try to include pictures of the same dogs as puppies and as mature adults over time.

The third part will consist of a few pages of structure and include front and shoulders, angulation, hindquarters, croups and various other aspects of structure.

The fourth part will include a few miscellaneous areas such as tail set and carriage and size.

The final part will include coat, markings, colors, etc. and how markings can enhance or detract from any particular dog depending on the dog's own structure.

It must be stressed that all dogs, no matter how wonderful or how successful, have faults--in fact they have multiple faults. There are no perfect dogs. Just because a dog is portrayed as poor in some area does not mean it is not a quality dog. Many in fact are champions.

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GENERAL APPEARANCE
(Taken directly from the official CKCSC Standard)

An active, graceful, well-balanced dog, very gay and free in action; fearless and sporting in character, yet at the same time gentle and affectionate.

It is important to remember that a dog can have one or more of the faults listed in the Standard, in moderation, and still be an overall typical, gay, elegant Cavalier. On the other hand, bad temper or meanness are not to be tolerated and shall be considered disqualifying faults. It is the typical gay temperament, combined with the elegance and "royal" appearance which are of paramount importance in the breed.

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