How to Understand Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Coat Color Genetics

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed has four color varieties. To understand more fully what colors you can expect from what combinations, read on!

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Identify your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel color.
   
   Blenheim – Parti-colored red and white
   Tri-Color – Tri-colored black, tan, and white
   Ruby – Solid colored red (sometimes with some white patching, not desirable)
   Black and tan – black and tan (sometimes with some white patching, not desirable)

2. Understand recessive traits among the four color varities.
   
   The most recessive Cavalier King Charles Spaniel coat pattern/color is the Black and tan. If you breed two black and tan Cavaliers together, you will get ONLY Black and tan patterned puppies – there is no genetic possibility for any other color/pattern.
   
   The next most recessive is the Ruby colored Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. If you breed two Ruby Cavaliers together, or a Ruby and a Black and tan, you may get both Ruby and Black and tan puppies (when breeding two Ruby colored Cavaliers together, the Black and tan puppies would only occur if both the Ruby Cavaliers “carried” a recessive Black and tan gene, however.)
   
   Next in line is the Tri-color (black, tan, and white) Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, and finally the Blenheim, most dominant of all the colors/patterns.

3. Decide which colors to breed for.
   
   There is no “right” answer to which colors to breed together – it is a matter of personal preference in what colors you’d like to end up with. Keep in mind that recessive genes, including color genes, can “lurk” unknown for a very long time before expressing themselves in puppies, so the more dominant colors/patterns of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels might very well be carrying the most recessive.

Resources

• Coat Color Genetics Website

[genteelhart]

on 6/10/2009 Thanks for the note. :) I am on the west coast, but very sorry to hear of the plight of the little ones in Missouri. They're terrific dogs, some of my dog training clients have them and I'd love to get one someday myself.

[jenicoe2001]

on 6/9/2009 Great tips on How to Understand Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Coat Color Genetics! 5* Good resource website too.I always wanted one of these little guys.Do u live close to Missouri?The local no kill shelter just rescued some Cavaliers from a Puppy Mill.These poor guys need new great forever homes... I started a discussion about them in the forums today- u might want to look it up! http://www.ehow.com/forums.aspx?plckForumPage=ForumDiscussion