The Cavalier King Charles is a companion dog loved by thousands of dog owners in the country.
However, the breed has diseases that cannot be bred out. To rescue it, Swedish breeders have taken a radical decision.
Dixon and Lexie are seven weeks old and look like small teddy bears. They are part of the first step in a Swedish project to strengthen the health of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Their father is a Japanese Spitz – one of the breeds chosen to cross-breed to increase genetic variation.
Breeder Tina Bergqvist emphasises that it's not about creating cute crossbreeds.
This is controlled cross-breeding. It's a hugely important project for the Cavalier.
Too little variation
The breed club, Cavalier Club, has assessed with the Swedish Kennel Club that heart disease MMVD and the neurological disease syringomyeli are too widespread, and the genetic variation is too small, to be addressed through selective breeding.
The breeds chosen after thorough research to cross-breed are, apart from Japanese Spitz, Lhasa Apso and Danish-Swedish Farmdog – dogs of roughly the same size and similar temperament.
The reactions have been mixed. Cross-breeding is controversial, says Cavalier Club's chairman Kari Sundqvist.
There have been very positive reactions, especially from veterinarians and researchers. But not as positive from others.
Critics believe that the appearance is being ruined, that the breeds chosen are too far apart. But Kari Sundqvist says they had no choice, both the Cavalier and the closely related breeds were too inbred.
If there had been a small island where unrelated Cavaliers were living – yes, then we would have had a chance. But not as it looks today.
Six litters
So far, six litters have been born in the project, Lexie and Dixon are litter number five. They are a bit lighter brown than their mother and have fluffier coats.
They are a bit tougher than what Cavalier puppies usually are. They learn faster and take more initiative, says Tina Bergqvist.
In Sweden, the puppies are registered with the Kennel Club. The project is being followed by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).
Even breeders abroad, not least in Norway where breeding of the breed was banned in 2022, are interested. There have been inquiries about puppies from, among others, Switzerland and Ireland.
Kari Sundqvist has cross-bred Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with Lhasa Apso and got what she describes as "a very happy, small, independent dog" – even if with a high tail.
But having a high tail is not a disease, it's worse if he has to be put down after four years due to heart failure.
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a relatively small dog that usually weighs 5.5-8 kilos and has a withers height of 30-35 cm.
It comes in four colours: blenheim and tan, ruby, blenheim, and tricolour.
The character is described as fearless and cheeky, happy, friendly, never aggressive, and without any hint of nervousness.
In 1945, it was recognised as a separate breed by the English Kennel Club.
Source: Swedish Kennel Club
