Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and King Charles Spaniel take their name from Charles II who had many toy spaniels. But he was not the only royal to have these dogs. His father Charles I also kept them, as did his sister Henrietta of Orleans. After his death he was succeeded by his brother James II who also kept these small spaniels. Mary Queen of Scots was alleged to have also owned one as too did Queen Ann and also Queen Victoria. The above painting by John Singleton Copeley shows the children of George III with their dogs. Pictured from left to right are Princess Mary, Princess Amelia and Princess Sophia. In more recent times Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon also owned a Blenheim Cavalier named Rowley.

Spring is almost over and we are now looking forward to summer. It’s really great to share those lazy summer days with your pet but it is wise to take a few precautions because hot weather can be extremely hazardous to dogs.

Never leave your dog in a car. Though it may seem cool outside, the sun can raise the temperature inside your car to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of minutes, even with the windows rolled down.

Whether you’re indoors or out, your pet need access to lots of fresh water during the summer, so check their water bowl several times a day to be sure it’s full. If you and your dog venture out for the afternoon, bring plenty of water for the pair of you.

Keep a close eye on the humidity. Humidity interferes with animals’ ability to rid themselves of excess body heat. When we over-heat we sweat, and when the sweat dries it takes excess heat with it. Dogs only perspire around their paws, which is not enough to cool the body. To rid themselves of excess heat they pant. Air moves through the nasal passages, which picks up excess heat from the body. As it is expelled through the mouth, the extra heat leaves along with it. Although this is a very efficient way to control body heat, it is severely limited in areas of high humidity or when the animal is in close quarters.

Don’t allow your dog to overexert itself. Although exercise is an important part of keeping your dog fit and healthy, overdoing it in the hot weather can easily cause them to overheat. Keep the walks to a gentle pace and make sure they have plenty of water. If they are panting a lot or seems exhausted, it’s time to stop.

When taking dogs on a car journey many people keep them in a cage. On a warm day it’s a good idea to have a battery-operated cage fan attached.

If the dog has a nail injury you should trim back the broken nail to prevent further irritation. If it is broken at the base and is bleeding it will require veterinary attention as soon as possible. Any wound or abrasion on the foot pad should be cleaned and any debris removed. Debris can sometimes be embedded inside a cut. Soaking the foot in some warm water with Epsom salts for about five minutes can help soften the skin and flush away debris. Swishing the dog’s foot back and forth through the water can help to dislodge debris painlessly. Paper towels or cotton wool can be used to pat the foot dry. You should then examine the paw pad injury for remaining debris, which can be removed with tweezers. Disinfecting the wound with Savlon or Dettol will help top kill any bacteria.

The foot pads are the only area where a dog routinely sweats and therefore it is important not to leave bandages on for too long a time as it can inhibit the healing process. The problem is that many dogs will keep trying to chew at the area and make it worse. In these cases an Elizabethan collar is probably needed. For visits outdoors, plastic wrap or a sandwich bag can be placed over the foot and secured with a piece of tape around the ankle. This will prevent bandage soiling. In addition, walks should be limited for toilet trips until the pad has had a chance to heal.

For many years we have been very keen art lovers, and because of our connection with Cavaliers we have maintained a particular interest in paintings that feature Cavalier type spaniels. Over the past forty years we have built up quite a large collection of copies, (mainly postcards), of old masters that feature Cavaliers. We have two pictures in our collection that were painted almost 130 years apart and have only just discovered a link between them. The first one, pictured below, is from The Wallace Collection in London and is called The Fidelity and was painted around 1788 by Jean-Baptiste Greuze a French painter who mainly specialized in portraits.

The second painting, (pictured below), is by the British artist Emile Vernon (1872 – 1919). Like Greuze he also lived for many years in Paris. He specialized mainly in rather charming and almost innocent styled portraits of attractive young women and children using the medium of oil with the ease and confidence of pastel. He was also a highly talented flower painter. This painting features a small tricolour.

We never saw the connection between these two paintings until we recently came across a postcard sent in Germany in 1908 that had the following photograph on the front.

It is very apparent that the model in this photograph is taking her pose from the Greuze painting of Fidelity. Note the way she is dressed, the pearls in her hair, the upward gaze of her eyes and the way she holds the spaniel. It is also very obvious that just a few years later Emile Vernon used this photo in his painting as the detail and marking on the spaniel are identical and also the position of the lady’s hands. Oh, the delights of being an art detective!!!

We also managed to uncover another of Emile Vernon’s that featured a Cavalier and a kitten.

When going around those large pet stores have you ever noticed the amount of items that have paw print logos embellished on them? There are doggie towels emblazoned with them, dog blankets and beds. There are even fleeces and t-shirts for people to wear that have these paw prints printed on them. Personally, we can’t see the sense in buying items such as these. When our dogs come home from a walk they simply print their muddy paws everywhere for free!

After your humans give you a bath, don’t let them towel–dry you! Instead, run to their bed, jump up and dry yourself off on the sheets. This is especially good if it’s right before your person’s bedtime.

Act like a convicted criminal. When the humans come home, put your ears back, tail between your legs, chin down and act as if you have done something really bad. Then, watch as the humans frantically search the house for the damage they think you have caused (Note: This only works when you have done absolutely nothing wrong).

Let the humans teach you a brand-new trick. Learn it perfectly. Then the humans try to demonstrate it to someone else, stare blankly back at the humans. Pretend you have no idea what they’re talking about.

Make your humans be patient. When you go outside to go pee, sniff around the entire yard as your humans wait. Act as if the spot you choose to go pee will ultimately decide the fate of the earth.

Draw attention to the human. When out for a walk always pick the busiest, most visible spot to go poop. Take your time and make sure everyone watches. This works particularly well if your humans have forgotten to bring a plastic bag.

When out for a walk, alternate between choking and coughing every time a strange human walks by.

Make your own rules. Don’t always bring back the stick when playing fetch with the humans. Make them go and chase it once in a while.

Hide from your humans. When your humans come home, don’t greet them at the door. Instead, hide from them, and make them think something terrible has happened to you (don’t reappear until one of your humans is panic-stricken and close to tears).

When your human calls you to come back in, always take your time. Walk as slowly as possible back to the door.

Wake up twenty minutes before the alarm clock is set to go off and make the humans take you out for your morning pee. As soon as you get back inside, fall asleep (humans can rarely fall back asleep after going outside, this will drive them nuts!).

You can’t buy loyalty, they say
I bought it though, the other day;
You can’t buy friendship, tried and true,
But just the same, I bought that too.

I made my bid, and on the spot
Bought love and faith and a whole job lot
Of happiness, so all in all
The purchase price was pretty small.

I bought a single trusting heart,
That gave devotion from the start
If you think these things are not for sale,
Buy a bright-eyed puppy with a wagging tail.

Farewell, so long, goodbye. How many words do we use when parting? Some have a little more finality than others, and these often are the hardest to use. Saying farewell to a loved one is never easy, and that is equally so when it comes to our canine friends. I remember being touched when reading of the plight of an elderly lady who lived on her own. She had a very old Labrador that was quite unwell. The lady knew this and avoided as long as she could the day when she would have to ask her Vet to do the only kindest thing. Sadly, the RSPCA got to hear of this, and the lady was hauled before the courts charged with cruelty.

We can see this story from both sides. The lady loved her friend so much that she knew she would be bereft without her. Perhaps, she also didn’t quite understand how bad the old dog’s quality of life was.

This scenario is probably quite a usual thing amongst pet owners. Indeed, we have had to face this on more than one occasion. We cling on and hope that tomorrow will bring a better day, but in spite of this the inevitable must be arrived at, and that is knowing just when is the right time to say that final goodbye.

Some of us have been blessed from time to time, when we have lost our dogs through old age, when they have been stolen away in their sleep. There are others which have met with a fatal accident and whilst these experiences are never without pain for us, we have at least been saved from that final act.

Our own Vet has helped us in the past with our decision, but it is always the owner who has to have the final say, and knowing when the time is right is never easy. The dog as we know it is a very stoic creature. It will battle on in spite of pain and infirmity. Often the Veterinary profession will all agree that the right time is when your dog stops eating. That it may need much encouragement to eat, only to vomit the food back up again. Their joy and love of life is dulled and they become disinterested in taking their daily walk. Then of course the dog may be in considerable pain from some debilitating condition and no amount of medication will ease the discomfort. Whichever malaise affects our furry friends we have to make that final sacrifice and say goodbye.

When we have said that hardest word of all, we are momentarily in a state of relief, knowing that our friend is now without pain. However, for some of us there is no consolation. Bereavement is one of the saddest periods in our lives to go through. It is an emotion that will strike many when it comes to our dogs. We should never feel guilty about our feelings. There are many cultures that can never understand why we should mourn the loss of a dog, and some will be derisory in their feelings towards us. These people are bereft of never sharing or understanding the unconditional love and sense of being that our dogs bring to our lives.

Treasure you dog’s memory. You may have lost him, but you will be all the richer in mind and spirit for having known and loved him.

A friendship filled with love and trust,
And affection so robust.
To some your love may have seemed odd,
For you claimed me as your own God.
I’d watch you frolic in the sun,
Retrieving sticks and having fun.
A loyal companionship that could never fall apart,
You’ve left your paw prints on my heart.

You brought the sunlight to each day
With your cute and funny ways.
Your comic antics made me smile,
And devotion was your style.
You saw the good in everyone.
You thought this world was built for fun.
You made friends with everyone right from the start.
You’ve left your paw prints on my heart.

Your precious life was far too short,
You’ve left me achingly distraught.
But having you as my best friend
Has been a treasured dividend.
When we walked through those summer fields
You made those days seem so fulfilled.
Within my deepest thoughts you will always be a part,
You’ve left your paw prints on my heart.

The emotional empathy of a dog is a testament to the depth of their love. They're not just responding to commands; they're connecting with you on an emotional level. This ability to empathize and react to our emotions makes dogs family members who love unconditionally and deeply.