Spinone Italiano vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Spinone Italiano vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed ComparisonSpinone Italiano is originated from Italy but Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom. Spinone Italiano may grow 37 cm / 15 inches higher than Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Spinone Italiano may weigh 30 kg / 67 pounds more than Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Spinone Italiano may live 5 years less than Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Spinone Italiano may have more litter size than Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Both Spinone Italiano and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel requires Moderate maintenance.

History

spinone italiano - historyThis Italian breed has an ancient blood line tracing all the back to 500 BC. Originally bred to hunt, he is today a friendly, alert and loyal companion. He is intelligent enough to do any job you give him. The Spinone is thought to be one of the oldest gun dogs ever, but it is not entirely clear that he came from Italy. There are some who think he may have come from somewhere in these European countries – Italy, Greece, France, Celtic Ireland, Spain or Russia. However, most believe the breed came from Italy in the Piedmont area.

The most common thinking is that he is a descendent of the Spanish Pointer and/or the Russian Setter. One other theory is that setters from Greece were brought to the Roman Empire and crossed with a variety of Italian dog to make the coarse haired Spinone we see today. Then the French put in their claim that the breed is a cross of many French pointers.

The theory that counts might just belong to the Italians who believe the ancestor to the Spinone includes the German Wirehaired Pointer, the Pudelpointer and the Wirehaired Pointer. It was not until the 19th century that the name Spinone was officially given to the breed.

Before that it might have been known as a Spinoso and named after a thorn bus in Italy called the Spino. This bush was so thick and sharp that small prey animals learned to hide under it because the predators could not get through it. The Spinone however was able to fight through the briars with its thick, coarse hair and tough skin.

The breed almost became extinct during the second world war as before and after the hunters in Italy had started to use other breeds for hunting. Breeders also began to cross the Spinone with wire hairs like German Wirehaired Pointer, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and the Boulet.

The most popular hunting dog in Italy today is the Bracco Italiano while the Spinone is still used for hunting.

cavalier king charles spaniel - historyThe origin of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel goes back many centuries. It was in 1928 that this spaniel breed was separated from the smaller King Charles and these were particularly popular with royalty in England.

In fact, Mary, Queen of Scots had one of these spaniels who accompanied her to her beheading. It was her grandsons who gave their name to the breed, and King Charles II, who reigned from 1660 to 1685 kept these dogs. After Charles II's death, the dog’s popularity waned somewhat. The dog was later bred with pugs giving them the familiar features they have today, such as the domed head and the shorter nose.

Interest in the breed revived, and a breed -club was established, drawing up a breed standard. Finally, in 1945, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was recognized as a separate breed.

Description

spinone italiano puppy - descriptionThe breed is made up of strong, solid and muscled dogs that have an almost square build. His legs are made to travel any terrain and his head is long with an occipital that is pronounced and unique to the Spinone. They are said to have “human appearing eyes”, with a docked tail in countries allowing it and webbed paws.

Shorter hair covers their feet, head, legs, muzzle and ears. They have longer hair on their eyebrows and it is stiff, with soft hair on the muzzle and cheeks with a beard and mustache. It is a single coated dog though the coat is rough. They should have skin, lips, nose, and pads in colors that coordinate with their coats. For white dog it is a red-orange color, brown in dogs that are roan colored and dark red-orange in the orange and white colored dog.

cavalier king charles spaniel puppy - descriptionThe Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small to medium sized dog wih its height being 31 – 33cm and its weight being 5 – 8 or 9 kg. He is known for his long, silky coat which is fairly straight and feathery.

He has floppy ears, and with this Spaniel breed the tail is generally left long and feathery. The coat comes in many different colors so you will find the popular rich red shade with white, he can be black and tan or even tri-color.

Temperament:

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is affectionate, playful and eager to please. He makes an excellent pet for children as well and gets on well with other pets in the home too.

They adapt quickly to different environments and will be happy in the city or in the country, so long as his owner is with him and meters out lots of love and attention. He is intelligent and responds well to training and socialization, turning him from a playful puppy into a relaxed, obedient adult dog.

The Cavalier loves to be active but he also loves to be quietly lying next to his owner. It is also why these dogs make such splendid companions for the elderly as well as being a good choice for therapy dogs.

Characteristics

1.Children friendliness – yes they live kids.

2.Special talents – Digging and running.

spinone italiano dog - characteristics3.Adaptability – Young dogs need a lot of attention but they don’t need a lot of space. The young dogs are energetic while the adult dogs are laid-back. They need exercise every day and at least a small back yard.

4.Learning ability – good/stubborn/intelligent.

cavalier king charles spaniel dog - characteristicsThe Cavlier King Charles Spaniel is an affectionate, playful and eager-to-please dog breed that is good with children and other dogs. They will be happy to join you in any games you have in mind but will easily lie quietly beside you for companionship too.

This spaniel breed is exceptionally intelligent and can be easily trained and socialized, making them even better behaved dogs.

For their gentle, sweet nature, it is no wonder that they make such excellent therapy dogs for children and adults, and he is willing to be a wonderful friend to you too.

Health Problems

spinone italiano puppies - health problemsThis is an ancient breed with not a lot of documented genetic issues, but it does have one deadly condition.

• Cerebellar ataxia (CA) is inherited and hits the puppies. Because it is a recessive gene both the mother and father must carry it for the puppy to inherit it. This makes it less likely than it would be otherwise. Puppies with the condition do not live more than a year. Since it is a genetic problem there is now a test for it that identifies carriers at a 95% accuracy rate.

• Like many other large breed dogs, they are susceptible to hip dysplasia. This can cause arthritis and/or lameness. There are now hip replacement surgeries available for this condition.

• Bloat is again common in large dogs and you need to watch for it with the Spinone. It can be deadly if not treated immediately. Let your dog rest quietly after eating. Do not let her exercise or play energetically after eating.

cavalier king charles spaniel puppies - health problemsCavaliers are generally fairly healthy dogs but they are prone to mitral valve disease which can lead to heart failure. The heart as 4 chambers and each chamber has a one-way valve to keep blood from flowing backward. One of these is the mitral valve and it can leak over time resulting in a heart murmur. Dogs as young as 4 years of age can develop a murmur from a leaking mitral valve.

Congestive heart failure develops, your dog has a chronic cough and lacks stamina. A veterinary cardiologist may need to be called in to recommend some kind of medical intervention. The vet will evaluate your pet's condition and lifestyle before making a recommendation.

Other health problems which the Cavalier might have to contend with will be luxating patella as well as eye issues.

Patellar Luxation:

This condition affects toy breeds, occuring when the kneecaps slip out of place. It can be severe enough to cause lameness in the dogs leg, but fortunately it can be managed with an anti-inflammatory or even surgery.

Caring The Pet

spinone italiano dogs - caring1Feeding the puppy – feed a high quality dog food for puppies of large breeds. Feed 3-4x day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating even as a puppy.

2.Feeding the adult - feed a high quality dog food for large breeds. Feed 1-2X day but don’t overfeed or let him exercise after eating.

3.Points for Good Health – Active and strong

4. Games and Exercises – The Spinone is an active breed, but not a fast dog. In fact, they like to travel at a trot so it becomes a great dog for jogging or running with. They love to jump, track, hunt, hike. They do well with agility, retrieving, flyball, carting, being a therapy dog, a rescue dog and a watchdog.

Brushing:

cavalier king charles spaniel dogs - caringThe Cavalier Spaniel’s long silky coat will require brushing at least twice a week to remove loose hairs and to keep it healthy and shiny. This is one spaniel however, that won’t require trimming. However, because he loves to be playing outdoors, some owners do trim the dog’s feathers around the legs and paws.

Ear Checks:

As a dog with floppy ears, it will become essential to check his ears for wax build-up and moisture within the ears combined with dirt. This can lead to ear infections. Also the silky ears can be prone to matting. You can wash them gently with dog shampoo.

Dental Disease:

Smaller dogs like the Cavalier Spaniel are more likely to develop dental problems because of the structure of their skulls and jaws which are more compressed. Brush your dogs teeth 2 or 3 times a week with special canine tooth-paste and toothbrush.

Basic Information

Group:
Gun dog
Toy dog
Origin:
Italy
United Kingdom
Height Male:
60 - 70 cm
23 - 28 inches
31 - 33 cm
12 - 13 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
29 - 33 cm
11 - 13 inches
Weight Male:
34 - 39 kg
74 - 86 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
32 - 37 kg
70 - 82 pounds
5 - 9 kg
11 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
8 - 9 Years
9 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 11
2 - 6
Size:
Large dog
Small dog
Other Names:
Spinone Italian Spinone Italian Griffon Italian Wire-haired Pointer Italian Coarsehaired Pointer
Comfort Dogs, Comfort Spaniels
Colors Available:
white with orange markings, white with brown markings, and brown roan with or without brown markings , orange roan with or without orange markings, solid white
Rich red shade with white, black and tan or even tri-colored
Coat:
tough, slightly wiry, and close fitting. rough
Medium length and silky
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Friendly, Gentle, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Social, Stubborn, Sweet
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Sweet
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Spinone Italiano vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  2. Spinone Italiano vs German Shorthaired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  3. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Setter - Breed Comparison
  4. Spinone Italiano vs Bracco Italiano - Breed Comparison
  5. Spinone Italiano vs Portuguese Pointer - Breed Comparison
  6. Spinone Italiano vs Perdiguero de Burgos - Breed Comparison
  7. Spinone Italiano vs Irish Red and White Setter - Breed Comparison
  8. Spinone Italiano vs Pachon Navarro - Breed Comparison
  9. Spinone Italiano vs Grand Gascon Saintongeois - Breed Comparison
  10. Spinone Italiano vs Slovakian Rough Haired Pointer - Breed Comparison
  11. Spinone Italiano vs Slovensky Hrubosrsty Stavac - Breed Comparison
  12. Spinone Italiano vs Smooth Haired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  13. Spinone Italiano vs Spanish Pointer - Breed Comparison
  14. Spinone Italiano vs Longhaired Weimaraner - Breed Comparison
  15. Spinone Italiano vs Braque Francais (Gascogne Type) - Breed Comparison
  16. Talbot vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  17. Vikhan Sheepdog vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  18. Weimaraner vs Spinone Italiano - Breed Comparison
  19. Spinone Italiano vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  20. Spinone Italiano vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  21. Spinone Italiano vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  22. Spinone Italiano vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  23. Spinone Italiano vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  24. Spinone Italiano vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  25. Pomeranian vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. Maltese vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  27. Pug vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  28. Maltipoo vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  29. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Cavachon - Breed Comparison
  30. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Bolognese - Breed Comparison
  31. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Australian Silky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Belgian Griffon - Breed Comparison
  33. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  34. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Bospin - Breed Comparison
  35. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Bantam Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  36. Cockapoo vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  37. Cavapoo vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  38. Papillon vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  39. Japanese Chin vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  40. Miniature English Bulldog vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  41. Italian Greyhound vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  42. Jug vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  43. Miniature Pinscher vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  44. Dorgi vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  45. Dorkie vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  46. German Spitz (Klein) vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  47. Doxiepoo vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  48. Damchi vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  49. Lowchen vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds