English Toy Spanese
Hybrid Breed Description
The English Toy Spanese is a cross between the English Toy Spaniel and the Pekingese. Because each hybrid inherits a unique combination of traits from both parents, we recommend thoroughly researching both breeds before choosing an English Toy Spanese. Pay special attention to temperament, health issues, and care requirements, as your dog may express characteristics from either parent breed.
English Toy Spaniel
The English Toy Spaniel is a compact toy breed standing nine to ten inches tall at the shoulder and weighing between eight and fourteen pounds, with minimal size variation between males and females. Their body presents a notably square, cobby build with a sturdy frame despite their diminutive stature, featuring a broad chest and well-muscled short legs with the front legs set farther apart than the rear legs. The breed's most distinctive characteristic is their domed skull that appears large in proportion to body size, paired with a very short, upturned nose that creates their signature pushed-in facial profile and slight underbite. Their expressive face features large, dark, soulful eyes with prominent dark rims set rather low in the skull, creating a sweet and appealing expression that captures attention. The ears are exceptionally long and pendulous, hanging close to the head and heavily feathered with luxurious hair. Their small necks appear short and thick, supporting heads that seem oversized for their compact frames. The breed's tail may be naturally short or docked to two to four inches in length in regions where this practice remains legal. The English Toy Spaniel's crowning glory is their beautiful long, silky coat that requires regular maintenance to prevent tangling and matting, with particular attention needed around the ears, chest, legs, and feet where feathering is most abundant. They come in four distinct color varieties, each historically bearing its own formal name: the King Charles features black and tan coloring, the Prince Charles displays tricolor patterns of white with black and tan, the Blenheim presents red and white markings, and the Ruby shows solid rich mahogany red. Their coat has a slightly wavy or straight texture with a soft, silky feel that makes them ideal lap dogs. Despite their aristocratic appearance, these dogs possess surprising heaviness for their size and move with a dignified, unhurried gait befitting their royal heritage.
Key Characteristics
English Toy Spaniels are renowned for their gentle, affectionate, and devoted temperament, making them quintessential companion dogs perfectly suited for those seeking a loyal lapdog. They form exceptionally strong bonds with their families and thrive on human companionship, preferring to spend most of their time close to their owners and often selecting one favorite person to whom they show particular devotion. Their calm, happy, and playful disposition creates a pleasant household presence, though they maintain a somewhat reserved or aloof attitude toward strangers until they determine these newcomers are welcome and pose no threat. The breed displays remarkable adaptability to various living situations, excelling in apartment environments due to their small size, relatively quiet nature, and moderate energy requirements. They are not excessive barkers, though they serve as effective watchdogs by alerting owners to unusual sounds or visitors with their appropriately sized alarm bark. English Toy Spaniels generally get along well with other household pets including dogs and cats when properly socialized, and they tolerate gentle children who understand how to handle small dogs respectfully. However, they may not be the best choice for families with very young children who might accidentally injure them through rough play. These intelligent dogs are eager to please and respond well to positive reinforcement training methods, though their sensitive nature means they do not tolerate harsh corrections or reprimands. Some individuals can display stubbornness during training, requiring patience and consistency from their owners. English Toy Spaniels have low to moderate exercise needs, satisfied with short daily walks and indoor playtime rather than demanding vigorous outdoor activity. Their brachycephalic facial structure makes them sensitive to temperature extremes, particularly heat and humidity, requiring owners to monitor them carefully during warm weather. The breed's dignified, somewhat self-assured demeanor reflects their aristocratic heritage, creating companion dogs who are simultaneously regal in bearing and devoted in their affections.
English Toy Spaniels generally enjoy good health with a lifespan of ten to twelve years, though like all breeds they are predisposed to certain genetic health conditions that require awareness and monitoring. Mitral valve disease stands as one of the most significant health concerns affecting this breed, occurring when the heart's mitral valve weakens over time leading to inefficient blood flow and potentially progressing to heart failure. While no cure exists, early detection through regular veterinary examinations allows for medical management and lifestyle adjustments that can significantly improve quality of life and extend the dog's years. The breed's brachycephalic facial structure, characterized by their short upturned nose and pushed-in face, predisposes them to breathing difficulties and respiratory challenges. They are particularly sensitive to heat and humidity, which can exacerbate breathing problems and lead to dangerous overheating. Owners must provide climate-controlled environments, avoid excessive exercise during warm weather, and ensure constant access to water and shaded areas. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap repeatedly slips out of position, commonly affects English Toy Spaniels causing lameness, a distinctive bunny-hopping gait, and discomfort that may progress to arthritis. Mild cases may resolve naturally while severe instances require surgical intervention. Ocular issues present another area of concern, with English Toy Spaniels prone to developing cataracts that cloud the eye lens and impair vision, though surgical removal often successfully restores sight. Progressive retinal atrophy may also occur, causing gradual vision loss without accompanying pain. Their large prominent eyes are vulnerable to injuries, lacerations, and infections requiring regular monitoring. Some English Toy Spaniels are born with open fontanels, soft spots on the skull that fail to close completely with maturity, necessitating extra care to prevent head injuries. Dental problems common to small breeds require diligent oral hygiene including regular brushing and professional cleanings. The breed's sensitivity to anesthesia demands special protocols during surgical procedures, and responsible breeders conduct health screenings including cardiac evaluations, patella certifications, and eye examinations to reduce the incidence of hereditary conditions in future generations.
Pekingese
The Pekingese stands six to nine inches tall at the shoulder and weighs between seven and fourteen pounds, with their body appearing surprisingly heavy and substantial for their compact size. Their most distinctive physical characteristic is their remarkably long body combined with short, somewhat bowed legs that create their signature rolling gait, giving them an appearance of dignified movement rather than the bouncing or prancing seen in other toy breeds. The breed's sturdy, muscular build beneath their profuse coat belies their toy classification, with a broad chest, well-developed shoulders, and a pear-shaped body that sits low to the ground. Their head is large and massive in proportion to their body, featuring a broad skull that is wider than it is long with a distinctive domed shape. The face presents a notably short, flat muzzle with a characteristic V-shaped nose wrinkle between the muzzle and eyes, creating their famous pushed-in appearance. Their prominent, large dark eyes are set wide apart and convey intelligence and alertness, though their position and size make them vulnerable to injury. The ears are heart-shaped and hang long from the head, heavily feathered with silky hair that frames their face. The Pekingese's crowning glory is their abundant double coat consisting of a long, straight outer coat with harsh texture and a thick, soft undercoat that creates their distinctive lion-like mane around the neck and shoulders. The coat is longest around the neck, chest, and backs of the legs, with generous feathering on the ears, tail, and feet. They appear in a wide variety of acceptable colors including gold, red, sable, cream, black, white, tan, black and tan, and occasionally blue or slate grey, with many dogs displaying black masks or self-colored faces. Their tail carries majestically over the back, covered in long fringe that adds to their regal appearance. Despite requiring significant grooming to maintain, this luxurious coat combined with their dignified bearing creates the impression of a small lion, reflecting their Chinese nickname as lion dogs.
Key Characteristics
Pekingese possess remarkably complex temperaments characterized by their awareness of their royal ancestry, displaying dignity, confidence, and a self-important demeanor that makes them appear much larger than their actual size. They are intelligent, independent dogs with strong-willed personalities who often believe they should run the household, requiring owners to establish firm, consistent leadership from the beginning to prevent the development of small dog syndrome where they assume dominance over humans and other pets. Their regal bearing reflects their historical status as companions to Chinese royalty, and this heritage manifests in their sometimes aloof, discriminating attitudes toward strangers while maintaining devoted, affectionate bonds with their chosen family members. The breed forms exceptionally strong attachments to one or two people in particular, often selecting a favorite person who receives their most devoted attention and loyalty. With their families, Pekingese are loving, protective, and enjoy being lap dogs who provide companionship and comfort, though they maintain enough independence that they do not require constant attention. Their alert, watchful nature makes them excellent watchdogs who bark enthusiastically at unusual sounds or approaching visitors despite their small stature, though they can develop excessive barking habits without proper training. Pekingese generally get along well with older children who understand gentle handling, but they may not tolerate rough treatment or teasing from very young children, and supervision is necessary to prevent injuries to the dog or defensive nipping. While Pekingese typically coexist peacefully with other household pets when properly socialized, they can be territorial and possessive of their belongings, attempting to boss around larger dogs without recognizing their size disadvantage. Their stubborn, independent nature makes training challenging, as they respond poorly to harsh corrections and require patient, creative, positive reinforcement methods that convince them that following commands serves their interests. The breed has low to moderate exercise needs, satisfied with short indoor or outdoor romps rather than lengthy walks, and their brachycephalic structure makes them sensitive to heat and humidity, requiring careful monitoring during warm weather to prevent overheating. Pekingese thrive on human companionship and attention, becoming unhappy and potentially developing behavioral issues if left alone for extended periods, making them ideal for owners who spend considerable time at home or can include them in daily activities.
Pekingese typically live twelve to fourteen years and are generally healthy dogs, though they are predisposed to numerous health conditions related to their distinctive physical structure and genetic heritage. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome represents one of the most significant concerns, resulting from their extremely short muzzles and flat faces that create respiratory difficulties including snoring, exercise intolerance, and dangerous susceptibility to heatstroke. Their compressed airways make breathing challenging, particularly during physical exertion or in hot, humid weather, requiring owners to provide air-conditioned environments, limit strenuous activity, and carefully monitor for signs of respiratory distress. Their prominent, protruding eyes make Pekingese extraordinarily vulnerable to ocular injuries and conditions including corneal ulcers from scratches or punctures, dry eye from insufficient tear production, cherry eye where the third eyelid prolapses, cataracts causing cloudiness and vision impairment, progressive retinal atrophy leading to gradual blindness, and distichiasis where extra eyelashes grow inside the eyelid and irritate the eye surface. Regular eye examinations and immediate veterinary attention for any signs of injury or infection are essential for preserving vision. Intervertebral disc disease commonly affects Pekingese due to their long backs and short legs, occurring when the spinal discs herniate or degenerate causing pain, nerve damage, and potentially paralysis if severe, requiring medical management or surgery depending on severity. Dental disease presents a significant concern as their shortened muzzles create crowded teeth that trap food and bacteria, leading to periodontal problems, tooth loss, and potentially systemic infections that can affect heart health if left untreated. Daily teeth brushing and professional cleanings are necessary preventive measures. Patellar luxation, where the kneecap dislocates from its proper position, causes lameness and can progress to arthritis, with treatment ranging from conservative management to surgical correction. Other health concerns include hip dysplasia despite their small size, mitral valve disease affecting heart function, skin fold dermatitis in their facial wrinkles and dense coat requiring regular cleaning, obesity from overfeeding that exacerbates respiratory and joint problems, and hemivertebrae caused by their curly tail genetics that can lead to neurological issues. Responsible ownership includes maintaining healthy weight through portion control, providing regular veterinary care including cardiac and orthopedic evaluations, meticulous grooming to prevent skin infections, and environmental management to protect them from temperature extremes and potential eye injuries.
Important to Remember
Each hybrid dog is unique and may inherit any combination of traits from either parent breed. The information above represents the characteristics of the purebred parent breeds. Your English Toy Spanese may favor one parent over the other or display a blend of both. We strongly encourage you to read the complete breed profiles for both the English Toy Spaniel and Pekingese to fully understand the range of possible temperaments, health concerns, and care requirements.