Toy Trawler Spaniel
Encyclopedia
The Toy Trawler Spaniel is an extinct breed of Spaniel
which physically was similar to the King Charles Spaniel
of the 16th century. It is considered to have descended from the original King Charles Spaniel, and the older variety of Sussex Spaniel
. It was originally used as a sporting dog, but became used as a toy and show dog. It was considered to be on the verge of extinction by 1920. A preserved specimen is kept in Tring
at the Natural History Museum.
and the old-fashioned curly coated Sussex Spaniel
. Its original purpose may have been as a sporting dog, but became more frequently used as a toy dog. By 1907, the breed was more popular in Europe
than in the UK, especially in Holland and Italy
.
There is a preserved specimen at the Natural History Museum at Tring. Named Robin, it was bred by Lady Wentworth
and was born in 1911. It died in 1920 when the breed was said to be "nearly extinct". Lady Wentworth wrote about using Toy Trawler Spaniels to re-breed the original King Charles Spaniel
in her book "Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians" published under the name of the "Hon. Mrs Neville Lytton" in 1911.
Its height was variable, ranging from 11–13 in (27.9–33 cm) at the withers
although examples were given at 9 inches (22.9 cm), with proportionate weight given for a 13 inches (33 cm) high dog weighing 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
The preferred colour was black with a white waistcoat, then a red with white waistcoat but they also came in black and white, and red and white. They were described as being very sweet, but also very bold and courageous with timidity considered a fault in the show ring.
Spaniel
A spaniel is a type of gun dog. It is assumed spaniels originated from Spain as the word spaniel may be derived from Hispania or possibly from the French phrase "Chiens de l’Espagnol" . Spaniels were especially bred to flush game out of dense brush. By the late 17th century spaniels had become...
which physically was similar to the King Charles Spaniel
King Charles Spaniel
The King Charles Spaniel is a small dog breed of the spaniel type. In 1903, the Kennel Club combined four separate toy spaniel breeds under this single title...
of the 16th century. It is considered to have descended from the original King Charles Spaniel, and the older variety of Sussex Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel is a breed of dog developed in Sussex in southern England. It is a low, compact spaniel and is similar in appearance to the Clumber Spaniel. They can be slow paced, but can have a clownish and energetic temperament...
. It was originally used as a sporting dog, but became used as a toy and show dog. It was considered to be on the verge of extinction by 1920. A preserved specimen is kept in Tring
Tring
Tring is a small market town and also a civil parish in the Chiltern Hills in Hertfordshire, England. Situated north-west of London and linked to London by the old Roman road of Akeman Street, by the modern A41, by the Grand Union Canal and by rail lines to Euston Station, Tring is now largely a...
at the Natural History Museum.
History
The specific origin of the species is unknown but in 1919 was thought to have been descended from the originally curly coated King Charles SpanielKing Charles Spaniel
The King Charles Spaniel is a small dog breed of the spaniel type. In 1903, the Kennel Club combined four separate toy spaniel breeds under this single title...
and the old-fashioned curly coated Sussex Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel
The Sussex Spaniel is a breed of dog developed in Sussex in southern England. It is a low, compact spaniel and is similar in appearance to the Clumber Spaniel. They can be slow paced, but can have a clownish and energetic temperament...
. Its original purpose may have been as a sporting dog, but became more frequently used as a toy dog. By 1907, the breed was more popular in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
than in the UK, especially in Holland and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
There is a preserved specimen at the Natural History Museum at Tring. Named Robin, it was bred by Lady Wentworth
Judith Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth
Judith Anne Dorothea Blunt-Lytton, 16th Baroness Wentworth also known as Lady Wentworth was a British peeress, Arabian horse breeder and tennis player...
and was born in 1911. It died in 1920 when the breed was said to be "nearly extinct". Lady Wentworth wrote about using Toy Trawler Spaniels to re-breed the original King Charles Spaniel
King Charles Spaniel
The King Charles Spaniel is a small dog breed of the spaniel type. In 1903, the Kennel Club combined four separate toy spaniel breeds under this single title...
in her book "Toy Dogs and Their Ancestors Including the History And Management of Toy Spaniels, Pekingese, Japanese and Pomeranians" published under the name of the "Hon. Mrs Neville Lytton" in 1911.
Description
The Trawler Spaniel was considered to be a throwback to the original King Charles Spaniel. The head was small and light, with an upwards tip on its short black nose. The top of the skull was flat and not dome shaped, and had long ears set forward. Its coat was generally feathered quite long and was described as curly but not wooley, and its body was quite solidly built.Its height was variable, ranging from 11–13 in (27.9–33 cm) at the withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
although examples were given at 9 inches (22.9 cm), with proportionate weight given for a 13 inches (33 cm) high dog weighing 15 pounds (6.8 kg).
The preferred colour was black with a white waistcoat, then a red with white waistcoat but they also came in black and white, and red and white. They were described as being very sweet, but also very bold and courageous with timidity considered a fault in the show ring.