King Charles Spaniels, and Cavaliers, as a recognizable category of companion dog, trace their lineage back to the 16th and 17th centuries.

It was popular in European courts for noble Ladies to have toy versions of larger hunting dogs... on a hunt the hounds and hunting spaniels bound ahead after game with the men, while the Ladies hold a small, cute version... like an accessory. Italian greyhounds are another notable example of this trend