THE HISTORY OF THE CHOCOLATE CAVALIER
The history of the chocolate Cavalier stretches far beyond South Carolina and deep into the courts of Stuart England. In the 1600s, King Charles I and his son King Charles II were famously devoted to their small, silky-eared toy spaniels, the ancestors of today’s breed. Court portraits by artists such as Sir Anthony van Dyck, Sir Peter Lely, and Godfrey Kneller frequently feature these little dogs nestled at the hems of royal robes or reclining beside the king himself. While most viewers recognize the familiar red-and-white or black-and-tan patterns in these paintings, closer study reveals warm, chestnut and liver-brown hues among some of the spaniels, tones consistent with what we now call chocolate. Whether those shades were deliberate representations or artistic interpretations filtered through candlelight and centuries of varnish, they reveal a truth: rich brown spaniels were part of the visual and historical fabric of the royal courts.
The history of the chocolate Cavalier stretches far beyond South Carolina and deep into the courts of Stuart England. In the 1600s, King Charles I and his son King Charles II were famously devoted to their small, silky-eared toy spaniels, the ancestors of today’s breed. Court portraits by artists such as Sir Anthony van Dyck, Sir Peter Lely, and Godfrey Kneller frequently feature these little dogs nestled at the hems of royal robes or reclining beside the king himself. While most viewers recognize the familiar red-and-white or black-and-tan patterns in these paintings, closer study reveals warm, chestnut and liver-brown hues among some of the spaniels, tones consistent with what we now call chocolate. Whether those shades were deliberate representations or artistic interpretations filtered through candlelight and centuries of varnish, they reveal a truth: rich brown spaniels were part of the visual and historical fabric of the royal courts.
Tre vänner, 1853 - Siegwald Johannes Dahl
Fast forward to the mid-1980s, when William and Susan Cochran acquired Beauchamps Royal Flirtation, a Canadian-bred Blenheim female affectionately called Flirt. Flirt herself was not chocolate but carried one copy of the recessive b gene (genotype B/b), meaning she appeared standard in color yet held the hidden potential for brown. Through careful, deliberate line-breeding, the Cochrans produced the first visually chocolate Cavaliers documented in the United States. At a time when only four colors were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, their discovery and preservation of this recessive gene were nothing short of groundbreaking. The chocolate Cavalier differs from the traditional colors: Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, and Black & Tan, by this single genetic factor: the B locus, which determines whether pigment is black or brown. Traditional Cavaliers carry at least one dominant B gene (BB or Bb), producing black pigment on the nose, eye rims, and paw pads, while chocolates carry two recessive b genes (bb), replacing black pigment with brown and creating warm amber eyes and softer expression. The gene affects only pigment, not structure or temperament, meaning the chocolate version can appear in all familiar patterns, from chocolate and tan to chocolate ruby. Historically, this color’s roots stretch back centuries, reappearing in modern times through breeders like the Cochrans, who ensured that this rare royal shade would not disappear from the Cavalier’s genetic legacy.
They worked quietly for decades, protecting the gene through a limited, tightly managed breeding program. Puppies were sold already desexed, and breeding rights were rarely granted. To some, this approach seemed secretive; to others, it was visionary. What is certain is that their work safeguarded a rare genetic trait that might otherwise have vanished completely. In many ways, the Cochrans mirrored the royal custodians of the past—carefully guarding the essence of a bloodline once cherished by kings.
Over time, their passion attracted the attention of fellow breeders Bill and Mary Mink, who shared the same fascination but believed that the color’s survival depended on wider accessibility. The Cochrans preferred caution and exclusivity; the Minks pursued expansion and education. Both were right in their own ways. Without the Cochrans, there would have been no foundation to preserve. Without the Minks, public awareness might have taken decades longer to emerge.
During the global reset of the early 2020s, the Cochrans began gradually stepping back from active breeding and, for the first time, allowed wider access to their closely guarded lines. Rather than a full retirement, it marked a thoughtful transition — a passing of the torch to a new generation of dedicated breeders who shared their vision of preservation and integrity. That decision quietly ignited what has become known as the modern chocolate revival.
Within a few short years, responsible breeders across the country began building upon those lines, pairing chocolates with traditional colors to expand genetic diversity while maintaining breed type, structure, and health. What had once been an isolated color reentered the broader Cavalier landscape — not as an experiment, but as a restoration.
It would be incomplete to tell this story without acknowledging its complexities. The Cochrans’ devotion to preservation has always been unwavering, but their protective approach sometimes created friction within the community. As they opened their program, their dogs were entrusted — often at significant cost — to breeders deeply committed to carrying that legacy forward. These breeders didn’t simply purchase dogs; they accepted a stewardship. Through transparency, genetic testing, and collaboration, they helped transform what began as a private preservation project into a shared effort — ensuring that the chocolate Cavalier’s legacy is not only preserved, but continually improved.
Today, the chocolate Cavalier stands stronger than ever. Modern breeders have lowered coefficients of inbreeding, achieved certifications, and reintroduced the color into show venues such as the UKC, even though the AKC still recognizes only four official colors. Once hidden from view, chocolates now appear proudly in the ring, healthy, genetically sound, and truer than ever to the spaniels immortalized in seventeenth-century art.
The Cochrans preserved the spark that today's breeders have fanned it into a flame. Every chocolate Cavalier carries within it a living link to history: from the warm-toned lapdogs of King Charles I and II, to the quiet perseverance of the Cochrans in South Carolina, to the open collaboration of modern breeders dedicated to health, diversity, and integrity. These Cavaliers are more than a color, they are living art, descendants of royal favorites whose image graced the canvases of masters and whose legacy endures, heart by heart, in every chocolate coat that gleams today.
Fast forward to the mid-1980s, when William and Susan Cochran acquired Beauchamps Royal Flirtation, a Canadian-bred Blenheim female affectionately called Flirt. Flirt herself was not chocolate but carried one copy of the recessive b gene (genotype B/b), meaning she appeared standard in color yet held the hidden potential for brown. Through careful, deliberate line-breeding, the Cochrans produced the first visually chocolate Cavaliers documented in the United States. At a time when only four colors were officially recognized by the American Kennel Club, their discovery and preservation of this recessive gene were nothing short of groundbreaking. The chocolate Cavalier differs from the traditional colors: Blenheim, Tricolor, Ruby, and Black & Tan, by this single genetic factor: the B locus, which determines whether pigment is black or brown. Traditional Cavaliers carry at least one dominant B gene (BB or Bb), producing black pigment on the nose, eye rims, and paw pads, while chocolates carry two recessive b genes (bb), replacing black pigment with brown and creating warm amber eyes and softer expression. The gene affects only pigment, not structure or temperament, meaning the chocolate version can appear in all familiar patterns, from chocolate and tan to chocolate ruby. Historically, this color’s roots stretch back centuries, reappearing in modern times through breeders like the Cochrans, who ensured that this rare royal shade would not disappear from the Cavalier’s genetic legacy.
They worked quietly for decades, protecting the gene through a limited, tightly managed breeding program. Puppies were sold already desexed, and breeding rights were rarely granted. To some, this approach seemed secretive; to others, it was visionary. What is certain is that their work safeguarded a rare genetic trait that might otherwise have vanished completely. In many ways, the Cochrans mirrored the royal custodians of the past—carefully guarding the essence of a bloodline once cherished by kings.
Over time, their passion attracted the attention of fellow breeders Bill and Mary Mink, who shared the same fascination but believed that the color’s survival depended on wider accessibility. The Cochrans preferred caution and exclusivity; the Minks pursued expansion and education. Both were right in their own ways. Without the Cochrans, there would have been no foundation to preserve. Without the Minks, public awareness might have taken decades longer to emerge.
During the global reset of the early 2020s, the Cochrans began gradually stepping back from active breeding and, for the first time, allowed wider access to their closely guarded lines. Rather than a full retirement, it marked a thoughtful transition — a passing of the torch to a new generation of dedicated breeders who shared their vision of preservation and integrity. That decision quietly ignited what has become known as the modern chocolate revival.
Within a few short years, responsible breeders across the country began building upon those lines, pairing chocolates with traditional colors to expand genetic diversity while maintaining breed type, structure, and health. What had once been an isolated color reentered the broader Cavalier landscape — not as an experiment, but as a restoration.
It would be incomplete to tell this story without acknowledging its complexities. The Cochrans’ devotion to preservation has always been unwavering, but their protective approach sometimes created friction within the community. As they opened their program, their dogs were entrusted — often at significant cost — to breeders deeply committed to carrying that legacy forward. These breeders didn’t simply purchase dogs; they accepted a stewardship. Through transparency, genetic testing, and collaboration, they helped transform what began as a private preservation project into a shared effort — ensuring that the chocolate Cavalier’s legacy is not only preserved, but continually improved.
Today, the chocolate Cavalier stands stronger than ever. Modern breeders have lowered coefficients of inbreeding, achieved certifications, and reintroduced the color into show venues such as the UKC, even though the AKC still recognizes only four official colors. Once hidden from view, chocolates now appear proudly in the ring, healthy, genetically sound, and truer than ever to the spaniels immortalized in seventeenth-century art.
The Cochrans preserved the spark that today's breeders have fanned it into a flame. Every chocolate Cavalier carries within it a living link to history: from the warm-toned lapdogs of King Charles I and II, to the quiet perseverance of the Cochrans in South Carolina, to the open collaboration of modern breeders dedicated to health, diversity, and integrity. These Cavaliers are more than a color, they are living art, descendants of royal favorites whose image graced the canvases of masters and whose legacy endures, heart by heart, in every chocolate coat that gleams today.