Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs English Toy Spaniel
The two published breed profiles side by side: size, energy, grooming, lifespan, temperament ratings and health.
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | English Toy Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Size class | Small | Toy |
| Adult weight | 5.9 to 8.2 kg | 3.6 to 6.4 kg |
| In pounds | 13 to 18 lb | 8 to 14 lb |
| Adult height | 30 to 33 cm | 23 to 25 cm |
| Energy | Moderate | Moderate |
| Grooming | Moderate | Moderate |
| Coat | Medium wavy and silky | Medium double and silky |
| Shedding | Low | Moderate |
| Lifespan | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Good with children | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Good with other dogs | Reliably good | Reliably good |
| Country of origin | Great Britain | Great Britain |
The main differences
- The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the bigger dog: 5.9 to 8.2 kg against 3.6 to 6.4 kg for the English Toy Spaniel.
- Both have moderate energy in their published profiles.
- Grooming is moderate for both.
- The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel usually lives longer: 12 to 15 years against 10 to 12 years.
Temperament
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: Gay, friendly and non-aggressive, a sporting, affectionate and fearless toy spaniel.
English Toy Spaniel: Quiet, dignified and strongly attached to their people, the English Toy Spaniel is a small companion dog that is playful outdoors and sedate at home.
Health worth asking about
Conditions each breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable: it means ask the breeder for the parents' test results.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Mitral valve disease (MVD), graded by annual heart auscultation and echocardiography under a breed heart scheme
- Syringomyelia, graded by an MRI scan of the skull and neck
- Episodic falling (EF), detectable by DNA test on both parents
- Curly coat and dry eye syndrome (CC/DE), detectable by DNA test on both parents
English Toy Spaniel
- Brachycephalic airway problems from the very short muzzle, assessed by a veterinary airway examination
- Patellar luxation, graded by a veterinary orthopaedic exam
- Mitral valve disease and other cardiac problems, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
- Inherited eye conditions including cataract and corneal damage, screened by an ophthalmologist eye exam
- Ear infections in the long feathered ears, caught by regular ear checks
Common questions
Which is bigger, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the English Toy Spaniel?
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Adults weigh 5.9 to 8.2 kg, against 3.6 to 6.4 kg for the English Toy Spaniel, going by the published breed profiles.
Which lives longer, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the English Toy Spaniel?
The published life expectancy is 12 to 15 years for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and 10 to 12 years for the English Toy Spaniel. These are typical ranges across the breed, not a promise about one dog.
Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the English Toy Spaniel better with children?
They score the same: reliably good with children. Any dog needs supervising around young children, whatever their breed rating.
Related comparisons
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Not veterinary advice. Breed information is general. Your own dog, and your own vet, always win.
Sources
Every figure on this page comes from the two breed guides, which cite:
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin
- akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
- fci.be for country of origin