Cavalier King Charles spaniel and their cousin the English cocker spaniel are both lovely family dogs. Both of these breeds have an old English origin. If you are considering getting a spaniel and you are here to learn about the differences between Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. English Cocker Spaniel!
In this post, I have gathered all the information and differences you need to know about the Cavalier King Charles spaniel and the English cocker spaniel.
The origin of the word spaniel is described by the Oxford English Dictionary as coming from the Old French word espaigneul which meant “Spanish (dog)”
Wikipedia
Cavalier King Charles spaniel and English cocker spaniel are popular dogs for the reason that they are easy and beginner-friendly breeds. In 2021 the American Kennel Club listed the most popular dog breeds of the year and cavaliers were in 15th place while cocker spaniels had 29th placement.
Despite being spaniel cousins, there are distinctive differences between a cavalier and a cocker in character, health, and grooming needs. First, we’ll go through an overview of each breed, then, we’ll talk about how they compare on some important aspects of dog ownership, including:
- Temperament, trainability, and energy levels
- Do they bark a lot?
- Coat, shedding, and grooming
- Allergies and health problems
- Are they good for families and children?
- Are they good with other dogs?
- Are they good with cats?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Overview
Cavaliers are small intelligent dogs who love affection and cuddles. They have long, beautiful silky coats and happily wagging tails. This breed has some serious health problems that need to be taken into consideration if you are thinking about getting a cavalier.
Even though cavaliers were bred to be lap dogs instead of hunting dogs, the cavalier is still a great choice for an active lifestyle.
Because they were bred from hunting dogs to lap dogs, cavaliers often qualify as therapy dogs. Cavaliers are family-friendly with happy-go-lucky nature.
English Cocker Spaniel Overview
English cocker spaniels are versatile loving companions. They can be gentle and social family dogs, well-groomed beautiful show dogs, or working hunting dogs. English cocker spaniels are intelligent and therefore fit for agility and obedience competitions.
These affectionate and loving spaniels are easy to train and socialize with other dogs.
Now it’s time to compare these two!
| English Cocker Spaniel | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | |||||
| Size | 20-30 lbs | 13-24 lbs | ||||
| Life expectancy | 10-15 years | 10-14 years | ||||
| Temperament | Strong-willed and friendly | Open and happy-go-lucky | ||||
| Trainability | Easy and quick to learn | Easy and quick to learn | ||||
| Energy levels | At least 1,5 hours per day | At least 1 hour per day |
The Temperament, Trainability,
and Energy Levels:
Temperament
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Cavaliers have a soft and gentle temperament. They are happy, social dogs that are excited to meet new friends. Cavaliers do not have guarding behavior and they don’t show signs of aggression unless sick or hurt.
English Cocker Spaniels:
English cocker spaniel is not as soft as cavalier but just as friendly and loving. They are more stubborn, strong-willed, and can have a more dominant nature. There is a rare behavioral problem among cocker spaniels called the cocker rage syndrome.
Nevertheless, cocker spaniels are loyal and intelligent companions.
Conclusion:
Cavaliers have been bred to be cuddly lap dogs and English cocker spaniels are used as working dogs so that’s the why cocker spaniels are generally tougher. That doesn’t mean that cocker spaniels wouldn’t be great family pets.
Trainability
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Cavaliers are smart dogs and they learn quickly. With only few repetitions they catch on to what is asked of them and cavaliers start to offer that behavior rather quickly.
Plus, they love to interact with people. That’s why they are great companions for agility as well.
English Cocker Spaniels:
English cocker spaniels are considered to be easy to train despite their strong-willed nature. As hunting dogs, they have an inner drive to work with humans. That’s why they are great for obedience competitions and agility.
Conclusion:
Cavalier King Charles spaniels and English cocker spaniels are both intelligent and beginner-friendly dogs. English cocker spaniels are more suitable for sporty hobbies like hunting.
Energy Levels:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Cavalier King Charles spaniels are moderate-energy dogs that can spend a day with you hiking and walking or watching Netflix indoors. The minimum requirement for them is 1 hour of exercise per day.
Daily walks and occasional visits to the dog park are enough for cavaliers. The more exercise they get, the more stress gets relieved and the happier they are.
English Cocker Spaniels:
Because English cocker spaniels are hunting dogs at heart, they are bred to have higher energy levels. I’m not saying the same high energy levels border collies have, but higher than cavaliers.
Long walks in the forest, running free in the dog park/backyard, and playing fetch are great ways to unload that energy. Not enough mental or physical exercise can lead to behavioral problems.
Conclusion:
If you have an active lifestyle, the English cocker is a better fit for you. Both breeds need daily walks and exercise.
Do They Bark A Lot?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
I have had a cavalier who barked impulsively at noises multiple times a day and a cavalier who rarely barked and only when scared.
Generally, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels bark a moderate amount, but notably less than hunting and herding breeds.
English Cocker Spaniels:
Again it comes to the hunting aspect. Hunting dogs use their voice to communicate, mark scent trails, and track animals. Therefore English cocker spaniels are more likely to be noisier.
Conclusion
Each dog is an individual and it is hard to estimate its character. The fact of how much your dog is going to bark is a mix of genetics, training, and temperament.
English cocker spaniels generally bark more than cavaliers because of their hunting dog nature.
No matter what breed of dog you get, you will need to get used to barking since it is a dog’s way of communicating.
Coat, Shedding, and Grooming
Coat and Shedding
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a long, flowy, and silky coat that comes in four different colors: black and tan, blenheim (white with brown markings), tricolor (white, black, and brown markings), and ruby which is reddish brown.
Despite a popular misconception, Cavalier King Charles spaniels do not have a double coat. Their coats require regular brushing and monthly baths. Cavaliers shed a lot, especially in the spring and fall.
English Cocker Spaniels:
English cocker spaniels have a profuse medium coat with long silky feathering. They come in multiple different colors that can be divided into solid colors and parti-colors. The breed has many shades of red alone so listing every color and variation would be redundant.
Like cavaliers, English cocker spaniels do not have a double coat. They do shed significantly, especially in the spring and fall.
Conclusion:
English cocker spaniels have more color variations than cavaliers. Their coats are similar: long, silky, and they both shed. They have differences in grooming routines and we will take a look at those next.
Grooming
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Cavalier King Charles spaniel’s fur can get knotted and matted rather easily. In my experience, most knots form around the ears and armpits.
Weekly brushing with conditioner spray helps to keep those knots away. Cavaliers, like any long-haired dogs, need a bath about every four weeks.
Cavalier King Charles spaniels do not require trimming. Paw and paw pad hair can be trimmed for practical and hygienic reasons. I also trim the hair around their ears to ensure better airflow.
Trimming a Cavalier King Charles spaniel is a debated topic but there is no right or wrong answer. Everyone does what is best for their dogs and lifestyles.
Nails should be trimmed or at least checked every week. Note that some dogs’ nails grow faster than others.
English Cocker Spaniels:
The English cocker spaniel is a breed that needs trimming and effort. The simplest steps are to brush the dog every other day to avoid knots and matts. Like cavaliers, English cocker spaniels need bathing every four weeks.
Their coats need trimming depending on the quality and texture from 4 to 8 times a year. You will need a comb, brush, hair clippers, and a stripping knife to trim and groom an English cocker. A show dog has to be trimmed and groomed in a certain way.
Conclusion:
Cavalier King Charles doesn’t require trimming, unlike the English cocker. Both need regular baths and weekly brushing, but to maintain the English cocker spaniel’s coat, more technical skills and grooming supplies are needed.
Allergies and Health Problems
Allergies
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
According to Very Well Health, it’s possible that people can be allergic to one dog breed and not another. Therefore, you may be allergic to cavaliers and not cocker spaniels, or vice versa.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not considered to be a hypoallergenic dog breed.
Also, according to Web MD, fur is not the major culprit of allergens, but dander (flakes of dead skin), saliva, and urine are.
English Cocker Spaniels:
English cocker spaniel is not considered to be a hypoallergenic dog breed either. They shed significantly and create dander during shedding seasons.
Conclusion:
Neither of these dogs is hypoallergenic, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will give you a reaction if you’re allergic to dogs.
If you want to see if you’re allergic to either of these breeds, you can talk to your doctor about getting allergy shots or spend some time with them to see how you feel.
Health Problems
In this chart, I have gathered the most common hereditary diseases both Spaniels can be exposed to:
| English Cocker Spaniel | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
| – Patellar luxation | – Patellar luxation |
| – Hip dysplasia | – Hip dysplasia |
| – Eye disorders | – Eye disorders |
| – Mitral valve disease | |
| – Chiari malformation (brachycephalic) | |
| – Syringomyelia | |
| – Periodontitis | |
| – Episodic falling syndrome | |
| – Curly coat & Dry eye syndrome |
Conclusion:
No matter which breed you choose, they come with several common potential illnesses.
However, these spaniels both can suffer from hereditary diseases that are caused by irresponsible breeding.
Cavalier King Charles spaniel has more serious hereditary diseases than an English cocker spaniel. To eliminate these diseases there are DNA tests and recommended health screenings.
If you want to be a Cavalier King Charles spaniel owner:
- You must select a responsible breeder who does health screenings and whose dogs have good health results.
- Even if you will never breed your dog, take your cavalier to an eye examination, heart echocardiography examination, or patellar luxation examination even once. It sounds like a lot but if you really love this breed you will do the right thing.
Are They Good for Families and Children?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Cavalier King Charles spaniels make excellent family dogs due to their gentle nature.
They absolutely love spending time with people and playing with children.
English Cocker Spaniels:
English cocker spaniels are excellent family dogs as well.
They love people and kids, but given that they can be not as people-friendly as cavaliers, they warm up to new family members more slowly.
Conclusion:
If you have a family, cavalier or English cocker would make a great addition to it. They’ll love spending time with you and bring endless joy to everyone.
Are They Good With Other Dogs?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
It is important to socialize your dog with other dogs when they are a puppy. That ensures that your dog gets used to hanging around and meeting new dogs, big and small.
Their good-naturedness doesn’t end with people. Cavalier King Charles spaniels are great with other dogs.
English Cocker Spaniels:
Like cavaliers, English cocker spaniels are known for being great with both people and dogs. The same socializing rules apply here as well.
Conclusion:
Both spaniels are a good addition to your home even if you already have dogs.
Are They Good With Cats?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
With a proper introduction and training, Cavalier King Charles spaniels behave well around cats and other house pets. They are not aggressive but might have an instinct to chase. That’s why it is important to introduce and train your dog properly with time. It’s easiest for a cavalier puppy to get used to cats and other animals.
English Cocker Spaniels:
The friendliness doesn’t stop with people and other dogs for the English cocker spaniel either. With a proper introduction and training, English cocker spaniels can also get along with a cat. Because of their hunting background, English cockers have a well-built hunting instinct.
Conclusion:
No matter what the breed is, the best bet to get a dog to be friends with a cat is to introduce them to each other when the dog is still a puppy. Cavaliers and English cocker spaniels are friendly and social dogs.
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Final Conclusion
Cavalier King Charles spaniels and English cocker spaniels are cousins with many similarities but some key differences.
The English cocker spaniel is slightly bigger and sturdier in size with a more profuse coat. Cavalier is smaller and has friendlier nature towards even strangers. English cocker spaniels are a relatively healthy breed whereas sadly Cavalier King Charles spaniels are ridden with health problems.
Both are suitable for families with small children and first-time dog owners. Go visit a breeder to see which of these two lovely dog breeds feels more like your own.
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