In this post, I have gathered all the information and differences you need to know about Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. King Charles Spaniel.
Is the King Charles spaniel the same as the Cavalier King Charles spaniel? I often hear people talk about King Charles spaniels when they think cavaliers. “Oh no, you are mixing up the breeds,” I think to myself but do not correct them because I don’t want to be seen annoyingly nitpicky.
One of the reasons for this mix-up might the following:
The language differences. For example, in the UK and Finland, the short-muzzled spaniel is called the King Charles spaniel. And in the US the same breed is known as the English Toy spaniel.
The title of this post could also be “English Toy spaniel vs. Cavalier King Charles spaniel”.
Related: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. English Cocker Spaniel
These two breeds share a common history until the early 20th Century when breeders separated into two cliques. The short-muzzled King Charles spaniel was preferred more in dog shows.
But other “old-fashioned” breeders liked the dog with a flatter skull and longer muzzle. They named the dog Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
King Charles spaniels were bred with Asian dog breeds like pugs, pekingese, and japanese chins to achieve the short-muzzled petite features.
Cavalier King Charles spaniel was the 15th most popular breed on the AKC’s 2021 most popular breeds chart. Far behind was King Charles (English Toy) spaniel with 137th placement. Both spaniels are small family-friendly dogs with happy and cheery nature. But they differ in many ways physically and in temper.
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 smart dogs who love affection. They have long, beautiful silky coats and happily wagging tails.
Both spaniels have a history as sporty hunting dogs and the cavalier still is a great choice for an active lifestyle.
Because they were bred from being hunting dogs to being lap dogs, cavaliers very often qualify as therapy dogs. Cavaliers are family-friendly with happy-go-lucky nature.
King Charles Spaniel Overview
King Charles spaniels are smart and loyal little dogs. They are more reserved when meeting new people but they are strongly attached to their own families.
King Charles spaniels don’t need as much exercise as cavaliers do. The short muzzle can more easily lead to over-heating. But even though King Charles spaniels have short muzzles, they have been found to have a good sense of smell.
Their fur is more feathered and some curls can occur. King Charles spaniel’s tail can be long or shorter.
Now it’s time to compare these two!
| King Charles Spaniel | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | |||||
| Size | 10-15 lbs | 13-24 lbs | ||||
| Life expectancy | 10-12 years | 10-14 years | ||||
| Temperament | Happy, loyal, and more reserved | Open and happy-go-lucky | ||||
| Trainability | Can be more stubborn but quick to learn | Easy and quick to learn | ||||
| Energy levels | At least 45 minutes 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.
King Charles Spaniels:
King Charles spaniels have similar temperaments to cavaliers with some slight differences.
They are kind and loving too, but a little more reserved and slowly trusting than the gentle cavaliers. This feature most likely comes from their Asian heritage.
Conclusion:
Both breeds are sweet, good-natured dogs and it’s tough to find a better dog for a companion than either of these breeds.
However, cavaliers are slightly softer, than King Charles spaniels.
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.
King Charles Spaniels:
These little dogs are also smart and quick to learn. They might be more stubborn than cavaliers but that doesn’t make them any dumber.
Because of their short muzzle and possible breathing problems, King Charles spaniels are not as suitable for agility fields. Try obedience classes instead.
Conclusion:
Cavalier King Charles spaniels and King Charles spaniels are both intelligent and beginner-friendly dogs. Cavaliers are more suitable for sporty hobbies like agility.
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 watch 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.
King Charles Spaniels:
King Charles spaniels are a bit smaller than cavaliers and that’s why they need slightly less exercise. That doesn’t mean they don’t benefit from exercising.
Daily walks are just as important for King Charles spaniels.
Conclusion:
If you have an active lifestyle, the cavalier 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.
King Charles Spaniels:
King Charles spaniels as well as cavaliers bark a moderate amount. These little spaniels can be even quieter than cavaliers because of their reserved nature.
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.
No matter what breed of dog you get, you will need to get used to barking.
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.
King Charles Spaniels:
Like cavaliers, King Charles spaniels don’t have a double coat and they shed a lot. Shedding happens mostly in the spring and fall. King Charles spaniels have a long and silky coat. Their coat can be more feathery and curly even though it’s not desirable.
As far as colors go, King Charles spaniels can be black and tan, blenheim, tricolor, or ruby as well.
Conclusion:
Both breeds come in four colors and shed a lot, so if you’re considering one of these two breeds, hopefully you don’t mind dog hair everywhere.
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.
Nails should be trimmed or at least checked every week. Note that some dogs’ nails grow faster than others.
King Charles Spaniels:
King Charles spaniels do have very similar fur to cavaliers.
These little toy spaniels are long-haired dogs and therefore need to be bathed every four weeks as well. They don’t require trimming but for practical reasons, ear and paw hair can be trimmed.
Ears can be cleaned with cotton pads and ear cleaning solution if you can see visible brown gunk.
Weekly brushing is key to avoiding knots and matts. Nails should also be checked and trimmed once a week.
Conclusion:
Both of these spaniels require weekly and monthly grooming. Grooming includes bathing, brushing, slight trimming, nail clipping, and sometimes ear cleaning.
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 King Charles spaniels, or vice versa.
Also, according to Web MD, fur is not the major culprit of allergens, but dander (flakes of dead skin), saliva, and urine are.
King Charles Spaniels:
Since you may be allergic to one breed and not another, you likely have as good of a chance of being allergic to a King Charles as a cavalier.
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 one of these breeds, you can talk to your doctor about getting allergy shots, or spend some time with them and see how you feel.
Health Problems
In this chart, I have gathered the most common hereditary diseases to both spaniels can be exposed to:
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | King Charles Spaniel |
| – Patellar luxation | – Patellar luxation |
| – Hip dysplasia | – Hip dysplasia |
| – Mitral valve disease | – Mitral valve disease |
| – Eye disorders | – Eye disorders |
| – Chiari malformation (brachycephalic) | – Chiari malformation (brachycephalic) |
| – Syringomyelia | – Syringomyelia |
| – Periodontitis | – Patent ductus arteriosus |
| – Epilepsy | |
| – Hydrocephalus | |
| – Fused toes |
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 spaniels and King Charles spaniels share a common history and were once the same breed. That is the reason why there are the same hereditary diseases listed above. But as you can see, unfortunately, King Charles spaniels tend to have more serious health problems than cavaliers.
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.
King Charles Spaniels:
King Charles spaniels are excellent family dogs as well.
They love people and kids, but given that they are a little more reserved than cavaliers, they warm up to new family members more slowly.
Conclusion:
If you have a family, cavalier or King Charles would make a great addition to it. They’ll love spending time with you and bring endless joy to everyone.
Both these spaniels are perfect for children to take outside for a walk due to their small size.
Are They Good With Other Dogs?
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels:
Their good-naturedness doesn’t end with people. Cavalier King Charles spaniels are great with other dogs.
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.
King Charles Spaniels:
Like cavaliers, King Charles 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.
King Charles Spaniels:
The friendliness doesn’t stop with people and other dogs for the King Charles either. With a proper introduction and training, King Charles spaniels can also get along with a cat.
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 King Charles spaniels are gentle non-aggressive dogs.
Related: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. English Cocker Spaniel
Final Conclusion
The Cavalier King Charles spaniel and the King Charles spaniel are two different breeds that share the same origin. That’s why they have some similar features and almost identical names. Both originate from 16th Century England but since then breeding has taken a turn in the 20th century when the breed separated into the Cavalier and the King Charles.
Nowadays Cavalier King Charles spaniel is the 15th most popular dog breed in the US in 2021. King Charles a.k.a. English Toy spaniel is rare even all around the world.
These spaniels are both loving, people-pleasing dogs that get along with everyone from kids to other dogs to cats. They’re beginner-friendly breeds and easy to train.
They need weekly and monthly grooming. So if you are not used to dog grooming and are thinking about getting one of these spaniels, now is the time to learn.
Unfortunately, they both share a list of hereditary diseases, and on top of that, the King Charles has few more.
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