Breed Comparison: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Cocker Spaniel

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2022

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Cocker Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and for the Cocker Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Cocker Spaniel.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel: Overview

Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are similar in size. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are both small-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Cocker Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to the Cocker Spaniel based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel

FactorCavalier King Charles SpanielCocker Spaniel
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Height12 to 13 inches at the shoulder1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s
Weight13 to 18 pounds24 to 28 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/54/5
Tolerates Cold Weather3/54/5
Does NOT Shed3/53/5
Does NOT chew on things3/52/5
Low Prey Drive3/51/5
NOT Rambunctious3/52/5
Easy To Groom4/51/5
General Health4/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/52/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/55/5
Good For Novice Owners5/53/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/53/5
Dog Friendly5/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/53/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Life Span9 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan12.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$2410$1760
Price Range$1800 – $3000$1200 – $2000
Temperament Score85.5 percent82.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination;
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1729
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4420
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Cocker Spaniel. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 91 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Cocker Spaniel is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a better pet than the Cocker Spaniel. So, you should get a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are most different:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to groom. However, Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel weighs 13 to 18 pounds when fully grown. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Cocker Spaniel weighs 24 to 28 pounds when fully grown. The Cocker Spaniel is 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Size of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Size of Cocker Spaniel

    Appearance (Colors) of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Colors

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Bicolor
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Brown / Chocolate

    Cocker Spaniel Colors

    The Cocker Spaniel comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Apricot / Beige
    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Bicolor
    • Golden
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Merle (Red)
    • Sable
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    The Cocker Spaniel comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Golden
    • Black
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Merle (Blue)
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Apricot / Beige

    Lifespan of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

    The lifespan of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is between 9 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Cocker Spaniel is 13.5 years.

    The Cocker Spaniel live longer than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

    Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel Versus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a better temperament than the Cocker Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 85.5 percent while the temperament score for the Cocker Spaniel is 82.0 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 85.5 percent, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 82.0 percent, the Cocker Spaniel has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 62 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and 233 Cocker Spaniels.

    Price of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Price of Cocker Spaniel

    The average price of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy is $2410. The price of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel typically ranges from $1800 – $3000. However, the price of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be as low as $300 and as high as $7995. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1216 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Cocker Spaniel puppy is $1760. The price of the Cocker Spaniel typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. However, the price of the Cocker Spaniel can be as low as $700 and as high as $4125. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 297 Cocker Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is more expensive than the Cocker Spaniel.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cocker Spaniel
    Average Price $2410 $1760
    Price Range $1800 to $3000 $1200 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies or how many Cocker Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cocker Spaniels

    A breakdown of the prices of Cocker Spaniels

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy or the Cocker Spaniel puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

    Adopting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Adopting the Cocker Spaniel

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and many Cocker Spaniels are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Finley – Pmd that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels like Finley – Pmd on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Cocker Spaniels are also available for adoption. For example, Winston is a Male Cocker Spaniel that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Cocker Spaniels like Winston that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Randy is the name of another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Hudson 9801 is an adorable Male Cocker Spaniel on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels are always available for adoption. Images and image labels from petfinder.com

    You can find more Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cocker Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 44 out of 130 dog breeds 20 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 44 out of 130 dog breeds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Cocker Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 20 out of 130 dog breeds. The Cocker Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Cocker Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Cocker Spaniel is more intelligent than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Popularity of Cocker Spaniel

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Cocker Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 17 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Cocker Spaniel is 29 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Popularity of Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of Cocker Spaniel

    Year Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Popularity Rank Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 18 29
    2014 19 30
    2015 18 30
    2016 19 29
    2017 19 29
    2018 18 30
    2019 16 28
    2020 17 30
    2021 15 29

    Health Problems of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Health Problems of Cocker Spaniel

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Cocker Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel than for the Cocker Spaniel.

    4 health tests are recommended for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel while 2 tests are recommended for the Cocker Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and in Cocker Spaniels.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Health Problems

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination;
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels here.

    Cocker Spaniel Health Problems

    Cocker Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Cocker Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Cocker Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Cocker Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Cocker Spaniels for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Cocker Spaniels here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed is Episodic Falling problems.

    This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Episodic Falling problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 454 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 3 of them had Episodic Falling problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Episodic Falling problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 3 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 4 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 13 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 16 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 19 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 73 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 79 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 101 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 115 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Cocker Spaniel Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Cocker Spaniel ranks 12 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1845 Cocker Spaniels, 145 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Cocker Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Cocker Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 12 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 22 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 26 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 28 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 125 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 144 out of 198 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and in Cocker Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel:

    Disease Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rank Cocker Spaniel Rank
    Episodic Falling problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Basic Cardiac problems 3 out of 16 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 4 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 13 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 16 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 19 out of 49 dog breeds 26 out of 49 dog breeds
    Patella problems 73 out of 145 dog breeds 12 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 79 out of 198 dog breeds 144 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 101 out of 182 dog breeds 28 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 115 out of 144 dog breeds 125 out of 144 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 22 out of 115 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed more than Cocker Spaniels?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed moderately.

    Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Cocker Spaniel?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Cocker Spaniel?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels good family dogs? What about Cocker Spaniels?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Cocker Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Easier to Train than the Cocker Spaniel?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Cocker Spaniel

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Cocker Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Cocker Spaniels get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Cocker Spaniel?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Cocker Spaniels have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Cocker Spaniels?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Cocker Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. Cocker Spaniel

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Cocker Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Cocker Spaniels can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Cocker Spaniel?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Cocker Spaniel?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Cocker Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel compares to other breeds aside from the Cocker Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to other breeds:

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Australian Kelpie     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus English Toy Spaniel     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Standard Poodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Greyhound     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Pointer     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Papillon     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Basenji     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Dogo Argentino     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Schnoodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bullmastiff     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus American Foxhound     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shiranian     

    Conclusion: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Cocker Spaniel better suits you and your family.