Breed Comparison: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Labrador Retriever

Last Updated: Jun 14, 2022

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Labrador Retriever: 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 Labrador Retriever? 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 Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever. 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 Labrador Retriever.

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 Labrador Retriever.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever: Overview

A very important difference between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Labrador Retriever is a large-sized dog.

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 Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever

FactorCavalier King Charles SpanielLabrador Retriever
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/53/5
Height12 to 13 inches at the shoulder21 to 24 inches at the shoulder
Weight13 to 18 pounds55 to 80 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather3/53/5
Does NOT Shed3/51/5
Does NOT chew on things3/51/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
NOT Rambunctious3/51/5
Easy To Groom4/55/5
General Health4/53/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/51/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/55/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/51/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/51/5
Good For Novice Owners5/53/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Dog Friendly5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Life Span9 to 15 years10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan12.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$2410$1290
Price Range$1800 – $3000$850 – $1500
Temperament Score85.5 percent92.2 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination;
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds171
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)447
    *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 Labrador Retriever. 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 Labrador Retriever is 74 out of 125.

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

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever

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

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Labrador Retrievers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt well to apartment living. However, Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever

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

  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever are very easy to train.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever

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

    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 Labrador Retriever weighs 55 to 80 pounds when fully grown. The Labrador Retriever is 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Size of Labrador Retriever

    Appearance (Colors) of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever

    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

    Labrador Retriever Colors

    The Labrador Retriever comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Golden
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Brindle

    The Labrador Retriever comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • White / Cream

    Lifespan of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Labrador Retriever is 11.0 years.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel live longer than the Labrador Retriever.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever

    Temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus the Labrador Retriever

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Labrador Retriever is 92.2 percent while the temperament score for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 85.5 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 92.2 percent, the Labrador Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Labrador Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 62 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and 842 Labrador Retrievers.

    Price of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Price of Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever puppy is $1290. The price of the Labrador Retriever typically ranges from $850 – $1500. However, the price of the Labrador Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1413 Labrador Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is more expensive than the Labrador Retriever.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Labrador Retriever
    Average Price $2410 $1290
    Price Range $1800 to $3000 $850 to $1500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Labrador Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies or how many Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Labrador Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy or the Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever

    Adopting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Adopting the Labrador Retriever

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and many Labrador Retrievers 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 Bordeaux Adoption Pending that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels like Bordeaux Adoption Pending on pefinder.com.

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

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

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Labrador Retriever

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Labrador Retriever
    Intelligence Rank 44 out of 130 dog breeds 7 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 Labrador Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 7 out of 130 dog breeds. The Labrador Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Labrador Retrievers tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Labrador Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Labrador Retriever is 1 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 17 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Popularity of Labrador Retriever

    Year Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Popularity Rank Labrador Retriever Popularity Rank
    2013 18 1
    2014 19 1
    2015 18 1
    2016 19 1
    2017 19 1
    2018 18 1
    2019 16 1
    2020 17 1
    2021 15 1

    Health Problems of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Health Problems of Labrador Retriever

    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 Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

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

    4 health tests are recommended for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel while 8 tests are recommended for the Labrador Retriever.

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

    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.

    Labrador Retriever Health Problems

    Labrador Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Labrador Retriever 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 Labrador Retrievers for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Centronuclear Myopathy
  • D Locus (Dilute) DNA Test
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Labrador Retrievers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers

    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 Labrador Retriever Breed is Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems.

    This is because the Labrador Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 87 Labrador Retrievers, 0 of them had Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems.

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

  • Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • D Locus problems: Rank 1 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Copper Toxicosis problems: Rank 2 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Exercise Induced Collapse problems: Rank 3 out of 6 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 8 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 13 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 16 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 25 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 29 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 39 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 41 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 66 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 76 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 78 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 103 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 119 out of 182 Dog Breeds

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

    Disease Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rank Labrador Retriever 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 39 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 13 out of 159 dog breeds 66 out of 159 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 16 out of 71 dog breeds 29 out of 71 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 19 out of 49 dog breeds 25 out of 49 dog breeds
    Patella problems 73 out of 145 dog breeds 78 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 79 out of 198 dog breeds 103 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 101 out of 182 dog breeds 119 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 115 out of 144 dog breeds 41 out of 144 dog breeds
    Achromatopsia Day Blindness problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    D Locus problems Not Common 1 out of 3 dog breeds
    Hereditary Nasal Parakeratosis problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Copper Toxicosis problems Not Common 2 out of 2 dog breeds
    Exercise Induced Collapse problems Not Common 3 out of 6 dog breeds
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 8 out of 40 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems Not Common 13 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems Not Common 16 out of 32 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 76 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 Labrador Retriever

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

    Labrador Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed more than Labrador Retrievers?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed moderately.

    Labrador Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

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

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to groom.

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

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

    Labrador Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels good family dogs? What about Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Easier to Train than the Labrador Retriever?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Labrador Retriever

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

    Labrador Retrievers drool moderately.

    How Kid-friendly are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    Labrador Retrievers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Labrador Retrievers?

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

    Labrador Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Labrador Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. Labrador Retriever

    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.

    Labrador Retrievers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Labrador Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Labrador Retrievers 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 Labrador Retriever?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Labrador Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

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

    Labrador Retrievers 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 Labrador Retriever. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to other breeds:

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Belgian Malinois     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bouvier des Flandres     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bernedoodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkipoo     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Australian Cattle Dog     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Coton de Tulear     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Weimaraner     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Kishu Ken     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Golden Retriever     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Whippet     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Goldador     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Siberian Husky     

    Conclusion: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever. 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 Labrador Retriever better suits you and your family.