Which is Better between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier?

Last Updated: Jun 15, 2022

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Yorkshire Terrier: 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 Yorkshire Terrier? 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier.

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

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 Yorkshire Terrier.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier are Companion Dogs. This means both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier 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.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier

FactorCavalier King Charles SpanielYorkshire Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Height12 to 13 inches at the shoulder8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight13 to 18 pounds4 to 6 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather2/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl4/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/53/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather3/52/5
Does NOT Shed3/54/5
Does NOT chew on things3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/54/5
NOT Rambunctious3/51/5
Easy To Groom4/52/5
General Health4/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/54/5
Easy To Train4/53/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/52/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/55/5
Good For Novice Owners5/54/5
Easygoing1/51/5
Affectionate With Family5/54/5
Kid-Friendly5/52/5
Dog Friendly5/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/52/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Life Span9 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan12.0 years13.5 years
Average Price$2410$2420
Price Range$1800 – $3000$1600 – $2950
Temperament Score85.5 percent83.7 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination;
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds179
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4427
    *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 Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125.

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

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier

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

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very friendly towards strangers. However, Yorkshire Terriers are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier

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

  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier are very easy to train.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier

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

    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 Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. The Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Size of Yorkshire Terrier

    Appearance (Colors) of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier

    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

    Yorkshire Terrier Colors

    The Yorkshire Terrier comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

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

    The Yorkshire Terrier comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

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

    Lifespan of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is 13.5 years.

    The Yorkshire Terrier live longer than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier

    Temperament of the Yorkshire Terrier Versus the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 85.5 percent while the temperament score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 83.7 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 83.7 percent, the Yorkshire Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Yorkshire Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 62 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and 43 Yorkshire Terriers.

    Price of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Price of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of the Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Yorkshire Terrier is more expensive than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Yorkshire Terrier
    Average Price $2410 $2420
    Price Range $1800 to $3000 $1600 to $2950

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Yorkshire Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies or how many Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers

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

    Adopting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Adopting the Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Also, like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Rebel-Foster Home Needed is a Male Yorkshire Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Yorkshire Terriers like Rebel-Foster Home Needed that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

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

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

    Also, Toby Ray is an adorable Male Yorkshire Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

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

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

    The Intelligence of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Yorkshire Terrier

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Yorkshire Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 44 out of 130 dog breeds 27 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Yorkshire Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 27 out of 130 dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Yorkshire Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 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 Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Year Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Popularity Rank Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 18 6
    2014 19 6
    2015 18 7
    2016 19 9
    2017 19 9
    2018 18 10
    2019 16 12
    2020 17 13
    2021 15 13

    Health Problems of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier

    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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier than for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    4 health tests are recommended for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel while 7 tests are recommended for the Yorkshire Terrier.

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

    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.

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Yorkshire Terriers

    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 Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

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

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 1 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 3 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 23 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 88 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 159 out of 198 Dog Breeds

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

    Disease Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rank Yorkshire Terrier 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 23 out of 49 dog breeds
    Patella problems 73 out of 145 dog breeds 3 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 79 out of 198 dog breeds 159 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 101 out of 182 dog breeds 88 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 115 out of 144 dog breeds Not Common
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems Not Common 1 out of 40 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 Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed more than Yorkshire Terriers?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed moderately.

    Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

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

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terrier?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels good family dogs? What about Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Easier to Train than the Yorkshire Terrier?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Yorkshire Terrier

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terriers?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. Yorkshire Terrier

    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.

    Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

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

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good 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 Yorkshire Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to other breeds:

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bouvier des Flandres     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Italian Greyhound     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Papillon     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Affenpinscher     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Scottish Terrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Morkie     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bluetick Coonhound     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bich Poo     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Border Collie     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Mudi     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Standard Schnauzer     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Sheepadoodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Harrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Greyhound     

    Conclusion: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier. 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 Yorkshire Terrier better suits you and your family.