Medium12.5 yr avg
Beagle
AKC · Hound
View breedComparison
Beagle vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.
At a glance
Side-by-side
The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.
Medium
Beagle
Lifespan12.5 yrrange 12–13
SizeMedium
Weight10–30 lb4.5–13.6 kg
Height13–15 in33–38.1 cm
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11
AKC groupHound
Energy4/560 min/day
Trainability3/5
Shedding3/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs5/5
Small
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Lifespan11.8 yrrange 11–12
SizeSmall
Weight13–18 lb5.9–8.2 kg
Height12–13 in30.5–33 cm
Senior at8 yrgeriatric at 12
AKC groupToy
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding2/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs5/5
Health
Common health issues
Top 3 prevalence-ranked conditions for each breed. See each breed's full health profile for screening schedules and source data.
Beagle
- Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr
Hypothyroidism
Description and veterinary guidance for Hypothyroidism land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Low prevalencetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Low prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr
Patellar Luxation
Description and veterinary guidance for Patellar Luxation land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- High prevalencetypical onset ~8 yr
Degenerative Myelopathy
Description and veterinary guidance for Degenerative Myelopathy land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~7 yr
Cataracts
Description and veterinary guidance for Cataracts land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
- Moderatetypical onset ~6 yr
Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram)
Description and veterinary guidance for Adult-Onset Cardiac Disease (Echocardiogram) land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.
Synthesis
Which is right for you?
Beagle and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel have similar median lifespans, around 12.2 years.
The Beagle is medium-sized while the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small — a modest difference in day-to-day care.
Energy levels are close, with a slight edge to the Beagle (60 min/day of directed exercise).
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels carry a heavier breed-specific health burden (1 high-prevalence conditions vs 0 for the Beagle). Budget for screening accordingly.
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