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Comparison

Bulldog 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

Bulldog

Lifespan9.8 yrrange 9–10
SizeMedium
Weight40–50 lb18.1–22.7 kg
Height14–15 in35.6–38.1 cm
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11
AKC groupNon-Sporting
Energy3/545 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding3/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs3/5
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.

Bulldog

  • High prevalencetypical onset ~2 yr

    Elbow Dysplasia

    Description and veterinary guidance for Elbow Dysplasia land in Phase 4. Prevalence and onset-age figures above are drawn from https://ofa.org/diseases/disease-statistics/.

  • Moderatetypical onset ~5 yr

    Periodontal Disease

    Description and veterinary guidance for Periodontal Disease 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?

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel tends to live about 2.0 years longer on average than the Bulldog (11.8 vs 9.8 years).

The Bulldog is medium-sized while the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small — a modest difference in day-to-day care.

Both breeds have similar energy requirements — roughly 45 minutes of daily activity keeps either satisfied.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels rate higher for household-with-kids compatibility (5/5).

Both carry 1 high-prevalence breed-specific health risks — see the health section above for condition-by-condition detail.