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Comparison

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs German Shepherd Dog

Side-by-side comparison from peer-reviewed sources. Lifespan and health figures draw on Royal Veterinary College VetCompass and AKC breed data.

"Cavalier King Charles Spaniel studio portrait"
Small11.8 yr avg

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

AKC · Toy

View breed
"German Shepherd Dog studio portrait"
Large11.3 yr avg

German Shepherd Dog

AKC · Herding

View breed
At a glance

Side-by-side

The numbers that most change day-to-day care. A citrus border marks a meaningful advantage.

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
Large

German Shepherd Dog

Lifespan11.3 yrrange 11–12
SizeLarge
Weight50–90 lb22.7–40.8 kg
Height22–26 in55.9–66 cm
Senior at6 yrgeriatric at 10
AKC groupHerding
Energy5/590 min/day
Trainability5/5
Shedding4/5
With kids5/5
With other dogs3/5
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.

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/.

German Shepherd Dog

  • Moderatetypical 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 ~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/.

Synthesis

Which is right for you?

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and German Shepherd Dog have similar median lifespans, around 11.6 years.

Size gap is meaningful: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small and the German Shepherd Dog is large. Expect different considerations for housing, travel, and vet-care costs.

Energy levels differ significantly. German Shepherd Dogs need substantially more daily exercise than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels — plan for 90+ active minutes per day with the German Shepherd Dog.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniels carry a heavier breed-specific health burden (1 high-prevalence conditions vs 0 for the German Shepherd Dog). Budget for screening accordingly.

See Cavalier King Charles Spaniel profileSee German Shepherd Dog profile
Or calculate your dog's age
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