Small11.8 yr avg
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
AKC · Toy
View breedComparison
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi
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.
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
Medium
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Lifespan13.2 yrrange 12–14
SizeMedium
Weight14–30 lb6.4–13.6 kg
Height10–12 in25.4–30.5 cm
Senior at7 yrgeriatric at 11
AKC groupHerding
Energy4/560 min/day
Trainability4/5
Shedding4/5
With kids3/5
With other dogs4/5
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/.
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi tends to live about 1.4 years longer on average than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (13.2 vs 11.8 years).
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small while the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is medium-sized — a modest difference in day-to-day care.
Energy levels are close, with a slight edge to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi (60 min/day of directed exercise).
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.
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