Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are loyal, expressive dogs, and for centuries have been adored by royalty, presidents, huntsmen and outdoor enthusiasts, as well as the average family down the block. If you’re reading this, you are probably aware of some similarities between Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier Spaniels, like their floppy ears and wavy fur. Perhaps your old neighbor owned one, or maybe you remember seeing one in cartoons or the Westminster Dog Show. No matter what brought you here, choosing to adopt a Cocker Spaniel puppy for sale or a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy for sale is a common question that the Pawrade team is trained to help with, so it’s time to know the answers!
The Spaniel origin
Spaniel dog breeds, as a whole, trace back their origins to Spain. Makes sense, right? However, Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are widely agreed to have been introduced as unique breeds in the United Kingdom around the 1600s. Cocker Spaniels were bred as skilled bird-hunting dogs, specifically to track and flush out woodcocks. During the 20th century, Cocker Spaniels in America were selectively bred to be smaller and less for hunting purposes, and thus two separate Cocker Spaniel breeds emerged: the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were bred primarily as companion dogs for royalty, and were named after King Charles II. The “modern” Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was given recognition by the British Kennel Club in 1945 and the American Kennel Club in 1996 as an effort to restore the breed’s original appearance, as depicted in paintings of King Charles II’s court.
Tracing back any breed’s lineage is a tricky task, naturally, due to dog breeding being a generational practice. For example, this ancestral tree shows the stages of breed development that ultimately led to the distinct recognition of the English Cocker Spaniel.
Ancestry chart of English Cocker Spaniels (mycockerspaniel.com)
Size and appearance
At a glance, Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles are similar in size, but Cocker Spaniels are slightly larger than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Since Cocker Spaniels were bred to help with hunting and Cavaliers were bred primarily as household pets, Cocker Spaniels are more athletic and muscular while Cavaliers are petite in comparison.
English Cocker Spaniels typically weigh between 26-34 pounds full grown and stand 15-17 inches tall; American Cocker Spaniels usually weigh between 20-30 pounds full grown and stand 13.5-15.5 inches tall. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels usually weigh 13-18 pounds and stand 12-13 inches tall.
Cocker Spaniels have a slightly longer muzzle and a more dome-shaped head compared to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Between English Cocker Spaniels and American Cocker Spaniels, the former have a longer, narrow head, and an arched skull (see picture examples in next section: Liver Roan, Black & Tan). American Cocker Spaniels have a rounder skull and a more distinct “stop,” which refers to the point where the forehead and muzzle meet (see picture examples in next section: Buff, Black).
Coats and colors
Both Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have silky coats with wavy fur, and both breeds are moderate shedders year-round, needing regular brushing to keep their fur tangle-free. Cocker Spaniels have a longer, thicker coat that is prone to matting and requires frequent brushing. Owners are recommended to use professional groomers and have multiple haircuts for Cocker Spaniels to choose from, ranging from low to high maintenance.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have softer, feathery coats. Their fur grows a bit more evenly throughout their body, but professional grooming is still the best option when choosing haircuts for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Cocker Spaniel Colors
Spaniel dog breeds, as a whole, trace back their origins to Spain. Makes sense, right? However, Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are widely agreed to have been introduced as unique breeds in the United Kingdom around the 1600s. Cocker Spaniels were bred as skilled bird-hunting dogs, specifically to track and flush out woodcocks. During the 20th century, Cocker Spaniels in America were selectively bred to be smaller and less for hunting purposes, and thus two separate Cocker Spaniel breeds emerged: the English Cocker Spaniel and the American Cocker Spaniel.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels were bred primarily as companion dogs for royalty, and were named after King Charles II. The “modern” Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was given recognition by the British Kennel Club in 1945 and the American Kennel Club in 1996 as an effort to restore the breed’s original appearance, as depicted in paintings of King Charles II’s court.
Tracing back any breed’s lineage is a tricky task, naturally, due to dog breeding being a generational practice. For example, this ancestral tree shows the stages of breed development that ultimately led to the distinct recognition of the English Cocker Spaniel.
Size and appearance
At a glance, Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles are similar in size, but Cocker Spaniels are slightly larger than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Since Cocker Spaniels were bred to help with hunting and Cavaliers were bred primarily as household pets, Cocker Spaniels are more athletic and muscular while Cavaliers are petite in comparison.
English Cocker Spaniels typically weigh between 26-34 pounds full grown and stand 15-17 inches tall; American Cocker Spaniels usually weigh between 20-30 pounds full grown and stand 13.5-15.5 inches tall. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels usually weigh 13-18 pounds and stand 12-13 inches tall.
Cocker Spaniels have a slightly longer muzzle and a more dome-shaped head compared to Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Between English Cocker Spaniels and American Cocker Spaniels, the former have a longer, narrow head, and an arched skull (see picture examples in next section: Liver Roan, Black & Tan). American Cocker Spaniels have a rounder skull and a more distinct “stop,” which refers to the point where the forehead and muzzle meet (see picture examples in next section: Buff, Black).
Coats and colors
Both Cocker Spaniels and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have silky coats with wavy fur, and both breeds are moderate shedders year-round, needing regular brushing to keep their fur tangle-free. Cocker Spaniels have a longer, thicker coat that is prone to matting and requires frequent brushing. Owners are recommended to use professional groomers and have multiple haircuts for Cocker Spaniels to choose from, ranging from low to high maintenance.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have softer, feathery coats. Their fur grows a bit more evenly throughout their body, but professional grooming is still the best option when choosing haircuts for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
Cocker Spaniel Colors
The AKC recognizes a wide variety of solid colors and mixed colors for Cocker Spaniels, including black, buff, chocolate, red, golden, as well as parti and roan combinations. Parti refers to the presence of solid white and roan refers to a pattern of heavily mottled white areas.
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