Australian Shepherd

Herding · Medium

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Toy · Small

Australian Shepherd vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Side-by-side comparison of the Australian Shepherd and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel — size, temperament, shedding, trainability, cost, and compatibility ratings.

Quick comparison

Best for families

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Based on good-with-kids rating

Easier to train

Australian Shepherd

Based on trainability rating

Less shedding

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Based on shedding level

Better for apartments

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Based on apartment-friendly rating

Lower maintenance

Australian Shepherd

Based on grooming needs

Longer lifespan

Australian Shepherd

Based on average lifespan

Detailed comparison

Physical traits

Trait	Australian Shepherd	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Size	Medium	Small
Height	18–23″	12–13″
Weight	40–65 lbs	13–18 lbs
Lifespan	12–15 yrs	12–15 yrs
Group	Herding	Toy
Coat type	Medium-length double coat, straight to wavy	Silky, medium length, feathered

Temperament & behavior

Trait	Australian Shepherd	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Energy level	Very High	Moderate
Trainability	Very High	High
Barking level	Moderate	Low

Compatibility

Trait	Australian Shepherd	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Good with kids	High	Very High
Good with dogs	High	Very High
Good with cats	Low	Very High
Apartment friendly	Very Low	Very High

Care requirements

Trait	Australian Shepherd	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Shedding	High	Moderate
Grooming needs	Moderate	Moderate
Daily exercise	60–120 min	30–60 min
Daily food	1.5–2.5 cups	0.5–1 cups
Annual cost	$1 300–$2 200	$1 200–$2 200

Temperament