Differences and Similarities between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog.

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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Shetland Sheepdog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and for the Shetland Sheepdog. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog: Overview

Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are similar in size. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are both small-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to the Shetland Sheepdog based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog

Factor Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shetland Sheepdog
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 13 to 18 pounds Starts at 20 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Life Span 9 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2440 $1590
Price Range $1800 – $3000 $1000 – $2000
Temperament Score 85.5 percent 68.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination;
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 18 23
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 44 6

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Shetland Sheepdog. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 91 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 85 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a better pet than the Shetland Sheepdog. So, you should get the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog

    Below is a list of where the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are most different:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt well to apartment living. However, Shetland Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are most similar:

  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very easy to train.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels weigh 13 to 18 pounds when fully grown. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are 12 to 13 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Shetland Sheepdogs weigh Starts at 20 pounds when fully grown. Shetland Sheepdogs are 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The lifespan of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is between 9 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Shetland Sheepdogs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Shetland Sheepdogs is 13.5 years.

    Shetland Sheepdogs live longer than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Temperament of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus the Shetland Sheepdog

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a better temperament than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 85.5 percent while the temperament score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 68.9 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 85.5 percent, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 68.9 percent, the Shetland Sheepdog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog by measuring the temperaments of 62 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and 515 Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Price of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Price of Shetland Sheepdog

    The average price of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy is $2440. The price of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel typically ranges from $1800 – $3000. However, the price of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be as low as $300 and as high as $29550. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1217 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Shetland Sheepdog puppy is $1590. The price of the Shetland Sheepdog typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of the Shetland Sheepdog can be as low as $500 and as high as $3145. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 153 Shetland Sheepdog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is more expensive than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shetland Sheepdog
    Average Price $2440 $1590
    Price Range $1800 to $3000 $1000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Shetland Sheepdog. For different price points, the charts show how many Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies or how many Shetland Sheepdog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy or the Shetland Sheepdog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Adopting the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Adopting the Shetland Sheepdog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and many Shetland Sheepdogs are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named King Charles Cavalier – Willis that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Cavalier King Charles Spaniels like King Charles Cavalier – Willis on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shetland Sheepdogs are also available for adoption. For example, Cisco is a Male Shetland Sheepdog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Shetland Sheepdogs like Cisco that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Hunter 20-19081-3 is the name of another Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Nash (In Foster) is an adorable Male Shetland Sheepdog on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Shetland Sheepdog

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Shetland Sheepdog
    Intelligence Rank 44 out of 130 dog breeds 6 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 44 out of 130 dog breeds. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog has an obedience intelligence rank of 6 out of 130 dog breeds. The Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Shetland Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog is more intelligent than the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Shetland Sheepdog. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is 18 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Shetland Sheepdog is 23 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Popularity of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Year Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Popularity Rank Shetland Sheepdog Popularity Rank
    2013 18 21
    2014 19 21
    2015 18 23
    2016 19 24
    2017 19 24
    2018 18 25
    2019 16 25
    2020 17 27

    Health Problems of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Health Problems of Shetland Sheepdog

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Shetland Sheepdog is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.

    4 health tests are recommended for Cavalier King Charles Spaniel while 4 tests are recommended for the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and in Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Health Problems

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination;
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Cavalier King Charles Spaniels here.

    Shetland Sheepdog Health Problems

    Shetland Sheepdogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Shetland Sheepdog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Shetland Sheepdog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Shetland Sheepdog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Shetland Sheepdogs for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Shetland Sheepdogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Breed is Episodic Falling problems.

    This is because the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Episodic Falling problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 454 Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, 3 of them had Episodic Falling problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Episodic Falling problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 3 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 4 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 13 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 16 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 19 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 73 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 79 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 101 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 115 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Shetland Sheepdog Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Shetland Sheepdog ranks 3 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 633 Shetland Sheepdogs, 5 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Shetland Sheepdogs, and how common these diseases are in Shetland Sheepdogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 3 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 4 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 5 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 6 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 6 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 46 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 89 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 101 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 122 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 166 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and in Shetland Sheepdog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog:

    Disease Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Rank Shetland Sheepdog Rank
    Episodic Falling problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Basic Cardiac problems 3 out of 16 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 4 out of 70 dog breeds 46 out of 70 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 13 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 16 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 19 out of 49 dog breeds 6 out of 49 dog breeds
    Patella problems 73 out of 145 dog breeds 89 out of 145 dog breeds
    Hips problems 79 out of 198 dog breeds 166 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 101 out of 182 dog breeds 122 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 115 out of 144 dog breeds 101 out of 144 dog breeds
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems Not Common 3 out of 7 dog breeds
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems Not Common 4 out of 7 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 5 out of 115 dog breeds
    Von Willebrands problems Not Common 6 out of 15 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed more than Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed moderately.

    Shetland Sheepdogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Shetland Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Shetland Sheepdogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs. Shetland Sheepdog

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels good family dogs? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Easier to Train than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are very easy to train.

    Is the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel:

  • Cavachon (84 percent match with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavachon.
  • Cockalier (81 percent match with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Shetland Sheepdog vs Cockalier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shetland Sheepdog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Shetland Sheepdog that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Shetland Sheepdog:

  • Collie (81 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Collie.
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi (79 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and how the Shetland Sheepdog compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and of the Shetland Sheepdog to other breeds:

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Valley Bulldog     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus French Spaniel     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Scottish Terrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Beagle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Plott     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Mudi     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Tibetan Terrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Great Dane     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Mal Shi     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Labradoodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Norwich Terrier     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shichon     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Cavachon     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Peek A Poo     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Peek A Poo     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Bordoodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Norwegian Buhund     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Australian Kelpie     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Saint Berdoodle     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Alaskan Malamute     Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus American Pit Bull Terrier     

    Shetland Sheepdog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Shetland Sheepdog versus Borzoi     Shetland Sheepdog versus Bracco Italiano     Shetland Sheepdog versus Pomeranian     Shetland Sheepdog versus Schipperke     Shetland Sheepdog versus Airedale Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Pointer     Shetland Sheepdog versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Standard Schnauzer     Shetland Sheepdog versus Fila Brasileiro     Shetland Sheepdog versus Dutch Shepherd     Shetland Sheepdog versus Dachshund     Shetland Sheepdog versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Leonberger     Shetland Sheepdog versus Mastiff     Shetland Sheepdog versus Dogo Argentino     Shetland Sheepdog versus Belgian Sheepdog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Dogo Argentino     Shetland Sheepdog versus Spanish Mastiff     Shetland Sheepdog versus Cairn Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Shetland Sheepdog versus Newfoundland     Shetland Sheepdog versus Norwegian Buhund     Shetland Sheepdog versus Icelandic Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog better suits you and your family.