Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Maltese
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Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel was created in the early twentieth century to recreate the longer-muzzled spaniel type seen in old portraits from the era of King Charles II, who adored such dogs. It differs from the shorter-faced King Charles Spaniel mainly in its longer nose and flatter skull. At around 8 kilograms, it is one of the most popular toy breeds in the world, though it carries a known predisposition to heart valve disease, which makes health screening in breeding lines especially important. The long, silky, slightly wavy coat needs regular brushing. Temperament is exceptionally friendly, rarely aggressive, and it gets along well with children and other pets. That devotion to people can tip into separation anxiety if left alone too long. Despite its small size, it still needs a daily walk. Life expectancy runs 10 to 14 years.
Maltese
Somewhere around the Mediterranean, likely the island of Malta, this breed has existed since antiquity, mentioned in Greek and Roman writing as a favored companion of the aristocracy. The long, straight, silky single coat with no undercoat was long treated as a mark of luxury and today needs daily brushing to stay mat-free. The body is featherlight, up to 4 kilograms, bred purely to stay close to a person rather than to work. Despite the small size, it's alert and quick to sound off at strangers. The area around the eyes tends to stain from tearing and needs regular cleaning. It attaches closely to its family and often struggles with being left alone. Life expectancy runs 12 to 15 years.
At a glance
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Height (male) | 30.0–33.0 cm | 21.0–25.0 cm |
| Weight (male) | 5.4–8.0 kg | 3.0–4.0 kg |
| Life expectancy | 10–14 yrs | 12–15 yrs |
| Coat | long, silky, slightly wavy | long, straight, silky, single coat |
Temperament & Family Life
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Family friendly | ||
| Good with children | ||
| Good with other dogs | ||
| Friendly with strangers | ||
| Intelligence | ||
| Trainability |
Exercise, Energy & Space
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy level | ||
| Exercise need | ||
| Apartment friendly | ||
| Prey drive | ||
| Hunting instinct |
Guarding & Alertness
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Guarding instinct | ||
| Watchfulness | ||
| Barking level |
Grooming & Care
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Maltese | |
|---|---|---|
| Shedding | ||
| Drooling | ||
| Grooming need |
Temperament and care scores (1-5) are a general guide based on the breed standard — every individual dog is different.