Quick answer
Brittany or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel?
Both are excellent, sociable, beginner-friendly dogs. Choose the Cavalier for lower exercise needs and easier apartment living; choose the Brittany if you want more activity and a slightly lower cost of ownership.
Brittany Spaniel or Cavalier King Charles Spaniel? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Brittany Spaniel is the heavier at 30–40 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Brittany Spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rates 5/5 against 3/5. The focus throughout is on daily consequences rather than breed background.
Between Brittany Spaniel and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Brittany Spaniel if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, you want a dog that picks up training quickly and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
Choose Cavalier King Charles Spaniel if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and your walking routine is modest.
| Feature | brittany | cavalier king charles spaniel | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 30–40 lbs | 13–18 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 17–20 in | 12–13 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–15 years | 12–15 years | Equal |
| Exercise need | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | cavalier king charles spaniel |
| Grooming need | Low (2/5) | Moderate (3/5) | brittany |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | cavalier king charles spaniel |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | cavalier king charles spaniel |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Very low (1/5) | brittany |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | brittany |
| Coat | Medium, wavy coat | Medium-length, silky | Equal |
| Origin | France | United Kingdom | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $100–$200 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,500–$3,000 | Equal |
The Brittany outweighs the Cavalier by roughly double, 30-40 pounds against 13-18, and stands taller too, 17-20 inches versus 12-13. Both are compact, well-proportioned dogs for their size class, but the Cavalier is unambiguously a lapdog while the Brittany is a field dog that happens to also fit on furniture.
The Brittany needs more of both: high exercise (4/5) and high energy (4/5) against the Cavalier's moderate scores (3/5 each). It's not a dramatic gap, but it's consistent, the Cavalier is happy with a couple of good walks a day, while the Brittany wants more sustained activity, ideally with a purpose like a hike or a game of fetch.
Grooming tips toward the Cavalier needing more attention (moderate, 3/5, against the Brittany's low, 2/5) thanks to its silky, feathered coat. Shedding ties at moderate (3/5) for both breeds, so despite the extra brushing the Cavalier needs, the amount of hair actually coming off is comparable.
The Cavalier is the stronger apartment dog, rated very high (5/5) against the Brittany's moderate (3/5), and both are quiet, tied at low (2/5) for barking. Where the Cavalier struggles is time alone, its 1/5 tolerance is the lowest score in this whole comparison, even below the Brittany's own low 2/5. Neither breed does well left alone for long stretches, but the Cavalier does worse.
The Cavalier is rated the easier choice for a first-time owner, very high (5/5) against the Brittany's already-strong high (4/5), about as beginner-friendly as this dataset gets on either side. The Brittany edges ahead slightly on trainability itself (very high, 5/5, against the Cavalier's high, 4/5), but neither number should worry a new owner.
Kids, other dogs, and strangers all tie between the two, very high with kids (5/5), very high with other dogs (5/5), and high with strangers (4/5). This is a rare case where household compatibility simply isn't a factor in the decision; both breeds are about as sociable as it gets.
Lifespan ties at 12-15 years for both. Health profiles diverge, though the Cavalier's is the more concerning of the two in one specific way: myxomatous mitral valve disease, a serious and common heart condition in the breed, tops its list alongside heart murmurs, a condition the Brittany's own list also includes, making heart murmurs a shared risk. Both also share hip dysplasia, ear infections, and allergies.
The Brittany is the cheaper of the two, rated moderate (3/5) overall cost against the Cavalier's high (4/5), though monthly figures are close, $90-180 for the Brittany against $100-200 for the Cavalier. First-year costs run $1,300-2,500 against $1,500-3,000, a modest but real gap.
Brittany Spaniel weighs 30–40 lbs and lives 12–15 years; Cavalier King Charles Spaniel weighs 13–18 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability. They are level on barking, good with other dogs and good with kids, so those cannot decide it. The table below marks a winner only where one breed is genuinely easier for a typical owner; size and origin are facts rather than merits and stay level. Ratings come from one source applied to both breeds, so they are meaningful against each other rather than as absolute scores.
About double by weight, 30-40 pounds against the Cavalier's 13-18, and several inches taller, 17-20 inches versus 12-13. The Cavalier is a true small dog; the Brittany is medium-sized.
Neither, they're tied at moderate (3/5). The Cavalier needs more brushing to keep its silky coat in shape, but the volume of hair shed is comparable between the two.
The Cavalier, rated very high (5/5) against the Brittany's already strong high (4/5). Both are genuinely good beginner breeds, but the Cavalier's lower exercise needs make daily life a bit simpler for a new owner.
It's workable at a moderate 3/5, but the Cavalier is the far better apartment fit, rated very high (5/5) thanks to its lower exercise requirements and quiet temperament.
The Brittany, modestly, a 3/5 overall cost rating against the Cavalier's 4/5, and a first-year range roughly $200 lower on both ends.
Hip dysplasia, ear infections, allergies, and heart murmurs all appear on both lists. The Cavalier's list is more heart-focused overall, led by myxomatous mitral valve disease, a well-documented risk in the breed.
Not comfortably. The Cavalier tolerates it worst of any breed in this comparison at 1/5, and the Brittany isn't far ahead at 2/5. Both were bred to be close companions, and both can develop anxiety if regularly left alone for a full workday.
Both are excellent, sociable, beginner-friendly dogs. Choose the Cavalier for lower exercise needs and easier apartment living; choose the Brittany if you want more activity and a slightly lower cost of ownership.
$90-180 for the Brittany, $100-200 for the Cavalier, close, with the Brittany running a bit cheaper.
The Brittany needs more (4/5) than the Cavalier (3/5), though neither is a low-energy breed.
Neither, both are rated 12-15 years.
Secure checkout on Stripe. We never see your card.
7-day money-back guarantee. Instant access.
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.
We research and check what we publish, but we do not warrant that any figure, date, price, or statement is accurate, complete, or current, and we accept no liability for any loss, cost, injury, or other harm arising from the use of this site. Use it as one reference among several. You remain responsible for your own decisions and for your dog's care - confirm anything that matters with a licensed veterinarian or another qualified professional before you act on it. Full disclaimer.
Match your lifestyle to the right dog.
Take quizNot sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.
Take the quiz