Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie" Compare Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Labrador Retriever. Which is better: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel or Labrador Retriever or Border Collie?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Labrador Retriever	Border Collie
Origins	England	England Canada	England Scotland Wales
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Companion Dogs	Gun Dog	Pastoral Dogs (Herding Dogs)
Popularity Rank	19	1	38
Reviews	3	3	4
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Other Names	Cav, Cavalier, Cavie	Labrador, Lab	Scotch Sheep Dog, Sheepdog
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Toy breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1917 as a Sporting breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1995 as a Herding breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Companion and Toy Dogs group, in the English Toy Spaniels section.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Retrievers section.	Recognized by FCI in the Sheepdogs and Cattledogs (except Swiss Cattledogs) group, in the Sheepdogs section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club The American Int. Border Collie Registry The American Border Collie Association
Price	$1200-$1500	$1000-$2000	$600-$800

General Appearance - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie

Size	Small	Large	Large
Weight	10-18 pounds (5-8 kg)	Male: 60-75 pounds (27-34kg), Female: 55-70 pounds (25-32 kg)	Male: 30-45 pounds (14-20 kg), Female: 27-42 pounds (12-19 kg)
Avg. Weight	14 pounds (6.5 kg)	Male: 67.5 pounds (30.5 kg), Female: 62.5 pounds (28.5 kg)	Male: 37.5 pounds (17 kg), Female: 34.5 pounds (15.5 kg)
Height	12-13 inches (30-33 cm)	Male: 22-24 inches (56-61cm), Female: 21-23 inches (53-58 cm)	Male: 19-22 inches (48-56 cm), Female: 18-21 inches (46-53 cm)
Avg. Height	12.5 inches (31.5 cm)	Male: 23 inches (58.5 cm), Female: 22 inches (55.5 cm)	Male: 20.5 inches (52 cm), Female: 19.5 inches (49.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie

Coat	Feathered	Dense Waterproof Hard Short	Dense Feathered Straight Short Moderately Long
Colors	Tan Blenheim Tricolor Ruby	Yellow Chocolate Black	Black & White Tricolor Tan Blue merle Blue merle-tricolor Slate merle Red merle Black Brindle Gold Lilac Red Sable Sable Merle Saddleback Sable White & Blue White & Blue Merle White & Red White & Red Merle White Ticked Seal Slate White & Gold White & Sable White & Seal
Grooming	Average: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel requires average grooming effort.	Effortless: The Labrador Retriever requires minimal grooming.	Average: The Border Collie requires average grooming effort.
Shedding Level	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels shed above average.	Labrador Retrievers shed moderately.	Border Collies shed moderately.

Characteristics - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie

Temperament	Affectionate Courageous Intelligent Cheerful Gentle Social Polite Quiet Active Graceful Fearless Friendly Nonaggressive Sporty No tendency towards nervousness	Affectionate Cheerful Friendly Intelligent Loyal Playful Social Alert Energetic Gentle Loving Going Responsive	Intelligent Alert Tenacious Protective Energetic Responsive Loyal
Intelligent Rank	Average: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel's has average obedience intelligence.	Outstanding: Labrador Retriever is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Outstanding: Border Collie is one of the brightest dog breeds.
Trainability	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are quite easy to train.	Labrador Retrievers are very easy to train.	Border Collies are easy to train.
Playfulness	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Labrador Retriever is a highly playful breed.	The Border Collie is a highly playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Labrador Retrievers don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.	Border Collies don't like an irregular daily routine, noisy household and frequent guest visits.
Affection Level	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Labrador Retrievers may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.	Border Collies are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.
Social Needs	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels need a lot of social interaction.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of social interaction.	Border Collies need a lot of social interaction.
Barking	Average: The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel barks occasionally.	Average: The Labrador Retriever barks occasionally.	Low to Average: The Border Collie rarely barks.
Watchdog Ability	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not the best watchdogs.	Labrador Retrievers are average watchdogs.	Border Collies are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not the best to protect their territory.	Labrador Retrievers are average defenders.	Border Collies are extremely protective guard dogs.
Biting Potential	Low The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a low chance of biting somebody.	Moderate The Labrador Retriever has an average chance of biting somebody.	Low The Border Collie has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Labrador Retrievers have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Border Collies have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to escape less than other breeds.	Labrador Retrievers have average wanderlust potential.	Border Collies have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.	Labrador Retrievers have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Border Collies have an average prey drive, which means that they don't have a high impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals, but it might happen.
Apartment Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very apartment-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.	Border Collies are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Labrador Retrievers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Border Collies adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Labrador Retrievers tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Border Collies tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie

Stranger Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very stranger friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very stranger friendly dogs.	Border Collies are average friendly towards strangers.
Child Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very kid-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very kid-friendly dogs.	Border Collies are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are average friendly towards cats.	Labrador Retrievers are cat-friendly dogs.	Border Collies are average friendly towards cats.
Dog Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are very dog-friendly dogs.	Labrador Retrievers are very dog-friendly dogs.	Border Collies are average friendly towards other dogs.
Office Friendly	No Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Labrador Retriever is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Border Collie is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Labrador Retrievers are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Border Collies are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are generally with other pets.	Labrador Retrievers are usually friendly towards other pets.	Border Collies are generally with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Labrador Retrievers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Border Collies are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.	Yes This breed makes good as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Yes A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Yes The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Not really Cavalier King Charles Spaniel breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Yes Labrador Retriever breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Border Collie breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie

Health Issues	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	The Labrador Retriever is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	The Border Collie is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Dry Eye Episodic Falling Syndrome Hip Dysplasia Mitral Valve Disease Patellar Luxation Syringomyelia	Acute Moist Dermatitis Bloat Cataracts Cold Tail Ear Infections Elbow Dysplasia Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Myopathy Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia	Allergies Collie Eye Anomaly Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia Osteochondrosis Dissecans Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Life Expectancy	10-14 years	10-12 years	12-15 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	No	No	No
Energy Level	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average energy level, so if you live a semi-active life, this breed can be a good choice for you.	Labrador Retrievers are high energy dogs.	Border Collies are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have an average exercise need.	Labrador Retrievers need a lot of exercises.	Border Collies need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	Cavalier King Charles Spaniels sleep 12-14 hours a day as an average dog and they're not considered as a lazy breed.	Labrador Retrievers don't need too much sleep.	Border Collies don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	1 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	Recommended daily amount: 2.5 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	1.5 to 2 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two or three meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	High: The Labrador Retriever breed has a strong tendency to overweight.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Tolerates warm and cold weather.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Border Collie can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	High The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel has a high chance of bad smell.	High The Labrador Retriever has a high chance of bad smell.	Medium The Border Collie has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Labrador Retriever is an average drooler.	The Border Collie is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever vs Border Collie

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	3-5 puppies	5-10 puppies	4-8 puppies
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