Which is Better between the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel? A Very Detailed Review.

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Affenpinscher Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel 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 Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel 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 Affenpinscher and for the Sussex Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Affenpinscher or the Sussex Spaniel

Affenpinscher versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Affenpinscher is a tiny-sized dog while the Sussex Spaniel is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Affenpinscher 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 Sussex Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Affenpinscher versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Affenpinscher to the Sussex Spaniel 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.

Factor Affenpinscher Sussex Spaniel
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 11 to 14 years
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Weight 7 to 9 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
Height 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $2220 No Data
Price Range $500 – $1962 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 171

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Affenpinscher 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 Sussex Spaniel. 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 a Affenpinscher is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Sussex Spaniel is 100 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Sussex Spaniel is a better pet than the Affenpinscher. So, you should get the Sussex 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 Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are most different:

  • Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Sussex Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • The Similarities Between the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel

    The Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are not easy to train.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Affenpinscher versus Sussex Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel.

    Affenpinschers weigh 7 to 9 pounds when fully grown. Affenpinschers are 9 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Sussex Spaniels weigh 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Sussex Spaniels are 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    The Popularity of Affenpinscher versus Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    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 Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Affenpinscher is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Affenpinscher is 147 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sussex Spaniel is 171 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Affenpinscher

    Popularity of Affenpinscher

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year Affenpinscher Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 143 162
    2014 144 175
    2015 136 173
    2016 149 172
    2017 147 161
    2018 148 180
    2019 151 176
    2020 163 172

    Tolerates Being Alone: Affenpinscher versus Sussex Spaniel

    Affenpinschers do not like to be left alone.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are Affenpinschers and Sussex Spaniels?

    Affenpinschers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Sussex Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Affenpinschers shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    Affenpinschers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Affenpinscher or the Sussex Spaniel

    Affenpinschers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Affenpinscher Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Affenpinschers are not easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Do Affenpinschers Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Affenpinschers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Sussex Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Affenpinscher vs. Sussex Spaniel

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

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

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Affenpinschers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Affenpinschers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Affenpinschers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Affenpinscher or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Affenpinschers are moderately easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Does the Affenpinscher Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?

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

    Sussex Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Affenpinscher or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Affenpinschers are very good for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Affenpinscher or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Affenpinschers get along very well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Affenpinscher Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Affenpinschers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Are Affenpinschers good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Affenpinschers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Sussex Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Affenpinscher

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Coton de Tulear (70 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Coton de Tulear.
  • Keeshond (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Affenpinscher vs Keeshond.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Sussex Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Affenpinscher 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 Affenpinscher:

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Peek A Poo (75 percent match with Affenpinscher). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Peek A Poo.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Affenpinscher and how the Sussex Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Affenpinscher and of the Sussex Spaniel to other breeds:

    Affenpinscher Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Affenpinscher versus French Bulldog     Affenpinscher versus Dachshund     Affenpinscher versus Affenhuahua     Affenpinscher versus Briard     Affenpinscher versus Akita Chow     Affenpinscher versus American Foxhound     Affenpinscher versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Affenpinscher versus Lancashire Heeler     Affenpinscher versus Irish Water Spaniel     Affenpinscher versus English Springer Spaniel     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus German Pinscher     Sussex Spaniel versus Sheepadoodle     Sussex Spaniel versus Redbone Coonhound     Sussex Spaniel versus Valley Bulldog     Sussex Spaniel versus Lhasa Apso     Sussex Spaniel versus Bordoodle     Sussex Spaniel versus Manchester Terrier     Sussex Spaniel versus Korean Jindo Dog     Sussex Spaniel versus Pug     Sussex Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     

    Conclusion: Affenpinscher versus Sussex Spaniel. 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 Affenpinscher and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.