Quick Links: Table of Contents
- American Foxhound Versus Cocker Spaniel: Introduction
- American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel: Overview
- American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel
- Size Comparison of American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel
- Lifespan of American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel
- Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel Versus the American Foxhound
- Price of American Foxhound versus Price of Cocker Spaniel
- The Intelligence of the American Foxhound versus the Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel
- Do American Foxhounds shed more than Cocker Spaniels?
- Which one drools more, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel
- Which is Easier to Groom, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel?
- Does the American Foxhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Cocker Spaniel?
- Do American Foxhounds Bark and Howl? What about Cocker Spaniels?
- Can American Foxhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: American Foxhound vs. Cocker Spaniel
- Can American Foxhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel?
- Are American Foxhounds good family dogs? What about Cocker Spaniels?
- How Kid-friendly are American Foxhounds and Cocker Spaniels?
- Is the American Foxhound Easier to Train than the Cocker Spaniel?
- Conclusion: American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
American Foxhound Versus Cocker Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel? 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 American Foxhound and the Cocker 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 American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Foxhound and the Cocker 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 American Foxhound and for the Cocker Spaniel. 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 American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel.
American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Foxhound is a medium-sized dog while the Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog.
Furthermore, the American Foxhound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.
On the other hand, the Cocker 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.
American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the American Foxhound to the Cocker 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.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel
| Factor | American Foxhound | Cocker Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 13 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easygoing | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Easy To Train | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 40 to 60 pounds | 24 to 28 pounds |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| General Health | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 12.5 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $460 | $1760 |
| Price Range | $400 – $500 | $1200 – $2000 |
| Temperament Score | 100.0 percent | 82.0 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 46 | 20 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Foxhound 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 Cocker 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 the American Foxhound is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Cocker Spaniel is 77 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Cocker Spaniel is a better pet than the American Foxhound. So, you should get the Cocker 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 American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel
Below is a list of where the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are most different:
- American Foxhounds do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Cocker Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.
- American Foxhounds are not very sensitive to their enviroment. They can tolerate noisy environments. They are also not very sensitive to the tone of your voice, firm or gentle. However, Cocker Spaniels 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.
- American Foxhounds are not easy to train. However, Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.
- American Foxhounds are very easy to groom. However, Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
The Similarities Between the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel
The American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are most similar:
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel can tolerate hot weather.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
- Both the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel are very playful.
Size Comparison of American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel.
American Foxhounds weigh 40 to 60 pounds when fully grown. American Foxhounds are 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, Cocker Spaniels weigh 24 to 28 pounds when fully grown. Cocker Spaniels are 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s when fully grown.
Lifespan of American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel
The lifespan of American Foxhounds is between 12 to 13 years. The average lifespan of American Foxhounds is 12.5 years.
The lifespan of Cocker Spaniels is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Cocker Spaniels is 13.5 years.
Cocker Spaniels live longer than American Foxhounds.
Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel Versus the American Foxhound
The American Foxhound has a better temperament than the Cocker Spaniel.
This is because the temperament score for the American Foxhound is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Cocker Spaniel is 82.0 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 100.0 percent, the American Foxhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 82.0 percent, the Cocker Spaniel has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 2 American Foxhounds and 233 Cocker Spaniels.
Price of American Foxhound versus Price of Cocker Spaniel
The average price of the American Foxhound puppy is $460. The price of the American Foxhound typically ranges from $400 – $500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 11 American Foxhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Cocker Spaniel puppy is $1760. The price of the Cocker Spaniel typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 297 Cocker Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Cocker Spaniel is more expensive than the American Foxhound.
The charts below show the price distribution for the American Foxhound and Cocker Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many American Foxhound puppies or how many Cocker Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of American Foxhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Cocker Spaniels
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the American Foxhound puppy or the Cocker Spaniel 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.
The Intelligence of the American Foxhound versus the Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel
`| American Foxhound | Cocker Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 46 out of 130 dog breeds | 20 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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 American Foxhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 46 out of 130 dog breeds. The American Foxhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that American Foxhounds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Cocker Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 20 out of 130 dog breeds. The Cocker Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Cocker Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The Cocker Spaniel is more intelligent than the American Foxhound.
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.
Tolerates Being Alone: American Foxhound versus Cocker Spaniel
American Foxhounds do not like to be left alone.
Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.
Do American Foxhounds shed more than Cocker Spaniels?
American Foxhounds shed moderately.
Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.
Which one drools more, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel
American Foxhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.
Cocker Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel?
American Foxhounds are very easy to groom.
Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Does the American Foxhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Cocker Spaniel?
American Foxhounds have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Cocker Spaniels have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.
Do American Foxhounds Bark and Howl? What about Cocker Spaniels?
American Foxhounds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Cocker Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.
Can American Foxhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
American Foxhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.
Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: American Foxhound vs. Cocker Spaniel
American Foxhounds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Cocker Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Can American Foxhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
American Foxhounds can tolerate hot weather.
Cocker Spaniels can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel?
American Foxhounds get along very well with other dogs.
Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Are American Foxhounds good family dogs? What about Cocker Spaniels?
American Foxhounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Cocker Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
How Kid-friendly are American Foxhounds and Cocker Spaniels?
American Foxhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Cocker Spaniels get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Is the American Foxhound Easier to Train than the Cocker Spaniel?
American Foxhounds are not easy to train.
Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.
Is the American Foxhound Better for Apartment Owners than the Cocker Spaniel?
American Foxhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.
Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Foxhound or the Cocker Spaniel?
American Foxhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Cocker Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.
Conclusion: American Foxhound versus Cocker 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 American Foxhound and the Cocker Spaniel better suits you and your family.