Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Boxer Versus Cocker Spaniel: Introduction
- Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel: Overview
- Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel
- Size (Weight and Height) of Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel
- Price of Boxer versus Price of Cocker Spaniel
- Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Cocker Spaniel
- The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel
- The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Cocker Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel
- Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel?
- Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Cocker Spaniel?
- Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Cocker Spaniels?
- Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Cocker Spaniel
- How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Cocker Spaniels?
- Do Boxers shed more than Cocker Spaniels?
- Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Cocker Spaniel?
- Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Cocker Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Boxer
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Cocker Spaniel
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Boxer Versus Cocker Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Boxer and the Cocker 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 Boxer 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 Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer 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 Boxer 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Boxer 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 Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel
Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Boxer is a medium-sized dog while the Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Boxer belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
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.
Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Boxer 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.
| Factor | Boxer | Cocker Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 12 years | 12 to 15 years |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Height | 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder | 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 2/5 | 1/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 60 to 70 pounds | 24 to 28 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 11.0 years | 13.5 years |
| Average Price | $1530 | $1760 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $1800 | $1200 – $2000 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data |
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 10 | 29 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 48 | 20 |
*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 Boxer 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 a Boxer is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Cocker Spaniel is 77 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Cocker Spaniel is a better pet than the Boxer. 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 Boxer 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 Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel
Below is a list of where the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel
The Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel.
Boxers weigh 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Boxers are 21 to 25 inches 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.
Price of Boxer versus Price of Cocker Spaniel
The average price of the Boxer puppy is $1530. The price of the Boxer typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Boxer can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1292 Boxer 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. However, the price of a Cocker Spaniel can be as low as $700 and as high as $4125. 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 Boxer.
| Boxer | Cocker Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1530 | $1760 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $1800 | $1200 to $2000 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Boxer and Cocker Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many Boxer puppies or how many Cocker Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. 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 Boxer 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Cocker Spaniel
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Boxers and many Cocker Spaniels are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Boxer named Jax that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Boxers like Jax on pefinder.com.
Also, like Boxers, Cocker Spaniels are also available for adoption. For example, Bodi is a Male Cocker Spaniel that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Cocker Spaniels like Bodi that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Abner is the name of another Boxer (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also Reese, an adorable Male Cocker Spaniel on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
You can find more Boxers and Cocker Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel
| Boxer | Cocker Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 48 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:
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 Boxer has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Boxer belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Boxers 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 Boxer.
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.
The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Cocker 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 Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Boxer is more popular with dog owners than the Cocker Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Boxer is 10 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Cocker Spaniel is 29 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Boxer
Popularity of Cocker Spaniel
| Year | Boxer Popularity Rank | Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 7 | 29 |
| 2014 | 8 | 30 |
| 2015 | 10 | 30 |
| 2016 | 10 | 29 |
| 2017 | 11 | 29 |
| 2018 | 11 | 30 |
| 2019 | 14 | 28 |
| 2020 | 14 | 30 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Cocker Spaniel
Boxers do not like to be left alone.
Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.
Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Cocker Spaniels can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Boxers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel
Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Cocker Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel?
Boxers are OK for new dog owners.
Cocker Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel?
Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.
Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Cocker Spaniel?
Boxers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Cocker Spaniels?
Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.
Cocker Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.
Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Cocker Spaniel
Boxers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Cocker Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Cocker Spaniel?
Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.
Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.
How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Cocker Spaniels?
Boxers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Cocker Spaniels get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Do Boxers shed more than Cocker Spaniels?
Boxers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.
Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Cocker Spaniel?
Boxers are very easy to train.
Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.
Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Cocker Spaniels?
Boxers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Cocker Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Cocker Spaniel?
Boxers are very easy to groom.
Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Boxer
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Cocker 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 Cocker Spaniel:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Cocker Spaniel
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Boxer 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 Boxer:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Boxer and how the Cocker Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Boxer and of the Cocker Spaniel to other breeds:
Boxer Versus Other Dog Breeds
Boxer versus German Wirehaired Pointer Boxer versus Pomsky Boxer versus German Wirehaired Pointer Boxer versus Great Dane Boxer versus Siberian Husky Boxer versus Curly-Coated Retriever Boxer versus Gordon Setter Boxer versus Tibetan Terrier Boxer versus Karelian Bear Dog Boxer versus Belgian Tervuren
Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds
Cocker Spaniel versus Beagle Cocker Spaniel versus Greyhound Cocker Spaniel versus Akbash Cocker Spaniel versus Border Collie Cocker Spaniel versus Basset Hound Cocker Spaniel versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog Cocker Spaniel versus Portuguese Water Dog Cocker Spaniel versus Spinone Italiano Cocker Spaniel versus Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Cocker Spaniel versus Afador
Conclusion: Boxer 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 Boxer and the Cocker Spaniel better suits you and your family.