Breed Comparison: Cocker Spaniel Versus Finnish Lapphund

Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund

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Cocker Spaniel Versus Finnish Lapphund: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund? 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 Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund 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 Cocker Spaniel and for the Finnish Lapphund. 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 Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund.

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

Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund

Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund: Overview

A very important difference between the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Finnish Lapphund belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Cocker Spaniel to the Finnish Lapphund 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 Cocker Spaniel Finnish Lapphund
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 4/5
Height 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 1/5
Weight 24 to 28 pounds 33 to 53 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 3/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1760 No Data
Price Range $1200 – $2000 No Data
Temperament Score 82.0 percent 62.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 29 168

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Cocker Spaniel 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 Finnish Lapphund. 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 Cocker Spaniel is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Lapphund is 84 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Finnish Lapphund is a better pet than the Cocker Spaniel. So, you should get the Finnish Lapphund!

    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 Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund

    Below is a list of where the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are most different:

  • Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.
  • Cocker Spaniels do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Finnish Lapphunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • The Similarities Between the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund

    The Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are most similar:

  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are very playful.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund 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.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are very easy to train.
  • Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund.

    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.

    On the other hand, Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel Versus the Finnish Lapphund

    The Cocker Spaniel has a better temperament than the Finnish Lapphund.

    This is because the temperament score for the Cocker Spaniel is 82.0 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Lapphund is 62.5 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 they 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 82.0 percent, the Cocker Spaniel has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 62.5 percent, the Finnish Lapphund has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund by measuring the temperaments of 233 Cocker Spaniels and 8 Finnish Lapphunds.

    The Popularity of Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    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 Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Cocker Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Lapphund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Cocker Spaniel is 29 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Year Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank
    2013 29 171
    2014 30 173
    2015 30 169
    2016 29 173
    2017 29 173
    2018 30 161
    2019 28 165
    2020 30 165

    Health Problems of Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of Finnish Lapphund

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Finnish Lapphund is prone to more genetic health problems than the Cocker Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Finnish Lapphund than for the Cocker Spaniel.

    2 health tests are recommended for Cocker Spaniel while 6 tests are recommended for the Finnish Lapphund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Cocker Spaniels and in Finnish Lapphunds.

    Cocker Spaniel Health Problems

    Cocker Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Cocker Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Cocker Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Cocker Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Cocker Spaniels for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Cocker Spaniels here.

    Finnish Lapphund Health Problems

    Finnish Lapphunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Finnish Lapphund puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Finnish Lapphund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Finnish Lapphund breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Finnish Lapphunds for:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Finnish Lapphunds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Cocker Spaniels and Finnish Lapphunds

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Cocker Spaniel Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Cocker Spaniel ranks 12 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1845 Cocker Spaniels, 145 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Cocker Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Cocker Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 12 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 22 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 26 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 28 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 125 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 144 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Finnish Lapphund Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Finnish Lapphund ranks 74 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 160 Finnish Lapphunds, 3 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Finnish Lapphunds, and how common these diseases are in Finnish Lapphunds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 74 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 86 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 90 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 119 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Cocker Spaniel and in Finnish Lapphund and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund:

    Disease Cocker Spaniel Rank Finnish Lapphund Rank
    Patella problems 12 out of 145 dog breeds 74 out of 145 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 22 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 26 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 28 out of 182 dog breeds 90 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 125 out of 144 dog breeds 86 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 144 out of 198 dog breeds 119 out of 198 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund

    Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Cocker Spaniel or the Finnish Lapphund

    Cocker Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Cocker Spaniel or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Cocker Spaniel or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Cocker Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Cocker Spaniels can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    How Kid-friendly are Cocker Spaniels and Finnish Lapphunds?

    Cocker Spaniels get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Do Cocker Spaniels shed more than Finnish Lapphunds?

    Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Do Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

    Cocker Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Cocker Spaniel or the Finnish Lapphund?

    Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Wanderlust Potential: Cocker Spaniel vs. Finnish Lapphund

    Cocker Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Finnish Lapphunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Is the Cocker Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about Finnish Lapphunds?

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

    Finnish Lapphunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the Finnish Lapphund?

    Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Does the Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Lapphund?

    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.

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Cocker Spaniel

    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:

  • Bichon Frise (77 percent match with Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Bichon Frise.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (76 percent match with Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Cocker Spaniel vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Cocker Spaniel vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Cocker Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Cocker Spaniel vs Jack Russell Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Cocker Spaniel versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Cocker Spaniel versus English Cocker Spaniel     Cocker Spaniel versus Irish Setter     Cocker Spaniel versus Pekingese     Cocker Spaniel versus Norwegian Buhund     Cocker Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer     Cocker Spaniel versus Irish Terrier     Cocker Spaniel versus Toy Poodle     Cocker Spaniel versus Doberman Pinscher     Cocker Spaniel versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus English Toy Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Finnish Lapphund versus Hovawart     Finnish Lapphund versus Xoloitzcuintli     Finnish Lapphund versus Shetland Sheepdog     Finnish Lapphund versus Tibetan Spaniel     Finnish Lapphund versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Finnish Lapphund versus Catahoula Bulldog     Finnish Lapphund versus Miniature Poodle     Finnish Lapphund versus Pug     

    Conclusion: Cocker Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund. 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 Cocker Spaniel and the Finnish Lapphund better suits you and your family.