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Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Cocker Spaniel Versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Introduction
- Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Overview
- Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever
- The Similarities Between the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever
- Size (Weight and Height) of Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever
- Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel Versus the Flat-Coated Retriever
- Price of Cocker Spaniel versus Price of Flat-Coated Retriever
- Adopting the Cocker Spaniel versus Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever
- The Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever
- The Popularity of Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever
- Health Problems of Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever
- Tolerates Being Alone: Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever
- Which one drools more, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever?
- Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- How Kid-friendly are Cocker Spaniels and Flat-Coated Retrievers?
- Do Cocker Spaniels shed more than Flat-Coated Retrievers?
- Do Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Flat-Coated Retrievers?
- Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever?
- Wanderlust Potential: Cocker Spaniel vs. Flat-Coated Retriever
- Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about Flat-Coated Retrievers?
- Is the Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the Flat-Coated Retriever?
- Does the Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Flat-Coated Retriever?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Cocker Spaniel
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever. Which One is a Better Pet?
Cocker Spaniel Versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever? 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever.
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 Flat-Coated Retriever
![](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/differences-between-cocker-spaniel-and-flat-coated-retriever.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Overview
A very important difference between the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Flat-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, both the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever 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.
Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Cocker Spaniel to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 | Flat-Coated Retriever |
---|---|---|
Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Easy To Groom | 1/5 | 4/5 |
Height | 1 foot, 2 inches to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the s | 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder |
Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 2/5 |
Weight | 24 to 28 pounds | 55 to 70 pounds |
Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Kid-Friendly | 3/5 | 5/5 |
Friendly Toward Strangers | 3/5 | 5/5 |
Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 2/5 |
Minimal Exercise Needs | 3/5 | 1/5 |
Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
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 | 3/5 |
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 | 1/5 |
Easygoing | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Easy To Train | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Low Prey Drive | 1/5 | 3/5 |
Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 11.0 years |
Average Price | $1760 | $1350 |
Price Range | $1200 – $2000 | $1150 – $1800 |
Temperament Score | 82.0 percent | 92.0 percent |
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 29 | 94 |
Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 20 | 18 |
*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 Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Flat-Coated Retriever is a better pet than the Cocker Spaniel. So, you should get the Flat-Coated Retriever!
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 Flat-Coated Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/similarities-between-cocker-spaniel-and-flat-coated-retriever.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever
Below is a list of where the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever are most different:
The Similarities Between the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever
The Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever.
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, Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Temperament of the Cocker Spaniel Versus the Flat-Coated Retriever
The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Cocker Spaniel.
This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 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 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 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever by measuring the temperaments of 233 Cocker Spaniels and 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers.
Price of Cocker Spaniel versus Price of Flat-Coated Retriever
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 reviewing the prices of 297 Cocker Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Cocker Spaniel is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.
Cocker Spaniel | Flat-Coated Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Average Price | $1760 | $1350 |
Price Range | $1200 to $2000 | $1150 to $1800 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Cocker Spaniel and Flat-Coated Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Cocker Spaniel puppies or how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
![A breakdown of the prices of Cocker Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/cocker-spaniel-prices-average-range.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
A breakdown of the prices of Cocker Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.
![A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/flat-coated-retriever-prices-average-range.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Cocker Spaniel puppy or the Flat-Coated Retriever 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.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/breed-comparison-cocker-spaniel-versus-flat-coated-retriever.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
Adopting the Cocker Spaniel versus Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Cocker Spaniels and many Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Cocker Spaniel named Napoleon that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Cocker Spaniels like Napoleon on pefinder.com.
Also, like Cocker Spaniels, Flat-Coated Retrievers are also available for adoption. For example, Kaluha is a Male Flat-Coated Retriever that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers like Kaluha that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Cocker-Spaniel-versus-Flat-Coated-Retriever-adoption-cost.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
One-Eyed Willy is the name of another Cocker Spaniel (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
Also Palisade, an adorable Male Flat-Coated Retriever on petfinder.com that you can adopt.
![](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/Cocker-Spaniel-versus-Flat-Coated-Retriever-cost-adoption.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
You can find more Cocker Spaniels and Flat-Coated Retrievers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Cocker Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever
Cocker Spaniel | Flat-Coated Retriever | |
---|---|---|
Intelligence Rank | 20 out of 130 dog breeds | 18 out of 130 dog breeds |
Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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 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 Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The Flat-Coated Retriever is more intelligent than the Cocker Spaniel.
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 Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever
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 Flat-Coated Retriever over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Cocker Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.
![Popularity of Cocker Spaniel](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/how-popular-cocker-spaniel-puppies-years.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
Popularity of Cocker Spaniel
![Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever](https://i0.wp.com/pupvs.com/wp-content/uploads/images/how-popular-flat-coated-retriever-puppies-years.jpg?w=900&ssl=1)
Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever
Year | Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank | Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank |
---|---|---|
2013 | 29 | 94 |
2014 | 30 | 92 |
2015 | 30 | 86 |
2016 | 29 | 89 |
2017 | 29 | 96 |
2018 | 30 | 91 |
2019 | 28 | 104 |
2020 | 30 | 102 |
Health Problems of Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever
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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is prone to more genetic health problems than the Cocker Spaniel.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Flat-Coated Retriever than for the Cocker Spaniel.
2 health tests are recommended for Cocker Spaniel while 3 tests are recommended for the Flat-Coated Retriever.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Cocker Spaniels and in Flat-Coated Retrievers.
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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Cocker Spaniels here.
Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems
Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Cocker Spaniels and Flat-Coated Retrievers
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:
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 Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.
This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Cocker Spaniel and in Flat-Coated Retriever and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Cocker Spaniel and the Flat-Coated Retriever:
Disease | Cocker Spaniel Rank | Flat-Coated Retriever Rank |
---|---|---|
Patella problems | 12 out of 145 dog breeds | 85 out of 145 dog breeds |
Thyroid problems | 22 out of 115 dog breeds | 28 out of 115 dog breeds |
Dentition Database problems | 26 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
Eyes problems | 28 out of 182 dog breeds | 129 out of 182 dog breeds |
Elbow problems | 125 out of 144 dog breeds | 129 out of 144 dog breeds |
Hips problems | 144 out of 198 dog breeds | 172 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 Flat-Coated Retriever
Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.
Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.
Which one drools more, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever
Cocker Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever?
Cocker Spaniels require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever?
Cocker Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Cocker Spaniels can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.
How Kid-friendly are Cocker Spaniels and Flat-Coated Retrievers?
Cocker Spaniels get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.
Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Do Cocker Spaniels shed more than Flat-Coated Retrievers?
Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.
Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.
Do Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Flat-Coated Retrievers?
Cocker Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Cocker Spaniel or the Flat-Coated Retriever?
Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.
Wanderlust Potential: Cocker Spaniel vs. Flat-Coated Retriever
Cocker Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever?
Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.
Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.
Are Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about Flat-Coated Retrievers?
Cocker Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the Flat-Coated Retriever?
Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.
Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.
Does the Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Flat-Coated Retriever?
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.
Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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:
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Cocker Spaniel and how the Flat-Coated Retriever compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Cocker Spaniel and of the Flat-Coated Retriever to other breeds:
Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds
Cocker Spaniel versus Greyhound Cocker Spaniel versus Pomeranian Cocker Spaniel versus Lancashire Heeler Cocker Spaniel versus Belgian Tervuren Cocker Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier Cocker Spaniel versus Afador Cocker Spaniel versus Australian Shepherd Cocker Spaniel versus Catahoula Bulldog Cocker Spaniel versus Ibizan Hound Cocker Spaniel versus Aussiedoodle
Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds
Flat-Coated Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff Flat-Coated Retriever versus Alaskan Malamute Flat-Coated Retriever versus Shih Tzu Flat-Coated Retriever versus Dalmatian Flat-Coated Retriever versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle Flat-Coated Retriever versus Xoloitzcuintli Flat-Coated Retriever versus Alaskan Klee Kai Flat-Coated Retriever versus American Eskimo Dog Flat-Coated Retriever versus Weimaraner Flat-Coated Retriever versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne
Conclusion: Cocker Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever better suits you and your family.