Breed Comparison: Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Spanish Mastiff

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Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Spanish Mastiff: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff? 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and for the Spanish Mastiff. 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Spanish Mastiff

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff: Overview

A very important difference between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Curly-Coated Retriever is a medium-sized dog while the Spanish Mastiff is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Spanish Mastiff 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.

Curly-Coated Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Curly-Coated Retriever to the Spanish Mastiff 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 Curly-Coated Retriever Spanish Mastiff
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 26 to 35 inches
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 65 to 100 pounds 140 to 220 pounds
Life Span 9 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Average Lifespan 10.5 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data $1000 – $1050
Average Price No Data $1050
Temperament Score 91.7 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Cord-1 PRA
  • EIC (Exercise Induced Collapse)
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • GSD IIIa
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data

    *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 Curly-Coated Retriever 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 Spanish Mastiff. 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 Curly-Coated Retriever is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Spanish Mastiff is 83 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Spanish Mastiff is a better pet than the Curly-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Spanish Mastiff!

    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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff

    Below is a list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff are most different:

  • Curly-Coated Retrievers are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Spanish Mastiffs are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Spanish Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.

    • The Similarities Between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff

    The Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff are most similar:

  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Curly-Coated Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff.

    Curly-Coated Retrievers weigh 65 to 100 pounds when fully grown. Curly-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Spanish Mastiffs weigh 140 to 220 pounds when fully grown. Spanish Mastiffs are 26 to 35 inches when fully grown.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Spanish Mastiff?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Spanish Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which one drools more, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Spanish Mastiff

    Curly-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Spanish Mastiffs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Spanish Mastiff?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

    Spanish Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Spanish Mastiffs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers shed more than Spanish Mastiffs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Spanish Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Spanish Mastiff?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are moderately easy to groom.

    Spanish Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Do Curly-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Spanish Mastiffs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Spanish Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Spanish Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Curly-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Spanish Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Spanish Mastiffs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Spanish Mastiff?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Spanish Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Is the Curly-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Spanish Mastiff?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Spanish Mastiffs are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Curly-Coated Retriever vs. Spanish Mastiff

    Curly-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Are Curly-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Spanish Mastiffs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Spanish Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Curly-Coated Retrievers and Spanish Mastiffs?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Spanish Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Curly-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Spanish Mastiff?

    Curly-Coated Retrievers 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.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Curly-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Curly-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 Curly-Coated Retriever:

  • Airedale Terrier (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Spanish Mastiff vs Airedale Terrier.
  • English Springer Spaniel (79 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Spanish Mastiff vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • Irish Setter (82 percent match with Curly-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Spanish Mastiff vs Irish Setter.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Spanish Mastiff

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

  • Akbash (78 percent match with Spanish Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Akbash.
  • Hovawart (81 percent match with Spanish Mastiff). Here is our comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever vs Hovawart.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Curly-Coated Retriever and how the Spanish Mastiff compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Curly-Coated Retriever and of the Spanish Mastiff to other breeds:

    Curly-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Curly-Coated Retriever versus Pomsky     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Cocker Spaniel     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Akita     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Irish Setter     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Whippet     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Gordon Setter     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Curly-Coated Retriever versus Greyhound     

    Spanish Mastiff Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Spanish Mastiff versus Chinook     Spanish Mastiff versus Mal Shi     Spanish Mastiff versus Mal Shi     Spanish Mastiff versus Kai Ken     Spanish Mastiff versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Spanish Mastiff versus Chihuahua     Spanish Mastiff versus Yorkipoo     Spanish Mastiff versus Boykin Spaniel     Spanish Mastiff versus Saluki     Spanish Mastiff versus Whippet     

    Conclusion: Curly-Coated Retriever versus Spanish Mastiff. 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 Curly-Coated Retriever and the Spanish Mastiff better suits you and your family.