Which is Better between the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel? A Very Detailed Review.

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Dachshund Versus English Toy Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Dachshund and the English Toy 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 Dachshund and the English Toy 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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dachshund and the English Toy 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 Dachshund and for the English Toy 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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel.

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

Dachshund versus English Toy Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Dachshund is a tiny-sized dog while the English Toy Spaniel is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Dachshund 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 English Toy Spaniel belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Dachshund versus English Toy Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dachshund to the English Toy 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 Dachshund English Toy Spaniel
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Weight 16 to 32 pounds 8 to 14 pounds
General Health 2/5 2/5
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 4/5
Height 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1730 $2350
Price Range $1000 – $2000 $2250 – $2525
Temperament Score 69.4 percent No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 11 134

    *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 Dachshund 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 English Toy 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 Dachshund is 69 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a English Toy Spaniel is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the English Toy Spaniel is a better pet than the Dachshund. So, you should get the English Toy 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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are most different:

  • Dachshunds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, English Toy Spaniels are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Dachshunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Dachshunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, English Toy Spaniels do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • The Similarities Between the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel

    The Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are not easy to train.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel 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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Dachshund versus English Toy Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel.

    Dachshunds weigh 16 to 32 pounds when fully grown. Dachshunds are 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, English Toy Spaniels weigh 8 to 14 pounds when fully grown. English Toy Spaniels are 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of Dachshund versus Price of English Toy Spaniel

    The average price of the Dachshund puppy is $1730. The price of the Dachshund typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Dachshund can be as low as $200 and as high as $24000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 698 Dachshund puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the English Toy Spaniel puppy is $2350. The price of the English Toy Spaniel typically ranges from $2250 – $2525. However, the price of a English Toy Spaniel can be as low as $2000 and as high as $2550. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 English Toy Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Toy Spaniel is more expensive than the Dachshund.

    Dachshund English Toy Spaniel
    Average Price $1730 $2350
    Price Range $1000 to $2000 $2250 to $2525

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Dachshund and English Toy Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many Dachshund puppies or how many English Toy Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dachshunds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Dachshunds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of English Toy Spaniels

    A breakdown of the prices of English Toy Spaniels

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Dachshund puppy or the English Toy 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.

    The Popularity of Dachshund versus Popularity of English Toy 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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dachshund is more popular with dog owners than the English Toy Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Dachshund is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Toy Spaniel is 134 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Year Dachshund Popularity Rank English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 10 135
    2014 11 138
    2015 13 129
    2016 13 130
    2017 13 134
    2018 12 135
    2019 11 139
    2020 10 138

    Health Problems of Dachshund versus Health Problems of English Toy Spaniel

    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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel 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 Dachshund is prone to more genetic health problems than the English Toy Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Dachshund than for the English Toy Spaniel.

    5 health tests are recommended for Dachshund while 4 tests are recommended for the English Toy Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Dachshunds and in English Toy Spaniels.

    Dachshund Health Problems

    Dachshunds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Dachshund 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 Dachshund puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Dachshund 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 Dachshunds for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Dachshunds here.

    English Toy Spaniel Health Problems

    English Toy Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing English Toy 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 English Toy Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your English Toy 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 English Toy Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for English Toy Spaniels here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Dachshunds and English Toy Spaniels

    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 Dachshund Breed is Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

    This is because the Dachshund ranks 6 out of 32 dog breeds for Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 175 Dachshunds, 2 of them had Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems.

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

  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 6 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 27 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 30 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 42 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 65 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 106 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 160 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 161 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 English Toy Spaniel Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the English Toy Spaniel ranks 2 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 470 English Toy Spaniels, 21 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

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

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 4 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 4 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Dachshund and in English Toy Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel:

    Disease Dachshund Rank English Toy Spaniel Rank
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 6 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 27 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 30 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 42 out of 145 dog breeds 4 out of 145 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 65 out of 159 dog breeds 2 out of 159 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 106 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 160 out of 182 dog breeds 4 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 161 out of 198 dog breeds Not Common

    *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.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Which one drools more, the Dachshund or the English Toy Spaniel

    Dachshunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    English Toy Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Dachshund Easier to Train than the English Toy Spaniel?

    Dachshunds are not easy to train.

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dachshund versus English Toy Spaniel

    Dachshunds can be left alone only for a short time.

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dachshunds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Dachshund or the English Toy Spaniel?

    Dachshunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dachshunds shed more than English Toy Spaniels?

    Dachshunds shed moderately.

    English Toy Spaniels shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dachshund or the English Toy Spaniel?

    Dachshunds are moderately easy to groom.

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Dachshund or the English Toy Spaniel?

    Dachshunds are very good for new dog owners.

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Are Dachshunds good family dogs? What about English Toy Spaniels?

    Dachshunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    English Toy Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Dachshund Better for Apartment Owners than the English Toy Spaniel?

    Dachshunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Dachshunds and English Toy Spaniels?

    Dachshunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Does the Dachshund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the English Toy Spaniel?

    Dachshunds 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.

    English Toy 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 Dachshunds Bark and Howl? What about English Toy Spaniels?

    Dachshunds are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    English Toy Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Wanderlust Potential: Dachshund vs. English Toy Spaniel

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dachshund

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Lhasa Apso (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Manchester Terrier (75 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Manchester Terrier.
  • Miniature Pinscher (72 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Miniature Pinscher.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Toy Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the English Toy 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 English Toy Spaniel:

  • Japanese Chin (74 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Japanese Chin.
  • Pug (73 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Pug.
  • French Bulldog (74 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dachshund and how the English Toy Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dachshund and of the English Toy Spaniel to other breeds:

    Dachshund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dachshund versus Irish Terrier     Dachshund versus Giant Schnauzer     Dachshund versus Border Collie     Dachshund versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Dachshund versus Bullmastiff     Dachshund versus Mal Shi     Dachshund versus Cockalier     Dachshund versus Affenpinscher     Dachshund versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Dachshund versus Barbet     

    English Toy Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Toy Spaniel versus Norwich Terrier     English Toy Spaniel versus Fila Brasileiro     English Toy Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     English Toy Spaniel versus American Foxhound     English Toy Spaniel versus Vizsla     English Toy Spaniel versus Irish Setter     English Toy Spaniel versus Shih Tzu     English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund     English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Lapphund     

    Conclusion: Dachshund versus English Toy 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 Dachshund and the English Toy Spaniel better suits you and your family.