Breed Comparison: Dachshund Versus Sussex Spaniel

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Dachshund Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Dachshund and the Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel

Dachshund versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

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

Dachshund versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dachshund to the Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 11 to 14 years
Weight 16 to 32 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
General Health 2/5 4/5
Easy To Train 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 1/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 5/5
Height 8 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1730 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $2000 No Data
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
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 11 171

    *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 Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel is 100 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Sussex Spaniel is a better pet than the Dachshund. So, you should get the Sussex 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 Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Dachshunds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Sussex Spaniels can tolerate cold weather.
  • Dachshunds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Sussex Spaniels are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Dachshunds have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Sussex Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Dachshunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel are not easy to train.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Dachshund and the Sussex Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dachshund versus Sussex Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Dachshund and the Sussex 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, Sussex Spaniels weigh 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Sussex Spaniels are 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    The Popularity of Dachshund versus Popularity of Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Dachshund is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel is 171 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Dachshund

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year Dachshund Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 10 162
    2014 11 175
    2015 13 173
    2016 13 172
    2017 13 161
    2018 12 180
    2019 11 176
    2020 10 172

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Which one drools more, the Dachshund or the Sussex Spaniel

    Dachshunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Is the Dachshund Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Dachshunds are not easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dachshund versus Sussex Spaniel

    Dachshunds can be left alone only for a short time.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Can Dachshunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Dachshunds get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dachshunds shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    Dachshunds shed moderately.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Dachshund or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Dachshunds are moderately easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

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

    Dachshunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Are Dachshunds good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

    Is the Dachshund Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Dachshunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    How Kid-friendly are Dachshunds and Sussex Spaniels?

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

    Sussex Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Dachshund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex 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.

    Sussex Spaniels 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.

    Do Dachshunds Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dachshund vs. Sussex Spaniel

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

    Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Lhasa Apso (71 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Lhasa Apso.
  • Manchester Terrier (75 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Manchester Terrier.
  • Miniature Pinscher (72 percent match with Dachshund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Miniature Pinscher.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Coton de Tulear (70 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Coton de Tulear.
  • Keeshond (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dachshund vs Keeshond.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Dachshund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dachshund versus Portuguese Water Dog     Dachshund versus German Pinscher     Dachshund versus Finnish Spitz     Dachshund versus Pomapoo     Dachshund versus Dutch Shepherd     Dachshund versus Beagle     Dachshund versus Pomchi     Dachshund versus Azawakh     Dachshund versus Sheepadoodle     Dachshund versus Boxerdoodle     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus Briard     Sussex Spaniel versus Affenhuahua     Sussex Spaniel versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Sussex Spaniel versus Barbet     Sussex Spaniel versus German Longhaired Pointer     Sussex Spaniel versus Samoyed     Sussex Spaniel versus Morkie     Sussex Spaniel versus Westiepoo     Sussex Spaniel versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Sussex Spaniel versus Lagotto Romagnolo     

    Conclusion: Dachshund versus Sussex 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 Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.