A Detailed Comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund.

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English Cocker Spaniel Versus Norwegian Lundehund: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund 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 English Cocker Spaniel and for the Norwegian Lundehund. 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund.

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

English Cocker Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund: Overview

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

Furthermore, the English 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 Norwegian Lundehund 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.

English Cocker Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Cocker Spaniel to the Norwegian Lundehund 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 English Cocker Spaniel Norwegian Lundehund
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 5 inches tall at the s 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Weight 26 to 34 pounds 13 to 16 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 1/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1500 No Data
Price Range $1200 – $1800 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • BAER Test
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA/U of MO Adult Onset Neuropathy
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 55 187

    *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 English 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 Norwegian Lundehund. 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 English Cocker Spaniel is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Norwegian Lundehund is 83 out of 125.

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

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund

    Below is a list of where the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are most different:

  • English Cocker Spaniels are good for new dog owners. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • English Cocker Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Norwegian Lundehunds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • English Cocker Spaniels adapt well to apartment living. However, Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • English Cocker Spaniels have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Norwegian Lundehunds have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund

    The English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are most similar:

  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are very easy to train.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Cocker Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund.

    English Cocker Spaniels weigh 26 to 34 pounds when fully grown. English Cocker Spaniels are 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 5 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Norwegian Lundehunds weigh 13 to 16 pounds when fully grown. Norwegian Lundehunds are 1 foot to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    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 English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Cocker Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Norwegian Lundehund. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the English Cocker Spaniel is 55 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Norwegian Lundehund is 187 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Popularity of Norwegian Lundehund

    Year English Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank Norwegian Lundehund Popularity Rank
    2013 62 175
    2014 62 184
    2015 60 182
    2016 56 188
    2017 52 190
    2018 52 191
    2019 50 192
    2020 47 195

    Health Problems of English Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of Norwegian Lundehund

    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 English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund 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 English Cocker Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Norwegian Lundehund.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the English Cocker Spaniel than for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    5 health tests are recommended for English Cocker Spaniel while 3 tests are recommended for the Norwegian Lundehund.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in English Cocker Spaniels and in Norwegian Lundehunds.

    English Cocker Spaniel Health Problems

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

  • BAER Test
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • OFA/U of MO Adult Onset Neuropathy
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for English Cocker Spaniels here.

    Norwegian Lundehund Health Problems

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

  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Norwegian Lundehunds here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Cocker Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund

    English Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Norwegian Lundehund

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

    Norwegian Lundehunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Norwegian Lundehunds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels shed more than Norwegian Lundehunds?

    English Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.

    Norwegian Lundehunds shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    English Cocker Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Norwegian Lundehunds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Norwegian Lundehunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Norwegian Lundehunds are very easy to train.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

    Norwegian Lundehunds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Cocker Spaniel vs. Norwegian Lundehund

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

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

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    English Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Norwegian Lundehunds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are English Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

    Norwegian Lundehunds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Cocker Spaniels and Norwegian Lundehunds?

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

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Norwegian Lundehund?

    English Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Norwegian Lundehunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Norwegian Lundehund?

    English 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.

    Norwegian Lundehunds 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 English Cocker Spaniel

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

  • Cavachon (82 percent match with English Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Cavachon.
  • Norwich Terrier (81 percent match with English Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Norwegian Lundehund vs Norwich Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Norwegian Lundehund

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

  • Dalmatian (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Dalmatian.
  • Field Spaniel (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Field Spaniel.
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (74 percent match with Norwegian Lundehund). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Flat-Coated Retriever.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Field Spaniel     English Cocker Spaniel versus Pomchi     English Cocker Spaniel versus Mal Shi     English Cocker Spaniel versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     English Cocker Spaniel versus Scottish Terrier     English Cocker Spaniel versus Goldendoodle     English Cocker Spaniel versus Pomeranian     English Cocker Spaniel versus Karelian Bear Dog     English Cocker Spaniel versus Berger Picard     English Cocker Spaniel versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     

    Norwegian Lundehund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwegian Lundehund versus Saint Berdoodle     Norwegian Lundehund versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pomchi     Norwegian Lundehund versus Pomsky     Norwegian Lundehund versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Norwegian Lundehund versus Field Spaniel     Norwegian Lundehund versus Hovawart     Norwegian Lundehund versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Norwegian Lundehund versus Bullmastiff     Norwegian Lundehund versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     

    Conclusion: English Cocker Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund. 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the Norwegian Lundehund better suits you and your family.