English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

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English Cocker Spaniel Versus Shetland Sheepdog: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog. 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 Shetland Sheepdog.

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 Shetland Sheepdog

English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog: Overview

Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are similar in size. The English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are both small-sized dogs.

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 Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Cocker Spaniel to the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog
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 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 26 to 34 pounds Starts at 20 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 2/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
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 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1500 $1590
Price Range $1200 – $1800 $1000 – $2000
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 68.9 percent
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
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 55 23
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 6

    *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 Shetland Sheepdog. 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 Shetland Sheepdog is 85 out of 125.

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

    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 Shetland Sheepdog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog

    Below is a list of where the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are most different:

  • English Cocker Spaniels adapt well to apartment living. However, Shetland Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • The Similarities Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog

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

  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog are very easy to train.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog 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 English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog.

    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, Shetland Sheepdogs weigh Starts at 20 pounds when fully grown. Shetland Sheepdogs are 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Shetland Sheepdog Versus the English Cocker Spaniel

    The English Cocker Spaniel has a better temperament than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    This is because the temperament score for the English Cocker Spaniel is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 68.9 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 93.3 percent, the English Cocker Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 68.9 percent, the Shetland Sheepdog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog by measuring the temperaments of 75 English Cocker Spaniels and 515 Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Price of English Cocker Spaniel versus Price of Shetland Sheepdog

    The average price of the English Cocker Spaniel puppy is $1500. The price of the English Cocker Spaniel typically ranges from $1200 – $1800. However, the price of a English Cocker Spaniel can be as low as $650 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 90 English Cocker Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Shetland Sheepdog puppy is $1590. The price of the Shetland Sheepdog typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Shetland Sheepdog can be as low as $500 and as high as $3145. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 153 Shetland Sheepdog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Shetland Sheepdog is more expensive than the English Cocker Spaniel.

    English Cocker Spaniel Shetland Sheepdog
    Average Price $1500 $1590
    Price Range $1200 to $1800 $1000 to $2000

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

    A breakdown of the prices of English Cocker Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of English Cocker Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Cocker Spaniel puppy or the Shetland Sheepdog 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.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Adopting the English Cocker Spaniel versus Adopting the Shetland Sheepdog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many English Cocker Spaniels and many Shetland Sheepdogs 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 English Cocker Spaniel named Rascal that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable English Cocker Spaniels like Rascal on pefinder.com.

    Also, like English Cocker Spaniels, Shetland Sheepdogs are also available for adoption. For example, Lou is a Male Shetland Sheepdog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Shetland Sheepdogs like Lou that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more English Cocker Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the English Cocker Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Shetland Sheepdog

    English Cocker Spaniel Shetland Sheepdog
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 6 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • 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 English Cocker Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that English Cocker Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog has an obedience intelligence rank of 6 out of 130 dog breeds. The Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Shetland Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog is more intelligent than the English 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.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    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 Shetland Sheepdog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Shetland Sheepdog is more popular with dog owners than the English Cocker Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Shetland Sheepdog is 23 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Cocker Spaniel is 55 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Year English Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank Shetland Sheepdog Popularity Rank
    2013 62 21
    2014 62 21
    2015 60 23
    2016 56 24
    2017 52 24
    2018 52 25
    2019 50 25
    2020 47 27

    Health Problems of English Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of Shetland Sheepdog

    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 Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog.

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

    5 health tests are recommended for English Cocker Spaniel while 4 tests are recommended for the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in English Cocker Spaniels and in Shetland Sheepdogs.

    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.

    Shetland Sheepdog Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Shetland Sheepdogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Cocker Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs

    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 Cocker Spaniel Breed is Adult Onset Neuropathy problems.

    This is because the English Cocker Spaniel ranks 1 out of 2 dog breeds for Adult Onset Neuropathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 2373 English Cocker Spaniels, 71 of them had Adult Onset Neuropathy problems.

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

  • Adult Onset Neuropathy problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Baer Hearing Test problems: Rank 7 out of 21 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 8 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 27 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 65 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 82 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 137 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 155 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 Shetland Sheepdog Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Shetland Sheepdog ranks 3 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 633 Shetland Sheepdogs, 5 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

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

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 3 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 4 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 5 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 6 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 6 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 46 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 89 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 101 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 122 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 166 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Cocker Spaniel and in Shetland Sheepdog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Cocker Spaniel and the Shetland Sheepdog:

    Disease English Cocker Spaniel Rank Shetland Sheepdog Rank
    Adult Onset Neuropathy problems 1 out of 2 dog breeds Not Common
    Baer Hearing Test problems 7 out of 21 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 8 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 27 out of 115 dog breeds 5 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 65 out of 182 dog breeds 122 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 82 out of 145 dog breeds 89 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 137 out of 144 dog breeds 101 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 155 out of 198 dog breeds 166 out of 198 dog breeds
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems Not Common 3 out of 7 dog breeds
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems Not Common 4 out of 7 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 6 out of 49 dog breeds
    Von Willebrands problems Not Common 6 out of 15 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 46 out of 70 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: English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog

    English Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog

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

    Shetland Sheepdogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Shetland Sheepdogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels shed more than Shetland Sheepdogs?

    English Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.

    Shetland Sheepdogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    English Cocker Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Shetland Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are very easy to train.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

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

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

    Wanderlust Potential: English Cocker Spaniel vs. Shetland Sheepdog

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

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

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    English Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Are English Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

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

    Shetland Sheepdogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Cocker Spaniels and Shetland Sheepdogs?

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

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    English Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    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.

    Shetland Sheepdogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavachon.
  • Norwich Terrier (81 percent match with English Cocker Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Shetland Sheepdog vs Norwich Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shetland Sheepdog

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

  • Collie (81 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Collie.
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi (79 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Shihpoo     English Cocker Spaniel versus Shiloh Shepherd     English Cocker Spaniel versus Schipperke     English Cocker Spaniel versus Brittany     English Cocker Spaniel versus Keeshond     English Cocker Spaniel versus Cavapoo     English Cocker Spaniel versus Schipperke     English Cocker Spaniel versus Beaglier     English Cocker Spaniel versus Clumber Spaniel     

    Shetland Sheepdog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Shetland Sheepdog versus French Bulldog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Portuguese Water Dog     Shetland Sheepdog versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Boerboel     Shetland Sheepdog versus Portuguese Pointer     Shetland Sheepdog versus Welsh Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Tibetan Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Sloughi     Shetland Sheepdog versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Shetland Sheepdog versus Kerry Blue Terrier     

    Conclusion: English Cocker Spaniel versus Shetland Sheepdog. 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 Shetland Sheepdog better suits you and your family.