English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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English Cocker Spaniel Versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier? 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Cocker Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Cocker Spaniel to the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
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 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 14 years 12 to 15 years
Weight 26 to 34 pounds 30 to 40 pounds
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
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 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1500 $1810
Price Range $1200 – $1800 $1050 – $2200
Temperament Score 93.3 percent 73.0 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
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 55 51
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 40

    *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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 89 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is a better pet than the English Cocker Spaniel. So, you should get the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier!

    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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The Similarities Between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very easy to train.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    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, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers weigh 30 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the English Cocker Spaniel Versus the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The English Cocker Spaniel has a better temperament than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the English Cocker Spaniel is 93.3 percent while the temperament score for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 73.0 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 73.0 percent, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 75 English Cocker Spaniels and 37 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

    Price of English Cocker Spaniel versus Price of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppy is $1810. The price of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier typically ranges from $1050 – $2200. However, the price of a Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can be as low as $500 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 170 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is more expensive than the English Cocker Spaniel.

    English Cocker Spaniel Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    Average Price $1500 $1810
    Price Range $1200 to $1800 $1050 to $2200

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Cocker Spaniel and Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many English Cocker Spaniel puppies or how many Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Cocker Spaniel puppy or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Adopting the English Cocker Spaniel versus Adopting the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many English Cocker Spaniels and many Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Tucker is a Male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers like Tucker that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also Manny, an adorable Male Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more English Cocker Spaniels and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the English Cocker Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    English Cocker Spaniel Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 40 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 40 out of 130 dog breeds. The Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The English Cocker Spaniel is more intelligent than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    The Popularity of English Cocker Spaniel versus Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the English Cocker Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier is 51 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Popularity of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    Year English Cocker Spaniel Popularity Rank Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 62 51
    2014 62 49
    2015 60 47
    2016 56 50
    2017 52 49
    2018 52 53
    2019 50 54
    2020 47 58

    Health Problems of English Cocker Spaniel versus Health Problems of Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the English Cocker Spaniel than for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    5 health tests are recommended for English Cocker Spaniel while 2 tests are recommended for the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in English Cocker Spaniels and in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers.

    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.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Cocker Spaniels and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers

    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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Breed is Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems.

    This is because the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 54 Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, 11 of them had Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems.

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

  • Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 7 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 46 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 79 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 126 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 162 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Cocker Spaniel and in Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Cocker Spaniel and the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier:

    Disease English Cocker Spaniel Rank Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Not Common
    Eyes problems 65 out of 182 dog breeds 126 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 82 out of 145 dog breeds 79 out of 145 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 137 out of 144 dog breeds 46 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 155 out of 198 dog breeds 162 out of 198 dog breeds
    Paroxysmal Dyskinesia problems Not Common 1 out of 1 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 7 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

    English Cocker Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels shed more than Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

    English Cocker Spaniels shed moderately.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    English Cocker Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Can English Cocker Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Cocker Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Is the English Cocker Spaniel Easier to Train than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    English Cocker Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are very easy to train.

    Do English Cocker Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Cocker Spaniel vs. Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    English Cocker Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Are English Cocker Spaniels good family dogs? What about Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Cocker Spaniels and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers?

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

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Cocker Spaniel or the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    English Cocker Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Cocker Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier?

    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.

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

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier:

  • Cavachon (82 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Cavachon.
  • Lowchen (80 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Lowchen.
  • Cockalier (81 percent match with Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Cocker Spaniel vs Cockalier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Cocker Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Cocker Spaniel versus Giant Schnauzer     English Cocker Spaniel versus Shihpoo     English Cocker Spaniel versus Bullmastiff     English Cocker Spaniel versus German Wirehaired Pointer     English Cocker Spaniel versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     English Cocker Spaniel versus Havanese     English Cocker Spaniel versus Kishu Ken     English Cocker Spaniel versus Cavachon     English Cocker Spaniel versus Japanese Spitz     English Cocker Spaniel versus Affenpinscher     

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Whoodle     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Scottish Terrier     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Leonberger     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Portuguese Water Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Beaglier     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Akbash     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Harrier     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Pyredoodle     Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     

    Conclusion: English Cocker Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier. 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 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier better suits you and your family.