Differences and Similarities between the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel.

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English Setter Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the English Setter and for the Sussex Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel.

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

English Setter versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are Sporting Dogs. This means both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel 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.

English Setter versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Setter to the Sussex Spaniel based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor English Setter Sussex Spaniel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Life Span 11 to 15 years 11 to 14 years
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 4/5
Weight 45 to 80 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
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 1/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1020 No Data
Price Range $800 – $1200 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 95 171

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the English Setter in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Sussex Spaniel. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a English Setter is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Sussex Spaniel is 100 out of 125.

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

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Sussex Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.
  • English Setters have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Sussex Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • English Setters have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Sussex Spaniels do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • English Setters require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Sussex Spaniels have low exercise needs.

    • The Similarities Between the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of English Setter versus Sussex Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel.

    English Setters weigh 45 to 80 pounds when fully grown. English Setters are 1 foot, 11 inches to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Sussex Spaniels weigh 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Sussex Spaniels are 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    The Popularity of English Setter versus Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Setter is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the English Setter is 95 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sussex Spaniel is 171 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Setter

    Popularity of English Setter

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year English Setter Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 91 162
    2014 89 175
    2015 96 173
    2016 102 172
    2017 95 161
    2018 94 180
    2019 98 176
    2020 101 172

    Is the English Setter Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    English Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Setter versus Sussex Spaniel

    English Setters do not like to be left alone.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the English Setter or the Sussex Spaniel

    English Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    English Setters are OK for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Do English Setters shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    English Setters shed moderately.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Setter or the Sussex Spaniel?

    English Setters are moderately easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Is the English Setter Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    English Setters are fairly easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Can English Setters Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Do English Setters Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

    Are English Setters good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    English Setters are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are English Setters and Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

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

    English Setters get along very well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Does the English Setter Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?

    English Setters have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Sussex Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Setter vs. Sussex Spaniel

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Setter

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

  • Irish Setter (83 percent match with English Setter). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Irish Setter.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Sussex Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Sussex Spaniel that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Sussex Spaniel:

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Setter versus Pointer     English Setter versus Affenpinscher     English Setter versus Lakeland Terrier     English Setter versus Standard Poodle     English Setter versus Whoodle     English Setter versus Spinone Italiano     English Setter versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     English Setter versus Hovawart     English Setter versus Schnoodle     English Setter versus Tibetan Mastiff     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz     Sussex Spaniel versus Saluki     Sussex Spaniel versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Sussex Spaniel versus Bloodhound     Sussex Spaniel versus Keeshond     Sussex Spaniel versus French Bulldog     Sussex Spaniel versus Kishu Ken     Sussex Spaniel versus Azawakh     Sussex Spaniel versus Pointer     Sussex Spaniel versus American Water Spaniel     

    Conclusion: English Setter versus Sussex Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the English Setter and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.