Is the English Springer Spaniel Better than the Jack Russell Terrier as a Pet? Answer…

English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

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English Springer Spaniel Versus Jack Russell Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel and for the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel or the Jack Russell Terrier

English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog while the Jack Russell Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the English Springer 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 Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Springer Spaniel to the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel Jack Russell Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 6 inches to 1 foot, 10 inches tall at the 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Weight 45 to 55 pounds 13 to 17 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Life Span 9 to 15 years 10 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1310 $1100
Price Range $950 – $1600 $700 – $1250
Temperament Score 85.2 percent 85.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • AKC DNA Profile
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Canine Good Citizen Certification
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • DNA Bank
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • FUCOSIDOSIS
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • PFK
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • No Data
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 13 46

    *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 Springer 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 Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Jack Russell Terrier is 77 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the English Springer Spaniel is a better pet than the Jack Russell Terrier. So, you should get the English Springer 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 Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

    The Similarities Between the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier

    The English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are very easy to train.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier.

    English Springer Spaniels weigh 45 to 55 pounds when fully grown. English Springer Spaniels are 1 foot, 6 inches to 1 foot, 10 inches tall at the when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Jack Russell Terriers weigh 13 to 17 pounds when fully grown. Jack Russell Terriers are 10 to 15 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Jack Russell Terrier Versus the English Springer Spaniel

    The Jack Russell Terrier has a better temperament than the English Springer Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Jack Russell Terrier is 85.5 percent while the temperament score for the English Springer Spaniel is 85.2 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 85.2 percent, the English Springer Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 85.5 percent, the Jack Russell Terrier has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 162 English Springer Spaniels and 69 Jack Russell Terriers.

    Price of English Springer Spaniel versus Price of Jack Russell Terrier

    The average price of the English Springer Spaniel puppy is $1310. The price of the English Springer Spaniel typically ranges from $950 – $1600. However, the price of a English Springer Spaniel can be as low as $500 and as high as $3300. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 334 English Springer Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Jack Russell Terrier puppy is $1100. The price of the Jack Russell Terrier typically ranges from $700 – $1250. However, the price of a Jack Russell Terrier can be as low as $200 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 410 Jack Russell Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Springer Spaniel is more expensive than the Jack Russell Terrier.

    English Springer Spaniel Jack Russell Terrier
    Average Price $1310 $1100
    Price Range $950 to $1600 $700 to $1250

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Springer Spaniel and Jack Russell Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many English Springer Spaniel puppies or how many Jack Russell Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Jack Russell Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Jack Russell Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Springer Spaniel puppy or the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

    Adopting the English Springer Spaniel versus Adopting the Jack Russell Terrier

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

    Also, like English Springer Spaniels, Jack Russell Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Andres is a Male Jack Russell Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Jack Russell Terriers like Andres that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The English Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Mark is the name of another English Springer Spaniel (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also Rocky, an adorable Male Jack Russell Terrier on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    English Springer Spaniels and Jack Russell Terriers are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more English Springer Spaniels and Jack Russell Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the English Springer Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Jack Russell Terrier

    English Springer Spaniel Jack Russell Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 13 out of 130 dog breeds 46 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 Springer Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 13 out of 130 dog breeds. The English Springer Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that English Springer Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Jack Russell Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 46 out of 130 dog breeds. The Jack Russell Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Jack Russell Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The English Springer Spaniel is more intelligent than the Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

    Is the English Springer Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Jack Russell Terrier?

    English Springer Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Jack Russell Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell Terrier

    English Springer Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Jack Russell Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Which one drools more, the English Springer Spaniel or the Jack Russell Terrier

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

    Jack Russell Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Springer Spaniel or the Jack Russell Terrier?

    English Springer Spaniels require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Jack Russell Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Springer Spaniel or the Jack Russell Terrier?

    English Springer Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.

    Jack Russell Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Can English Springer Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Jack Russell Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Springer Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Jack Russell Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Do English Springer Spaniels shed more than Jack Russell Terriers?

    English Springer Spaniels shed moderately.

    Jack Russell Terriers shed moderately.

    Do English Springer Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Jack Russell Terriers?

    English Springer Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Jack Russell Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can English Springer Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Jack Russell Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    English Springer Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Jack Russell Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Springer Spaniel vs. Jack Russell Terrier

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

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

    Are English Springer Spaniels good family dogs? What about Jack Russell Terriers?

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

    Jack Russell Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Springer Spaniels and Jack Russell Terriers?

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

    Jack Russell Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Springer Spaniel or the Jack Russell Terrier?

    English Springer Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Jack Russell Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the English Springer Spaniel Easier to Train than the Jack Russell Terrier?

    English Springer Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Jack Russell Terriers are very easy to train.

    Does the English Springer Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Jack Russell Terrier?

    English Springer 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.

    Jack Russell Terriers 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Springer Spaniel

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

  • Australian Shepherd (81 percent match with English Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Jack Russell Terrier vs Australian Shepherd.
  • Field Spaniel (84 percent match with English Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Jack Russell Terrier vs Field Spaniel.
  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (82 percent match with English Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Jack Russell Terrier vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Jack Russell Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Jack Russell 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 Jack Russell Terrier:

  • Airedale Terrier (79 percent match with Jack Russell Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Airedale Terrier.
  • Finnish Lapphund (80 percent match with Jack Russell Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Finnish Lapphund.
  • Welsh Terrier (79 percent match with Jack Russell Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Welsh Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the English Springer Spaniel and how the Jack Russell Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the English Springer Spaniel and of the Jack Russell Terrier to other breeds:

    English Springer Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Springer Spaniel versus Bracco Italiano     English Springer Spaniel versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     English Springer Spaniel versus Great Dane     English Springer Spaniel versus Dogue de Bordeaux     English Springer Spaniel versus Scottish Terrier     English Springer Spaniel versus Black Russian Terrier     English Springer Spaniel versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     English Springer Spaniel versus Fila Brasileiro     English Springer Spaniel versus Carolina Dog     English Springer Spaniel versus Maltese     

    Jack Russell Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Jack Russell Terrier versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Jack Russell Terrier versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Jack Russell Terrier versus Affenpinscher     Jack Russell Terrier versus Irish Water Spaniel     Jack Russell Terrier versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Jack Russell Terrier versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Jack Russell Terrier versus Tibetan Terrier     Jack Russell Terrier versus Miniature Pinscher     Jack Russell Terrier versus Norwich Terrier     Jack Russell Terrier versus Belgian Sheepdog     

    Conclusion: English Springer Spaniel versus Jack Russell 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 Springer Spaniel and the Jack Russell Terrier better suits you and your family.