A Detailed Comparison of the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese.

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English Springer Spaniel Versus Pekingese: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese 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 Pekingese.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese 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 Pekingese. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese.

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 Pekingese.

English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese

English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese: Overview

A very important difference between the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog while the Pekingese is a tiny-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 Pekingese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Springer Spaniel to the Pekingese 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese

Factor English Springer Spaniel Pekingese
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
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 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder
Easy To Groom 2/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Weight 45 to 55 pounds 7 to 14 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 3/5
Life Span 9 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1310 $1930
Price Range $950 – $1600 $1288 – $2500
Temperament Score 85.2 percent 93.3 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
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 27 86
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 13 73

    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 Pekingese. 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 the English Springer Spaniel is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Pekingese is 77 out of 125.

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

    English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese

    Below is a list of where the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese are most different:

  • English Springer Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Pekingeses adapt well to apartment living.
  • English Springer Spaniels can tolerate hot weather. However, Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • English Springer Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • English Springer Spaniels get along well with other dogs. However, Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.
  • English Springer Spaniels have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Pekingeses have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • English Springer Spaniels require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Pekingeses have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese

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

  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese are highly intelligent.
  • Both the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese.

    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, Pekingeses weigh 7 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Pekingeses are 6 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese

    The lifespan of English Springer Spaniels is between 9 to 15 years. The average lifespan of English Springer Spaniels is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Pekingeses is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Pekingeses is 13.5 years.

    Pekingeses live longer than English Springer Spaniels.

    English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese

    Temperament of the Pekingese Versus the English Springer Spaniel

    The Pekingese has a better temperament than the English Springer Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Pekingese is 93.3 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 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 93.3 percent, the Pekingese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese by measuring the temperaments of 162 English Springer Spaniels and 15 Pekingeses.

    Price of English Springer Spaniel versus Price of Pekingese

    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 Pekingese puppy is $1930. The price of the Pekingese typically ranges from $1288 – $2500. However, the price of the Pekingese can be as low as $700 and as high as $7500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 138 Pekingese puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Pekingese is more expensive than the English Springer Spaniel.

    English Springer Spaniel Pekingese
    Average Price $1310 $1930
    Price Range $950 to $1600 $1288 to $2500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Springer Spaniel and Pekingese. For different price points, the charts show how many English Springer Spaniel puppies or how many Pekingese 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 Pekingeses?

    A breakdown of the prices of Pekingeses?

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Springer Spaniel puppy or the Pekingese 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills 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 Pekingese

    Adopting the English Springer Spaniel versus Adopting the Pekingese

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

    Also, like English Springer Spaniels, Pekingeses are also available for adoption. For example, Johnny is a Male Pekingese that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Pekingeses like Johnny that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The English Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

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

    Also, Green Bean Casserole is an adorable Male Pekingese on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    English Springer Spaniels and Pekingeses are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

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

    The Intelligence of the English Springer Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Pekingese

    English Springer Spaniel Pekingese
    Intelligence Rank 13 out of 130 dog breeds 73 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 80 To 100 Repetitions Or More!

    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 Pekingese has an obedience intelligence rank of 73 out of 130 dog breeds. The Pekingese belongs to the `Lowest Degree of Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Pekingeses tend to learn new commands after 80 to 100 repetitions or more!.

    The English Springer Spaniel is more intelligent than the Pekingese.

    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.

    The Popularity of English Springer Spaniel versus Popularity of Pekingese

    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 Springer Spaniel and the Pekingese over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Springer Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Pekingese. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the English Springer Spaniel is 27 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Pekingese is 86 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Springer Spaniel

    Popularity of English Springer Spaniel

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Popularity of Pekingese

    Year English Springer Spaniel Popularity Rank Pekingese Popularity Rank
    2013 28 77
    2014 28 82
    2015 27 80
    2016 26 93
    2017 27 88
    2018 27 92
    2019 27 83
    2020 26 95

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese

    English Springer Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Pekingeses can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do English Springer Spaniels shed more than Pekingeses?

    English Springer Spaniels shed moderately.

    Pekingeses shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the English Springer Spaniel or the Pekingese

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

    Pekingeses do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Springer Spaniel or the Pekingese?

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

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

    Does the English Springer Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pekingese?

    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.

    Pekingeses 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.

    Do English Springer Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Pekingeses?

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

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

    Can English Springer Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pekingeses Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Springer Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Pekingeses can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Springer Spaniel vs. Pekingese

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

    Pekingeses have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can English Springer Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pekingeses Tolerate Hot Weather?

    English Springer Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Pekingeses cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Springer Spaniel or the Pekingese?

    English Springer Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Pekingeses do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are English Springer Spaniels good family dogs? What about Pekingeses?

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

    Pekingeses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are English Springer Spaniels and Pekingeses?

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

    Pekingeses do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Is the English Springer Spaniel Easier to Train than the Pekingese?

    English Springer Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Pekingeses are fairly easy to train.

    Is the English Springer Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Pekingese?

    English Springer Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Pekingeses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Springer Spaniel or the Pekingese?

    English Springer Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.

    Pekingeses are very good for new dog owners.

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

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

  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
  • Mal Shi (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Mal Shi.
  • Pomeranian (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Pomeranian.
  • Pomsky (72 percent match with Pekingese). Here is our comparison of the English Springer Spaniel vs Pomsky.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Springer Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Springer Spaniel versus Australian Shepherd     English Springer Spaniel versus Yorkipoo     English Springer Spaniel versus Estrela Mountain Dog     English Springer Spaniel versus German Longhaired Pointer     English Springer Spaniel versus American Bulldog     English Springer Spaniel versus Japanese Chin     English Springer Spaniel versus Norfolk Terrier     English Springer Spaniel versus Boerboel     English Springer Spaniel versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     English Springer Spaniel versus Boston Terrier     English Springer Spaniel versus Chinese Crested     English Springer Spaniel versus Havanese     English Springer Spaniel versus Bernese Mountain Dog     English Springer Spaniel versus Pomapoo     English Springer Spaniel versus Mountain Cur     English Springer Spaniel versus Norfolk Terrier     English Springer Spaniel versus Sheepadoodle     English Springer Spaniel versus Saint Berdoodle     English Springer Spaniel versus Goldendoodle     English Springer Spaniel versus Korean Jindo Dog     English Springer Spaniel versus Tibetan Terrier     English Springer Spaniel versus Frenchton     English Springer Spaniel versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     English Springer Spaniel versus Akita     English Springer Spaniel versus Lhasapoo     

    Pekingese Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pekingese versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Pekingese versus Samoyed     Pekingese versus Finnish Spitz     Pekingese versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Pekingese versus Samoyed     Pekingese versus Sheepadoodle     Pekingese versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Pekingese versus Pomeranian     Pekingese versus Dalmatian     Pekingese versus Afghan Hound     Pekingese versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Pekingese versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pekingese versus Tibetan Mastiff     Pekingese versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Pekingese versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Pekingese versus Puli     Pekingese versus Chow Chow     Pekingese versus Norfolk Terrier     Pekingese versus Frenchton     Pekingese versus Japanese Spitz     Pekingese versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Pekingese versus Toy Poodle     Pekingese versus Black Mouth Cur     Pekingese versus Greyhound     Pekingese versus Belgian Malinois     

    Conclusion: English Springer Spaniel versus Pekingese. 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 Pekingese better suits you and your family.