Differences and Similarities between the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz.

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English Toy Spaniel Versus Finnish Spitz: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz? 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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz 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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz 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 Toy Spaniel and for the Finnish Spitz. 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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz.

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

English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz: Overview

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

Furthermore, the English Toy Spaniel 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.

On the other hand, the Finnish Spitz 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.

English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Toy Spaniel to the Finnish Spitz 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 Toy Spaniel Finnish Spitz
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Height 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 15 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 20 to 35 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $2350 $900
Price Range $2250 – $2525 $600 – $1100
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 134 179

    *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 Toy 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 Finnish Spitz. 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 Toy Spaniel is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125.

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

    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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz

    Below is a list of where the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are most different:

  • English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Finnish Spitzs can tolerate cold weather.
  • English Toy Spaniels have low exercise needs. However, Finnish Spitzs require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • The Similarities Between the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz

    The English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are most similar:

  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz 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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are very playful.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz.

    English Toy Spaniels weigh 8 to 14 pounds when fully grown. English Toy Spaniels are 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of English Toy Spaniel versus Price of Finnish Spitz

    The average price of the English Toy Spaniel puppy is $2350. The price of the English Toy Spaniel typically ranges from $2250 – $2525. However, the price of a English Toy Spaniel can be as low as $2000 and as high as $2550. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 3 English Toy Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Finnish Spitz puppy is $900. The price of the Finnish Spitz typically ranges from $600 – $1100. However, the price of a Finnish Spitz can be as low as $500 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Toy Spaniel is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    English Toy Spaniel Finnish Spitz
    Average Price $2350 $900
    Price Range $2250 to $2525 $600 to $1100

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

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the English Toy Spaniel puppy or the Finnish Spitz 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.

    The Popularity of English Toy Spaniel versus Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Toy Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the English Toy Spaniel is 134 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Year English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank
    2013 135 170
    2014 138 174
    2015 129 178
    2016 130 179
    2017 134 177
    2018 135 184
    2019 139 183
    2020 138 187

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are English Toy Spaniels and Finnish Spitzs?

    English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which one drools more, the English Toy Spaniel or the Finnish Spitz

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

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Toy Spaniel vs. Finnish Spitz

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

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Easier to Train than the Finnish Spitz?

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Do English Toy Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Finnish Spitzs?

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

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Finnish Spitz?

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Toy Spaniel or the Finnish Spitz?

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Toy Spaniel or the Finnish Spitz?

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Toy Spaniel or the Finnish Spitz?

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

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

    Does the English Toy Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Finnish Spitz?

    English Toy 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.

    Finnish Spitzs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Are English Toy Spaniels good family dogs? What about Finnish Spitzs?

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

    Finnish Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do English Toy Spaniels shed more than Finnish Spitzs?

    English Toy Spaniels shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the English Toy Spaniel

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

  • Japanese Chin (74 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Japanese Chin.
  • Pug (73 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Pug.
  • French Bulldog (74 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

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

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Toy Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Toy Spaniel versus Sloughi     English Toy Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever     English Toy Spaniel versus Chinese Shar-Pei     English Toy Spaniel versus Sloughi     English Toy Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel     English Toy Spaniel versus Bernese Mountain Dog     English Toy Spaniel versus Schipperke     English Toy Spaniel versus Brittany     English Toy Spaniel versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     English Toy Spaniel versus Miniature Schnauzer     

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Redbone Coonhound     Finnish Spitz versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Finnish Spitz versus Dalmatian     Finnish Spitz versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Finnish Spitz versus Schnoodle     Finnish Spitz versus Lowchen     Finnish Spitz versus Havanese     Finnish Spitz versus Papipoo     Finnish Spitz versus Giant Schnauzer     Finnish Spitz versus Beagle     

    Conclusion: English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz. 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 Toy Spaniel and the Finnish Spitz better suits you and your family.