English Toy Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

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English Toy Spaniel Versus Pharaoh Hound: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hound. 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 Pharaoh Hound.

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 Pharaoh Hound

English Toy Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound: Overview

A very important difference between the English Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Toy Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

English Toy Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Toy Spaniel to the Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hound
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Height 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 11 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
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 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 4/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 45 to 55 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $2350 No Data
Price Range $2250 – $2525 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 134 168

    *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 Pharaoh Hound. 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 Pharaoh Hound is 84 out of 125.

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

    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 Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hound

    Below is a list of where the English Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound are most different:

  • English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Pharaoh Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Pharaoh Hounds can tolerate hot weather.
  • English Toy Spaniels have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Pharaoh Hounds are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • English Toy Spaniels shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Pharaoh Hounds do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • The Similarities Between the English Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound

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

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the English Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound.

    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, Pharaoh Hounds weigh 45 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Pharaoh Hounds are 21 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Popularity of English Toy Spaniel versus Popularity of Pharaoh Hound

    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 Pharaoh Hound over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Toy Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Pharaoh Hound. 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 Pharaoh Hound is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of Pharaoh Hound

    Popularity of Pharaoh Hound

    Year English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank Pharaoh Hound Popularity Rank
    2013 135 160
    2014 138 164
    2015 129 171
    2016 130 168
    2017 134 174
    2018 135 172
    2019 139 161
    2020 138 180

    Health Problems of English Toy Spaniel versus Health Problems of Pharaoh Hound

    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 Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hound is prone to the same number of genetic health problems as the English Toy Spaniel.

    4 health tests are recommended for English Toy Spaniel while 4 tests are recommended for the Pharaoh Hound.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in English Toy Spaniels and in Pharaoh Hounds.

    English Toy Spaniel Health Problems

    English Toy Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing English Toy 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 Toy Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your English Toy 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 Toy Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for English Toy Spaniels here.

    Pharaoh Hound Health Problems

    Pharaoh Hounds are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hound puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pharaoh Hound 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 Pharaoh Hounds for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pharaoh Hounds here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Toy Spaniels and Pharaoh Hounds

    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 Toy Spaniel Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the English Toy Spaniel ranks 2 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 470 English Toy Spaniels, 21 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in English Toy Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in English Toy Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 4 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 4 out of 145 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 Pharaoh Hound Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Pharaoh Hound ranks 18 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 220 Pharaoh Hounds, 18 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Pharaoh Hounds, and how common these diseases are in Pharaoh Hounds relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 18 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 60 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 69 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 86 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 184 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Toy Spaniel and in Pharaoh Hound and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Toy Spaniel and the Pharaoh Hound:

    Disease English Toy Spaniel Rank Pharaoh Hound Rank
    Congenital Cardiac problems 2 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 4 out of 182 dog breeds 86 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 4 out of 145 dog breeds 60 out of 145 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 18 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 69 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems Not Common 184 out of 198 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 Toy Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Pharaoh Hounds do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are English Toy Spaniels and Pharaoh Hounds?

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

    Pharaoh Hounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pharaoh Hounds Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Pharaoh Hounds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pharaoh Hounds Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Pharaoh Hounds can tolerate hot weather.

    Which one drools more, the English Toy Spaniel or the Pharaoh Hound

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

    Pharaoh Hounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Toy Spaniel vs. Pharaoh Hound

    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.

    Pharaoh Hounds 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 Pharaoh Hound?

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Pharaoh Hounds are fairly easy to train.

    Do English Toy Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Pharaoh Hounds?

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

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Pharaoh Hound?

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pharaoh Hounds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the English Toy Spaniel or the Pharaoh Hound?

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Pharaoh Hounds are very good for new dog owners.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the English Toy Spaniel or the Pharaoh Hound?

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Pharaoh Hounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the English Toy Spaniel or the Pharaoh Hound?

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Pharaoh Hounds are very easy to groom.

    Does the English Toy Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Pharaoh Hound?

    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.

    Pharaoh Hounds 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.

    Are English Toy Spaniels good family dogs? What about Pharaoh Hounds?

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

    Pharaoh Hounds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do English Toy Spaniels shed more than Pharaoh Hounds?

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

    Pharaoh Hounds do not shed a lot. They are good 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 Pharaoh Hound vs Japanese Chin.
  • Pug (73 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Pharaoh Hound vs Pug.
  • French Bulldog (74 percent match with English Toy Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Pharaoh Hound vs French Bulldog.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Pharaoh Hound

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

  • Italian Greyhound (76 percent match with Pharaoh Hound). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Italian Greyhound.
  • Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier (75 percent match with Pharaoh Hound). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier.
  • Tibetan Spaniel (75 percent match with Pharaoh Hound). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Tibetan Spaniel.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Toy Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Toy Spaniel versus American Eskimo Dog     English Toy Spaniel versus Finnish Spitz     English Toy Spaniel versus Chi-Poo     English Toy Spaniel versus Brittany     English Toy Spaniel versus Lowchen     English Toy Spaniel versus Shichon     English Toy Spaniel versus Cane Corso     English Toy Spaniel versus Ibizan Hound     English Toy Spaniel versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     English Toy Spaniel versus German Pinscher     

    Pharaoh Hound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Pharaoh Hound versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Pharaoh Hound versus Borzoi     Pharaoh Hound versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Pharaoh Hound versus Toy Poodle     Pharaoh Hound versus Papillon     Pharaoh Hound versus Portuguese Pointer     Pharaoh Hound versus Puggle     Pharaoh Hound versus Mal Shi     Pharaoh Hound versus Saluki     Pharaoh Hound versus Mastiff     

    Conclusion: English Toy Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound. 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 Pharaoh Hound better suits you and your family.