Differences and Similarities between the English Toy Spaniel and the Puli.

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English Toy Spaniel Versus Puli: Introduction

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

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

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 Puli

English Toy Spaniel versus Puli: Overview

A very important difference between the English Toy Spaniel and the Puli is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The English Toy Spaniel is a small-sized dog while the Puli 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 Puli belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

English Toy Spaniel versus Puli: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Toy Spaniel to the Puli 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 Puli
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Height 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 15 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 1/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 2/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 5/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 25 to 35 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $2350 $2250
Price Range $2250 – $2525 $1875 – $2750
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 134 150

    *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 Puli. 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 Puli is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Puli is not better or worse than the English Toy Spaniel. So, you can get the Puli or the English Toy 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 Toy Spaniel and the Puli 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 Puli

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

  • English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Pulis get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • English Toy Spaniels have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Pulis are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • 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. However, Pulis have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • English Toy Spaniels have low exercise needs. However, Pulis require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • English Toy Spaniels are good for new dog owners. However, Pulis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom. However, Pulis require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • English Toy Spaniels shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Pulis do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • The Similarities Between the English Toy Spaniel and the Puli

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

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

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

    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, Pulis weigh 25 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Pulis are 16 to 17 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Price of English Toy Spaniel versus Price of Puli

    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 Puli puppy is $2250. The price of the Puli typically ranges from $1875 – $2750. However, the price of a Puli can be as low as $1250 and as high as $3000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 3 Puli puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Toy Spaniel is more expensive than the Puli.

    English Toy Spaniel Puli
    Average Price $2350 $2250
    Price Range $2250 to $2525 $1875 to $2750

    The charts below show the price distribution for the English Toy Spaniel and Puli. For different price points, the charts show how many English Toy Spaniel puppies or how many Puli 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 Pulis

    A breakdown of the prices of Pulis

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

    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 Puli over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Toy Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Puli. 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 Puli is 150 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of Puli

    Popularity of Puli

    Year English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank Puli Popularity Rank
    2013 135 136
    2014 138 151
    2015 129 154
    2016 130 159
    2017 134 142
    2018 135 160
    2019 139 160
    2020 138 143

    Health Problems of English Toy Spaniel versus Health Problems of Puli

    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 Puli 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 Puli is prone to more genetic health problems than the English Toy Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Puli than for the English Toy Spaniel.

    4 health tests are recommended for English Toy Spaniel while 7 tests are recommended for the Puli.

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

    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.

    Puli Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Pulis here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Toy Spaniels and Pulis

    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 Puli Breed is Degenerative Myelopathy problems.

    This is because the Puli ranks 37 out of 70 dog breeds for Degenerative Myelopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 201 Pulis, 6 of them had Degenerative Myelopathy problems.

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

  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 37 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 39 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 70 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 115 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 144 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Toy Spaniel and in Puli and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Toy Spaniel and the Puli:

    Disease English Toy Spaniel Rank Puli Rank
    Congenital Cardiac problems 2 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 4 out of 182 dog breeds 144 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 4 out of 145 dog breeds 39 out of 145 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 37 out of 70 dog breeds
    Elbow problems Not Common 70 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems Not Common 115 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 Puli

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Pulis do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are English Toy Spaniels and Pulis?

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

    Pulis get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Pulis Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Pulis can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Pulis Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Pulis can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which one drools more, the English Toy Spaniel or the Puli

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

    Pulis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Toy Spaniel vs. Puli

    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.

    Pulis 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 Puli?

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Pulis are not easy to train.

    Do English Toy Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Pulis?

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

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Puli?

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Pulis adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Pulis are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Pulis get along very well with other dogs.

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Pulis 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 Puli?

    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.

    Pulis 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 Pulis?

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

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

    Do English Toy Spaniels shed more than Pulis?

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

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

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

  • Briard (77 percent match with Puli). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Briard.
  • Welsh Terrier (75 percent match with Puli). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Welsh Terrier.
  • Scottish Terrier (79 percent match with Puli). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Scottish Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Toy Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Toy Spaniel versus Chorkie     English Toy Spaniel versus Puggle     English Toy Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier     English Toy Spaniel versus Papillon     English Toy Spaniel versus Sheepadoodle     English Toy Spaniel versus Australian Cattle Dog     English Toy Spaniel versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     English Toy Spaniel versus Golden Retriever     English Toy Spaniel versus Bernese Mountain Dog     English Toy Spaniel versus Dogo Argentino     

    Puli Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Puli versus Pomchi     Puli versus Pomchi     Puli versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Puli versus Weimaraner     Puli versus Borzoi     Puli versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Puli versus American Eskimo Dog     Puli versus Irish Water Spaniel     Puli versus Chi-Poo     Puli versus Tibetan Spaniel     

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