A Detailed Comparison of the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier.

Quick Links: Table of Contents

English Toy Spaniel Versus Sealyham Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the English Toy Spaniel and for the Sealyham Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier.

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

English Toy Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier: Overview

Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are similar in size. The English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are both small-sized dogs.

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 Sealyham Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

English Toy Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Toy Spaniel to the Sealyham Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor English Toy Spaniel Sealyham Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 4/5
Height 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder Up to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
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 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 2/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 22 to 24 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 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
  • Eye Examination- Yearly Exams Recommended
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 134 157

    *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 Sealyham Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a English Toy Spaniel is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Sealyham Terrier is 80 out of 125.

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

    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 Sealyham Terrier 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 Sealyham Terrier

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

  • English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Sealyham Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • English Toy Spaniels have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Sealyham Terriers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom. However, Sealyham Terriers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier

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

  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are very playful.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Toy Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier

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

    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, Sealyham Terriers weigh 22 to 24 pounds when fully grown. Sealyham Terriers are Up to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    The Popularity of English Toy Spaniel versus Popularity of Sealyham Terrier

    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 Sealyham Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Toy Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Sealyham Terrier. 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 Sealyham Terrier is 157 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of Sealyham Terrier

    Popularity of Sealyham Terrier

    Year English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank Sealyham Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 135 158
    2014 138 169
    2015 129 158
    2016 130 155
    2017 134 150
    2018 135 164
    2019 139 154
    2020 138 148

    Health Problems of English Toy Spaniel versus Health Problems of Sealyham Terrier

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

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

    4 health tests are recommended for English Toy Spaniel while 2 tests are recommended for the Sealyham Terrier.

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

    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.

    Sealyham Terrier Health Problems

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

  • Eye Examination- Yearly Exams Recommended
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Sealyham Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in English Toy Spaniels and Sealyham Terriers

    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 Sealyham Terrier Breed is Primary Lens Luxation problems.

    This is because the Sealyham Terrier ranks 4 out of 17 dog breeds for Primary Lens Luxation problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 542 Sealyham Terriers, 10 of them had Primary Lens Luxation problems.

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

  • Primary Lens Luxation problems: Rank 4 out of 17 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in English Toy Spaniel and in Sealyham Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier:

    Disease English Toy Spaniel Rank Sealyham Terrier Rank
    Congenital Cardiac problems 2 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 4 out of 182 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 4 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Primary Lens Luxation problems Not Common 4 out of 17 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 Sealyham Terrier

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Sealyham Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are English Toy Spaniels and Sealyham Terriers?

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

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

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sealyham Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Sealyham Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sealyham Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

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

    Which one drools more, the English Toy Spaniel or the Sealyham Terrier

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

    Sealyham Terriers drool moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Toy Spaniel vs. Sealyham Terrier

    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.

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Easier to Train than the Sealyham Terrier?

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Sealyham Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Do English Toy Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Sealyham Terriers?

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

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Sealyham Terrier?

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sealyham Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Sealyham Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

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

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Sealyham Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Sealyham Terriers 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 Sealyham Terrier?

    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.

    Sealyham Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Are English Toy Spaniels good family dogs? What about Sealyham Terriers?

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

    Sealyham Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do English Toy Spaniels shed more than Sealyham Terriers?

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

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

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Sealyham Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Sealyham Terrier:

  • Dutch Shepherd (75 percent match with Sealyham Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Dutch Shepherd.
  • Cardigan Welsh Corgi (77 percent match with Sealyham Terrier). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Cardigan Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Toy Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Toy Spaniel versus Belgian Tervuren     English Toy Spaniel versus English Setter     English Toy Spaniel versus Shihpoo     English Toy Spaniel versus Dachshund     English Toy Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer     English Toy Spaniel versus Brussels Griffon     English Toy Spaniel versus Norwegian Buhund     English Toy Spaniel versus Goldendoodle     English Toy Spaniel versus Peek A Poo     English Toy Spaniel versus Boykin Spaniel     

    Sealyham Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sealyham Terrier versus Welsh Terrier     Sealyham Terrier versus Beaglier     Sealyham Terrier versus German Longhaired Pointer     Sealyham Terrier versus Cane Corso     Sealyham Terrier versus Swedish Vallhund     Sealyham Terrier versus Golden Retriever     Sealyham Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Sealyham Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Sealyham Terrier versus Lancashire Heeler     Sealyham Terrier versus Finnish Spitz     

    Conclusion: English Toy Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the English Toy Spaniel and the Sealyham Terrier better suits you and your family.