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

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English Toy Spaniel Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

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

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

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 Sussex Spaniel

English Toy Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are similar in size. The English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel 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 Sussex 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.

English Toy Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the English Toy Spaniel to the Sussex Spaniel 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 Sussex Spaniel
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 1/5 5/5
Height 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Life Span 10 to 12 years 11 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 1/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Intelligence 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 3/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 35 to 45 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
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 134 171

    *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 Sussex Spaniel. 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 Sussex Spaniel is 100 out of 125.

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

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

  • English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Sussex Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Sussex Spaniels can tolerate cold weather.
  • English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
  • English Toy Spaniels have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Sussex Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • The Similarities Between the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel 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 Sussex Spaniel have low exercise needs.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel 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 Sussex Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very easy to groom.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the English Toy Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of English Toy Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel

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

    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, Sussex Spaniels weigh 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Sussex Spaniels are 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    The Popularity of English Toy Spaniel versus Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    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 Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the English Toy Spaniel is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. 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 Sussex Spaniel is 171 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 135 162
    2014 138 175
    2015 129 173
    2016 130 172
    2017 134 161
    2018 135 180
    2019 139 176
    2020 138 172

    Tolerates Being Alone: English Toy Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    How Kid-friendly are English Toy Spaniels and Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

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

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

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

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

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

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

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

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

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Wanderlust Potential: English Toy Spaniel vs. Sussex Spaniel

    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.

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

    Is the English Toy Spaniel Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

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

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

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

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

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

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

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

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

    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.

    Sussex Spaniels 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 Sussex Spaniels?

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

    Sussex Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Do English Toy Spaniels shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

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

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

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

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

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Coton de Tulear (70 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Coton de Tulear.
  • Keeshond (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the English Toy Spaniel vs Keeshond.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    English Toy Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    English Toy Spaniel versus Harrier     English Toy Spaniel versus Norwegian Buhund     English Toy Spaniel versus Chinese Crested     English Toy Spaniel versus Brittany     English Toy Spaniel versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     English Toy Spaniel versus Border Terrier     English Toy Spaniel versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     English Toy Spaniel versus Icelandic Sheepdog     English Toy Spaniel versus American Staffordshire Terrier     English Toy Spaniel versus Yorkipoo     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Sussex Spaniel versus Harrier     Sussex Spaniel versus Shiloh Shepherd     Sussex Spaniel versus English Toy Spaniel     Sussex Spaniel versus Puggle     Sussex Spaniel versus Bouvier des Flandres     Sussex Spaniel versus Mal Shi     Sussex Spaniel versus Tibetan Terrier     Sussex Spaniel versus Tibetan Spaniel     Sussex Spaniel versus Morkie     

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