Which is Better between the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel? A Very Detailed Review.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Finnish Lapphund Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund or the Sussex Spaniel

Finnish Lapphund versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Finnish Lapphund 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.

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.

Finnish Lapphund versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund Sussex Spaniel
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 11 to 14 years
Height 17 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Weight 33 to 53 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 12.5 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 168 171

    *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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund is 84 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 Finnish Lapphund. 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are most different:

  • Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
  • Finnish Lapphunds 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.
  • Finnish Lapphunds have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects. However, Sussex Spaniels do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Finnish Lapphunds have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Sussex Spaniels have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.
  • Finnish Lapphunds do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful. However, Sussex Spaniels do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Lapphund versus Sussex Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel.

    Finnish Lapphunds weigh 33 to 53 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Lapphunds are 17 to 20 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 Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Finnish Lapphund is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Finnish Lapphund is 168 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sussex Spaniel is 171 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Finnish Lapphund

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year Finnish Lapphund Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 171 162
    2014 173 175
    2015 169 173
    2016 173 172
    2017 173 161
    2018 161 180
    2019 165 176
    2020 165 172

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Lapphund or the Sussex Spaniel

    Finnish Lapphunds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Lapphund versus Sussex Spaniel

    Finnish Lapphunds do not like to be left alone.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    Finnish Lapphunds shed moderately.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Do Finnish Lapphunds Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Finnish Lapphunds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Finnish Lapphunds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Lapphund or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very good for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Lapphund or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Does the Finnish Lapphund Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Finnish Lapphunds 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.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Lapphund vs. Sussex Spaniel

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

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

    Can Finnish Lapphunds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Lapphunds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are Finnish Lapphunds good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Lapphunds and Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Lapphund or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Finnish Lapphunds get along very well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the Finnish Lapphund Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Finnish Lapphunds are very easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Lapphund

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

  • American Eskimo Dog (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs American Eskimo Dog.
  • Bearded Collie (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Bearded Collie.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (79 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Jack Russell Terrier (80 percent match with Finnish Lapphund). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Jack Russell Terrier.

    • 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 Finnish Lapphund vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Coton de Tulear (70 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Coton de Tulear.
  • Keeshond (71 percent match with Sussex Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Lapphund vs Keeshond.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Finnish Lapphund Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Lapphund versus Dogo Argentino     Finnish Lapphund versus Mountain Cur     Finnish Lapphund versus Bouvier des Flandres     Finnish Lapphund versus Azawakh     Finnish Lapphund versus Keeshond     Finnish Lapphund versus Catahoula Bulldog     Finnish Lapphund versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Finnish Lapphund versus Chihuahua     Finnish Lapphund versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Finnish Lapphund versus Italian Greyhound     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus Newfoundland     Sussex Spaniel versus Norfolk Terrier     Sussex Spaniel versus Akbash     Sussex Spaniel versus Clumber Spaniel     Sussex Spaniel versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier     Sussex Spaniel versus Kooikerhondje     Sussex Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback     Sussex Spaniel versus American Foxhound     Sussex Spaniel versus Cane Corso     Sussex Spaniel versus Cesky Terrier     

    Conclusion: Finnish Lapphund 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 Finnish Lapphund and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.