Is the Finnish Spitz Better than the Golden Cocker Retriever as a Pet? Answer…

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Finnish Spitz Versus Golden Cocker Retriever: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever? 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 Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Spitz and for the Golden Cocker Retriever. 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 Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Finnish Spitz or the Golden Cocker Retriever

Finnish Spitz versus Golden Cocker Retriever: Overview

Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are similar in size. The Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Finnish Spitz 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.

On the other hand, the Golden Cocker Retriever belongs to the Mixed Breed Dogs group. Mixed Breed Dogs are not purebred dogs.

Finnish Spitz versus Golden Cocker Retriever: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Spitz to the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Spitz Golden Cocker Retriever
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 12 to 15 years
Height 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 24 inches
Easy To Groom 2/5 4/5
Weight 20 to 35 pounds 30 to 45 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Easy To Train 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 13.5 years
Average Price $900 $1870
Price Range $600 – $1100 $1500 – $2000
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data No Data

*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 Spitz 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 Golden Cocker Retriever. 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 Spitz is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Golden Cocker Retriever is 80 out of 125.

Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Golden Cocker Retriever is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. So, you should get the Golden Cocker Retriever!

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 Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever

Below is a list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are most different:

  • Finnish Spitzs can tolerate cold weather. However, Golden Cocker Retrievers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever

    The Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are most similar:

  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Golden Cocker Retriever

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever.

    Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Golden Cocker Retrievers weigh 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Golden Cocker Retrievers are 20 to 24 inches when fully grown.

    Price of Finnish Spitz versus Price of Golden Cocker Retriever

    The average price of the Finnish Spitz puppy is $900. The price of the Finnish Spitz typically ranges from $600 – $1100. However, the price of a Finnish Spitz can be as low as $500 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Golden Cocker Retriever puppy is $1870. The price of the Golden Cocker Retriever typically ranges from $1500 – $2000. However, the price of a Golden Cocker Retriever can be as low as $1000 and as high as $3975. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 40 Golden Cocker Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Golden Cocker Retriever is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Finnish Spitz Golden Cocker Retriever
    Average Price $900 $1870
    Price Range $600 to $1100 $1500 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Finnish Spitz and Golden Cocker Retriever. For different price points, the charts show how many Finnish Spitz puppies or how many Golden Cocker Retriever puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Cocker Retrievers

    A breakdown of the prices of Golden Cocker Retrievers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Finnish Spitz puppy or the Golden Cocker Retriever 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Golden Cocker Retriever

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Golden Cocker Retriever

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Better for Apartment Owners than the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Spitz or the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very good for new dog owners.

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Golden Cocker Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    Finnish Spitzs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers 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.

    Do Finnish Spitzs shed more than Golden Cocker Retrievers?

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Golden Cocker Retriever

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Golden Cocker Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Spitz or the Golden Cocker Retriever?

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Golden Cocker Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Golden Cocker Retrievers?

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

    Golden Cocker Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

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

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Golden Cocker Retriever vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Golden Cocker Retriever vs West Highland White Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Cocker Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Golden Cocker Retriever 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 Golden Cocker Retriever:

  • Dalmatian (80 percent match with Golden Cocker Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Dalmatian.
  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with Golden Cocker Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Boxerdoodle.
  • Field Spaniel (79 percent match with Golden Cocker Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Field Spaniel.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Finnish Spitz and how the Golden Cocker Retriever compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Finnish Spitz and of the Golden Cocker Retriever to other breeds:

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Yorkshire Terrier     Finnish Spitz versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Finnish Spitz versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Finnish Spitz versus Irish Water Spaniel     Finnish Spitz versus Scottish Deerhound     Finnish Spitz versus Siberian Husky     Finnish Spitz versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Finnish Spitz versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Finnish Spitz versus Aussiedoodle     Finnish Spitz versus Lancashire Heeler     

    Golden Cocker Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Cocker Retriever versus Barbet     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Dogo Argentino     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Aussiedoodle     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Yorkshire Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Tibetan Spaniel     Golden Cocker Retriever versus American Hairless Terrier     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Bearded Collie     Golden Cocker Retriever versus Plott     

    Conclusion: Finnish Spitz versus Golden Cocker Retriever. 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 Spitz and the Golden Cocker Retriever better suits you and your family.