Flat-Coated Retriever versus Sussex Spaniel. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Sussex Spaniel

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel 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.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever Sussex Spaniel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 5/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 1/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet 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
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 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
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 5/5
Easygoing 1/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 35 to 45 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1350 No Data
Price Range $1150 – $1800 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•  No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 171

    *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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 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 Flat-Coated Retriever. 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are most different:

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Sussex Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners. However, Sussex Spaniels are good for new dog owners.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Sussex Spaniels have low exercise needs.

    • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Sussex Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet 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 Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Flat-Coated Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sussex Spaniel is 171 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 94 162
    2014 92 175
    2015 86 173
    2016 89 172
    2017 96 161
    2018 91 180
    2019 104 176
    2020 102 172

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Sussex Spaniel

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Sussex Spaniel

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Sussex Spaniel

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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.

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retrievers and Sussex Spaniels?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers 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 Flat-Coated Retriever or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated 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 Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Sussex Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Sussex Spaniel to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Golden Retriever     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Korean Jindo Dog     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Kai Ken     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Saluki     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Frenchton     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Harrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Kishu Ken     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus American Foxhound     Sussex Spaniel versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Sussex Spaniel versus Mastiff     Sussex Spaniel versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Sussex Spaniel versus Tibetan Spaniel     Sussex Spaniel versus Japanese Chin     Sussex Spaniel versus Cavachon     Sussex Spaniel versus Mudi     Sussex Spaniel versus Dalmatian     Sussex Spaniel versus Bulldog     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever 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 Flat-Coated Retriever and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.