A Detailed Comparison of the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel.

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French Spaniel Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

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

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

French Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are Sporting Dogs. This means both the French Spaniel 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.

French Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the French 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 French Spaniel Sussex Spaniel
Life Span 10 to 12 years. 11 to 14 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 5/5
Height 21 to 24 inches. 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 5/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 5/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Weight 45 to 60 pounds. 35 to 45 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $4250 No Data
Price Range $3875 – $4625 No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•  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 French 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 French Spaniel is 85 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 French 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 French 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 French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • French Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Sussex Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.
  • French Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
  • French Spaniels are not prone to gaining weight easily. However, Sussex Spaniels gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • French Spaniels 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.

    • The Similarities Between the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel

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

  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the French 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 French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the French 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 French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the French Spaniel and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of French Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel

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

    French Spaniels weigh 45 to 60 pounds. when fully grown. French Spaniels are 21 to 24 inches. 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.

    Is the French Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    French Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Can French Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

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

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which one drools more, the French Spaniel or the Sussex Spaniel

    French Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do French Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    French Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: French Spaniel vs. Sussex Spaniel

    French 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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: French Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel

    French Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do French Spaniels shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    French Spaniels shed moderately.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the French Spaniel or the Sussex Spaniel?

    French Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Does the French Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?

    French Spaniels 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.

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

    French Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Can French Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    French Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    How Kid-friendly are French Spaniels and Sussex Spaniels?

    French Spaniels 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 French Spaniel or the Sussex Spaniel?

    French Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Is the French Spaniel Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    French Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Are French Spaniels good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

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

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Spaniel

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

  • Dutch Shepherd (80 percent match with French Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Sussex Spaniel vs Dutch Shepherd.

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    French Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    French Spaniel versus Biewer Terrier     French Spaniel versus English Cocker Spaniel     French Spaniel versus Bloodhound     French Spaniel versus Beagle     French Spaniel versus Neapolitan Mastiff     French Spaniel versus Basenji     French Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier     French Spaniel versus Stabyhoun     French Spaniel versus Cesky Terrier     French Spaniel versus Spinone Italiano     

    Sussex Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Sussex Spaniel versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Sussex Spaniel versus Cavachon     Sussex Spaniel versus American Hairless Terrier     Sussex Spaniel versus German Pinscher     Sussex Spaniel versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Sussex Spaniel versus Korean Jindo Dog     Sussex Spaniel versus Boston Terrier     Sussex Spaniel versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Sussex Spaniel versus Xoloitzcuintli     Sussex Spaniel versus Pyredoodle     

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