Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Better than the Welsh Springer Spaniel as a Pet? Answer…

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and for the Welsh Springer Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a large-sized dog while the Welsh Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

On the other hand, the Welsh Springer 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.

Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Rhodesian Ridgeback to the Welsh Springer 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

Factor Rhodesian Ridgeback Welsh Springer Spaniel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 1/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 15 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Easy To Train 2/5 5/5
Height 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 70 to 85 pounds 35 to 55 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1620 No Data
Price Range $1250 – $1900 No Data
Temperament Score 84.2 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination by the age of 2, then at ages 5 and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 40 128
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 52 31

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Welsh Springer 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 the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 74 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Welsh Springer Spaniel is a better pet than the Rhodesian Ridgeback. So, you should get the Welsh Springer 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are most different:

  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.
  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to train.

    • The Similarities Between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks weigh 70 to 85 pounds when fully grown. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Welsh Springer Spaniels weigh 35 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Welsh Springer Spaniels are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    The lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of Welsh Springer Spaniels is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Welsh Springer Spaniels is 12.5 years.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels live longer than Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    Temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel has a better temperament than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    This is because the temperament score for the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 84.2 percent, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Welsh Springer Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks and 6 Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Adopting the Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Adopting the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Rhodesian Ridgebacks and many Welsh Springer Spaniels are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Rhodesian Ridgeback named Mufasa 21-12-102 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Rhodesian Ridgebacks like Mufasa 21-12-102 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Welsh Springer Spaniels are also available for adoption. For example, Romeo is a Male Welsh Springer Spaniel that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Welsh Springer Spaniels like Romeo that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also, Sage is an adorable Male Welsh Springer Spaniel on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Welsh Springer Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback versus the Intelligence of the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Welsh Springer Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 52 out of 130 dog breeds 31 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an obedience intelligence rank of 52 out of 130 dog breeds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Rhodesian Ridgebacks tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 31 out of 130 dog breeds. The Welsh Springer Spaniel belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Welsh Springer Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel is more intelligent than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Popularity of Welsh Springer 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is more popular with dog owners than the Welsh Springer Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 128 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Popularity of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Year Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank Welsh Springer Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 39 124
    2014 39 133
    2015 40 128
    2016 42 123
    2017 41 133
    2018 41 128
    2019 42 130
    2020 42 128

    Health Problems of Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Health Problems of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Rhodesian Ridgeback is prone to more genetic health problems than the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Rhodesian Ridgeback than for the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    6 health tests are recommended for Rhodesian Ridgeback while 4 tests are recommended for the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and in Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Health Problems

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Rhodesian Ridgeback breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Rhodesian Ridgebacks for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Rhodesian Ridgebacks here.

    Welsh Springer Spaniel Health Problems

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Welsh Springer Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Welsh Springer Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Welsh Springer Spaniels for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination by the age of 2, then at ages 5 and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Welsh Springer Spaniels here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Welsh Springer Spaniels

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Rhodesian Ridgeback ranks 11 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 6564 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 636 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and how common these diseases are in Rhodesian Ridgebacks relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 11 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 15 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 31 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 32 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 48 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 56 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 97 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 102 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 168 out of 198 Dog Breeds

    • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Welsh Springer Spaniel Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Welsh Springer Spaniel ranks 12 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1309 Welsh Springer Spaniels, 125 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Welsh Springer Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Welsh Springer Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 12 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 81 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 111 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 118 out of 144 Dog Breeds

    • The table below lists the common health problems in Rhodesian Ridgeback and in Welsh Springer Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel:

    Disease Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank Welsh Springer Spaniel Rank
    Thyroid problems 11 out of 115 dog breeds 12 out of 115 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems 15 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 31 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 32 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 48 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 56 out of 144 dog breeds 118 out of 144 dog breeds
    Patella problems 97 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 102 out of 182 dog breeds 81 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 168 out of 198 dog breeds 111 out of 198 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed more than Welsh Springer Spaniels?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Does the Rhodesian Ridgeback Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Rhodesian Ridgebacks Bark and Howl? What about Welsh Springer Spaniels?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Welsh Springer Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Rhodesian Ridgeback vs. Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Welsh Springer Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Rhodesian Ridgebacks good family dogs? What about Welsh Springer Spaniels?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Welsh Springer Spaniels?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Easier to Train than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Is the Rhodesian Ridgeback Better for Apartment Owners than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Rhodesian Ridgeback or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback:

  • Black Mouth Cur (79 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Bracco Italiano.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

  • English Cocker Spaniel (78 percent match with Welsh Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Finnish Lapphund (78 percent match with Welsh Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Finnish Lapphund.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Rhodesian Ridgeback and how the Welsh Springer Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Rhodesian Ridgeback and of the Welsh Springer Spaniel to other breeds:

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Dachshund     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Ibizan Hound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Swedish Vallhund     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Italian Greyhound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Akita     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Australian Cattle Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Patterdale Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Komondor     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Sussex Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bichon Frise     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus American Water Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Biewer Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pug     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Boerboel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Shihpoo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Shiba Inu     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinese Crested     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Toy Fox Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Berger Picard     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bordoodle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bichon Frise     

    Welsh Springer Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Golden Retriever     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Chinese Crested     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Border Collie     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Akita     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Keeshond     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Lancashire Heeler     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Manchester Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Patterdale Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Weimaraner     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Gordon Setter     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Dachshund     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Azawakh     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Shiba Inu     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Shiranian     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Schnoodle     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus American Bulldog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Keeshond     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Border Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Barbet     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Shiba Inu     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Aussiedoodle     

    Conclusion: Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Welsh Springer 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback and the Welsh Springer Spaniel better suits you and your family.