Which is Better between the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel?

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2022

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Pomeranian Versus English Toy Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pomeranian and the English Toy 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 Pomeranian and for the English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel.

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

Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Pomeranian is a tiny-sized dog while the English Toy Spaniel is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are Companion Dogs. This means both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pomeranian to the English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel

FactorPomeranianEnglish Toy Spaniel
Tolerates Being Alone1/51/5
Does NOT Drool5/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander5/54/5
Life Span12 to 16 years10 to 12 years
Tolerates Hot Weather2/52/5
Kid-Friendly2/51/5
Dog Friendly2/54/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Does NOT chew on things4/52/5
Low Prey Drive4/52/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs4/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers3/54/5
General Health3/52/5
NOT Rambunctious3/53/5
Potential For Playfulness3/54/5
Weight3 to 7 pounds8 to 14 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/54/5
Good For Novice Owners4/54/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/52/5
Does NOT Shed2/51/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
Easy To Train4/53/5
Intelligence4/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/53/5
Height7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan14.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$2150$2980
Price Range$1500 – $2500$2550 – $3500
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds22135

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pomeranian 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 English Toy 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 Pomeranian is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the English Toy Spaniel is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Pomeranian is a better pet than the English Toy Spaniel. So, you should get a Pomeranian!

    Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

    The Similarities Between the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel

    The Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel have low exercise needs.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Size Comparison of the Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel.

    The Pomeranian weighs 3 to 7 pounds when fully grown. The Pomeranian is 7 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the English Toy Spaniel weighs 8 to 14 pounds when fully grown. The English Toy Spaniel is 10 to 11 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Pomeranian versus Size of English Toy Spaniel

    Lifespan of Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

    The lifespan of the Pomeranian is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Pomeranian is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of the English Toy Spaniel is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the English Toy Spaniel is 11.0 years.

    The Pomeranian live longer than the English Toy Spaniel.

    Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

    Price of Pomeranian versus Price of English Toy Spaniel

    The average price of the Pomeranian puppy is $2150. The price of the Pomeranian typically ranges from $1500 – $2500. However, the price of a Pomeranian can be as low as $150 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1412 Pomeranian puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the English Toy Spaniel puppy is $2980. The price of the English Toy Spaniel typically ranges from $2550 – $3500. However, the price of the English Toy Spaniel can be as low as $2000 and as high as $3500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 9 English Toy Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The English Toy Spaniel is more expensive than the Pomeranian.

    Pomeranian English Toy Spaniel
    Average Price $2150 $2980
    Price Range $1500 to $2500 $2550 to $3500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Pomeranian and English Toy Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many Pomeranian puppies or how many English Toy Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

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

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

    A breakdown of the prices of English Toy Spaniels

    A breakdown of the prices of English Toy Spaniels

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Pomeranian puppy or the English Toy Spaniel 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 to buy 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 a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

    The Popularity of Pomeranian versus Popularity of English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pomeranian is more popular with dog owners than the English Toy Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pomeranian is 22 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the English Toy Spaniel is 135 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of Pomeranian

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Popularity of English Toy Spaniel

    Year Pomeranian Popularity Rank English Toy Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 19 135
    2014 20 138
    2015 21 129
    2016 22 130
    2017 22 134
    2018 23 135
    2019 24 139
    2020 23 138
    2021 24 137

    Health Problems of Pomeranian versus Health Problems of English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy 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 Pomeranian is prone to more genetic health problems than the English Toy Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Pomeranian than for the English Toy Spaniel.

    6 health tests are recommended for Pomeranian while 4 tests are recommended for the English Toy Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Pomeranians and in English Toy Spaniels.

    Pomeranian Health Problems

    Pomeranians are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Pomeranian 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 Pomeranian puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Pomeranian 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 Pomeranians for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

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

    English Toy Spaniel Health Problems

    English Toy Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing English Toy 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 English Toy Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your English Toy 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 English Toy Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation

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

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Pomeranians and English Toy 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 Pomeranian Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Pomeranian ranks 1 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1542 Pomeranians, 456 of them had Patella problems.

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

  • Patella problems: Rank 1 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 75 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 89 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 171 out of 182 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 English Toy Spaniel Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the English Toy Spaniel ranks 2 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 470 English Toy Spaniels, 21 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

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

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 2 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 4 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 4 out of 145 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Pomeranian and in English Toy Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel:

    Disease Pomeranian Rank English Toy Spaniel Rank
    Patella problems 1 out of 145 dog breeds 4 out of 145 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 49 out of 159 dog breeds 2 out of 159 dog breeds
    Hips problems 75 out of 198 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 89 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 171 out of 182 dog breeds 4 out of 182 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: Pomeranian versus English Toy Spaniel

    Pomeranians do not like to be left alone.

    English Toy Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pomeranians shed more than English Toy Spaniels?

    Pomeranians shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    English Toy Spaniels shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pomeranian or the English Toy Spaniel?

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

    English Toy Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pomeranian or the English Toy Spaniel?

    Pomeranians do not get along well with other dogs.

    English Toy Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pomeranians good family dogs? What about English Toy Spaniels?

    Pomeranians are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    English Toy Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Pomeranian Easier to Train than the English Toy Spaniel?

    Pomeranians are very easy to train.

    English Toy Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Pomeranian or the English Toy Spaniel

    Pomeranians do have a very low tendency to drool.

    English Toy Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Pomeranians and English Toy Spaniels?

    Pomeranians do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    English Toy Spaniels do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Does the Pomeranian Have a Higher Prey Drive than the English Toy Spaniel?

    Pomeranians 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.

    English Toy Spaniels 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.

    Do Pomeranians Bark and Howl? What about English Toy Spaniels?

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

    English Toy Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Pomeranians Tolerate Cold Weather? And can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pomeranians can very well tolerate cold weather.

    English Toy Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pomeranian vs. English Toy Spaniel

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

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

    Can Pomeranians Tolerate Hot Weather? Can English Toy Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pomeranians cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

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

    Is the Pomeranian Better for Apartment Owners than the English Toy Spaniel?

    Pomeranians adapt very well to apartment living.

    English Toy Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pomeranian or the English Toy Spaniel?

    Pomeranians are very good for new dog owners.

    English Toy Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Pomeranian Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Pomeranian compares to other breeds aside from the English Toy Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pomeranian to other breeds:

    Pomeranian versus Valley Bulldog     Pomeranian versus Silky Terrier     Pomeranian versus Labrador Retriever     Pomeranian versus Samoyed     Pomeranian versus Kishu Ken     Pomeranian versus Afador     Pomeranian versus Border Collie     Pomeranian versus Flat-Coated Retriever     Pomeranian versus Schnoodle     Pomeranian versus Belgian Sheepdog     Pomeranian versus Afghan Hound     Pomeranian versus Puggle     

    Conclusion: Pomeranian versus English Toy 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 Pomeranian and the English Toy Spaniel better suits you and your family.