English Springer Spaniel vs French Spaniel: Which Suits Your Home?

These two are close in size, though not identical: the Springer stands 19-20 inches and weighs 40-50 pounds, while the French Spaniel runs a bit larger at 21-24 inches and 45-60 pounds. Both are medium dogs bred for fieldwork, and the difference -- a couple of inches and up to 10 pounds -- won't change what furniture or car you need. If you're choosing on frame size alone, this comparison won't do much deciding for you.

Exercise need rates very high (5/5) for the Springer and high (4/5) for the French Spaniel -- both bred to hunt all day, both needing more than a leash walk. Energy level is very high versus high by the same margin. In practice, expect both to want a real outlet, a run, a swim, retrieving work, most days of the week, with the Springer asking for slightly more.

Grooming need favors the French Spaniel, moderate (3/5) against the Springer's high (4/5), even though both carry a feathered coat and both shed at a moderate (3/5) rate. The French Spaniel's coat is described as flat and feathered rather than a full double coat, which likely explains the lighter maintenance. Either way you're brushing regularly, just somewhat less of it with the French Spaniel.

Neither breed suits apartment living -- both rate low (2/5) on apartment suitability and low (2/5) on tolerating being alone. Barking differs though: moderate (3/5) for the Springer against low (2/5) for the French Spaniel, making the Springer the more vocal of the two. If you live in close quarters with thin walls, that barking gap might matter more than anything else here.

Trainability tips toward the Springer, 5/5 against the French Spaniel's 4/5, and both land at moderate (3/5) for first-time-owner suitability. Neither breed is a bad choice for someone new to dog ownership, but neither is an easy one either -- both need a handler willing to commit to daily training and exercise from week one.

Good with kids splits slightly in the Springer's favor, 5/5 against 4/5, while good with other dogs and friendly to strangers both come out tied at 4/5. Temperament words tell a similar story with a different flavor: the Springer is eager, friendly, energetic and biddable; the French Spaniel is gentle, sociable, energetic and calm indoors. That last phrase, calm indoors, is the one real behavioral distinction worth noting for a Springer owner used to constant motion.

The Springer's listed lifespan runs longer, 12-14 years against 10-12 for the French Spaniel. Both share hip dysplasia and ear infections on their health lists, but the Springer adds progressive retinal atrophy, phosphofructokinase deficiency and elbow dysplasia, while the French Spaniel's list includes epilepsy, acral mutilation syndrome and eye conditions instead. Neither list is dramatically longer, five conditions each, so this is a case of different risks rather than more or fewer of them.

Cost is essentially a wash: both rate moderate (3/5), both run $100-$200 a month, and both land at $1,400-$2,900 in year-one costs. If money is your deciding factor between these two, the data gives you nothing to work with -- you'll need to weigh grooming time, barking tolerance and lifespan instead.