Living
Springer or Old English Sheepdog overall?
The Springer is easier to train and cheaper to keep; the OES needs less daily exercise but far more grooming, pick based on which chore you'd rather take on.
English Springer Spaniel vs Old English Sheepdog: Which Suits Your Home?
English Springer Spaniel or Old English Sheepdog? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales Old English Sheepdog is the heavier at 60–100 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to English Springer Spaniel and Old English Sheepdog and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and energy level, so those are covered first and in most detail. Both rate 2/5 for flats, so housing does not settle this one. There is no origin story here — only what changes about your week.
Quick verdict
Between English Springer Spaniel and Old English Sheepdog, exercise need is what separates them; neither is the lower-effort dog overall.
Choose english springer spaniel if...
Choose English Springer Spaniel if this is your first dog, you do not want a standing grooming appointment and shedding is a problem in your house.
Choose old english sheepdog if...
Choose Old English Sheepdog if your walking routine is modest.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | english springer spaniel | old english sheepdog | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | large | Equal |
| Weight | 40–50 lbs | 60–100 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 19–20 in | 20–24 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–14 years | 10–12 years | english springer spaniel |
| Exercise need | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | old english sheepdog |
| Grooming need | High (4/5) | Very high (5/5) | english springer spaniel |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | english springer spaniel |
| Energy level | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Apartment suitability | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | english springer spaniel |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | Very high (5/5) | Moderate (3/5) | english springer spaniel |
| Good with kids | Very high (5/5) | Very high (5/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | english springer spaniel |
| Coat | Medium, feathered double coat | Long, shaggy double coat | Equal |
| Origin | Various | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $100–$200 | $110–$240 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,400–$2,900 | $1,700–$3,200 | Equal |
Deep dive
Size and build
The Old English Sheepdog is the larger dog here, 60-100 lbs and 20-24 inches against the Springer's 40-50 lbs and 19-20 inches, but the height gap is smaller than the weight gap suggests, since the OES carries a stockier, heavier-boned frame. Under all that shaggy coat is a genuinely large-breed body, not just a big hairstyle.
Energy and exercise
The Springer needs very high (5/5) exercise against the OES's moderate (3/5), a bit of a surprise for a breed historically used for herding. In practice, the OES wants purposeful activity in shorter bouts rather than the Springer's near-constant drive to move. If your schedule allows for one solid outing a day rather than two, the OES fits it better.
Grooming and shedding
This is where the OES pulls ahead in required effort, not behind: grooming rates very high (5/5), a full point above the Springer's already-demanding high (4/5), and shedding runs high (4/5) against the Springer's moderate (3/5). That long, shaggy double coat is famous for a reason, expect regular professional grooming, not just home brushing, to keep it manageable.
Apartment living, noise and time alone
Both breeds score low (2/5) for apartment suitability and tie at moderate (3/5) for barking and low (2/5) for tolerating time alone. Neither is a small-space dog, and this section is essentially a wash between them, the size difference doesn't translate into a noise or independence difference in this data. If a studio or small unit is what you have, neither breed is really the answer.
Training and owner experience
The Springer rates clearly higher here, very high (5/5) trainability against the OES's moderate (3/5), and moderate (3/5) versus low (2/5) for first-time-owner suitability. An OES's independent, herding-bred streak can make it a slower study than the more biddable Springer, and a first-timer may find that gap more noticeable in daily life than the numbers alone convey.
Kids, other dogs and visitors
Both tie at very high (5/5) with kids, high (4/5) with other dogs, and high (4/5) with strangers, a clean sweep of matching scores. Whatever else separates these two breeds, sociability with people and other animals isn't it; either one settles into a busy household about as well as the other. A big shaggy dog and an active spaniel both read as friendly to a first-time visitor.
Health and lifespan
The Springer lives longer on paper, 12-14 years against the OES's 10-12. Health lists run similar in length (five conditions each), but the OES's includes hypothyroidism and primary ciliary dyskinesia alongside hip dysplasia, cataracts, and bloat, while the Springer's centers on joints, eyes, and ears instead. Only hip dysplasia and bloat-adjacent risk categories show any real overlap between the two lists.
Cost to keep
The Springer is the cheaper dog to keep, cost level moderate (3/5) against the OES's high (4/5), monthly spend $100-$200 versus $110-$240, and first-year costs $1,400-$2,900 against $1,700-$3,200. Given the OES's heavier grooming needs, some of that gap is almost certainly professional coat care rather than food or vet costs, so ask a local groomer what an OES clip actually runs before you commit.
English Springer Spaniel vs Old English Sheepdog at a glance
English Springer Spaniel weighs 40–50 lbs and lives 12–14 years; Old English Sheepdog weighs 60–100 lbs and lives 10–12 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, energy level and trainability. They are level on tolerates being alone, apartment suitability and barking, so those cannot decide it. Where the table declares a winner it means less work for the owner, nothing more; descriptive rows are left as ties on purpose. The value here is in the differences between the two columns; treat any single score as approximate.
Frequently asked questions
Which is bigger, the Springer or the Old English Sheepdog?
The OES, at 60-100 lbs against the Springer's 40-50 lbs, a large breed against a medium one, though the OES's shaggy coat exaggerates the visual size gap further.
Which needs more grooming?
The Old English Sheepdog, rated very high (5/5) against the Springer's already-substantial high (4/5). Its long shaggy coat is genuinely demanding to maintain.
Which needs more exercise?
The Springer, at very high (5/5) against the OES's moderate (3/5), a notable gap given the OES's herding background.
Is either a good first dog?
The Springer edges it, moderate (3/5) for first-time owners against the OES's low (2/5), consistent with the OES's more independent streak.
Which is cheaper to keep?
The Springer, $100-$200 monthly against $110-$240 for the OES, with the gap likely reflecting the OES's heavier grooming bills.
Which lives longer?
The Springer, at 12-14 years against the OES's 10-12.
Do they share health risks?
Some overlap, both list hip dysplasia and bloat-related risk. The OES's list also includes hypothyroidism and primary ciliary dyskinesia, not present on the Springer's list.
Quick answers
View more answersCosts
What's the monthly cost?
$100-$200 for the Springer versus $110-$240 for the OES.
Training
How much exercise does the OES need?
Only moderate (3/5), less than the Springer's very high (5/5) despite the size difference.
Health
Which lives longer?
The Springer, at 12-14 years versus the OES's 10-12.
Related DogBreedCompass guides
- English Springer Spaniel breed guide – Readers comparing the two usually want the full profile of English Springer Spaniel before deciding.
- Old English Sheepdog breed guide – The same for Old English Sheepdog, so the comparison can be checked against the detail.
- English Springer Spaniel vs Labradoodle – Labradoodle is the closest breed to English Springer Spaniel on the measured axes, so it is the natural next comparison.
- Old English Sheepdog vs Alaskan Malamute – Alaskan Malamute sits closest to Old English Sheepdog, which makes it the alternative worth ruling out.
- What English Springer Spaniel costs to keep – Anyone weighing these two is usually also pricing them, and the cost pages carry city-level figures.
- Old English Sheepdog health problems – The health pages set out what each breed is actually screened for.
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Important reminder
Health information here is general and is not veterinary advice. If your dog shows pain, sudden behaviour change, or worsening symptoms, consult a licensed veterinarian.
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