Quick answer
Which is the better overall choice?
These two suit almost opposite lifestyles, the Yorkie fits apartment life and lower daily exercise commitments, while the Spaniel needs space and serious daily activity but trains more easily and is friendlier with strangers and other dogs.
French Spaniel or Yorkshire Terrier? On paper they differ most on exercise need, and on the scales French Spaniel is the heavier at 45–60 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to French Spaniel and Yorkshire Terrier and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on exercise need and apartment suitability, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Yorkshire Terrier rates 5/5 against 2/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.
Between French Spaniel and Yorkshire Terrier, exercise need is what separates them, and Yorkshire Terrier is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose French Spaniel if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, there are young children at home and you already have another dog.
Choose Yorkshire Terrier if you are in a flat or a smaller home, shedding is a problem in your house and your walking routine is modest.
| Feature | french spaniel | yorkshire terrier | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | medium | small | Equal |
| Weight | 45–60 lbs | 4–7 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 21–24 in | 7–8 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 10–12 years | 11–15 years | yorkshire terrier |
| Exercise need | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | yorkshire terrier |
| Grooming need | Moderate (3/5) | Very high (5/5) | french spaniel |
| Shedding | Moderate (3/5) | Very low (1/5) | yorkshire terrier |
| Energy level | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Barking | Low (2/5) | High (4/5) | french spaniel |
| Apartment suitability | Low (2/5) | Very high (5/5) | yorkshire terrier |
| Good for first-time owners | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Tolerates being alone | Low (2/5) | Low (2/5) | Equal |
| Trainability | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Good with kids | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Good with other dogs | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | french spaniel |
| Friendly to strangers | High (4/5) | Low (2/5) | french spaniel |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | french spaniel |
| Coat | Medium, flat and feathered | Long, silky, hypoallergenic | Equal |
| Origin | Various | England | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $100–$200 | $100–$190 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,400–$2,900 | $1,400–$2,900 | Equal |
There's no overlap here at all: the French Spaniel runs 45-60 lbs and 21-24 inches, while the Yorkshire Terrier tops out at 7 lbs and 8 inches. That's roughly an eight-to-one weight difference between the two, easily the widest size gap in this comparison, one dog could nearly fit in the other's food bowl.
The gap flips the other way on exercise: the Spaniel needs very high activity (5/5) while the Yorkie needs only low (2/5), and energy level follows the same pattern (high 4/5 vs moderate 3/5). A Yorkie's small legs simply can't cover the same ground a Spaniel needs to burn energy on, and its exercise requirements reflect that.
The Yorkie flips this category compared to size and exercise, its long, silky, hypoallergenic coat demands very high grooming (5/5) against the Spaniel's moderate (3/5), even though it sheds far less (very low 1/5 vs moderate 3/5). Expect frequent brushing and likely professional grooming visits with a Yorkie, despite the minimal fur left on your furniture.
The Yorkie is built for small spaces, very high apartment suitability (5/5) against the Spaniel's low (2/5), but it's also the louder housemate, rated high (4/5) on barking versus the Spaniel's low (2/5). If you live somewhere noise complaints matter, that trade-off is worth weighing seriously before choosing the Yorkie.
The Spaniel trains more easily, rated high (4/5) against the Yorkie's moderate (3/5), while first-time-owner suitability ties at moderate (3/5) for both. Don't assume small automatically means easy here, the data suggests the bigger dog is actually the more trainable one.
The Spaniel rates higher across the board with kids (high 4/5 vs moderate 3/5), other dogs (high 4/5 vs moderate 3/5), and strangers (high 4/5 vs low 2/5). A Yorkie's small size and lower stranger-friendliness score make careful supervision around young kids and new visitors more important than it would be with a Spaniel.
The Yorkie tends to live longer, 11 to 15 years against the Spaniel's 10 to 12, but carries a much longer health list, ten conditions including collapsing trachea, hypoglycemia, and portosystemic shunt, several of which are small-breed-specific risks the Spaniel simply doesn't share. Nothing on the two lists overlaps directly, which is unusual in this comparison set and reflects how differently these two breeds were bred.
The Yorkie actually costs more by cost-level score (high 4/5 vs the Spaniel's moderate 3/5), despite its smaller size, driven largely by that high-maintenance coat. Monthly ranges are close ($100-$190 vs $100-$200) and first-year costs tie exactly at $1,400-$2,900, so the grooming bills, not the food bill, are what push the Yorkie's cost rating up.
French Spaniel weighs 45–60 lbs and lives 10–12 years; Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4–7 lbs and lives 11–15 years. The two diverge most on exercise need, apartment suitability and grooming need and 3 other rated axes. They are level on tolerates being alone and good for first-time owners, so those cannot decide it. The comparison marks an easier option only where one exists. Facts like weight and country of origin are not scored. Both dogs are rated from the same dataset, which is what makes the numbers comparable with each other even though any individual dog sits somewhere inside its breed's range.
Dramatically bigger, the Spaniel can weigh eight times as much, 45-60 lbs against the Yorkie's 4-7 lbs, and stands nearly three times taller at 21-24 inches versus 7-8 inches.
The Yorkie, by far, its coat rates very low (1/5) on shedding against the Spaniel's moderate (3/5), though that comes with a trade-off: the Yorkie needs very high grooming attention (5/5) to keep that coat in shape.
Not according to the data, both tie at moderate (3/5) for first-time-owner suitability. The Yorkie's small size doesn't automatically translate to easier ownership, especially given its high grooming needs and higher barking tendency.
The Yorkshire Terrier, clearly, it rates very high (5/5) on apartment suitability against the Spaniel's low (2/5). The trade-off is noise: the Yorkie barks more (high 4/5 vs low 2/5), which matters in close quarters.
The Yorkie rates a higher cost level overall (high 4/5 vs moderate 3/5) mainly due to grooming, even though its monthly range ($100-$190) is close to the Spaniel's ($100-$200) and first-year costs tie exactly.
No direct overlap appears in the data, the Spaniel's list centers on hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and acral mutilation syndrome, while the Yorkie's longer list includes small-breed-specific risks like collapsing trachea and portosystemic shunt.
The Spaniel, decisively, very high exercise need (5/5) against the Yorkie's low (2/5). This is one of the widest gaps in the whole comparison and should weigh heavily if your daily schedule is tight.
These two suit almost opposite lifestyles, the Yorkie fits apartment life and lower daily exercise commitments, while the Spaniel needs space and serious daily activity but trains more easily and is friendlier with strangers and other dogs.
Barely any, $100-$190 for the Yorkie versus $100-$200 for the Spaniel, though the Yorkie's overall cost level rates higher due to grooming upkeep.
A wide gap: very high (5/5) for the Spaniel against low (2/5) for the Yorkie. This is likely the single biggest factor in choosing between them.
The Yorkie, by two to three years on average, 11 to 15 years against the Spaniel's 10 to 12.
Secure checkout on Stripe. We never see your card.
7-day money-back guarantee. Instant access.
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.
Some links on this site are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and we only suggest products we believe are helpful for dog owners.
We research and check what we publish, but we do not warrant that any figure, date, price, or statement is accurate, complete, or current, and we accept no liability for any loss, cost, injury, or other harm arising from the use of this site. Use it as one reference among several. You remain responsible for your own decisions and for your dog's care - confirm anything that matters with a licensed veterinarian or another qualified professional before you act on it. Full disclaimer.
Match your lifestyle to the right dog.
Take quizNot sure which breed is right for you? Take our 2-minute quiz to find out.
Take the quiz