Miniature Schnauzer or Welsh Springer Spaniel? On paper they differ most on apartment suitability, and on the scales Welsh Springer Spaniel is the heavier at 35–55 lbs. Here is how the two compare on everything that shapes an ordinary week.
This is for someone already down to Miniature Schnauzer and Welsh Springer Spaniel and deciding between them. For this pair the decision usually turns on apartment suitability and shedding, so those are covered first and in most detail. Anyone choosing from a flat has a clear answer here: Miniature Schnauzer rates 5/5 against 2/5. Breed history is left out; what follows is what you will actually live with.
Between Miniature Schnauzer and Welsh Springer Spaniel, apartment suitability is what separates them, and Miniature Schnauzer is the lower-effort dog of the two to keep.
Choose Miniature Schnauzer if you are in a flat or a smaller home, this is your first dog and shedding is a problem in your house.
Choose Welsh Springer Spaniel if you do not want a standing grooming appointment, you already have another dog and you want a dog that can keep up with an active routine.
| Feature | miniature schnauzer | welsh springer spaniel | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size class | small | medium | Equal |
| Weight | 11–20 lbs | 35–55 lbs | Equal |
| Height | 11–14 in | 17–19 in | Equal |
| Lifespan | 12–14 years | 12–15 years | welsh springer spaniel |
| Exercise need | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | miniature schnauzer |
| Grooming need | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | welsh springer spaniel |
| Shedding | Very low (1/5) | Moderate (3/5) | miniature schnauzer |
| Energy level | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Barking | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | welsh springer spaniel |
| Apartment suitability | Very high (5/5) | Low (2/5) | miniature schnauzer |
| Good for first-time owners | High (4/5) | Moderate (3/5) | miniature schnauzer |
| Tolerates being alone | Moderate (3/5) | Low (2/5) | miniature schnauzer |
| Trainability | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Good with kids | High (4/5) | High (4/5) | Equal |
| Good with other dogs | Moderate (3/5) | High (4/5) | welsh springer spaniel |
| Friendly to strangers | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Cost level | Moderate (3/5) | Moderate (3/5) | Equal |
| Coat | Wiry double coat | Medium, straight and water-resistant | Equal |
| Origin | Germany | Various | Equal |
| Typical monthly cost | $90–$180 | $100–$200 | Equal |
| Typical first-year cost | $1,300–$2,500 | $1,400–$2,900 | Equal |
The Welsh Springer Spaniel sits in the medium range at 35-55 lbs and 17-19 inches, noticeably bigger than the Miniature Schnauzer's 11-20 lbs and 11-14 inches but nowhere near as large a gap as some comparisons on this site. Think small dog next to a solidly built gun dog, not small dog next to giant.
The spaniel needs more daily activity, rated High (4/5) against the schnauzer's Moderate (3/5) - it was bred to work fields for hours and still wants a real outlet. The schnauzer's needs are lighter: regular walks and play sessions are enough, without the spaniel's higher baseline drive.
The schnauzer actually needs more grooming time here, 4/5 against the spaniel's 3/5, thanks to that wiry coat requiring stripping or regular clipping. Shedding flips the other way though - the schnauzer barely sheds (1/5) while the spaniel's medium, water-resistant coat sheds moderately (3/5).
The schnauzer scores 5/5 for apartment living and the spaniel just 2/5 - a Welsh Springer's exercise needs and field-dog build don't compress well into small spaces. Alone-time tolerance favors the schnauzer too (3/5 vs 2/5). Barking runs opposite, with the schnauzer rated louder at 4/5 against the spaniel's moderate 3/5.
Trainability ties at High (4/5) for both breeds. First-time-owner suitability tips toward the schnauzer, 4/5 against the spaniel's moderate 3/5 - not a huge gap, but the spaniel's higher exercise need and less predictable temperament with strangers ask slightly more of a novice owner.
Good with kids ties at 4/5 for both. The spaniel edges ahead with other dogs, 4/5 versus the schnauzer's moderate 3/5. Temperament lists tell a story worth reading: the spaniel is loyal but reserved with strangers, while the schnauzer is friendly and alert - worth weighing if you entertain often or live somewhere busy.
The spaniel actually lives slightly longer on average, 12-15 years against the schnauzer's 12-14. Three conditions overlap - hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and ear infections - so routine screening for those applies either way. The schnauzer's list is longer overall, including pancreatitis, diabetes and cataracts, while the spaniel's shorter five-item list adds epilepsy and glaucoma.
Costs run close: $90-180 monthly for the schnauzer against $100-200 for the spaniel, and first-year totals of $1,300-2,500 versus $1,400-2,900. The difference here is small enough that individual vet-visit frequency will matter more than the breed choice.
Miniature Schnauzer weighs 11–20 lbs and lives 12–14 years; Welsh Springer Spaniel weighs 35–55 lbs and lives 12–15 years. The two diverge most on apartment suitability and shedding. They are level on cost level, good with kids and friendly to strangers, 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.
Yes, meaningfully - 35-55 lbs against 11-20 lbs, and about 5-8 inches taller at the shoulder. It's a medium dog next to a small one, though not an extreme size gap.
The spaniel, rated moderate (3/5) against the schnauzer's very low (1/5). The schnauzer needs more grooming overall, but sheds less once groomed.
The schnauzer, with a 4/5 first-time-owner score against the spaniel's moderate 3/5, though the gap isn't dramatic - either could work for a committed novice.
Very differently - the schnauzer rates 5/5 for apartment suitability, the spaniel just 2/5. The spaniel's higher exercise need makes small-space living harder on the dog.
$90-180 for the schnauzer, $100-200 for the spaniel - a modest difference that continues into the first year, at $1,300-2,500 versus $1,400-2,900.
Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and ear infections appear on both lists. The schnauzer's list runs longer and includes several conditions - pancreatitis, diabetes, kidney stones - that don't show up for the spaniel.
The spaniel, by a narrow margin - 12-15 years compared to the schnauzer's 12-14.
The Miniature Schnauzer suits a wider range of living situations thanks to its apartment score and lower exercise need; the spaniel is the better fit if you have space and want a dog with more field-dog energy.
About $10-20 more at either end of the range - $100-200 versus the schnauzer's $90-180.
The spaniel, rated High (4/5) against the schnauzer's Moderate (3/5).
The spaniel, at 12-15 years versus the schnauzer's 12-14 years - close, but the spaniel edges it.
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.
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