Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

Last Updated: Apr 10, 2022

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Pembroke Welsh Corgi Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and for the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel.

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

Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview

Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are similar in size. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are both small-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Sussex Spaniel belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Pembroke Welsh Corgi to the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel

FactorPembroke Welsh CorgiSussex Spaniel
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Height10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho
Life Span12 to 14 years11 to 14 years
Does NOT chew on things4/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander4/55/5
Weight22 to 31 pounds35 to 45 pounds
Tolerates Being Alone3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather3/55/5
Dog Friendly3/55/5
General Health3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/55/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor3/55/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/55/5
Good For Novice Owners4/55/5
Easygoing2/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather4/55/5
Kid-Friendly4/55/5
Easy To Groom4/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/51/5
NOT Rambunctious2/54/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/54/5
Potential For Playfulness4/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers5/55/5
Does NOT Shed1/53/5
Easy To Train5/53/5
Intelligence5/55/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl1/52/5
Average Lifespan13.0 years12.5 years
Average Price$1700No Data
Price Range$1200 – $2000No Data
Temperament Score79.6 percent100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds16172

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi 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 Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Sussex Spaniel is 100 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Sussex Spaniel, we still believe that the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is a better pet than the Sussex Spaniel.

    This is because Pembroke Welsh Corgis are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Pembroke Welsh Corgi will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi :-). We are for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. So get a Pembroke Welsh Corgi!

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

    The Similarities Between the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel

    The Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Size Comparison of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel.

    The Pembroke Welsh Corgi weighs 22 to 31 pounds when fully grown. The Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 10 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Sussex Spaniel weighs 35 to 45 pounds when fully grown. The Sussex Spaniel is 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    Size of Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Size of Sussex Spaniel

    Lifespan of Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

    The lifespan of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Sussex Spaniel is between 11 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Sussex Spaniel is 12.5 years.

    The Pembroke Welsh Corgi live longer than the Sussex Spaniel.

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

    Temperament of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Versus the Sussex Spaniel

    The Sussex Spaniel has a better temperament than the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

    This is because the temperament score for the Sussex Spaniel is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 79.6 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 79.6 percent, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Sussex Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 216 Pembroke Welsh Corgis and 4 Sussex Spaniels.

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

    The Popularity of Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Popularity of Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi is 16 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sussex Spaniel is 172 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Pembroke Welsh Corgi

    Popularity of Pembroke Welsh Corgi

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Popularity of Sussex Spaniel

    Year Pembroke Welsh Corgi Popularity Rank Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 24 162
    2014 22 175
    2015 20 173
    2016 18 172
    2017 15 161
    2018 13 180
    2019 10 176
    2020 11 172
    2021 11 177

    Tolerates Being Alone: Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex Spaniel

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis can be left alone only for a short time.

    Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do Pembroke Welsh Corgis shed more than Sussex Spaniels?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very easy to groom.

    Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Pembroke Welsh Corgis good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Sussex Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very easy to train.

    Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi or the Sussex Spaniel

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Pembroke Welsh Corgis and Sussex Spaniels?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Sussex Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Sussex Spaniels 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.

    Do Pembroke Welsh Corgis Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can Pembroke Welsh Corgis Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Pembroke Welsh Corgi vs. Sussex Spaniel

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

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

    Can Pembroke Welsh Corgis Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis adapt very well to apartment living.

    Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Pembroke Welsh Corgi or the Sussex Spaniel?

    Pembroke Welsh Corgis are very good for new dog owners.

    Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Pembroke Welsh Corgi compares to other breeds aside from the Sussex Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Pembroke Welsh Corgi to other breeds:

    Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Belgian Tervuren     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Chow Chow     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Coton de Tulear     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Leonberger     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Fila Brasileiro     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus English Setter     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Kishu Ken     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Borzoi     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Shihpoo     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Bordoodle     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Ibizan Hound     

    Conclusion: Pembroke Welsh Corgi versus Sussex 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 Pembroke Welsh Corgi and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.