Last Updated: Mar 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Chihuahua Versus French Spaniel: Introduction
- Chihuahua versus French Spaniel: Overview
- Chihuahua versus French Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel
- Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus French Spaniel
- Lifespan of Chihuahua versus French Spaniel
- Price of Chihuahua versus Price of French Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus French Spaniel
- Do Chihuahuas shed more than French Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel?
- Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about French Spaniels?
- Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the French Spaniel?
- Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel
- How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and French Spaniels?
- Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the French Spaniel?
- Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about French Spaniels?
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can French Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. French Spaniel
- Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can French Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Conclusion: Chihuahua versus French Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Chihuahua Versus French Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chihuahua and the French 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 Chihuahua and the French 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 Chihuahua and the French Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chihuahua and the French 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 Chihuahua and for the French 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 Chihuahua and the French Spaniel.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel.
Read on.
Chihuahua versus French Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chihuahua is a tiny-sized dog while the French Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Chihuahua belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.
On the other hand, the French 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.
Chihuahua versus French Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Chihuahua to the French 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 Chihuahua and the French Spaniel
| Factor | Chihuahua | French Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 18 years | 10 to 12 years. |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 3 to 6 pounds | 45 to 60 pounds. |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder | 21 to 24 inches. |
| Average Lifespan | 14.0 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $1820 | $2820 |
| Price Range | $850 – $2500 | $1200 – $3500 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chihuahua 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 French 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 Chihuahua is 84 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the French Spaniel is 85 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the French Spaniel, we still believe that the Chihuahua is a better pet than the French Spaniel.
This is because Chihuahuas are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Chihuahua will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Chihuahua :-). We are for the Chihuahua. So get a Chihuahua!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel
Below is a list of where the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel
The Chihuahua and the French Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Chihuahua versus French Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chihuahua and the French Spaniel.
Chihuahuas weigh 3 to 6 pounds when fully grown. Chihuahuas are 6 inches to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, French Spaniels weigh 45 to 60 pounds. when fully grown. French Spaniels are 21 to 24 inches. when fully grown.
Lifespan of Chihuahua versus French Spaniel
The lifespan of Chihuahuas is between 10 to 18 years. The average lifespan of Chihuahuas is 14.0 years.
The lifespan of French Spaniels is between 10 to 12 years.. The average lifespan of French Spaniels is 11.0 years.
Chihuahuas live longer than French Spaniels.
Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua lifespan and how long Chihuahua live.
Price of Chihuahua versus Price of French Spaniel
The average price of the Chihuahua puppy is $1820. The price of the Chihuahua typically ranges from $850 – $2500. However, the price of a Chihuahua can be as low as $100 and as high as $15500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1980 Chihuahua puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the French Spaniel puppy is $2820. The price of the French Spaniel typically ranges from $1200 – $3500. However, the price of the French Spaniel can be as low as $600 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 9 French Spaniel puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The French Spaniel is more expensive than the Chihuahua.
`| Chihuahua | French Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1820 | $2820 |
| Price Range | $850 to $2500 | $1200 to $3500 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Chihuahua and French Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many Chihuahua puppies or how many French Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Chihuahuas. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of French Spaniels
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chihuahua puppy or the French Spaniel puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Go to this article to learn more about Chihuahua cost and price.
Check out our list of best Chihuahua breeders here
Tolerates Being Alone: Chihuahua versus French Spaniel
Chihuahuas do not like to be left alone.
French Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Chihuahuas shed more than French Spaniels?
Chihuahuas do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Chihuahuas, and on how to groom a Chihuahua
French Spaniels shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel?
Chihuahuas are very easy to groom.
To learn more about how to properly groom a Chihuahua, check out our article on how to groom a Chihuahua.
Learn more on how to take care of a Chihuahua here.
French Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel?
Chihuahuas do not get along well with other dogs.
French Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Are Chihuahuas good family dogs? What about French Spaniels?
Chihuahuas are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Chihuahua make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.
Learn about Chihuahua temperament here.
French Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Chihuahua Easier to Train than the French Spaniel?
Chihuahuas are very easy to train.
French Spaniels are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel
Chihuahuas do have a very low tendency to drool.
French Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Chihuahuas and French Spaniels?
Chihuahuas get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
French Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Chihuahua Have a Higher Prey Drive than the French Spaniel?
Chihuahuas have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
French Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Do Chihuahuas Bark and Howl? What about French Spaniels?
Chihuahuas bark and howl, but not very much.
French Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Cold Weather? And can French Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
French Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Chihuahua vs. French Spaniel
Chihuahuas do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
French Spaniels do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Can Chihuahuas Tolerate Hot Weather? Can French Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Chihuahuas cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
French Spaniels cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Is the Chihuahua Better for Apartment Owners than the French Spaniel?
Chihuahuas adapt very well to apartment living.
French Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chihuahua or the French Spaniel?
Chihuahuas are very good for new dog owners.
French Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.
Conclusion: Chihuahua versus French 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 Chihuahua and the French Spaniel better suits you and your family.