Last Updated: Apr 09, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Yorkshire Terrier Versus French Spaniel: Introduction
- Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel: Overview
- Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel
- Size Comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel
- Lifespan of Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel
- Price of Yorkshire Terrier versus Price of French Spaniel
- Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier versus Health Problems of French Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel
- Do Yorkshire Terriers shed more than French Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel?
- Are Yorkshire Terriers good family dogs? What about French Spaniels?
- Is the Yorkshire Terrier Easier to Train than the French Spaniel?
- Which one drools more, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel
- How Kid-friendly are Yorkshire Terriers and French Spaniels?
- Does the Yorkshire Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the French Spaniel?
- Do Yorkshire Terriers Bark and Howl? What about French Spaniels?
- Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can French Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Yorkshire Terrier vs. French Spaniel
- Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can French Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Yorkshire Terrier Versus French Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel.
Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny-sized dog while the French Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Yorkshire Terrier 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.
Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel
| Factor | Yorkshire Terrier | French Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years. |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 4 to 6 pounds | 45 to 60 pounds. |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder | 21 to 24 inches. |
| Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $2420 | $2820 |
| Price Range | $1600 – $2950 | $1200 – $3500 |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier is 76 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 Yorkshire Terrier is a better pet than the French Spaniel.
This is because Yorkshire Terriers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Yorkshire Terrier will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Yorkshire Terrier :-). We are for the Yorkshire Terrier. So get a Yorkshire Terrier!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel
Below is a list of where the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel
The Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel.
The Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. The Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the French Spaniel weighs 45 to 60 pounds. when fully grown. The French Spaniel is 21 to 24 inches. when fully grown.
Lifespan of Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel
The lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is 13.5 years.
The lifespan of the French Spaniel is between 10 to 12 years.. The average lifespan of the French Spaniel is 11.0 years.
The Yorkshire Terrier live longer than the French Spaniel.
Price of Yorkshire Terrier versus Price of French Spaniel
The average price of the Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of a Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier.
`| Yorkshire Terrier | French Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $2420 | $2820 |
| Price Range | $1600 to $2950 | $1200 to $3500 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Yorkshire Terrier and French Spaniel. For different price points, the charts show how many Yorkshire Terrier puppies or how many French Spaniel puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers. 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 Yorkshire Terrier 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.
Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier versus Health Problems of French Spaniel
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.
Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Yorkshire Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the French Spaniel.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Yorkshire Terrier than for the French Spaniel.
7 health tests are recommended for Yorkshire Terrier while 3 tests are recommended for the French Spaniel.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Yorkshire Terriers and in French Spaniels.
Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems
Yorkshire Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Yorkshire Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Yorkshire Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Yorkshire Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Yorkshire Terriers for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers here.
French Spaniel Health Problems
French Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing French Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a French Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your French Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen French Spaniels for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for French Spaniels here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Yorkshire Terriers and French Spaniels
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.
This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Yorkshire Terriers, and how common these diseases are in Yorkshire Terriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the French Spaniel Breed is Hips problems.
This is because the French Spaniel ranks 125 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 254 French Spaniels, 23 of them had Hips problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in French Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in French Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in Yorkshire Terrier and in French Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel:
`| Disease | Yorkshire Terrier Rank | French Spaniel Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Legg-Calve-Perthes problems | 1 out of 40 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Patella problems | 3 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 23 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Eyes problems | 88 out of 182 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 159 out of 198 dog breeds | 125 out of 198 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: Yorkshire Terrier versus French Spaniel
Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.
French Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Yorkshire Terriers shed more than French Spaniels?
Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
French Spaniels shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel?
Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
French Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel?
Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.
French Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Are Yorkshire Terriers good family dogs? What about French Spaniels?
Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
French Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Yorkshire Terrier Easier to Train than the French Spaniel?
Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.
French Spaniels are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel
Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
French Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Yorkshire Terriers and French Spaniels?
Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.
French Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Yorkshire Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the French Spaniel?
Yorkshire Terriers 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.
French Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Do Yorkshire Terriers Bark and Howl? What about French Spaniels?
Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.
French Spaniels are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can French Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
French Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Yorkshire Terrier vs. French Spaniel
Yorkshire Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
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 Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can French Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Yorkshire Terriers 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 Yorkshire Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the French Spaniel?
Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.
French Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Yorkshire Terrier or the French Spaniel?
Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.
French Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.
Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Yorkshire Terrier compares to other breeds aside from the French Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier to other breeds:
Yorkshire Terrier versus Akbash Yorkshire Terrier versus Lhasapoo Yorkshire Terrier versus Yorkipoo Yorkshire Terrier versus Redbone Coonhound Yorkshire Terrier versus Rhodesian Ridgeback Yorkshire Terrier versus Pyredoodle Yorkshire Terrier versus Border Terrier Yorkshire Terrier versus Curly-Coated Retriever Yorkshire Terrier versus Norwegian Buhund Yorkshire Terrier versus Carolina Dog Yorkshire Terrier versus German Longhaired Pointer Yorkshire Terrier versus Labrador Retriever Yorkshire Terrier versus West Highland White Terrier
Conclusion: Yorkshire Terrier 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 Yorkshire Terrier and the French Spaniel better suits you and your family.