Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview
- Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel
- Temperament of the Sussex Spaniel Versus the Great Dane
- The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Sussex Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel
- Do Great Danes shed more than Sussex Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Sussex Spaniels?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Sussex Spaniel
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Sussex Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane 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 Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel.
Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Sussex Spaniel is a small-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
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.
Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel
| Factor | Great Dane | Sussex Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 35 to 45 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 1 inch to 1 foot, 3 inches tall at the sho |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 11 to 14 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 12.5 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | No Data |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | No Data |
| Temperament Score | 81.5 percent | 100.0 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 15 | 172 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane 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 Great Dane is 73 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 Great Dane is a better pet than the Sussex Spaniel.
This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel
The Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 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.
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 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 Sussex Spaniel live longer than the Great Dane.
Temperament of the Sussex Spaniel Versus the Great Dane
The Sussex Spaniel has a better temperament than the Great Dane.
This is because the temperament score for the Sussex Spaniel is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 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 81.5 percent, the Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 4 Sussex Spaniels.
The Popularity of Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Sussex Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Sussex Spaniel is 172 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Great Dane
Popularity of Sussex Spaniel
| Year | Great Dane Popularity Rank | Sussex Spaniel Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 16 | 162 |
| 2014 | 15 | 175 |
| 2015 | 15 | 173 |
| 2016 | 14 | 172 |
| 2017 | 14 | 161 |
| 2018 | 16 | 180 |
| 2019 | 17 | 176 |
| 2020 | 15 | 172 |
| 2021 | 17 | 177 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Sussex Spaniel
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Sussex Spaniels do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Sussex Spaniels?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Sussex Spaniels shed moderately.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Sussex Spaniels are very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Sussex Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Sussex Spaniels?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Sussex Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Sussex Spaniel?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Sussex Spaniels are fairly easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Sussex Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Sussex Spaniels?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Sussex Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Sussex Spaniel?
Great Danes 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 Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Sussex Spaniels?
Great Danes 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 Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Sussex Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Sussex Spaniel
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
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 Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Sussex Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Sussex Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Sussex Spaniel?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Sussex Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Sussex Spaniel?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Sussex Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Sussex Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus English Cocker Spaniel Great Dane versus Sloughi Great Dane versus Tibetan Terrier Great Dane versus Labrador Retriever Great Dane versus Portuguese Water Dog Great Dane versus Brittany Great Dane versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog Great Dane versus Standard Schnauzer Great Dane versus Havanese Great Dane versus Saint Berdoodle Great Dane versus English Springer Spaniel Great Dane versus Kuvasz Great Dane versus Dalmatian Great Dane versus Weimaraner Great Dane versus Shiloh Shepherd Great Dane versus Sheepadoodle Great Dane versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Great Dane versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
Conclusion: Great Dane 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 Great Dane and the Sussex Spaniel better suits you and your family.