Cocker Spaniel vs Miniature Schnauzer

Compare the Cocker Spaniel to the Miniature Schnauzer. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Cocker Spaniels and Miniature Schnauzers.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both the Cocker Spaniel and Miniature Schnauzer are good choices for new or inexperienced owners.
Children - Both the Cocker Spaniel and Miniature Schnauzer are child friendly.
Grooming - The Miniature Schnauzer requires moderate grooming, but the Cocker Spaniel has high grooming needs.
Barking - Both the Cocker Spaniel and Miniature Schnauzer are above average barkers.

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Cocker Spaniel vs Miniature Schnauzer

Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Miniature Schnauzer
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	Yes
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-14 yrs.
Height	14-15 in.	12-14 in.
Weight	24-28 lb	11-20 lb
Intelligence	Average	High
History
Origin Country	Suriname	Germany
Origin Year	1800 AD	1888 AD
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	Very Good
Family Friendly	Very Good	Very Good
Kid Friendly	Good	Good
Pet Friendly	Very Good	Good
Stranger Friendly	Good	Good
Personality
	Affectionate Enjoys Attention Loving Does Not Like Being Alone Likes To Snuggle Willing To Please	Affectionate Stubborn Willing To Please
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	Yes	Yes
Medium Yard	Yes	Yes
Large Yard	No	Yes
Temperature Tolerance ¹	55°F to 80°F	30°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Often	Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Medium	Medium
Exercise Required	Low-Medium	Medium
Top Running Speed	20 mph	17 mph
Strength	Medium	Low-Medium
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	High	High
Shedding	Medium	Low
Dander	Medium	Low
Drool Amount	None-Low	None-Low

¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.

Instincts & Behavior Comparison
Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Miniature Schnauzer
Breed Mentality
Dominant/Alpha	No	No
Family/Pack	Yes	No
Independent	No	Yes
Breed Focus
Distracted Easily	No	Yes
Average	No	Yes
Focused & Patient	Yes	No
Breed Instincts
Aggression	Below Average	Average
Burrow/Digging	Very Low	Below Average
Chasing	High	High
Follow Commands	Below Average	Average
Fighting	Very Low	Below Average
Guarding	Very Low	Below Average
Herding	Below Average	Below Average
Hunting	Average	Average
Protection	Very Low	Below Average
Remove Vermin	Below Average	High
Sledding	Below Average	Very Low
Watch	Average	High

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Miniature Schnauzer
Lifespan
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-14 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Allergies	Yes	No
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia	Yes	No
Cataracts	Yes	Yes
Glaucoma	Yes	No
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	No
Hypothyroidism	Yes	No
Idiopathic Epilepsy	Yes	No
Mycobacterium Avium Infection	No	Yes
Patellar Luxation	Yes	No
Primary Seborrhea	Yes	No
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Yes	Yes

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Miniature Schnauzer
Coat
Fur	Yes	No
Hair	No	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Coat Texture
Wavy	Yes	No
Rough	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Medium	Yes	Yes
Short	No	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	Yes
Black & Tan	Yes	No
Black & White	Yes	No
Black, White, & Tan	Yes	No
Blue Roan	Yes	No
Blue Roan & Tan	Yes	No
Brown	Yes	No
Brown & Tan	Yes	No
Brown & White	Yes	No
Brown, White, & Tan	Yes	No
Buff	Yes	No
Buff & White	Yes	No
Cream	Yes	No
Golden	Yes	No
Red	Yes	No
Red & White	Yes	No
Red Roan	Yes	No
Sable	Yes	No
Sable & White	Yes	No
Silver	Yes	No
Black & Silver	No	Yes
Salt & Pepper	No	Yes