Cocker Spaniel vs Shiba Inu

Compare the Cocker Spaniel to the Shiba Inu. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Cocker Spaniels and Shiba Inus.

Quick Summary

Below are a few quick comparisons between the two breeds.

Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Shiba Inu is better suited for new owners.
Children - Both the Cocker Spaniel and Shiba Inu are child friendly.
Grooming - The Shiba Inu is very easy to groom. The Cocker Spaniel has high grooming requirements.
Barking - Both breeds will bark frequently, but the Shiba Inu has the highest tendency to bark between the two.

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Cocker Spaniel vs Shiba Inu

Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Shiba Inu
General Details
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred
Is Hypoallergenic	No	No
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-16 yrs.
Height	14-15 in.	13-17 in.
Weight	24-28 lb	15-23 lb
Intelligence	Average	Average
History
Origin Country	Suriname	Japan
Origin Year	1800 AD	300 BC
Temperament
Overall Friendliness	Very Good	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 Loving Stubborn
Living Environment
Apartment	Yes	Yes
Indoor	Yes	Yes
Small Yard	Yes	Yes
Medium Yard	Yes	Yes
Large Yard	No	No
Temperature Tolerance ¹	55°F to 80°F	20°F to 80°F
Barks/Howls	Often	Very Often
Exercise Needs
Energy Level	Medium	Medium-High
Exercise Required	Low-Medium	Medium
Top Running Speed	20 mph	17 mph
Strength	Medium	Low
Grooming Needs
Coat Maintenance	High	Medium
Shedding	Medium	Medium
Dander	Medium	Medium
Drool Amount	None-Low	None

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

Health Comparison
Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Shiba Inu
Lifespan
Lifespan	12-15 yrs.	12-16 yrs.
Common Health Issues
Allergies	Yes	Yes
Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia	Yes	No
Cancer	No	Yes
Cataracts	Yes	No
Chylothorax	No	Yes
Epilepsy	No	Yes
Glaucoma	Yes	Yes
Hip Dysplasia	Yes	Yes
Hypothyroidism	Yes	Yes
Idiopathic Epilepsy	Yes	No
Patellar Luxation	Yes	Yes
Primary Seborrhea	Yes	No
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Yes	Yes
Spinning	No	Yes

Appearance Comparison
Breed Name	Cocker Spaniel	Shiba Inu
Coat
Fur	Yes	Yes
Coat Type
Double Coat	Yes	Yes
Coat Texture
Wavy	Yes	No
Straight	No	Yes
Coat Length(s)
Medium	Yes	Yes
Short	No	Yes
Coat Color(s)
Black	Yes	No
Black & Tan	Yes	Yes
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	Yes
Golden	Yes	No
Red	Yes	Yes
Red & White	Yes	No
Red Roan	Yes	No
Sable	Yes	No
Sable & White	Yes	No
Silver	Yes	No
Red Sesame	No	Yes