Cutest Dogs in the World: Boston Terrier vs. Cocker Spaniel

Is your dog really cute? Or do you just think he’s cute because he’s yours? Nothing could be more embarrassing than posting pictures of your dog online just waiting for someone to comment on how cute he is, only to receive zero comments. We don’t want this to happen to you! So, in this article, we’ll have a faceoff: Boston terrier vs. cocker spaniel. What makes each of them cute, and between the two of them, which is cuter? We’ll answer these questions with science.

Solving It with Science

With a question this vital to the happiness and well-being of millions of dogs and their humans, we want to get the answer right. So, we decided to use science to settle the Boston terrier vs. cocker spaniel matchup. Our totally accurate and objective approach involved surveying the people most qualified to judge cuteness. As you know, a scientific sample does not need to include large numbers of people to be completely and totally accurate and beyond dispute (right?!) So, we simply surveyed ONE teenage girl in Missouri. We’re sure you’ll agree, that makes our findings absolutely beyond argument. Here’s what our expert taught us about cuteness:

1. Cute animals are awkward. Their body parts are the wrong size. They have big feet and often need your help to get out of trouble.
2. When you see a cute animal, you want to hug it, kiss it, and boop its nose. They are loveable.
3. They are mischievous. They get into trouble, but not too much trouble. Just sort of predicaments that make you take their picture.

So, our science has proven that cuteness boils down to 1. Awkwardness; 2. Lovability; 3. Mischievousness. (Incidentally, we asked her if these standards also apply to boyfriends. She rolled her eyes and went back to scrolling her phone, so those results are still unknown.)

Well, That Was Awkward

The first step in identifying which breed is cuter is to figure out which one is more awkward. Boston terriers can weigh anywhere from 15-25 pounds and stand about 17 inches tall at the shoulder. They have been described as “compact,” “well-proportioned,” and “handsome.” Another nickname for them is “the American gentleman,” due to the tuxedo-like appearance of their coats, with a dark back and white underbelly. Which can indeed be awkward if they are female that doesn’t like wearing tuxedos. They have squarish heads with short muzzles and large round eyes.

Cocker spaniels are comparable in size, at 14-15 inches tall and weighing up to 35 pounds in males. They are the smallest sporting spaniel recognized by the American Kennel Club. Their coats are silky and feathered around the legs. They come in a variety of colors: black, silver, tan, red, brown, and white. Their bodies have been described as “well-balanced,” and “sturdy,” and they have a smooth, easy gait. With all this elegance, it’s no wonder that a cocker spaniel was the star of the Disney animated classic, Lady and the Tramp. They look like they’re ready to glide across the dance floor.

But wait, we’re measuring for awkwardness here. All we’ve seen so far is that the Boston terrier is a dignified little gentleman and that cocker spaniels look like elegant little ladies. Clearly, both of them fail the “awkwardness” test. Neither of them is particularly awkward. Therefore, by this measure, they’re not cute. Oh, my word. We were not expecting this result, but science is science. So, let’s go on to our next cute criterion and see if we have better luck.

Lovability

Our second scientific criterion for cuteness is Lovability. In other words, which of these two dogs’ noses do you want to boop more? Which of them has a cute little belly that needs rubbing? Which one has eyes that make you melt? This is a hard call. Both of these babies have big soulful eyes that melt your heart. They’re both oh-so-polite and dignified, so sometimes you just want to grab them and roll them on the floor and ruffle them up. Ultimately, though, that flat-faced Boston terrier has a nose that MUST BE BOOPED! And though it might make him go cross-eyed, he seems like he would enjoy it, a lot! However, the cocker spaniel is more likely to look at you quizzically, maybe even a little disgustedly, before floating away on a cloud of fur to do something else. The Boston terrier wins the lovability round, paws down.

Here Comes Trouble!

Ok, cocker spaniel, here’s your last chance. If you have any hope of being the cutest dog, you have to win this round. The category is Mischievousness. Luckily for the cocker spaniel, there’s no debate, this breed wins this round. Their coats alone will cause you trouble for a lifetime. They have to be groomed thoroughly and regularly, or else their fine silky fur will get hopelessly tangled and matted and you’ll have to shave them down and start over. You have to wash this dog regularly and blow-dry it, making those feathery locks blow back like Farrah Fawcett. Cockers are also a very “vocal” breed. They love to hear themselves bark.

How does all that compare with the Boston terrier? A Boston’s coat doesn’t need bathing unless they rolled in something stinky. It is short and can’t possibly tangle or matt. These dogs do get separation anxiety and will not be content to play by themselves. They might chew some things up in your house or yard to train you not to leave them alone. The faster you learn from the training, the less destruction you’ll have to clean up. They love to play, so they’re good dogs for families with kind and responsible children or active adults. Boston terriers do not bark much. They are sensitive dogs that respond well to gentle correction followed by love and praise.

So, if getting in trouble makes a dog cute, both the cocker spaniel and the Boston terrier can oblige. But of the two, the cocker spaniel gets into the most trouble due to its wild, tangly hair and big mouth. And all that drama can be pretty cute sometimes.

A Tie-Breaker

So, we have a tie. Neither one of these dogs is particularly awkward. They generally look and behave like dignified little ladies and gentlemen. The Boston terrier is the more “boopable” of the two. That cute little flat face makes you want to poke it in the nose and kiss it all over. But when it comes to getting into cute messes, no one can beat the cocker spaniel with its out-of-control hair and barking. So how do we break this tie? How about a runway walk-off? Which one looks better in clothes?!

We searched our media database, and here’s what we came up with: one picture of a Boston terrier decked out in a sweater. Zero pictures of cocker spaniels in clothes. Clothes just don’t seem to be a thing with cockers the way they are with short-haired Bostons. And you have to admit, this little dude looks completely adorable in his red sweater! So, the winner of the Boston terrier vs. cocker spaniel cuteness battle is the Boston terrier!

By the way, if you are the owner of a cocker spaniel, don’t feel too bad. Your puppy is still far too cute to be entered in the World’s Ugliest Dog contest.

The photo featured at the top of this post is ©