Whether to clone an object for a prototype

Question

What is the difference between the following two ways to define a prototype, and is one more correct than the other?

// prototype
const animal = {
    breathe() {console.log('The animal is breathing.')},
}
// construtor
function Dog(name) {
    this.name = name;
}

Dog.prototype = animal; // without Object.create()

let a = new Dog('Annie');
a.breathe();

// prototype
const animal = {
    breathe() {console.log('The animal is breathing.')},
}
// construtor
function Dog(name) {
    this.name = name;
}

Dog.prototype = Object.create(animal); // with Object.create

let a = new Dog('Annie');
a.breathe();

Why would one be more preferable over the other (especially if it is a const object)?

Answer 1

Using Object.create adds an extra level to your prototype chain. The dog prototype will be an object with its prototype set to animal.

dog -> empty_object -> animal -> Object -> null

The first way is missing that extra object.

dog -> animal -> Object -> null

So if you want to add more functionality to just the dog, without adding to the animal, you need the former. Otherwise not needed.