American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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American Water Spaniel Versus Great Pyrenees: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees? 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 American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees 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 American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees 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 American Water Spaniel and for the Great Pyrenees. 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 American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the American Water Spaniel or the Great Pyrenees.

American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees: Overview

A very important difference between the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The American Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog while the Great Pyrenees is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the American Water 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.

On the other hand, the Great Pyrenees 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.

American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Water Spaniel to the Great Pyrenees 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 American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees

FactorAmerican Water SpanielGreat Pyrenees
Tolerates Being Alone1/53/5
Does NOT Drool5/54/5
Height1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s25 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span12 to 15 years10 to 12 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living2/51/5
Good For Novice Owners2/51/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/55/5
Dog Friendly2/54/5
Low Prey Drive4/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/51/5
Weight25 to 45 pounds85 to 160 pounds
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
Does NOT Shed3/51/5
Easy To Groom3/54/5
General Health3/52/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/52/5
Intelligence3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/51/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/53/5
Easy To Train4/51/5
Easygoing1/52/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/54/5
Does NOT chew on things1/54/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/51/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years11.0 years
Price RangeNo Data$500 – $1000
Average PriceNo Data$830
Temperament Score77.8 percent84.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination- Biennial exams until age 6 (every two years).
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Auburn
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Optigen
  • Patellar Luxation
    • Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4464

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the American Water Spaniel 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 Great Pyrenees. 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 American Water Spaniel is 71 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Great Pyrenees is 63 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the American Water Spaniel is a better pet than the Great Pyrenees. So, you should get the American Water Spaniel!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees

    Below is a list of where the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are most different:

    • American Water Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Great Pyreneess can tolerate cold weather.
    • American Water Spaniels have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Great Pyreneess have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • American Water Spaniels do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Great Pyreneess do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
    • American Water Spaniels are very easy to train. However, Great Pyreneess are not easy to train.
    • American Water Spaniels are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Great Pyreneess are not prone to nip and chew at things.

    The Similarities Between the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees

    The American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are most similar:

    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are very playful.

    Size Comparison of American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees.

    American Water Spaniels weigh 25 to 45 pounds when fully grown. American Water Spaniels are 1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Great Pyreneess weigh 85 to 160 pounds when fully grown. Great Pyreneess are 25 to 32 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees

    The lifespan of American Water Spaniels is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of American Water Spaniels is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of Great Pyreneess is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Great Pyreneess is 11.0 years.

    American Water Spaniels live longer than Great Pyreneess.

    Temperament of the Great Pyrenees Versus the American Water Spaniel

    The Great Pyrenees has a better temperament than the American Water Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Great Pyrenees is 84.9 percent while the temperament score for the American Water Spaniel is 77.8 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 77.8 percent, the American Water Spaniel has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.9 percent, the Great Pyrenees has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees by measuring the temperaments of 9 American Water Spaniels and 152 Great Pyreneess.

    The Intelligence of the American Water Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Great Pyrenees

    `
    American Water Spaniel Great Pyrenees
    Intelligence Rank 44 out of 130 dog breeds 64 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
    • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
    • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
    • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

    Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the American Water Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 44 out of 130 dog breeds. The American Water Spaniel belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that American Water Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Great Pyrenees has an obedience intelligence rank of 64 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Pyrenees belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Pyreneess tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The American Water Spaniel is more intelligent than the Great Pyrenees.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    Health Problems of American Water Spaniel versus Health Problems of Great Pyrenees

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Great Pyrenees is prone to more genetic health problems than the American Water Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Great Pyrenees than for the American Water Spaniel.

    3 health tests are recommended for American Water Spaniel while 5 tests are recommended for the Great Pyrenees.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in American Water Spaniels and in Great Pyreneess.

    American Water Spaniel Health Problems

    American Water Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing American Water Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a American Water Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your American Water Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen American Water Spaniels for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination- Biennial exams until age 6 (every two years).
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for American Water Spaniels here.

    Great Pyrenees Health Problems

    Great Pyreneess are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Great Pyrenees puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Great Pyrenees puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Great Pyrenees breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Great Pyreneess for:

  • Auburn
  • Clear By Parentage
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Optigen
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Great Pyreneess here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees

    American Water Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Great Pyreneess can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do American Water Spaniels shed more than Great Pyreneess?

    American Water Spaniels shed moderately.

    Great Pyreneess shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the American Water Spaniel or the Great Pyrenees

    American Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Great Pyreneess do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Water Spaniel or the Great Pyrenees?

    American Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Great Pyreneess are very easy to groom.

    Does the American Water Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Great Pyrenees?

    American Water 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.

    Great Pyreneess have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do American Water Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Great Pyreneess?

    American Water Spaniels bark and howl, but not very much.

    Great Pyreneess are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Great Pyreneess Tolerate Cold Weather?

    American Water Spaniels cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Great Pyreneess can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Water Spaniel vs. Great Pyrenees

    American Water Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Great Pyreneess have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Great Pyreneess Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Great Pyreneess can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Water Spaniel or the Great Pyrenees?

    American Water Spaniels do not get along well with other dogs.

    Great Pyreneess get along very well with other dogs.

    Are American Water Spaniels good family dogs? What about Great Pyreneess?

    American Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Great Pyreneess are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are American Water Spaniels and Great Pyreneess?

    American Water Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Great Pyreneess get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the American Water Spaniel Easier to Train than the Great Pyrenees?

    American Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Great Pyreneess are not easy to train.

    Is the American Water Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Great Pyrenees?

    American Water Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Great Pyreneess do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Water Spaniel or the Great Pyrenees?

    American Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Great Pyreneess are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: American Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees. 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 American Water Spaniel and the Great Pyrenees better suits you and your family.