American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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American Water Spaniel Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terrier. 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 Irish Terrier.

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 Irish Terrier.

American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier: Overview

Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are similar in size. The American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are both medium-sized dogs.

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 Irish Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the American Water Spaniel to the Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terrier

FactorAmerican Water SpanielIrish Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Height1 foot, 3 inches to 1 foot, 6 inches tall at the s18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 16 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living2/53/5
Good For Novice Owners2/52/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/54/5
Dog Friendly2/51/5
Low Prey Drive4/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor4/52/5
Weight25 to 45 pounds25 to 27 pounds
Friendly Toward Strangers3/53/5
Does NOT Shed3/52/5
Easy To Groom3/52/5
General Health3/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight3/53/5
Intelligence3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
Easy To Train4/51/5
Easygoing1/53/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Kid-Friendly5/55/5
Does NOT chew on things1/55/5
Tendency NOT to Wander1/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/52/5
Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
Average Lifespan13.5 years14.0 years
Price RangeNo Data$1700 – $1700
Average PriceNo Data$1730
Temperament Score77.8 percent80.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination- Biennial exams until age 6 (every two years).
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		• No Data
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4453

    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 Irish Terrier. 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 Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.

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

    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 Irish Terrier 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 Irish Terrier

    Below is a list of where the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are most different:

    • American Water Spaniels are very easy to train. However, Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
    • American Water Spaniels are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Irish Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.

    The Similarities Between the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier

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

    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier do not get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are very playful.

    Size Comparison of American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier.

    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, Irish Terriers weigh 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. Irish Terriers are 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    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 Irish Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Irish Terriers is 14.0 years.

    Irish Terriers live longer than American Water Spaniels.

    Temperament of the American Water Spaniel Versus the Irish Terrier

    The Irish Terrier has a better temperament than the American Water Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Terrier is 80.0 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 80.0 percent, the Irish Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the American Water Spaniel and the Irish Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 9 American Water Spaniels and 10 Irish Terriers.

    The Intelligence of the American Water Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier

    `
    American Water Spaniel Irish Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 44 out of 130 dog breeds 53 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Irish Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The American Water Spaniel is more intelligent than the Irish Terrier.

    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.

    Tolerates Being Alone: American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    American Water Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do American Water Spaniels shed more than Irish Terriers?

    American Water Spaniels shed moderately.

    Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the American Water Spaniel or the Irish Terrier

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

    Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the American Water Spaniel or the Irish Terrier?

    American Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the American Water Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?

    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.

    Irish Terriers 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.

    Do American Water Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

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

    Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: American Water Spaniel vs. Irish Terrier

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

    Irish Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can American Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    American Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the American Water Spaniel or the Irish Terrier?

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

    Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are American Water Spaniels good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are American Water Spaniels and Irish Terriers?

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

    Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the American Water Spaniel Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?

    American Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Irish Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the American Water Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?

    American Water Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the American Water Spaniel or the Irish Terrier?

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

    Irish Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: American Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier. 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 Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.