A Detailed Comparison of the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Australian Kelpie Versus Irish Wolfhound: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound? 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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound 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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound 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 Australian Kelpie and for the Irish Wolfhound. 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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Australian Kelpie or the Irish Wolfhound.

Australian Kelpie versus Irish Wolfhound: Overview

A very important difference between the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Australian Kelpie is a medium-sized dog while the Irish Wolfhound is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Australian Kelpie belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

On the other hand, the Irish Wolfhound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Australian Kelpie versus Irish Wolfhound: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Australian Kelpie to the Irish Wolfhound 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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound

Factor Australian Kelpie Irish Wolfhound
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 15 years 6 to 8 years
Height 15 to 20 inches 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 2/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Weight 25 to 46 pounds 115 to 180 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 3/5
General Health 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 12.5 years 7.0 years
Average Price $500 $1730
Price Range $500 – $500 $1000 – $2100
Temperament Score 83.3 percent 90.1 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Australian Kelpie 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 Wolfhound. 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 Australian Kelpie is 72 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Wolfhound is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Wolfhound is a better pet than the Australian Kelpie. So, you should get the Irish Wolfhound!

    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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound

    Below is a list of where the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are most different:

    • Australian Kelpies do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly. However, Irish Wolfhounds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Australian Kelpies are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Irish Wolfhounds are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
    • Australian Kelpies can tolerate hot weather. However, Irish Wolfhounds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
    • Australian Kelpies have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Irish Wolfhounds have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.

    The Similarities Between the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound

    The Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are most similar:

    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound do not adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are not prone to gaining weight easily.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound 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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are very easy to groom.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are very playful.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Australian Kelpie versus Irish Wolfhound

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound.

    Australian Kelpies weigh 25 to 46 pounds when fully grown. Australian Kelpies are 15 to 20 inches when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Irish Wolfhounds weigh 115 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Irish Wolfhounds are 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Australian Kelpie versus Irish Wolfhound

    The lifespan of Australian Kelpies is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Australian Kelpies is 12.5 years.

    The lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is between 6 to 8 years. The average lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is 7.0 years.

    Australian Kelpies live longer than Irish Wolfhounds.

    Temperament of the Irish Wolfhound Versus the Australian Kelpie

    The Irish Wolfhound has a better temperament than the Australian Kelpie.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Wolfhound is 90.1 percent while the temperament score for the Australian Kelpie is 83.3 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 83.3 percent, the Australian Kelpie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 90.1 percent, the Irish Wolfhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound by measuring the temperaments of 6 Australian Kelpies and 101 Irish Wolfhounds.

    Price of Australian Kelpie versus Price of Irish Wolfhound

    The average price of the Australian Kelpie puppy is $500. The price of the Australian Kelpie typically ranges from $500 – $500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1 Australian Kelpie puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Irish Wolfhound puppy is $1730. The price of the Irish Wolfhound typically ranges from $1000 – $2100. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 58 Irish Wolfhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more expensive than the Australian Kelpie.

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Australian Kelpie and Irish Wolfhound. For different price points, the charts show how many Australian Kelpie puppies or how many Irish Wolfhound puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Australian Kelpies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Australian Kelpies. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Australian Kelpie puppy or the Irish Wolfhound puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Australian Kelpie versus Irish Wolfhound

    Australian Kelpies do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Wolfhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Do Australian Kelpies shed more than Irish Wolfhounds?

    Australian Kelpies shed moderately.

    Irish Wolfhounds shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Australian Kelpie or the Irish Wolfhound

    Australian Kelpies do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Wolfhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Australian Kelpie or the Irish Wolfhound?

    Australian Kelpies are very easy to groom.

    Irish Wolfhounds are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Australian Kelpie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Wolfhound?

    Australian Kelpies 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.

    Irish Wolfhounds 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 Australian Kelpies Bark and Howl? What about Irish Wolfhounds?

    Australian Kelpies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Australian Kelpies can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Wolfhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Australian Kelpie vs. Irish Wolfhound

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

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

    Can Australian Kelpies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Australian Kelpies can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Wolfhounds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Australian Kelpie or the Irish Wolfhound?

    Australian Kelpies get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Irish Wolfhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Australian Kelpies good family dogs? What about Irish Wolfhounds?

    Australian Kelpies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Australian Kelpies and Irish Wolfhounds?

    Australian Kelpies do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Australian Kelpie Easier to Train than the Irish Wolfhound?

    Australian Kelpies are very easy to train.

    Irish Wolfhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Australian Kelpie Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Wolfhound?

    Australian Kelpies do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Irish Wolfhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Australian Kelpie or the Irish Wolfhound?

    Australian Kelpies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Conclusion: Australian Kelpie versus Irish Wolfhound. 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 Australian Kelpie and the Irish Wolfhound better suits you and your family.