Breed Comparison: Basset Fauve de Bretagne Versus Irish Water Spaniel

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Basset Fauve de Bretagne Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Basset Fauve de Bretagne and for the Irish Water Spaniel. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Basset Fauve de Bretagne or the Irish Water Spaniel

Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a small-sized dog while the Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne 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.

On the other hand, the Irish 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.

Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Basset Fauve de Bretagne to the Irish Water Spaniel 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.

Factor Basset Fauve de Bretagne Irish Water Spaniel
Tolerates Hot Weather 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Height 12 to 15 inches. 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Life Span 12 to 15 years. 10 to 12 years
Does NOT Shed 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Weight 25 to 35 pounds. 45 to 65 pounds
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Easy To Train 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
General Health 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne 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 Water Spaniel. 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 a Basset Fauve de Bretagne is 91 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne is a better pet than the Irish Water Spaniel. So, you should get the Basset Fauve de Bretagne!

    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 Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel are most different:

  • Basset Fauve de Bretagnes cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
  • Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds However, Irish Water Spaniels have the tendency to develop certain health problems.

    • The Similarities Between the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel

    The Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to groom.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes weigh 25 to 35 pounds. when fully grown. Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are 12 to 15 inches. when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Irish Water Spaniels weigh 45 to 65 pounds when fully grown. Irish Water Spaniels are 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Health Problems of Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel

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

    Both the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Irish Water Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Irish Water Spaniel than for the Basset Fauve de Bretagne.

    3 health tests are recommended for Basset Fauve de Bretagne while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Basset Fauve de Bretagnes and in Irish Water Spaniels.

    Basset Fauve de Bretagne Health Problems

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Basset Fauve de Bretagne 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 Basset Fauve de Bretagne puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Basset Fauve de Bretagne 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 Basset Fauve de Bretagnes for:

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Basset Fauve de Bretagnes here.

    Irish Water Spaniel Health Problems

    Irish Water Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Irish 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 Irish Water Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Irish 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 Irish Water Spaniels for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia

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

    Can Basset Fauve de Bretagnes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which one drools more, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Basset Fauve de Bretagne vs. Irish Water Spaniel

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

    Do Basset Fauve de Bretagnes shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Do Basset Fauve de Bretagnes Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Tolerates Being Alone: Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes can be left alone only for a short time.

    Irish Water Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.

    Can Basset Fauve de Bretagnes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Is the Basset Fauve de Bretagne Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are fairly easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Does the Basset Fauve de Bretagne Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Irish Water Spaniels 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.

    Is the Basset Fauve de Bretagne Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are very good for new dog owners.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Basset Fauve de Bretagnes and Irish Water Spaniels?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Basset Fauve de Bretagne or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are very easy to groom.

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Are Basset Fauve de Bretagnes good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Basset Fauve de Bretagnes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Basset Fauve de Bretagne

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Water Spaniel that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Irish Water Spaniel:

  • Kerry Blue Terrier (78 percent match with Irish Water Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne vs Kerry Blue Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Water Spaniel

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Basset Fauve de Bretagne that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Basset Fauve de Bretagne:

  • Bergamasco Sheepdog (77 percent match with Basset Fauve de Bretagne). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Bergamasco Sheepdog.
  • Cockalier (79 percent match with Basset Fauve de Bretagne). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Cockalier.
  • French Spaniel (77 percent match with Basset Fauve de Bretagne). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs French Spaniel.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and how the Irish Water Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Basset Fauve de Bretagne and of the Irish Water Spaniel to other breeds:

    Basset Fauve de Bretagne Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Basenji     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Papipoo     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Pomsky     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Standard Poodle     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Ibizan Hound     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Cockapoo     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus American Foxhound     Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Valley Bulldog     

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Dalmatian     Irish Water Spaniel versus Dalmatian     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bearded Collie     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bull Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Japanese Spitz     Irish Water Spaniel versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pekingese     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bich Poo     

    Conclusion: Basset Fauve de Bretagne versus Irish Water Spaniel. 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 Basset Fauve de Bretagne and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.