Guide on Deciding Betweeen the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel.

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Bolognese Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Bolognese 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 Bolognese 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 with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Bolognese 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 Bolognese or the Irish Water Spaniel.

Bolognese versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Bolognese is a tiny-sized dog while the Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Bolognese belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

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.

Bolognese versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Bolognese 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel

Factor Bolognese Irish Water Spaniel
Does NOT Shed 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
General Health 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
Weight 8 to 14 pounds 45 to 65 pounds
Height 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $2030 No Data
Price Range $1888 – $2162 No Data
Temperament Score 100.0 percent 90.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Bolognese 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 the Bolognese is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125.

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

    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 Bolognese 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 Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    • Bologneses 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 Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel are prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to train.
    • Both the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Size Comparison of Bolognese versus Irish Water Spaniel

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

    Bologneses weigh 8 to 14 pounds when fully grown. Bologneses are 9 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 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.

    Lifespan of Bolognese versus Irish Water Spaniel

    The lifespan of Bologneses is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Bologneses is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Irish Water Spaniels is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Irish Water Spaniels is 11.0 years.

    Bologneses live longer than Irish Water Spaniels.

    Temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel Versus the Bolognese

    The Bolognese has a better temperament than the Irish Water Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Bolognese is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 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 100.0 percent, the Bolognese has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 90.0 percent, the Irish Water Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 1 Bologneses and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Bolognese versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Bologneses do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Bologneses shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    Bologneses 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.

    Which one drools more, the Bolognese or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Bologneses do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

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

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Bologneses 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 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.

    Do Bologneses Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

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

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

    Can Bologneses Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Bologneses cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Bolognese vs. Irish Water Spaniel

    Bologneses 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.

    Can Bologneses Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Bologneses can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Bologneses get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Bologneses good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Bologneses are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Bologneses and Irish Water Spaniels?

    Bologneses get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Bolognese Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Bologneses are very easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Is the Bolognese Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Bologneses adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Bologneses are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Conclusion: Bolognese 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 Bolognese and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.