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

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Boxer Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer 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 Boxer 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 Boxer 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 Boxer or the Irish Water Spaniel.

Boxer versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Boxer 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.

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.

Boxer versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boxer 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 Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel

FactorBoxerIrish Water Spaniel
Tolerates Being Alone1/53/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/54/5
Life Span10 to 12 years10 to 12 years
Tolerates Cold Weather2/54/5
Does NOT Drool4/54/5
General Health2/52/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Height21 to 25 inches at the shoulder1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners3/52/5
Dog Friendly3/54/5
Low Prey Drive3/51/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/52/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/53/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Kid-Friendly4/55/5
Friendly Toward Strangers4/55/5
Does NOT Shed2/55/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/53/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Weight60 to 70 pounds45 to 65 pounds
Average Lifespan11.0 years11.0 years
Average Price$1620No Data
Price Range$1200 – $2000No Data
Temperament Score83.9 percent90.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health TestsNo Data
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    • Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4824

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boxer 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 Boxer is 73 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 Irish Water Spaniel is a better pet than the Boxer. So, you should get the Irish 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 Boxer 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 Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    • Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
    • Boxers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel adapt well to apartment living.
    • Both the Boxer 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 Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to train.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
    • Both the Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel are very playful.

    Size Comparison of Boxer versus Irish Water Spaniel

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

    Boxers weigh 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Boxers are 21 to 25 inches 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 Boxer versus Irish Water Spaniel

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

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

    Temperament of the Boxer Versus the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the Boxer is 83.9 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 83.9 percent, the Boxer 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 Boxer and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 472 Boxers and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.

    The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel

    `
    Boxer Irish Water Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 48 out of 130 dog breeds 24 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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 Boxer has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Boxer belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Boxers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Irish Water Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 24 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Water Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Irish Water Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Irish Water Spaniel is more intelligent than the Boxer.

    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: Boxer versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Boxers do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Boxers shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    Boxers shed. They are not recommended 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 Boxer or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Boxers 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 Boxer or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Boxers are very easy to groom.

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Boxers 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.

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

    Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

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

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

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Irish Water Spaniel

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

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

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

    Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

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

    Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

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

    Boxers 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 Boxers and Irish Water Spaniels?

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

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

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

    Boxers are very easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

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

    Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Boxers are OK for new dog owners.

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

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