Which is Better Between the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel?

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Braque du Bourbonnais Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

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

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

Braque du Bourbonnais versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Braque du Bourbonnais 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.

Braque du Bourbonnais versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Braque du Bourbonnais 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 Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel

Factor Braque du Bourbonnais Irish Water Spaniel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 5/5 3/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years. 10 to 12 years
Height 18 to 23 inches. 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 2/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 4/5
Weight 35 to 55 pounds. 45 to 65 pounds
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1000 No Data
Price Range $1000 – $1000 No Data
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 Braque du Bourbonnais 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 Braque du Bourbonnais is 82 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 Braque du Bourbonnais is a better pet than the Irish Water Spaniel. So, you should get the Braque du Bourbonnais!

    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 Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to groom.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to train.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
    • Both the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    Size Comparison of Braque du Bourbonnais versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss weigh 35 to 55 pounds. when fully grown. Braque du Bourbonnaiss are 18 to 23 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.

    Lifespan of Braque du Bourbonnais versus Irish Water Spaniel

    The lifespan of Braque du Bourbonnaiss is between 12 to 15 years. . The average lifespan of Braque du Bourbonnaiss is 13.5 years.

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

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss live longer than Irish Water Spaniels.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Braque du Bourbonnais versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Braque du Bourbonnaiss shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss 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 Braque du Bourbonnais or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss 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 Braque du Bourbonnais or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss are very easy to groom.

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Braque du Bourbonnais Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss 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 Braque du Bourbonnaiss Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Braque du Bourbonnaiss Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Braque du Bourbonnais vs. Irish Water Spaniel

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss 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 Braque du Bourbonnaiss Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss 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 Braque du Bourbonnais or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Braque du Bourbonnaiss good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss 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 Braque du Bourbonnaiss and Irish Water Spaniels?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Braque du Bourbonnais Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss are very easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Is the Braque du Bourbonnais Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Braque du Bourbonnais or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Braque du Bourbonnaiss are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Conclusion: Braque du Bourbonnais 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 Braque du Bourbonnais and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.