Which is Better between the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier? A Very Detailed Review.

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Chinese Crested Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier? 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 Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier 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 Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier 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 Chinese Crested and for the Irish Terrier. 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 Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier.

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

Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Chinese Crested is a small-sized dog while the Irish Terrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Chinese Crested 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 Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Chinese Crested to the Irish Terrier 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 Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier

Factor Chinese Crested Irish Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 5/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 5/5 2/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 16 years
Height 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Does NOT Shed 4/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 4/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Intelligence 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 3/5 5/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
General Health 5/5 5/5
Weight Up to 12 pounds 25 to 27 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $1430 $1280
Price Range $1000 – $1600 $1000 – $1500
Temperament Score 76.5 percent 80.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Eye Examination- Yearly Exams Recommended
  • Hip Dysplasia/Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • prcd-PRA DNA Test
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • RCD3-PRA DNA Test
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 75 118
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 61 53

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Chinese Crested 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 Terrier. 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 Chinese Crested is 87 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Chinese Crested is a better pet than the Irish Terrier. So, you should get the Chinese Crested!

    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 Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are most different:

  • Chinese Cresteds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold. However, Irish Terriers can tolerate cold weather.
  • Chinese Cresteds do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful. However, Irish Terriers do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Chinese Cresteds have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time. However, Irish Terriers have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Chinese Cresteds get along well with other dogs. However, Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Chinese Cresteds are very easy to train. However, Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
  • Chinese Cresteds are prone to nip and chew at things. However, Irish Terriers are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • The Similarities Between the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier

    The Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier.

    Chinese Cresteds weigh Up to 12 pounds when fully grown. Chinese Cresteds are 11 to 13 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Irish Terriers weigh 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. Irish Terriers are 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

    The lifespan of Chinese Cresteds is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Chinese Cresteds is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Irish Terriers is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Irish Terriers is 14.0 years.

    Irish Terriers live longer than Chinese Cresteds.

    Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

    Temperament of the Chinese Crested Versus the Irish Terrier

    The Irish Terrier has a better temperament than the Chinese Crested.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Terrier is 80.0 percent while the temperament score for the Chinese Crested is 76.5 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 76.5 percent, the Chinese Crested has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 80.0 percent, the Irish Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 34 Chinese Cresteds and 10 Irish Terriers.

    Price of Chinese Crested versus Price of Irish Terrier

    The average price of the Chinese Crested puppy is $1430. The price of the Chinese Crested typically ranges from $1000 – $1600. However, the price of a Chinese Crested can be as low as $500 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 157 Chinese Crested puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Irish Terrier puppy is $1280. The price of the Irish Terrier typically ranges from $1000 – $1500. However, the price of the Irish Terrier can be as low as $450 and as high as $2800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 26 Irish Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Chinese Crested is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.

    Chinese Crested Irish Terrier
    Average Price $1430 $1280
    Price Range $1000 to $1600 $1000 to $1500

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Chinese Cresteds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Chinese Cresteds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Chinese Crested puppy or the Irish Terrier 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.

    Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

    The Intelligence of the Chinese Crested versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier

    Chinese Crested Irish Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 61 out of 130 dog breeds 53 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Chinese Crested has an obedience intelligence rank of 61 out of 130 dog breeds. The Chinese Crested belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Chinese Cresteds tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Irish Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Irish Terrier is more intelligent than the Chinese Crested.

    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.

    The Popularity of Chinese Crested versus Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Chinese Crested is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Chinese Crested is 75 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Chinese Crested

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Year Chinese Crested Popularity Rank Irish Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 68 123
    2014 65 125
    2015 75 113
    2016 77 115
    2017 79 114
    2018 79 116
    2019 80 119
    2020 79 120

    Tolerates Being Alone: Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier

    Chinese Cresteds do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Chinese Cresteds shed more than Irish Terriers?

    Chinese Cresteds do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Chinese Crested or the Irish Terrier

    Chinese Cresteds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Chinese Crested or the Irish Terrier?

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

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

    Does the Chinese Crested Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Chinese Cresteds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?

    Chinese Cresteds bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Chinese Cresteds cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Chinese Crested vs. Irish Terrier

    Chinese Cresteds do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

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

    Can Chinese Cresteds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Chinese Cresteds can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Chinese Crested or the Irish Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Chinese Cresteds good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?

    Chinese Cresteds are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Chinese Cresteds and Irish Terriers?

    Chinese Cresteds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Chinese Crested Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds are very easy to train.

    Irish Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Chinese Crested Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Chinese Crested or the Irish Terrier?

    Chinese Cresteds are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Chinese Crested

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Chinese Crested 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 Chinese Crested:

  • Bolognese (75 percent match with Chinese Crested). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Bolognese.
  • Japanese Chin (75 percent match with Chinese Crested). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Japanese Chin.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Irish Terrier 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 Terrier:

  • Hovawart (75 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs Hovawart.
  • Lakeland Terrier (79 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Chinese Crested vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Chinese Crested and how the Irish Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Chinese Crested and of the Irish Terrier to other breeds:

    Chinese Crested Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Chinese Crested versus Lakeland Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Patterdale Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Shiba Inu     Chinese Crested versus Miniature Poodle     Chinese Crested versus Aussiedoodle     Chinese Crested versus Brussels Griffon     Chinese Crested versus Cockalier     Chinese Crested versus Rottweiler     Chinese Crested versus Border Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Berger Picard     Chinese Crested versus Patterdale Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Redbone Coonhound     Chinese Crested versus Mudi     Chinese Crested versus Saluki     Chinese Crested versus American Eskimo Dog     Chinese Crested versus Weimaraner     Chinese Crested versus Valley Bulldog     Chinese Crested versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Puggle     Chinese Crested versus Beagle     Chinese Crested versus Cesky Terrier     Chinese Crested versus Mountain Cur     Chinese Crested versus Cane Corso     Chinese Crested versus Dalmatian     Chinese Crested versus English Setter     

    Irish Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Terrier versus Basset Hound     Irish Terrier versus Yorkipoo     Irish Terrier versus Plott     Irish Terrier versus Cairn Terrier     Irish Terrier versus Papillon     Irish Terrier versus Siberian Husky     Irish Terrier versus Shihpoo     Irish Terrier versus Papillon     Irish Terrier versus Chi-Poo     Irish Terrier versus Field Spaniel     Irish Terrier versus Puli     Irish Terrier versus Cane Corso     Irish Terrier versus Portuguese Pointer     Irish Terrier versus Borzoi     Irish Terrier versus Lakeland Terrier     Irish Terrier versus Affenhuahua     Irish Terrier versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Irish Terrier versus Chihuahua     Irish Terrier versus Pug     Irish Terrier versus Boerboel     Irish Terrier versus Bich Poo     Irish Terrier versus Sealyham Terrier     Irish Terrier versus Greyhound     Irish Terrier versus Fila Brasileiro     

    Conclusion: Chinese Crested versus Irish Terrier. 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 Chinese Crested and the Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.