Breed Comparison: Coton de Tulear Versus Irish Terrier

Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

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Coton de Tulear Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear 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 more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear or the Irish Terrier

Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Coton de Tulear is a tiny-sized dog while the Irish Terrier is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Coton de Tulear 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.

Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Coton de Tulear 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.

Factor Coton de Tulear Irish Terrier
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 5/5 4/5
Life Span 14 to 16 years 12 to 16 years
Easy To Groom 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 1/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 3/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
General Health 5/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Height 8 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight 8 to 13 pounds 25 to 27 pounds
Average Lifespan 15.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $2060 $1280
Price Range $1745 – $2500 $1000 – $1500
Temperament Score 80.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Exam
  • Eye Examination
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 74 118

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Coton de Tulear 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 a Coton de Tulear is 94 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.

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

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

    Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are most different:

  • Coton de Tulears do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Coton de Tulears get along well with other dogs. However, Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier

    The Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier.

    Coton de Tulears weigh 8 to 13 pounds when fully grown. Coton de Tulears are 8 to 12 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.

    Price of Coton de Tulear versus Price of Irish Terrier

    The average price of the Coton de Tulear puppy is $2060. The price of the Coton de Tulear typically ranges from $1745 – $2500. However, the price of a Coton de Tulear can be as low as $1000 and as high as $3200. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 127 Coton de Tulear 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 a 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 Coton de Tulear is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.

    Coton de Tulear Irish Terrier
    Average Price $2060 $1280
    Price Range $1745 to $2500 $1000 to $1500

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Coton de Tulears. 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 Coton de Tulear 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 from 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 one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

    Adopting the Coton de Tulear versus Adopting the Irish Terrier

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Coton de Tulears and many Irish Terriers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Coton de Tulear named Chef that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Coton de Tulears like Chef on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Coton de Tulears, Irish Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Theodore Bulldozer is a Male Irish Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Irish Terriers like Theodore Bulldozer that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Coton de Tulears and Irish Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

    The Popularity of Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Coton de Tulear is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Coton de Tulear is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Coton de Tulear

    Popularity of Coton de Tulear

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Year Coton de Tulear Popularity Rank Irish Terrier Popularity Rank
    2014 31.0 125
    2015 85.0 113
    2016 80.0 115
    2017 81.0 114
    2018 81.0 116
    2019 81.0 119
    2020 80.0 120
    2013 no data 123

    Tolerates Being Alone: Coton de Tulear versus Irish Terrier

    Coton de Tulears do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Coton de Tulears shed more than Irish Terriers?

    Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulear or the Irish Terrier

    Coton de Tulears do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Does the Coton de Tulear Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?

    Coton de Tulears 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.

    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.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Coton de Tulear or the Irish Terrier?

    Coton de Tulears 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.

    Do Coton de Tulears Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?

    Coton de Tulears are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Coton de Tulears can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Coton de Tulears Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Coton de Tulears can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Coton de Tulear Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?

    Coton de Tulears are fairly easy to train.

    Irish Terriers are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Coton de Tulear vs. Irish Terrier

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

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

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Coton de Tulear or the Irish Terrier?

    Coton de Tulears are very good for new dog owners.

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

    Is the Coton de Tulear Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?

    Coton de Tulears adapt very well to apartment living.

    Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Are Coton de Tulears good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?

    Coton de Tulears 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 Coton de Tulears and Irish Terriers?

    Coton de Tulears get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Coton de Tulear or the Irish Terrier?

    Coton de Tulears get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Coton de Tulear

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear:

  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (78 percent match with Coton de Tulear). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
  • Cavachon (78 percent match with Coton de Tulear). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Cavachon.
  • Shichon (78 percent match with Coton de Tulear). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs Shichon.
  • 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 Coton de Tulear vs Hovawart.
  • Lakeland Terrier (79 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Coton de Tulear vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Coton de Tulear Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Coton de Tulear versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Coton de Tulear versus Schnoodle     Coton de Tulear versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Coton de Tulear versus Belgian Malinois     Coton de Tulear versus Cocker Spaniel     Coton de Tulear versus Basset Hound     Coton de Tulear versus Cockapoo     Coton de Tulear versus Lhasa Apso     Coton de Tulear versus Bracco Italiano     Coton de Tulear versus Bordoodle     

    Irish Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Terrier versus Field Spaniel     Irish Terrier versus Polish Lowland Sheepdog     Irish Terrier versus Standard Poodle     Irish Terrier versus Weimaraner     Irish Terrier versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Irish Terrier versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Irish Terrier versus Aussiedoodle     Irish Terrier versus Bichon Frise     Irish Terrier versus English Cocker Spaniel     Irish Terrier versus Bluetick Coonhound     

    Conclusion: Coton de Tulear 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 Coton de Tulear and the Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.