Is the Dutch Shepherd Better than the Irish Water Spaniel as a Pet? Answer…

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Dutch Shepherd Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

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

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

Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Dutch Shepherd belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

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.

Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Dutch Shepherd 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.

Factor Dutch Shepherd Irish Water Spaniel
Life Span 12 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 2/5 5/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 25 inches 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 4/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 2/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Weight 50 to 70 pounds 45 to 65 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1590 No Data
Price Range $900 – $2000 No Data
Temperament Score 96.2 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
    		•

    *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 Dutch Shepherd 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 a Dutch Shepherd is 85 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125.

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

    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 Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

  • Dutch Shepherds are not very friendly towards strangers. However, Irish Water Spaniels are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Dutch Shepherds 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel are very playful.
  • Both the Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to train.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Water Spaniel

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

    Dutch Shepherds weigh 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Dutch Shepherds are 21 to 25 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.

    Temperament of the Dutch Shepherd Versus the Irish Water Spaniel

    The Dutch Shepherd has a better temperament than the Irish Water Spaniel.

    This is because the temperament score for the Dutch Shepherd is 96.2 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 they 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 96.2 percent, the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 26 Dutch Shepherds and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Dutch Shepherd versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Dutch Shepherds do not like to be left alone.

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

    Which one drools more, the Dutch Shepherd or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Dutch Shepherds do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

    Do Dutch Shepherds Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Dutch Shepherds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

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

    Wanderlust Potential: Dutch Shepherd vs. Irish Water Spaniel

    Dutch Shepherds 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.

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Dutch Shepherds adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    Dutch Shepherds are OK for new dog owners.

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

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

    Dutch Shepherds are moderately easy to groom.

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

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

    Dutch Shepherds 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.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Dutch Shepherds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Dutch Shepherds can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Are Dutch Shepherds good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Dutch Shepherds 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 Dutch Shepherds and Irish Water Spaniels?

    Dutch Shepherds get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

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

    Dutch Shepherds get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Dutch Shepherds shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    Dutch Shepherds 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.

    Is the Dutch Shepherd Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Dutch Shepherds are very easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Dutch Shepherd

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Dutch Shepherd 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 Dutch Shepherd:

  • French Spaniel (80 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs French Spaniel.
  • Japanese Spitz (79 percent match with Dutch Shepherd). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Japanese Spitz.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Water Spaniel

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

  • Kerry Blue Terrier (78 percent match with Irish Water Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Dutch Shepherd vs Kerry Blue Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Dutch Shepherd and how the Irish Water Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Dutch Shepherd and of the Irish Water Spaniel to other breeds:

    Dutch Shepherd Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Dutch Shepherd versus Pomchi     Dutch Shepherd versus Ibizan Hound     Dutch Shepherd versus Portuguese Water Dog     Dutch Shepherd versus Valley Bulldog     Dutch Shepherd versus Miniature Poodle     Dutch Shepherd versus Kai Ken     Dutch Shepherd versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Dutch Shepherd versus Basset Hound     Dutch Shepherd versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Dutch Shepherd versus Bordoodle     

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Coton de Tulear     Irish Water Spaniel versus American Hairless Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Brussels Griffon     Irish Water Spaniel versus Havanese     Irish Water Spaniel versus Lancashire Heeler     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pomeranian     Irish Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees     Irish Water Spaniel versus Manchester Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Black Mouth Cur     

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