Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction
- Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview
- Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel
- Size (Weight and Height) of Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Health Problems of Estrela Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel
- Does the Estrela Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Wanderlust Potential: Estrela Mountain Dog vs. Irish Water Spaniel
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Tolerates Being Alone: Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Which one drools more, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel
- Do Estrela Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
- Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Do Estrela Mountain Dogs shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?
- Is the Estrela Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Are Estrela Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
- How Kid-friendly are Estrela Mountain Dogs and Irish Water Spaniels?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Estrela Mountain Dog
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Water Spaniel
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel
Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Estrela Mountain Dog is a large-sized dog while the Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Estrela Mountain Dog 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.
Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Estrela Mountain Dog 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 | Estrela Mountain Dog | Irish Water Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 11 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Easygoing | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Height | 24 to 30 inches | 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder |
| Good For Novice Owners | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Weight | 75 to 130 pounds | 45 to 65 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 13.0 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $2000 | No Data |
| Price Range | $2000 – $2000 | No Data |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
*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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog is a better pet than the Irish Water Spaniel. So, you should get the Estrela Mountain Dog!
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 Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel
Below is a list of where the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel
The Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Estrela Mountain Dogs weigh 75 to 130 pounds when fully grown. Estrela Mountain Dogs are 24 to 30 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.
Health Problems of Estrela Mountain Dog versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel
Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.
Both the Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.
The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.
Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Estrela Mountain Dog.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Irish Water Spaniel than for the Estrela Mountain Dog.
4 health tests are recommended for Estrela Mountain Dog while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Estrela Mountain Dogs and in Irish Water Spaniels.
Estrela Mountain Dog Health Problems
Estrela Mountain Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Estrela Mountain Dog puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Estrela Mountain Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Estrela Mountain Dog breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Estrela Mountain Dogs for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Estrela Mountain Dogs here.
Irish Water Spaniel Health Problems
Irish Water Spaniels are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Irish Water Spaniel puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.
The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.
If you want a Irish Water Spaniel puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Irish Water Spaniel breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.
The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Irish Water Spaniels for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Water Spaniels here.
Is the Estrela Mountain Dog Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?
Estrela Mountain Dogs do not adapt well to apartment living.
Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Does the Estrela Mountain Dog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?
Estrela Mountain Dogs 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 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.
Wanderlust Potential: Estrela Mountain Dog vs. Irish Water Spaniel
Estrela Mountain Dogs 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.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
Estrela Mountain Dogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
Estrela Mountain Dogs are OK for new dog owners.
Irish Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Tolerates Being Alone: Estrela Mountain Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel
Estrela Mountain Dogs can be left alone only for a short time.
Irish Water Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.
Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Estrela Mountain Dogs 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 Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
Estrela Mountain Dogs get along fairly well with other dogs.
Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Which one drools more, the Estrela Mountain Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel
Estrela Mountain Dogs drool moderately.
Irish Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
Do Estrela Mountain Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
Estrela Mountain Dogs bark and howl, but not very much.
Irish Water Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Estrela Mountain Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Estrela Mountain Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.
Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Do Estrela Mountain Dogs shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?
Estrela Mountain Dogs 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 Estrela Mountain Dog Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?
Estrela Mountain Dogs are very easy to train.
Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.
Are Estrela Mountain Dogs good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
Estrela Mountain Dogs 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 Estrela Mountain Dogs and Irish Water Spaniels?
Estrela Mountain Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Irish Water Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Estrela Mountain Dog
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog:
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:
Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
You may also be interested in how the Estrela Mountain Dog and how the Irish Water Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Estrela Mountain Dog and of the Irish Water Spaniel to other breeds:
Estrela Mountain Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds
Estrela Mountain Dog versus Bedlington Terrier Estrela Mountain Dog versus Cane Corso Estrela Mountain Dog versus Brittany Estrela Mountain Dog versus Pharaoh Hound Estrela Mountain Dog versus Bernedoodle Estrela Mountain Dog versus Akita Chow Estrela Mountain Dog versus Dalmatian Estrela Mountain Dog versus Bearded Collie Estrela Mountain Dog versus Goldendoodle Estrela Mountain Dog versus Great Pyrenees
Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds
Irish Water Spaniel versus Lakeland Terrier Irish Water Spaniel versus Canaan Dog Irish Water Spaniel versus Affenpinscher Irish Water Spaniel versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle Irish Water Spaniel versus Irish Setter Irish Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees Irish Water Spaniel versus Sloughi Irish Water Spaniel versus Norfolk Terrier Irish Water Spaniel versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier Irish Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees
Conclusion: Estrela Mountain Dog 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 Estrela Mountain Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.