Which is Better between the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier? A Very Detailed Review.

Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

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Field Spaniel Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel or the Irish Terrier

Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier: Overview

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

Furthermore, the Field 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.

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.

Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel Irish Terrier
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 16 years
Does NOT Bark or Howl 4/5 2/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 2/5
General Health 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Weight 37 to 45 pounds 25 to 27 pounds
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 1/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 1/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 14.0 years
Average Price $4640 $1280
Price Range $2900 – $5000 $1000 – $1500
Temperament Score 85.7 percent 80.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend testing at 2, 4, 6, and 8 years of age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 147 118
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 34 53

    *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 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel is 79 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.

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

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

    Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are most different:

  • Field Spaniels get along well with other dogs. However, Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • Field Spaniels are very easy to train. However, Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier

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

  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier.

    Field Spaniels weigh 37 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Field Spaniels are 1 foot, 4 inches to 1 foot, 7 inches tall at the s 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.

    Temperament of the Irish Terrier Versus the Field Spaniel

    The Field Spaniel has a better temperament than the Irish Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Field Spaniel is 85.7 percent while the temperament score for the Irish Terrier is 80.0 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 85.7 percent, the Field Spaniel has an above-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 Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 14 Field Spaniels and 10 Irish Terriers.

    Price of Field Spaniel versus Price of Irish Terrier

    The average price of the Field Spaniel puppy is $4640. The price of the Field Spaniel typically ranges from $2900 – $5000. However, the price of a Field Spaniel can be as low as $1800 and as high as $10000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 5 Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.

    Field Spaniel Irish Terrier
    Average Price $4640 $1280
    Price Range $2900 to $5000 $1000 to $1500

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Field Spaniels. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Field Spaniels. 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 Field Spaniel 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.

    Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    The Intelligence of the Field Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier

    Field Spaniel Irish Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 34 out of 130 dog breeds 53 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Field Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 34 out of 130 dog breeds. The Field Spaniel belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Field Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 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 Field Spaniel is more intelligent than the Irish Terrier.

    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.

    Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    The Popularity of Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Field Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Field Spaniel is 147 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Field Spaniel

    Popularity of Field Spaniel

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Popularity of Irish Terrier

    Year Field Spaniel Popularity Rank Irish Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 140 123
    2014 137 125
    2015 145 113
    2016 147 115
    2017 145 114
    2018 149 116
    2019 153 119
    2020 160 120

    Is the Field Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?

    Field Spaniels do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Field Spaniel versus Irish Terrier

    Field Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Field Spaniel or the Irish Terrier

    Field Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Field Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?

    Field Spaniels 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.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Field Spaniel or the Irish Terrier?

    Field Spaniels are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Can Field Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Field Spaniels can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Do Field Spaniels shed more than Irish Terriers?

    Field Spaniels shed moderately.

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

    Can Field Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Field Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Field Spaniel or the Irish Terrier?

    Field Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Field Spaniel or the Irish Terrier?

    Field Spaniels are very easy to groom.

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

    Does the Field Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?

    Field 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.

    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.

    Are Field Spaniels good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?

    Field Spaniels 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 Field Spaniels and Irish Terriers?

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

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

    Is the Field Spaniel Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?

    Field Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Irish Terriers are not easy to train.

    Wanderlust Potential: Field Spaniel vs. Irish Terrier

    Field Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily 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.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Field Spaniel

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

  • German Shorthaired Pointer (83 percent match with Field Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs German Shorthaired Pointer.
  • English Springer Spaniel (84 percent match with Field Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Irish Terrier vs English Springer Spaniel.
  • 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 Field Spaniel vs Hovawart.
  • Lakeland Terrier (79 percent match with Irish Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Field Spaniel vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Field Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Field Spaniel versus Welsh Terrier     Field Spaniel versus Sloughi     Field Spaniel versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Field Spaniel versus Mountain Cur     Field Spaniel versus Curly-Coated Retriever     Field Spaniel versus Caucasian Shepherd Dog     Field Spaniel versus Chorkie     Field Spaniel versus Anatolian Shepherd Dog     Field Spaniel versus Spanish Mastiff     Field Spaniel versus Basset Hound     

    Irish Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Terrier versus Bouvier des Flandres     Irish Terrier versus Skye Terrier     Irish Terrier versus Cavachon     Irish Terrier versus Aussiedoodle     Irish Terrier versus Frenchton     Irish Terrier versus Patterdale Terrier     Irish Terrier versus American Water Spaniel     Irish Terrier versus Shiba Inu     Irish Terrier versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Irish Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Field Spaniel 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 Field Spaniel and the Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.