Finnish Spitz versus Irish Wolfhound. Final Verdict on Which is a Better Pet.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Finnish Spitz Versus Irish Wolfhound: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound? 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 Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound 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 Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound 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 Finnish Spitz and for the Irish Wolfhound. 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 Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Finnish Spitz or the Irish Wolfhound

Finnish Spitz versus Irish Wolfhound: Overview

A very important difference between the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Finnish Spitz is a medium-sized dog while the Irish Wolfhound is a giant-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Finnish Spitz 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 Wolfhound belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Finnish Spitz versus Irish Wolfhound: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Finnish Spitz to the Irish Wolfhound 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 Finnish Spitz Irish Wolfhound
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 12 to 15 years 6 to 8 years
Height 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Weight 20 to 35 pounds 115 to 180 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
General Health 4/5 1/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 1/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 13.5 years 7.0 years
Average Price $900 $1930
Price Range $600 – $1100 $1500 – $2400
Temperament Score 72.7 percent 90.1 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests No Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 179 73
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 43 41

    *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 Finnish Spitz 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 Wolfhound. 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 Finnish Spitz is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Irish Wolfhound is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Wolfhound is a better pet than the Finnish Spitz. So, you should get the Irish Wolfhound!

    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 Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound

    Below is a list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound are most different:

  • Finnish Spitzs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds However, Irish Wolfhounds have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Finnish Spitzs have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy. However, Irish Wolfhounds have low energy levels. They do not require a lot exercise time.

    • The Similarities Between the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound

    The Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound are most similar:

  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Finnish Spitz versus Irish Wolfhound

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound.

    Finnish Spitzs weigh 20 to 35 pounds when fully grown. Finnish Spitzs are 15 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Irish Wolfhounds weigh 115 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Irish Wolfhounds are 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Finnish Spitz Versus the Irish Wolfhound

    The Irish Wolfhound has a better temperament than the Finnish Spitz.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Wolfhound is 90.1 percent while the temperament score for the Finnish Spitz is 72.7 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 72.7 percent, the Finnish Spitz has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 90.1 percent, the Irish Wolfhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound by measuring the temperaments of 11 Finnish Spitzs and 101 Irish Wolfhounds.

    Price of Finnish Spitz versus Price of Irish Wolfhound

    The average price of the Finnish Spitz puppy is $900. The price of the Finnish Spitz typically ranges from $600 – $1100. However, the price of a Finnish Spitz can be as low as $500 and as high as $1500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 3 Finnish Spitz puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Irish Wolfhound puppy is $1930. The price of the Irish Wolfhound typically ranges from $1500 – $2400. However, the price of a Irish Wolfhound can be as low as $720 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 91 Irish Wolfhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more expensive than the Finnish Spitz.

    Finnish Spitz Irish Wolfhound
    Average Price $900 $1930
    Price Range $600 to $1100 $1500 to $2400

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

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Finnish Spitzs. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Finnish Spitz puppy or the Irish Wolfhound 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.

    The Intelligence of the Finnish Spitz versus the Intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound

    Finnish Spitz Irish Wolfhound
    Intelligence Rank 43 out of 130 dog breeds 41 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Finnish Spitz has an obedience intelligence rank of 43 out of 130 dog breeds. The Finnish Spitz belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Finnish Spitzs tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Irish Wolfhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Wolfhounds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more intelligent than the Finnish Spitz.

    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 Finnish Spitz versus Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    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 Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Wolfhound is more popular with dog owners than the Finnish Spitz. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Wolfhound is 73 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Finnish Spitz is 179 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Finnish Spitz

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Year Finnish Spitz Popularity Rank Irish Wolfhound Popularity Rank
    2013 170 73
    2014 174 72
    2015 178 69
    2016 179 73
    2017 177 73
    2018 184 76
    2019 183 76
    2020 187 74

    Tolerates Being Alone: Finnish Spitz versus Irish Wolfhound

    Finnish Spitzs do not like to be left alone.

    Irish Wolfhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Which one drools more, the Finnish Spitz or the Irish Wolfhound

    Finnish Spitzs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Irish Wolfhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Finnish Spitz or the Irish Wolfhound?

    Finnish Spitzs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Irish Wolfhounds are moderately easy to groom.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Wolfhound?

    Finnish Spitzs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Irish Wolfhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Finnish Spitz or the Irish Wolfhound?

    Finnish Spitzs are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Irish Wolfhounds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Is the Finnish Spitz Easier to Train than the Irish Wolfhound?

    Finnish Spitzs are fairly easy to train.

    Irish Wolfhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Does the Finnish Spitz Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Wolfhound?

    Finnish Spitzs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Irish Wolfhounds 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.

    Do Finnish Spitzs shed more than Irish Wolfhounds?

    Finnish Spitzs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Irish Wolfhounds shed moderately.

    Wanderlust Potential: Finnish Spitz vs. Irish Wolfhound

    Finnish Spitzs have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

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

    Can Finnish Spitzs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Finnish Spitzs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Wolfhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Are Finnish Spitzs good family dogs? What about Irish Wolfhounds?

    Finnish Spitzs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

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

    How Kid-friendly are Finnish Spitzs and Irish Wolfhounds?

    Finnish Spitzs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Finnish Spitz or the Irish Wolfhound?

    Finnish Spitzs get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Wolfhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Do Finnish Spitzs Bark and Howl? What about Irish Wolfhounds?

    Finnish Spitzs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Finnish Spitz

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Finnish Spitz 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 Finnish Spitz:

  • Bearded Collie (78 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Bearded Collie.
  • West Highland White Terrier (79 percent match with Finnish Spitz). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs West Highland White Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Wolfhound

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

  • Bracco Italiano (74 percent match with Irish Wolfhound). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Cavapoo (72 percent match with Irish Wolfhound). Here is our comparison of the Finnish Spitz vs Cavapoo.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Finnish Spitz and how the Irish Wolfhound compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Finnish Spitz and of the Irish Wolfhound to other breeds:

    Finnish Spitz Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Finnish Spitz versus Plott     Finnish Spitz versus Pomeranian     Finnish Spitz versus German Pinscher     Finnish Spitz versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Finnish Spitz versus Westiepoo     Finnish Spitz versus Peek A Poo     Finnish Spitz versus Doberman Pinscher     Finnish Spitz versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Finnish Spitz versus Saint Berdoodle     Finnish Spitz versus Japanese Spitz     

    Irish Wolfhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Wolfhound versus Dalmatian     Irish Wolfhound versus Boston Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Portuguese Water Dog     Irish Wolfhound versus Beaglier     Irish Wolfhound versus Norwich Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Black Russian Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Mastiff     Irish Wolfhound versus Tibetan Mastiff     Irish Wolfhound versus Vizsla     

    Conclusion: Finnish Spitz versus Irish Wolfhound. 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 Finnish Spitz and the Irish Wolfhound better suits you and your family.