Quick Links: Table of Contents
- French Bulldog Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction
- French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview
- French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel
- The Similarities Between the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel
- Size (Weight and Height) of French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel Versus the French Bulldog
- The Intelligence of the French Bulldog versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel
- The Popularity of French Bulldog versus Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel
- Health Problems of French Bulldog versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Which one drools more, the French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel
- Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Does the French Bulldog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Wanderlust Potential: French Bulldog vs. Irish Water Spaniel
- Do French Bulldogs shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?
- Do French Bulldogs Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
- How Kid-friendly are French Bulldogs and Irish Water Spaniels?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Is the French Bulldog Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Bulldog
- Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Water Spaniel
- Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You
- Conclusion: French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
French Bulldog Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel
French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview
A very important difference between the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The French Bulldog is a small-sized dog while the Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the French Bulldog 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 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.
French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the French Bulldog 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 | French Bulldog | Irish Water Spaniel |
|---|---|---|
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 1/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Height | 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder |
| Life Span | 11 to 14 years | 10 to 12 years |
| Weight | 16 to 28 pounds | 45 to 65 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| General Health | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Easygoing | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Average Lifespan | 12.5 years | 11.0 years |
| Average Price | $4610 | No Data |
| Price Range | $3100 – $5000 | No Data |
| Temperament Score | 96.2 percent | 90.0 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests |
|
|
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 5 | 156 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 58 | 24 |
*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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog is 86 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 French Bulldog is a better pet than the Irish Water Spaniel. So, you should get the French Bulldog!
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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel
Below is a list of where the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel are most different:
The Similarities Between the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel
The French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel.
French Bulldogs weigh 16 to 28 pounds when fully grown. French Bulldogs are 11 to 12 inches tall at the shoulder 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 Irish Water Spaniel Versus the French Bulldog
The French Bulldog has a better temperament than the Irish Water Spaniel.
This is because the temperament score for the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 52 French Bulldogs and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.
The Intelligence of the French Bulldog versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel
| French Bulldog | Irish Water Spaniel | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 58 out of 130 dog breeds | 24 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions! | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 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:
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 French Bulldog has an obedience intelligence rank of 58 out of 130 dog breeds. The French Bulldog belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that French Bulldogs tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.
The Irish Water Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 24 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Water Spaniel belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Irish Water Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The Irish Water Spaniel is more intelligent than the French Bulldog.
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 French Bulldog versus Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel
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 French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the French Bulldog is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the French Bulldog is 5 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Water Spaniel is 156 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of French Bulldog
Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel
| Year | French Bulldog Popularity Rank | Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 11 | 141 |
| 2014 | 9 | 152 |
| 2015 | 6 | 144 |
| 2016 | 6 | 150 |
| 2017 | 4 | 164 |
| 2018 | 4 | 159 |
| 2019 | 4 | 170 |
| 2020 | 2 | 174 |
Health Problems of French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Water Spaniel.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the French Bulldog than for the Irish Water Spaniel.
7 health tests are recommended for French Bulldog while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in French Bulldogs and in Irish Water Spaniels.
French Bulldog Health Problems
French Bulldogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your French Bulldog 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 French Bulldogs for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for French Bulldogs 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.
More Discussions on Health Problems in French Bulldogs and Irish Water Spaniels
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the French Bulldog Breed is Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems.
This is because the French Bulldog ranks 1 out of 5 dog breeds for Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 55 French Bulldogs, 33 of them had Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in French Bulldogs, and how common these diseases are in French Bulldogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Irish Water Spaniel Breed is Advanced Cardiac problems.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks 5 out of 71 dog breeds for Advanced Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 111 Irish Water Spaniels, 7 of them had Advanced Cardiac problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Irish Water Spaniels, and how common these diseases are in Irish Water Spaniels relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
The table below lists the common health problems in French Bulldog and in Irish Water Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel:
| Disease | French Bulldog Rank | Irish Water Spaniel Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems | 1 out of 5 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Cystinuria problems | 2 out of 6 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Tracheal Hypoplasia problems | 3 out of 4 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Canine Multifocal Retinopathy problems | 4 out of 6 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Dentition Database problems | 9 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Legg-Calve-Perthes problems | 15 out of 40 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Baer Hearing Test problems | 16 out of 21 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Hips problems | 22 out of 198 dog breeds | 104 out of 198 dog breeds |
| Patella problems | 25 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Degenerative Myelopathy problems | 34 out of 70 dog breeds | Not Common |
| Elbow problems | 63 out of 144 dog breeds | 31 out of 144 dog breeds |
| Eyes problems | 77 out of 182 dog breeds | 150 out of 182 dog breeds |
| Thyroid problems | 107 out of 115 dog breeds | 105 out of 115 dog breeds |
| Advanced Cardiac problems | Not Common | 5 out of 71 dog breeds |
| Congenital Cardiac problems | Not Common | 9 out of 159 dog breeds |
| Shoulder problems | Not Common | 18 out of 22 dog breeds |
*To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.
Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.
Tolerates Being Alone: French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel
French Bulldogs do not like to be left alone.
Irish Water Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.
Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
French Bulldogs cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
Which one drools more, the French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel
French Bulldogs do have a very low tendency to drool.
Irish Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
Can French Bulldogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
French Bulldogs cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Does the French Bulldog Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?
French Bulldogs 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: French Bulldog vs. Irish Water Spaniel
French Bulldogs 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.
Do French Bulldogs shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?
French Bulldogs shed moderately.
Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Do French Bulldogs Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
French Bulldogs bark and howl, but not very much.
Irish Water Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
How Kid-friendly are French Bulldogs and Irish Water Spaniels?
French Bulldogs 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 French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
French Bulldogs get along very well with other dogs.
Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Is the French Bulldog Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?
French Bulldogs are very easy to train.
Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.
Is the French Bulldog Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?
French Bulldogs adapt very well to apartment living.
Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
French Bulldogs are very good for new dog owners.
Irish Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Are French Bulldogs good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
French Bulldogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Irish Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Which is Easier to Groom, the French Bulldog or the Irish Water Spaniel?
French Bulldogs are very easy to groom.
Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.
Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the French Bulldog
Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog:
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 French Bulldog and how the Irish Water Spaniel compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the French Bulldog and of the Irish Water Spaniel to other breeds:
French Bulldog Versus Other Dog Breeds
French Bulldog versus Newfoundland French Bulldog versus Irish Water Spaniel French Bulldog versus Schipperke French Bulldog versus Puli French Bulldog versus Chinese Shar-Pei French Bulldog versus Japanese Spitz French Bulldog versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle French Bulldog versus Lakeland Terrier French Bulldog versus Norwegian Lundehund
Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds
Irish Water Spaniel versus Spanish Mastiff Irish Water Spaniel versus Brussels Griffon Irish Water Spaniel versus Berger Picard Irish Water Spaniel versus Morkie Irish Water Spaniel versus Cockalier Irish Water Spaniel versus Bernedoodle Irish Water Spaniel versus Cockalier Irish Water Spaniel versus Bulldog Irish Water Spaniel versus Treeing Walker Coonhound Irish Water Spaniel versus Clumber Spaniel
Conclusion: French Bulldog 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 French Bulldog and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.