A Detailed Comparison of the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel.

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German Shepherd Dog Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel.

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

German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog is a large-sized dog while the Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, the German Shepherd 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.

German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the German Shepherd 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.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel

Factor German Shepherd Dog Irish Water Spaniel
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 14 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 2/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 4/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 5/5
Intelligence 5/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 75 to 95 pounds 45 to 65 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1280 No Data
Price Range $800 – $1500 No Data
Temperament Score 85.3 percent 90.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 2 156
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 3 24

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the German Shepherd 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 the German Shepherd Dog is 77 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125.

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

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

  • German Shepherd Dogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies. However, Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    • The Similarities Between the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel are very playful.

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

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

    German Shepherd Dogs weigh 75 to 95 pounds when fully grown. German Shepherd Dogs are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet, 2 inches tall 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.

    Lifespan of German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel

    The lifespan of German Shepherd Dogs is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of German Shepherd Dogs is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Irish Water Spaniels is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Irish Water Spaniels is 11.0 years.

    German Shepherd Dogs live longer than Irish Water Spaniels.

    Temperament of the German Shepherd Dog Versus the Irish Water Spaniel

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

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the German Shepherd Dog is 85.3 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 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 85.3 percent, the German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 3383 German Shepherd Dogs and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.

    The Intelligence of the German Shepherd Dog versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel

    German Shepherd Dog Irish Water Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 3 out of 130 dog breeds 24 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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:

  • 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 German Shepherd Dog has an obedience intelligence rank of 3 out of 130 dog breeds. The German Shepherd Dog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that German Shepherd Dogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 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 German Shepherd Dog is more intelligent than the Irish Water Spaniel.

    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 German Shepherd Dog 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 German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the German Shepherd Dog is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the German Shepherd Dog is 2 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 German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of German Shepherd Dog

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Year German Shepherd Dog Popularity Rank Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 2 141
    2014 2 152
    2015 2 144
    2016 2 150
    2017 2 164
    2018 2 159
    2019 2 170
    2020 3 174

    Health Problems of German Shepherd 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. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Water Spaniel.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the German Shepherd Dog than for the Irish Water Spaniel.

    7 health tests are recommended for German Shepherd Dog while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in German Shepherd Dogs and in Irish Water Spaniels.

    German Shepherd Dog Health Problems

    German Shepherd Dogs are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dogs for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- recommend annually until age 6, every 2 years thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Temperament Test

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for German Shepherd 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:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Water Spaniels here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in German Shepherd Dogs 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 German Shepherd Dog Breed is Shoulder problems.

    This is because the German Shepherd Dog ranks 8 out of 22 dog breeds for Shoulder problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 149 German Shepherd Dogs, 5 of them had Shoulder problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in German Shepherd Dogs, and how common these diseases are in German Shepherd Dogs relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Shoulder problems: Rank 8 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 11 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 22 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 40 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 41 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 42 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 64 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 71 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 102 out of 145 Dog Breeds

    • 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:

  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 5 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 9 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 18 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 31 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 104 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 105 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 150 out of 182 Dog Breeds

    • The table below lists the common health problems in German Shepherd Dog and in Irish Water Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the German Shepherd Dog and the Irish Water Spaniel:

    Disease German Shepherd Dog Rank Irish Water Spaniel Rank
    Shoulder problems 8 out of 22 dog breeds 18 out of 22 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 11 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 22 out of 144 dog breeds 31 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 40 out of 198 dog breeds 104 out of 198 dog breeds
    Advanced Cardiac problems 41 out of 71 dog breeds 5 out of 71 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 42 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 64 out of 182 dog breeds 150 out of 182 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 71 out of 115 dog breeds 105 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 102 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems Not Common 9 out of 159 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: German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Water Spaniel

    German Shepherd Dogs do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do German Shepherd Dogs shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    German Shepherd 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.

    Which one drools more, the German Shepherd Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel

    German Shepherd Dogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

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

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to groom.

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs 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 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.

    Do German Shepherd Dogs Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    German Shepherd Dogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

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

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    German Shepherd Dogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: German Shepherd Dog vs. Irish Water Spaniel

    German Shepherd 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.

    Can German Shepherd Dogs Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dog or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    German Shepherd Dogs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are German Shepherd Dogs good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    German Shepherd 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 German Shepherd Dogs and Irish Water Spaniels?

    German Shepherd Dogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the German Shepherd Dog Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    German Shepherd Dogs are very easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

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

    German Shepherd Dogs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the German Shepherd Dog

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

  • American Pit Bull Terrier (77 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs American Pit Bull Terrier.
  • Belgian Malinois (74 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Belgian Malinois.
  • Entlebucher Mountain Dog (74 percent match with German Shepherd Dog). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Entlebucher 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:

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

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    German Shepherd Dog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    German Shepherd Dog versus Schnoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Clumber Spaniel     German Shepherd Dog versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     German Shepherd Dog versus German Shorthaired Pointer     German Shepherd Dog versus Norwich Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Belgian Tervuren     German Shepherd Dog versus Great Dane     German Shepherd Dog versus Manchester Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Doberman Pinscher     German Shepherd Dog versus Australian Kelpie     German Shepherd Dog versus Collie     German Shepherd Dog versus Saint Bernard     German Shepherd Dog versus Labradoodle     German Shepherd Dog versus Puggle     German Shepherd Dog versus Chi-Poo     German Shepherd Dog versus Kerry Blue Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Cavachon     German Shepherd Dog versus Irish Wolfhound     German Shepherd Dog versus Australian Shepherd     German Shepherd Dog versus Berger Picard     German Shepherd Dog versus Kai Ken     German Shepherd Dog versus French Bulldog     German Shepherd Dog versus Norfolk Terrier     German Shepherd Dog versus Portuguese Pointer     German Shepherd Dog versus Bolognese     

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus American Hairless Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Miniature Pinscher     Irish Water Spaniel versus Irish Wolfhound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Norwich Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Morkie     Irish Water Spaniel versus Australian Shepherd     Irish Water Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Irish Water Spaniel versus Sheepadoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Lakeland Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Puggle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Japanese Spitz     Irish Water Spaniel versus Chinese Crested     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pug     Irish Water Spaniel versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Irish Water Spaniel versus Fila Brasileiro     Irish Water Spaniel versus Norwegian Buhund     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pyrenean Mastiff     Irish Water Spaniel versus Yorkshire Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus French Bulldog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Karelian Bear Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Cavapoo     Irish Water Spaniel versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Chi-Poo     Irish Water Spaniel versus Shichon     

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