Is the Golden Retriever Better than the Irish Water Spaniel as a Pet? Answer…

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Golden Retriever Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever or the Irish Water Spaniel.

Golden Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview

Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are similar in size. The Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel 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.

Golden Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel

Factor Golden Retriever Irish Water Spaniel
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 2/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 4/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 3/5
Height 21 to 24 inches tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 2/5 4/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 1/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 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
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 55 to 75 pounds 45 to 65 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Average Price $1870 No Data
Price Range $1500 – $2200 No Data
Temperament Score 85.6 percent 90.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 3 156
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 4 24

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever is 73 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 Golden Retriever. 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are most different:

  • Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel

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

  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Golden Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Golden Retrievers weigh 55 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Golden Retrievers are 21 to 24 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.

    Lifespan of Golden Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel

    The lifespan of Golden Retrievers is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Golden Retrievers is 11.0 years.

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

    Temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel Versus the Golden Retriever

    The Irish Water Spaniel has a better temperament than the Golden Retriever.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the Golden Retriever is 85.6 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 85.6 percent, the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 813 Golden Retrievers and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.

    The Intelligence of the Golden Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel

    Golden Retriever Irish Water Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 4 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 Golden Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 4 out of 130 dog breeds. The Golden Retriever belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Golden Retriever is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Golden Retriever is 3 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 Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Golden Retriever

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Year Golden Retriever Popularity Rank Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 3 141
    2014 3 152
    2015 3 144
    2016 3 150
    2017 3 164
    2018 3 159
    2019 3 170
    2020 4 174

    Health Problems of Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Golden Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Irish Water Spaniel than for the Golden Retriever.

    4 health tests are recommended for Golden Retriever while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Golden Retrievers and in Irish Water Spaniels.

    Golden Retriever Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination (evaluations annually for the dog`s lifetime)
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retriever Breed is Ichthyosis problems.

    This is because the Golden Retriever ranks 1 out of 1 dog breeds for Ichthyosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1770 Golden Retrievers, 33 of them had Ichthyosis problems.

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

  • Ichthyosis problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 11 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 17 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 33 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 36 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 39 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 40 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 45 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 56 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 56 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 58 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 112 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 Golden Retriever and in Irish Water Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel:

    Disease Golden Retriever Rank Irish Water Spaniel Rank
    Ichthyosis problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 11 out of 22 dog breeds 18 out of 22 dog breeds
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 17 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 33 out of 115 dog breeds 105 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 36 out of 144 dog breeds 31 out of 144 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 39 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 40 out of 71 dog breeds 5 out of 71 dog breeds
    Hips problems 45 out of 198 dog breeds 104 out of 198 dog breeds
    Congenital Cardiac problems 56 out of 159 dog breeds 9 out of 159 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 56 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 58 out of 182 dog breeds 150 out of 182 dog breeds
    Patella problems 112 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common

    *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: Golden Retriever versus Irish Water Spaniel

    Golden Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

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

    Do Golden Retrievers shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?

    Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retriever or the Irish Water Spaniel

    Golden Retrievers have a very high tendency to drool.

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

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Golden Retriever or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Golden Retrievers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Golden Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Golden Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and 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 Golden Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Golden Retrievers bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Golden Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Golden Retrievers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Golden Retriever vs. Irish Water Spaniel

    Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retriever or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Golden Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Golden Retrievers good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?

    Golden Retrievers 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 Golden Retrievers and Irish Water Spaniels?

    Golden Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

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

    Is the Golden Retriever Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Golden Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Is the Golden Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Golden Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Golden Retriever or the Irish Water Spaniel?

    Golden Retrievers are OK for new dog owners.

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

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Golden Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever:

  • Aussiedoodle (74 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Aussiedoodle.
  • Irish Setter (72 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Irish Setter.
  • Labrador Retriever (75 percent match with Golden Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever.
  • 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 Golden Retriever vs Kerry Blue Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Golden Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Golden Retriever versus Lancashire Heeler     Golden Retriever versus Lancashire Heeler     Golden Retriever versus Saluki     Golden Retriever versus Papipoo     Golden Retriever versus Norwegian Lundehund     Golden Retriever versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     Golden Retriever versus Dutch Shepherd     Golden Retriever versus Tibetan Mastiff     Golden Retriever versus Aussiedoodle     Golden Retriever versus Scottish Deerhound     Golden Retriever versus English Cocker Spaniel     Golden Retriever versus Pomchi     Golden Retriever versus Toy Fox Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Affenpinscher     Golden Retriever versus Bloodhound     Golden Retriever versus Dalmatian     Golden Retriever versus Kishu Ken     Golden Retriever versus Brittany     Golden Retriever versus Beagle     Golden Retriever versus Great Dane     Golden Retriever versus Saluki     Golden Retriever versus Pomeranian     Golden Retriever versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Golden Retriever versus Bloodhound     Golden Retriever versus Mountain Cur     

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Ibizan Hound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Lakeland Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Leonberger     Irish Water Spaniel versus Kai Ken     Irish Water Spaniel versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Chinese Crested     Irish Water Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever     Irish Water Spaniel versus Collie     Irish Water Spaniel versus Manchester Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Karelian Bear Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Goldendoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Mal Shi     Irish Water Spaniel versus Samoyed     Irish Water Spaniel versus West Highland White Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Siberian Husky     Irish Water Spaniel versus Weimaraner     Irish Water Spaniel versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Irish Water Spaniel versus Norwegian Lundehund     Irish Water Spaniel versus Mudi     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pomsky     Irish Water Spaniel versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Irish Water Spaniel versus Gordon Setter     Irish Water Spaniel versus Beaglier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Irish Water Spaniel versus Doberman Pinscher     

    Conclusion: Golden Retriever 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 Golden Retriever and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.