Is the Irish Setter Better than the Welsh Springer Spaniel as a Pet? Answer…

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Irish Setter Versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and for the Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Irish Setter or the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Overview

A very important difference between the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Irish Setter is a large-sized dog while the Welsh Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer 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.

Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Setter to the Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

Factor Irish Setter Welsh Springer Spaniel
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Life Span 11 to 15 years 10 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Height 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the sho 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 3/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Shed 2/5 3/5
Easy To Train 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 1/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 1/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Weight 60 to 70 pounds 35 to 55 pounds
Average Lifespan 13.0 years 12.5 years
Average Price $1680 No Data
Price Range $1200 – $2200 No Data
Temperament Score 90.9 percent 100.0 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination by the age of 2, then at ages 5 and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 74 128
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 35 31

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Irish Setter 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 Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 79 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Welsh Springer Spaniel is a better pet than the Irish Setter. So, you should get the Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Below is a list of where the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are most different:

  • Irish Setters do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Welsh Springer Spaniels adapt well to apartment living.

    • The Similarities Between the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    The Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are most similar:

  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very easy to train.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel are very playful.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    Irish Setters weigh 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Irish Setters are 2 feet, 1 inch to 2 feet, 3 inches tall at the sho when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Welsh Springer Spaniels weigh 35 to 55 pounds when fully grown. Welsh Springer Spaniels are 17 to 19 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    The lifespan of Irish Setters is between 11 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Irish Setters is 13.0 years.

    The lifespan of Welsh Springer Spaniels is between 10 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Welsh Springer Spaniels is 12.5 years.

    Irish Setters live longer than Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Temperament of the Irish Setter Versus the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel has a better temperament than the Irish Setter.

    This is because the temperament score for the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 100.0 percent while the temperament score for the Irish Setter is 90.9 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 90.9 percent, the Irish Setter has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 100.0 percent, the Welsh Springer Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 154 Irish Setters and 6 Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Adopting the Irish Setter versus Adopting the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Irish Setters and many Welsh Springer Spaniels are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Irish Setter named Gordon – 831 that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Irish Setters like Gordon – 831 on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Irish Setters, Welsh Springer Spaniels are also available for adoption. For example, Sage is a Male Welsh Springer Spaniel that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Welsh Springer Spaniels like Sage that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Oliver & Maggie Together Only is the name of another Irish Setter (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Irish Setters and Welsh Springer Spaniels that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Irish Setter versus the Intelligence of the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Irish Setter Welsh Springer Spaniel
    Intelligence Rank 35 out of 130 dog breeds 31 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 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 Irish Setter has an obedience intelligence rank of 35 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Setter belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Irish Setters tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel has an obedience intelligence rank of 31 out of 130 dog breeds. The Welsh Springer Spaniel belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Welsh Springer Spaniels tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Welsh Springer Spaniel is more intelligent than the Irish Setter.

    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 Irish Setter versus Popularity of Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Irish Setter is more popular with dog owners than the Welsh Springer Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Irish Setter is 74 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Welsh Springer Spaniel is 128 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Irish Setter

    Popularity of Irish Setter

    Popularity of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Popularity of Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Year Irish Setter Popularity Rank Welsh Springer Spaniel Popularity Rank
    2013 72 124
    2014 73 133
    2015 72 128
    2016 76 123
    2017 72 133
    2018 77 128
    2019 79 130
    2020 75 128

    Health Problems of Irish Setter versus Health Problems of Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Setter.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Welsh Springer Spaniel than for the Irish Setter.

    3 health tests are recommended for Irish Setter while 4 tests are recommended for the Welsh Springer Spaniel.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Setters and in Welsh Springer Spaniels.

    Irish Setter Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniel Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination by the age of 2, then at ages 5 and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia

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

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Irish Setters and Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Irish Setter ranks 13 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1455 Irish Setters, 139 of them had Thyroid problems.

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

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 13 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 35 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 67 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 92 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 99 out of 198 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 Welsh Springer Spaniel Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Welsh Springer Spaniel ranks 12 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1309 Welsh Springer Spaniels, 125 of them had Thyroid problems.

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

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 12 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 81 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 111 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 118 out of 144 Dog Breeds

    • The table below lists the common health problems in Irish Setter and in Welsh Springer Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel:

    Disease Irish Setter Rank Welsh Springer Spaniel Rank
    Thyroid problems 13 out of 115 dog breeds 12 out of 115 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 35 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 67 out of 182 dog breeds 81 out of 182 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 92 out of 144 dog breeds 118 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 99 out of 198 dog breeds 111 out of 198 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: Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Irish Setters do not like to be left alone.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Setters shed more than Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Setter or the Welsh Springer Spaniel

    Irish Setters do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Setter or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Irish Setters are moderately easy to groom.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to groom.

    Does the Irish Setter Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Irish Setters 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.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Irish Setters Bark and Howl? What about Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Setters Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Welsh Springer Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Setters can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Setter vs. Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Irish Setters Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Welsh Springer Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Setters can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Irish Setter or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Irish Setters get along very well with other dogs.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Setters good family dogs? What about Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Setters and Welsh Springer Spaniels?

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

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

    Is the Irish Setter Easier to Train than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Irish Setters are very easy to train.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Is the Irish Setter Better for Apartment Owners than the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Irish Setters do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Setter or the Welsh Springer Spaniel?

    Irish Setters are OK for new dog owners.

    Welsh Springer Spaniels are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Setter

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

  • Curly-Coated Retriever (82 percent match with Irish Setter). Here is our comparison of the Welsh Springer Spaniel vs Curly-Coated Retriever.
  • English Setter (83 percent match with Irish Setter). Here is our comparison of the Welsh Springer Spaniel vs English Setter.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Welsh Springer Spaniel

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

  • English Cocker Spaniel (78 percent match with Welsh Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Irish Setter vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Finnish Lapphund (78 percent match with Welsh Springer Spaniel). Here is our comparison of the Irish Setter vs Finnish Lapphund.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Irish Setter Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Setter versus Cockapoo     Irish Setter versus Chi-Poo     Irish Setter versus Pyredoodle     Irish Setter versus Portuguese Pointer     Irish Setter versus Lhasapoo     Irish Setter versus Kuvasz     Irish Setter versus West Highland White Terrier     Irish Setter versus Labradoodle     Irish Setter versus Whippet     Irish Setter versus Carolina Dog     Irish Setter versus Korean Jindo Dog     Irish Setter versus Maltipoo     Irish Setter versus Mountain Cur     Irish Setter versus Briard     Irish Setter versus Irish Terrier     Irish Setter versus Bernedoodle     Irish Setter versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Irish Setter versus Bordoodle     Irish Setter versus Miniature Poodle     Irish Setter versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Irish Setter versus Cavapoo     Irish Setter versus Weimaraner     Irish Setter versus Scottish Deerhound     Irish Setter versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Irish Setter versus Italian Greyhound     

    Welsh Springer Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Shiloh Shepherd     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Pembroke Welsh Corgi     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Mudi     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Goldador     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Karelian Bear Dog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus German Longhaired Pointer     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Silky Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Belgian Tervuren     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Xoloitzcuintli     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Pomeranian     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Aussiedoodle     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Bluetick Coonhound     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Boykin Spaniel     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus German Shepherd Dog     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Akbash     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus King Shepherd     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Border Collie     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Black and Tan Coonhound     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Irish Water Spaniel     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Welsh Springer Spaniel versus Boston Terrier     

    Conclusion: Irish Setter versus Welsh Springer 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 Irish Setter and the Welsh Springer Spaniel better suits you and your family.