Differences and Similarities between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer.

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Irish Water Spaniel Versus Portuguese Pointer: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer 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 Water Spaniel and for the Portuguese Pointer. 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 Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer.

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

Irish Water Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer: Overview

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

Furthermore, both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are Sporting Dogs. This means both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer 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 Water Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Water Spaniel to the Portuguese Pointer 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 Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer

Factor Irish Water Spaniel Portuguese Pointer
Does NOT Shed 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 20 to 22 inches
Life Span 10 to 12 years 12 to 14 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 3/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 4/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 3/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Weight 45 to 65 pounds 35 to 59 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 4/5
Easy To Train 5/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 2/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data No Data
Average Price No Data No Data
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- after the age of 24 months
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination – recommended testing frequency at ages 1, 4, and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
    		•

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Portuguese Pointer. 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 Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Portuguese Pointer is 72 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Water Spaniel is a better pet than the Portuguese Pointer. 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 Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer

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

  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer 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 Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very playful.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.

    • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Water Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer.

    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.

    On the other hand, Portuguese Pointers weigh 35 to 59 pounds when fully grown. Portuguese Pointers are 20 to 22 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Water Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer

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

    The lifespan of Portuguese Pointers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Portuguese Pointers is 13.0 years.

    Portuguese Pointers live longer than Irish Water Spaniels.

    Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel versus Health Problems of Portuguese Pointer

    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 Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer 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 Portuguese Pointer.

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

    5 health tests are recommended for Irish Water Spaniel while 3 tests are recommended for the Portuguese Pointer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Water Spaniels and in Portuguese Pointers.

    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.

    Portuguese Pointer Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Eye Examination – recommended testing frequency at ages 1, 4, and 7
  • Hip Dysplasia

    • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Portuguese Pointers here.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Irish Water Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer

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

    Portuguese Pointers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Water Spaniels shed more than Portuguese Pointers?

    Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Portuguese Pointers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Portuguese Pointer

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

    Portuguese Pointers drool moderately.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Portuguese Pointer?

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to groom.

    Does the Irish Water Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Portuguese Pointer?

    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.

    Portuguese Pointers 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 Irish Water Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Portuguese Pointers?

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

    Portuguese Pointers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Portuguese Pointers can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Water Spaniel vs. Portuguese Pointer

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

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

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Portuguese Pointers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Portuguese Pointers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Portuguese Pointer?

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Portuguese Pointers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Water Spaniels good family dogs? What about Portuguese Pointers?

    Irish Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Portuguese Pointers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Water Spaniels and Portuguese Pointers?

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

    Portuguese Pointers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Easier to Train than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Portuguese Pointers are very easy to train.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Portuguese Pointer?

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Portuguese Pointers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Portuguese Pointer?

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

    Portuguese Pointers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    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 Portuguese Pointer vs Kerry Blue Terrier.

    • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Portuguese Pointer

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Portuguese Pointer 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 Portuguese Pointer:

  • American Bulldog (79 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs American Bulldog.
  • Boxerdoodle (77 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Boxerdoodle.
  • Patterdale Terrier (78 percent match with Portuguese Pointer). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Patterdale Terrier.

    • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Berdoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Shih Tzu     Irish Water Spaniel versus Scottish Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Silky Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Tibetan Spaniel     Irish Water Spaniel versus Labrador Retriever     Irish Water Spaniel versus Irish Wolfhound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Labradoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bouvier des Flandres     Irish Water Spaniel versus Irish Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Skye Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Manchester Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Plott     Irish Water Spaniel versus Border Collie     Irish Water Spaniel versus Vizsla     Irish Water Spaniel versus Affenpinscher     Irish Water Spaniel versus Borzoi     Irish Water Spaniel versus Whoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Kooikerhondje     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bich Poo     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Sealyham Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Papillon     Irish Water Spaniel versus Beaglier     

    Portuguese Pointer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Portuguese Pointer versus Irish Water Spaniel     Portuguese Pointer versus Finnish Lapphund     Portuguese Pointer versus Pug     Portuguese Pointer versus English Springer Spaniel     Portuguese Pointer versus Basset Hound     Portuguese Pointer versus Weimaraner     Portuguese Pointer versus Patterdale Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Xoloitzcuintli     Portuguese Pointer versus Newfoundland     Portuguese Pointer versus Giant Schnauzer     Portuguese Pointer versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Portuguese Pointer versus English Springer Spaniel     Portuguese Pointer versus Cavapoo     Portuguese Pointer versus Leonberger     Portuguese Pointer versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Portuguese Pointer versus Bernedoodle     Portuguese Pointer versus Briard     Portuguese Pointer versus Karelian Bear Dog     Portuguese Pointer versus Belgian Sheepdog     Portuguese Pointer versus Coton de Tulear     Portuguese Pointer versus Braque du Bourbonnais     Portuguese Pointer versus Portuguese Water Dog     Portuguese Pointer versus Maltipoo     Portuguese Pointer versus Silky Terrier     Portuguese Pointer versus Greyhound     

    Conclusion: Irish Water Spaniel versus Portuguese Pointer. 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 Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Pointer better suits you and your family.