Differences and Similarities between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

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Irish Water Spaniel Versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Introduction

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

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback.

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 Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Irish Water Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Overview

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

Furthermore, 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.

On the other hand, the Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Irish Water Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Water Spaniel to the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback

Factor Irish Water Spaniel Rhodesian Ridgeback
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Life Span 10 to 12 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 4/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 3/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Weight 45 to 65 pounds 70 to 85 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 3/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data $1250 – $1900
Average Price No Data $1620
Temperament Score 90.0 percent 84.2 percent
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
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 156 40
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 24 52

    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 Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is 74 out of 125.

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

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Below is a list of where the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are most different:

  • Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Irish Water Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train. However, Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.
  • The Similarities Between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback

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

  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are very playful.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Water Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    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, Rhodesian Ridgebacks weigh 70 to 85 pounds when fully grown. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are 24 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Water Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

    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 Rhodesian Ridgebacks is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Rhodesian Ridgebacks is 11.0 years.

    Temperament of the Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus the Irish Water Spaniel

    The Irish Water Spaniel has a better temperament than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 84.2 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 90.0 percent, the Irish Water Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.2 percent, the Rhodesian Ridgeback has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback by measuring the temperaments of 30 Irish Water Spaniels and 563 Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    The Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Irish Water Spaniel Rhodesian Ridgeback
    Intelligence Rank 24 out of 130 dog breeds 52 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback has an obedience intelligence rank of 52 out of 130 dog breeds. The Rhodesian Ridgeback belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Rhodesian Ridgebacks tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Irish Water Spaniel is more intelligent than the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    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 Water Spaniel versus Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    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 Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Rhodesian Ridgeback is 40 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 Irish Water Spaniel

    Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Popularity of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Year Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Popularity Rank
    2013 141 39
    2014 152 39
    2015 144 40
    2016 150 42
    2017 164 41
    2018 159 41
    2019 170 42
    2020 174 42

    Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel versus Health Problems of Rhodesian Ridgeback

    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 Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Water Spaniel.

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

    5 health tests are recommended for Irish Water Spaniel while 6 tests are recommended for the Rhodesian Ridgeback.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Water Spaniels and in Rhodesian Ridgebacks.

    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.

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Congenital Deafness
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination. Exams are recommended annually to age 9, annual recertifcation is required
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Rhodesian Ridgebacks here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Irish Water Spaniels and Rhodesian Ridgebacks

    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
  • 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Rhodesian Ridgeback ranks 11 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 6564 Rhodesian Ridgebacks, 636 of them had Thyroid problems.

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

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 11 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Shoulder problems: Rank 15 out of 22 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 31 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 32 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 48 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 56 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 97 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 102 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 168 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Irish Water Spaniel and in Rhodesian Ridgeback and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Irish Water Spaniel and the Rhodesian Ridgeback:

    Disease Irish Water Spaniel Rank Rhodesian Ridgeback Rank
    Advanced Cardiac problems 5 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 9 out of 159 dog breeds 48 out of 159 dog breeds
    Shoulder problems 18 out of 22 dog breeds 15 out of 22 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 31 out of 144 dog breeds 56 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 104 out of 198 dog breeds 168 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 105 out of 115 dog breeds 11 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 150 out of 182 dog breeds 102 out of 182 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 31 out of 70 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 32 out of 49 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 97 out of 145 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 Water Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Water Spaniels shed more than Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Rhodesian Ridgeback

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are very easy to groom.

    Does the Irish Water Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    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.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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 Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Water Spaniel vs. Rhodesian Ridgeback

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

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

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Rhodesian Ridgebacks Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Water Spaniels good family dogs? What about Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Water Spaniels and Rhodesian Ridgebacks?

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Easier to Train than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks are not easy to train.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Rhodesian Ridgeback?

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

    Rhodesian Ridgebacks 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Kerry Blue Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Rhodesian Ridgeback 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback:

  • Black Mouth Cur (79 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Black Mouth Cur.
  • Bracco Italiano (80 percent match with Rhodesian Ridgeback). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Dachshund     Irish Water Spaniel versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Irish Water Spaniel versus Affenhuahua     Irish Water Spaniel versus Mal Shi     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bluetick Coonhound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Alaskan Malamute     Irish Water Spaniel versus Irish Setter     Irish Water Spaniel versus Swedish Vallhund     Irish Water Spaniel versus Biewer Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Mountain Cur     Irish Water Spaniel versus Welsh Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Great Pyrenees     Irish Water Spaniel versus Gordon Setter     Irish Water Spaniel versus Beaglier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Cavachon     Irish Water Spaniel versus Dutch Shepherd     Irish Water Spaniel versus American Water Spaniel     Irish Water Spaniel versus Cocker Spaniel     Irish Water Spaniel versus Cane Corso     Irish Water Spaniel versus French Spaniel     Irish Water Spaniel versus Gordon Setter     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Saluki     Irish Water Spaniel versus French Bulldog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Black Mouth Cur     

    Rhodesian Ridgeback Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Maltese     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Kai Ken     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Leonberger     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bulldog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Keeshond     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Norwich Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Yorkshire Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Clumber Spaniel     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chorkie     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Afador     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Giant Schnauzer     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Norfolk Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Norfolk Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Spinone Italiano     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pharaoh Hound     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Wirehaired Pointing Griffon     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Norwich Terrier     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Pekingese     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Siberian Husky     Rhodesian Ridgeback versus Chinese Crested     

    Conclusion: Irish Water Spaniel versus Rhodesian Ridgeback. 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 Rhodesian Ridgeback better suits you and your family.