Which is Better between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard? A Very Detailed Review.

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Irish Water Spaniel Versus Saint Bernard: Introduction

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

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

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 Saint Bernard.

Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Bernard: Overview

A very important difference between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Irish Water Spaniel is a medium-sized dog while the Saint Bernard is a giant-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 Saint Bernard belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Bernard: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Water Spaniel to the Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernard

Factor Irish Water Spaniel Saint Bernard
Does NOT Shed 5/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 2 feet, 2 inches to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the s
Life Span 10 to 12 years 8 to 10 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 1/5
General Health 2/5 2/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 2/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 5/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 1/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 5/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Weight 45 to 65 pounds 120 to 180 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Easy To Train 5/5 2/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 4/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 9.0 years
Price Range No Data $875 – $1525
Average Price No Data $1320
Temperament Score 90.0 percent 84.9 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 – Min Age 24 Months
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • Eye Examination – Min Age 22 Months
  • Hip Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 156 49
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 24 65

    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 Saint Bernard. 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 Saint Bernard is 81 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Saint Bernard is not better or worse than the Irish Water Spaniel. So, you can get the Saint Bernard or 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 Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernard

    Below is a list of where the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard are most different:

  • Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies. However, Saint Bernards shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
  • Irish Water Spaniels do not have the tendency to drool. However, Saint Bernards have a very high tendency to drool.
  • Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather. However, Saint Bernards cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Irish Water Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl. However, Saint Bernards are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train. However, Saint Bernards are not easy to train.
  • Irish Water Spaniels have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets. However, Saint Bernards have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Irish Water Spaniels require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise. However, Saint Bernards have low exercise needs.
  • The Similarities Between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard

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

  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernard can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard are very playful.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Bernard

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard.

    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, Saint Bernards weigh 120 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Saint Bernards are 2 feet, 2 inches to 2 feet, 6 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Bernard

    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 Saint Bernards is between 8 to 10 years. The average lifespan of Saint Bernards is 9.0 years.

    Irish Water Spaniels live longer than Saint Bernards.

    Temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel Versus the Saint Bernard

    The Irish Water Spaniel has a better temperament than the Saint Bernard.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the Saint Bernard is 84.9 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 90.0 percent, the Irish Water Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 84.9 percent, the Saint Bernard has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard by measuring the temperaments of 30 Irish Water Spaniels and 53 Saint Bernards.

    The Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Saint Bernard

    Irish Water Spaniel Saint Bernard
    Intelligence Rank 24 out of 130 dog breeds 65 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 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 Saint Bernard has an obedience intelligence rank of 65 out of 130 dog breeds. The Saint Bernard belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Saint Bernards tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Irish Water Spaniel is more intelligent than the Saint Bernard.

    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 Saint Bernard

    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 Saint Bernard over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Saint Bernard is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Saint Bernard is 49 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 Saint Bernard

    Popularity of Saint Bernard

    Year Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank Saint Bernard Popularity Rank
    2013 141 47
    2014 152 51
    2015 144 50
    2016 150 49
    2017 164 48
    2018 159 48
    2019 170 48
    2020 174 52

    Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel versus Health Problems of Saint Bernard

    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 Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernard is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Water Spaniel.

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

    5 health tests are recommended for Irish Water Spaniel while 6 tests are recommended for the Saint Bernard.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Water Spaniels and in Saint Bernards.

    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.

    Saint Bernard Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation – Min Age 24 Months
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Elbow Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • Eye Examination – Min Age 22 Months
  • Hip Dysplasia – Min Age 24 Months
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Saint Bernards here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Irish Water Spaniels and Saint Bernards

    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 Saint Bernard Breed is Hips problems.

    This is because the Saint Bernard ranks 7 out of 198 dog breeds for Hips problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 2618 Saint Bernards, 1295 of them had Hips problems.

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

  • Hips problems: Rank 7 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 23 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 33 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 45 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 99 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Irish Water Spaniel and in Saint Bernard and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Irish Water Spaniel and the Saint Bernard:

    Disease Irish Water Spaniel Rank Saint Bernard Rank
    Advanced Cardiac problems 5 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 9 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Shoulder problems 18 out of 22 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 31 out of 144 dog breeds 33 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 104 out of 198 dog breeds 7 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 105 out of 115 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 150 out of 182 dog breeds 23 out of 182 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 45 out of 70 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 99 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 Saint Bernard

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

    Saint Bernards do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Water Spaniels shed more than Saint Bernards?

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

    Saint Bernards shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Saint Bernard

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

    Saint Bernards have a very high tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Saint Bernard?

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Saint Bernards require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Irish Water Spaniel Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Saint Bernard?

    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.

    Saint Bernards have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Irish Water Spaniels Bark and Howl? What about Saint Bernards?

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

    Saint Bernards are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Saint Bernards Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Saint Bernards can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Water Spaniel vs. Saint Bernard

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

    Saint Bernards do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Saint Bernards Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Saint Bernards cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Saint Bernard?

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Saint Bernards get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Water Spaniels good family dogs? What about Saint Bernards?

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

    Saint Bernards are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Water Spaniels and Saint Bernards?

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

    Saint Bernards get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Easier to Train than the Saint Bernard?

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Saint Bernards are not easy to train.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Saint Bernard?

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Saint Bernards adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Saint Bernard?

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

    Saint Bernards 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 Saint Bernard vs Kerry Blue Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Saint Bernard

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Saint Bernard 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 Saint Bernard:

  • Newfoundland (68 percent match with Saint Bernard). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Newfoundland.
  • King Shepherd (71 percent match with Saint Bernard). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs King Shepherd.
  • Spinone Italiano (68 percent match with Saint Bernard). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Spinone Italiano.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Chinook     Irish Water Spaniel versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Maltipoo     Irish Water Spaniel versus Australian Shepherd     Irish Water Spaniel versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Catahoula Bulldog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Irish Setter     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pomsky     Irish Water Spaniel versus American Hairless Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus American Bulldog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Shiranian     Irish Water Spaniel versus Welsh Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Alaskan Klee Kai     Irish Water Spaniel versus Cesky Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Staffordshire Bull Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Cesky Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Glen of Imaal Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bearded Collie     Irish Water Spaniel versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Lancashire Heeler     Irish Water Spaniel versus Newfoundland     Irish Water Spaniel versus Australian Shepherd     Irish Water Spaniel versus Australian Shepherd     Irish Water Spaniel versus Japanese Spitz     Irish Water Spaniel versus Boston Terrier     

    Saint Bernard Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Saint Bernard versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Saint Bernard versus Alaskan Malamute     Saint Bernard versus Maltipoo     Saint Bernard versus Korean Jindo Dog     Saint Bernard versus Cocker Spaniel     Saint Bernard versus Alaskan Malamute     Saint Bernard versus Cesky Terrier     Saint Bernard versus Jack Russell Terrier     Saint Bernard versus Harrier     Saint Bernard versus Weimaraner     Saint Bernard versus Bull Terrier     Saint Bernard versus Frenchton     Saint Bernard versus German Shepherd Dog     Saint Bernard versus Chow Chow     Saint Bernard versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Saint Bernard versus Spanish Mastiff     Saint Bernard versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Saint Bernard versus Tibetan Mastiff     Saint Bernard versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Saint Bernard versus Newfoundland     Saint Bernard versus Catahoula Leopard Dog     Saint Bernard versus Xoloitzcuintli     Saint Bernard versus Basenji     Saint Bernard versus Cavapoo     

    Conclusion: Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Bernard. 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 Saint Bernard better suits you and your family.