Differences and Similarities between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer.

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Irish Water Spaniel Versus Standard Schnauzer: Introduction

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

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

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 Standard Schnauzer.

Irish Water Spaniel versus Standard Schnauzer: Overview

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

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 Standard Schnauzer 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 Standard Schnauzer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Water Spaniel to the Standard Schnauzer 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 Standard Schnauzer

Factor Irish Water Spaniel Standard Schnauzer
Does NOT Shed 5/5 5/5
Height 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s
Life Span 10 to 12 years 13 to 16 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
General Health 2/5 5/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 3/5 2/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 3/5
Easygoing 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 3/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 5/5
Weight 45 to 65 pounds 30 to 50 pounds
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Easy To Train 5/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 1/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 14.5 years
Price Range No Data $1200 – $2150
Average Price No Data $1710
Temperament Score 90.0 percent 71.1 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
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 24 months, recommend every other year until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 156 90
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 24 18

    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 Standard Schnauzer. 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 Standard Schnauzer is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Irish Water Spaniel is a better pet than the Standard Schnauzer. 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 Standard Schnauzer 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 Standard Schnauzer

    Below is a list of where the Irish Water Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer are most different:

  • Irish Water Spaniels have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Standard Schnauzers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Irish Water Spaniels are very friendly towards strangers. However, Standard Schnauzers are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer

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

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

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Water Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer.

    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, Standard Schnauzers weigh 30 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Standard Schnauzers are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Water Spaniel versus Standard Schnauzer

    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 Standard Schnauzers is between 13 to 16 years. The average lifespan of Standard Schnauzers is 14.5 years.

    Standard Schnauzers live longer than Irish Water Spaniels.

    Temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel Versus the Standard Schnauzer

    The Irish Water Spaniel has a better temperament than the Standard Schnauzer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the Standard Schnauzer is 71.1 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 71.1 percent, the Standard Schnauzer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Irish Water Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer by measuring the temperaments of 30 Irish Water Spaniels and 76 Standard Schnauzers.

    The Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel versus the Intelligence of the Standard Schnauzer

    Irish Water Spaniel Standard Schnauzer
    Intelligence Rank 24 out of 130 dog breeds 18 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the 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 Standard Schnauzer has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Standard Schnauzer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Standard Schnauzers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Standard Schnauzer is more intelligent than the Irish Water Spaniel.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel versus Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    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 Standard Schnauzer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Standard Schnauzer is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Standard Schnauzer is 90 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 Standard Schnauzer

    Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Year Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank Standard Schnauzer Popularity Rank
    2013 141 90
    2014 152 90
    2015 144 91
    2016 150 85
    2017 164 90
    2018 159 89
    2019 170 97
    2020 174 92

    Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel versus Health Problems of Standard Schnauzer

    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 Standard Schnauzer 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 Standard Schnauzer is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Water Spaniel.

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

    5 health tests are recommended for Irish Water Spaniel while 6 tests are recommended for the Standard Schnauzer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Water Spaniels and in Standard Schnauzers.

    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.

    Standard Schnauzer Health Problems

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

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 24 months, recommend every other year until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Standard Schnauzers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Irish Water Spaniels and Standard Schnauzers

    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 Standard Schnauzer Breed is Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    This is because the Standard Schnauzer ranks 2 out of 3 dog breeds for Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1749 Standard Schnauzers, 8 of them had Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

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

  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems: Rank 2 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 40 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 54 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 103 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 128 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Irish Water Spaniel and in Standard Schnauzer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Irish Water Spaniel and the Standard Schnauzer:

    Disease Irish Water Spaniel Rank Standard Schnauzer 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 54 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 104 out of 198 dog breeds 128 out of 198 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems 105 out of 115 dog breeds 40 out of 115 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 150 out of 182 dog breeds 103 out of 182 dog breeds
    Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems Not Common 2 out of 3 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 Standard Schnauzer

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

    Standard Schnauzers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Water Spaniels shed more than Standard Schnauzers?

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

    Standard Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Standard Schnauzer

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

    Standard Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.

    Standard Schnauzers 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 Standard Schnauzer?

    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.

    Standard Schnauzers 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 Standard Schnauzers?

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

    Standard Schnauzers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Standard Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Water Spaniel vs. Standard Schnauzer

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

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

    Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.

    Standard Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.

    Standard Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Water Spaniels good family dogs? What about Standard Schnauzers?

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

    Standard Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Water Spaniels and Standard Schnauzers?

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

    Standard Schnauzers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Easier to Train than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.

    Standard Schnauzers are fairly easy to train.

    Is the Irish Water Spaniel Better for Apartment Owners than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Standard Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Water Spaniel or the Standard Schnauzer?

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

    Standard Schnauzers 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 Standard Schnauzer vs Kerry Blue Terrier.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Standard Schnauzer

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Standard Schnauzer 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 Standard Schnauzer:

  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog (77 percent match with Standard Schnauzer). Here is our comparison of the Irish Water Spaniel vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

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

    Irish Water Spaniel Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Water Spaniel versus Pomchi     Irish Water Spaniel versus Papipoo     Irish Water Spaniel versus Treeing Walker Coonhound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Coton de Tulear     Irish Water Spaniel versus Harrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Boykin Spaniel     Irish Water Spaniel versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Brittany     Irish Water Spaniel versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Puggle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Pharaoh Hound     Irish Water Spaniel versus Siberian Husky     Irish Water Spaniel versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Saluki     Irish Water Spaniel versus Barbet     Irish Water Spaniel versus Patterdale Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Central Asian Shepherd Dog     Irish Water Spaniel versus Goldendoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Papipoo     Irish Water Spaniel versus English Setter     Irish Water Spaniel versus Saint Berdoodle     Irish Water Spaniel versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Irish Water Spaniel versus Berger Picard     Irish Water Spaniel versus Sussex Spaniel     

    Standard Schnauzer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Standard Schnauzer versus Giant Schnauzer     Standard Schnauzer versus Akbash     Standard Schnauzer versus Cavapoo     Standard Schnauzer versus Shiba Inu     Standard Schnauzer versus Labradoodle     Standard Schnauzer versus Shihpoo     Standard Schnauzer versus Akita     Standard Schnauzer versus Carolina Dog     Standard Schnauzer versus Akita Chow     Standard Schnauzer versus Mastiff     Standard Schnauzer versus German Shorthaired Pointer     Standard Schnauzer versus Basset Hound     Standard Schnauzer versus Bearded Collie     Standard Schnauzer versus Briard     Standard Schnauzer versus Skye Terrier     Standard Schnauzer versus Cavapoo     Standard Schnauzer versus French Spaniel     Standard Schnauzer versus Chow Chow     Standard Schnauzer versus Puli     Standard Schnauzer versus Australian Kelpie     Standard Schnauzer versus Yorkipoo     Standard Schnauzer versus Tibetan Terrier     Standard Schnauzer versus Carolina Dog     Standard Schnauzer versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Standard Schnauzer versus Scottish Deerhound     

    Conclusion: Irish Water Spaniel versus Standard Schnauzer. 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 Standard Schnauzer better suits you and your family.