Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog. Final Verdict on Which one is a Better Pet.

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Irish Wolfhound Versus Shetland Sheepdog: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog? 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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Wolfhound and for the Shetland Sheepdog. 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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog.

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

Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog

Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog: Overview

A very important difference between the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound is a giant-sized dog while the Shetland Sheepdog is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Irish Wolfhound 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.

On the other hand, the Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the Herding Dogs group. Herding Dogs were bred for moving livestock, including sheep, cattle, and even reindeer. Herding dogs work closely with their human shepherds, and their natural intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable. They have high levels of energy, which needs to be channeled properly to prevent destructive behavior. Herding breeds are protective of their people and property and make excellent watchdogs. Their intelligence, agility, and activity level make them well suited to dog sports.

Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Irish Wolfhound to the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog

Factor Irish Wolfhound Shetland Sheepdog
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
General Health 1/5 4/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 5/5 2/5
Weight 115 to 180 pounds Starts at 20 pounds
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 2/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 4/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 4/5 4/5
Easygoing 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 1/5
Easy To Groom 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Easy To Train 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Height 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 5/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 2/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 5/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 5/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 4/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Low Prey Drive 1/5 3/5
Life Span 6 to 8 years 12 to 15 years
Average Lifespan 7.0 years 13.5 years
Average Price $1930 $1590
Price Range $1500 – $2400 $1000 – $2000
Temperament Score 90.1 percent 68.9 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 73 23
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 41 6

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Irish Wolfhound 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 Shetland Sheepdog. 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 Wolfhound is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 85 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Shetland Sheepdog is a better pet than the Irish Wolfhound. So, you should get the Shetland Sheepdog!

    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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog

    Below is a list of where the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are most different:

  • Irish Wolfhounds have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Shetland Sheepdogs are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl. However, Shetland Sheepdogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • The Similarities Between the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog

    The Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are most similar:

  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog do not adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog do the things they do with very low vigor. They are not forceful.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are very playful.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Irish Wolfhounds weigh 115 to 180 pounds when fully grown. Irish Wolfhounds are 32 to 35 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Shetland Sheepdogs weigh Starts at 20 pounds when fully grown. Shetland Sheepdogs are 13 to 16 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog

    The lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is between 6 to 8 years. The average lifespan of Irish Wolfhounds is 7.0 years.

    The lifespan of Shetland Sheepdogs is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Shetland Sheepdogs is 13.5 years.

    Shetland Sheepdogs live longer than Irish Wolfhounds.

    Temperament of the Shetland Sheepdog Versus the Irish Wolfhound

    The Irish Wolfhound has a better temperament than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    This is because the temperament score for the Irish Wolfhound is 90.1 percent while the temperament score for the Shetland Sheepdog is 68.9 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 90.1 percent, the Irish Wolfhound has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 68.9 percent, the Shetland Sheepdog has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog by measuring the temperaments of 101 Irish Wolfhounds and 515 Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Price of Irish Wolfhound versus Price of Shetland Sheepdog

    The average price of the Irish Wolfhound puppy is $1930. The price of the Irish Wolfhound typically ranges from $1500 – $2400. However, the price of a Irish Wolfhound can be as low as $720 and as high as $4000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 91 Irish Wolfhound puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Shetland Sheepdog puppy is $1590. The price of the Shetland Sheepdog typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of the Shetland Sheepdog can be as low as $500 and as high as $3145. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 153 Shetland Sheepdog puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Irish Wolfhound is more expensive than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Irish Wolfhound Shetland Sheepdog
    Average Price $1930 $1590
    Price Range $1500 to $2400 $1000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Irish Wolfhound and Shetland Sheepdog. For different price points, the charts show how many Irish Wolfhound puppies or how many Shetland Sheepdog puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Irish Wolfhounds. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    A breakdown of the prices of Shetland Sheepdogs

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Irish Wolfhound puppy or the Shetland Sheepdog puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Irish Wolfhound versus Adopting the Shetland Sheepdog

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Irish Wolfhounds and many Shetland Sheepdogs are currently available for adoption.

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

    Below is an adorable Male Irish Wolfhound named Action Jackson that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Irish Wolfhounds like Action Jackson on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Irish Wolfhounds, Shetland Sheepdogs are also available for adoption. For example, Cisco is a Male Shetland Sheepdog that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Shetland Sheepdogs like Cisco that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Tex is the name of another Irish Wolfhound (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    Also, Scooter is an adorable Male Shetland Sheepdog on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    Irish Wolfhounds and Shetland Sheepdogs are always available for adoption. Images from petfinder.com

    You can find more Irish Wolfhounds and Shetland Sheepdogs that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Irish Wolfhound versus the Intelligence of the Shetland Sheepdog

    Irish Wolfhound Shetland Sheepdog
    Intelligence Rank 41 out of 130 dog breeds 6 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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 Wolfhound has an obedience intelligence rank of 41 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Wolfhound belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Wolfhounds tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog has an obedience intelligence rank of 6 out of 130 dog breeds. The Shetland Sheepdog belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Shetland Sheepdogs tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Shetland Sheepdog is more intelligent than the Irish Wolfhound.

    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 Wolfhound versus Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Shetland Sheepdog is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Wolfhound. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Shetland Sheepdog is 23 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Wolfhound is 73 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Irish Wolfhound

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Popularity of Shetland Sheepdog

    Year Irish Wolfhound Popularity Rank Shetland Sheepdog Popularity Rank
    2013 73 21
    2014 72 21
    2015 69 23
    2016 73 24
    2017 73 24
    2018 76 25
    2019 76 25
    2020 74 27

    Health Problems of Irish Wolfhound versus Health Problems of Shetland Sheepdog

    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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Irish Wolfhound is prone to more genetic health problems than the Shetland Sheepdog.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Irish Wolfhound than for the Shetland Sheepdog.

    5 health tests are recommended for Irish Wolfhound while 4 tests are recommended for the Shetland Sheepdog.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Irish Wolfhounds and in Shetland Sheepdogs.

    Irish Wolfhound Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Wolfhounds here.

    Shetland Sheepdog Health Problems

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

  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dentition
  • Eye Examination- Recommend evaluation every year until age 5, every 2 years thereafter until age 9.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Shetland Sheepdogs here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Irish Wolfhounds and Shetland Sheepdogs

    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 Wolfhound Breed is Congenital Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Irish Wolfhound ranks 11 out of 159 dog breeds for Congenital Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 682 Irish Wolfhounds, 12 of them had Congenital Cardiac problems.

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

  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 11 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 12 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 34 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 50 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 164 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Shetland Sheepdog Breed is Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

    This is because the Shetland Sheepdog ranks 3 out of 7 dog breeds for Collie Eye Anomaly problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 633 Shetland Sheepdogs, 5 of them had Collie Eye Anomaly problems.

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

  • Collie Eye Anomaly problems: Rank 3 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems: Rank 4 out of 7 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 5 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 6 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 6 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 46 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 89 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 101 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 122 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 166 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Irish Wolfhound and in Shetland Sheepdog and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Irish Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog:

    Disease Irish Wolfhound Rank Shetland Sheepdog Rank
    Congenital Cardiac problems 11 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 12 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 34 out of 144 dog breeds 101 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 50 out of 182 dog breeds 122 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 164 out of 198 dog breeds 166 out of 198 dog breeds
    Collie Eye Anomaly problems Not Common 3 out of 7 dog breeds
    Multiple Drug Resistance (Mdr1) problems Not Common 4 out of 7 dog breeds
    Thyroid problems Not Common 5 out of 115 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems Not Common 6 out of 49 dog breeds
    Von Willebrands problems Not Common 6 out of 15 dog breeds
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems Not Common 46 out of 70 dog breeds
    Patella problems Not Common 89 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 Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog

    Irish Wolfhounds do not like to be left alone.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not like to be left alone.

    Do Irish Wolfhounds shed more than Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Irish Wolfhounds shed moderately.

    Shetland Sheepdogs shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Irish Wolfhound or the Shetland Sheepdog

    Irish Wolfhounds do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Irish Wolfhound or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Irish Wolfhounds are moderately easy to groom.

    Shetland Sheepdogs require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Does the Irish Wolfhound Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Irish Wolfhounds 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.

    Shetland Sheepdogs have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Do Irish Wolfhounds Bark and Howl? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

    Irish Wolfhounds are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Irish Wolfhounds can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Irish Wolfhound vs. Shetland Sheepdog

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

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

    Can Irish Wolfhounds Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Shetland Sheepdogs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Irish Wolfhounds cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Shetland Sheepdogs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Irish Wolfhound or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Irish Wolfhounds get along very well with other dogs.

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Irish Wolfhounds good family dogs? What about Shetland Sheepdogs?

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

    Shetland Sheepdogs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Irish Wolfhounds and Shetland Sheepdogs?

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

    Shetland Sheepdogs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Irish Wolfhound Easier to Train than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Irish Wolfhounds are fairly easy to train.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are very easy to train.

    Is the Irish Wolfhound Better for Apartment Owners than the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Irish Wolfhounds do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Shetland Sheepdogs do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Irish Wolfhound or the Shetland Sheepdog?

    Irish Wolfhounds are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Shetland Sheepdogs are OK for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Irish Wolfhound

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

  • Bracco Italiano (74 percent match with Irish Wolfhound). Here is our comparison of the Shetland Sheepdog vs Bracco Italiano.
  • Cavapoo (72 percent match with Irish Wolfhound). Here is our comparison of the Shetland Sheepdog vs Cavapoo.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Shetland Sheepdog

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Shetland Sheepdog 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 Shetland Sheepdog:

  • Collie (81 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Collie.
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi (79 percent match with Shetland Sheepdog). Here is our comparison of the Irish Wolfhound vs Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Irish Wolfhound and how the Shetland Sheepdog compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Irish Wolfhound and of the Shetland Sheepdog to other breeds:

    Irish Wolfhound Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Irish Wolfhound versus Labrador Retriever     Irish Wolfhound versus English Toy Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Sussex Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Entlebucher Mountain Dog     Irish Wolfhound versus Chow Chow     Irish Wolfhound versus Schnoodle     Irish Wolfhound versus Kooikerhondje     Irish Wolfhound versus Kerry Blue Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Boston Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Pyrenean Shepherd     Irish Wolfhound versus Finnish Lapphund     Irish Wolfhound versus Bergamasco Sheepdog     Irish Wolfhound versus Lancashire Heeler     Irish Wolfhound versus Frenchton     Irish Wolfhound versus Afador     Irish Wolfhound versus Gordon Setter     Irish Wolfhound versus Norwegian Buhund     Irish Wolfhound versus Bull Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Irish Wolfhound versus Irish Water Spaniel     Irish Wolfhound versus Ibizan Hound     Irish Wolfhound versus Aussiedoodle     Irish Wolfhound versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Irish Wolfhound versus Spinone Italiano     Irish Wolfhound versus Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen     

    Shetland Sheepdog Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Shetland Sheepdog versus Dogue de Bordeaux     Shetland Sheepdog versus Collie     Shetland Sheepdog versus Akbash     Shetland Sheepdog versus Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever     Shetland Sheepdog versus Akita     Shetland Sheepdog versus French Spaniel     Shetland Sheepdog versus Cairn Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus American Water Spaniel     Shetland Sheepdog versus Bich Poo     Shetland Sheepdog versus Shih Tzu     Shetland Sheepdog versus Rottweiler     Shetland Sheepdog versus Chinese Shar-Pei     Shetland Sheepdog versus Karelian Bear Dog     Shetland Sheepdog versus Patterdale Terrier     Shetland Sheepdog versus Border Collie     Shetland Sheepdog versus Tibetan Spaniel     Shetland Sheepdog versus Mastiff     Shetland Sheepdog versus Chi-Poo     Shetland Sheepdog versus Bordoodle     Shetland Sheepdog versus French Bulldog     Shetland Sheepdog versus German Pinscher     Shetland Sheepdog versus Kooikerhondje     Shetland Sheepdog versus Kai Ken     Shetland Sheepdog versus Golden Cocker Retriever     Shetland Sheepdog versus American Staffordshire Terrier     

    Conclusion: Irish Wolfhound versus Shetland Sheepdog. 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 Wolfhound and the Shetland Sheepdog better suits you and your family.