Irish Terrier vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

English Water Spaniel is originated from United Kingdom but Irish Terrier is originated from Ireland. Both English Water Spaniel and Irish Terrier are having almost same height. English Water Spaniel may weigh 8 kg / 18 pounds more than Irish Terrier. Both English Water Spaniel and Irish Terrier has almost same life span. Both English Water Spaniel and Irish Terrier has almost same litter size. English Water Spaniel requires Low Maintenance. But Irish Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Terrier dog
undefined
United Kingdom
Ireland
Height Male:
49 - 51 cm
19 - 21 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Height Female:
45 - 47 cm
17 - 19 inches
45 - 50 cm
17 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 20 kg
35 - 45 pounds
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
11 - 12 kg
24 - 27 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
13 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
4 - 6
Size:
Medium
Medium
Other Names:
Water Dog, Water Rug
Irish Red Terrier
Colors Available:
liver and white
sandy, golden, Red, wheaten
Coat:
dense, waterproof, doublecoated
Shortish, wiry, dense
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
Yes
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

The English Water Spaniel breed is extinct and has been since the early 1900’s. It was last seen in the 1930s. The breed was a hunting breed, diving for duck and hunting other waterfowl. Legend has it that Shakespeare was referring to this breed of dog in Macbeth when he refers to the “water rug”. Again, in Two Gentlemen of Verona one of the character states about another that “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel.’

The English Water Spaniel came along before the Irish Water Spaniel and had a part in the development the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. The English Water Spaniel looks somewhat like a Poodle/Springer Spaniel cross or a Collie. It is not known whether the English Water Spaniel was part of the development of the Irish Water Spaniel.

When the English Water Spaniel was first developed the UKC had a “Water Spaniels other than Irish” and the English Water Spaniel had no standard written and accepted for it yet. But by 1967 the breed was extinct. Still the American Water Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever are believed to be descendants of the English Water Spaniel.

irish terrierThe Irish Terrier is a dog breed from Ireland and one of the many different terrier breeds there are.

Nobody is too sure of the Irish Terrier's history but it is one of the oldest terrier breeds. It appears as if the dog breed was developed from a wheat colored terrier and the extinct black and tan terrier.

It was always a common practice to crop the ears of terriers, but in 1889 the Irish Terrier Club required that the ears remain uncropped. The first Irish Terrier was shown in 1881, and the first Irish Terrier registered with the American Kennel Club was in 1885. The Irish Terrier Club of America was founded in 1896.

Description

Resembling the Springer Spaniel, poodle, collie and setter the English Water Spaniel has very little in common with the Irish Water Spaniel in respect to looks. The English has a narrow and somewhat longer head their than other spaniels and they have long furry ears. Their body is stout, and they are shaped like a barrel – more like a Clumber. With long legs and large feet, it is ready to take to the hunt. There coat was waterproof, and their toes were webbed.

irish terrier puppy - descriptionThe Irish Terrier is a medium sized dog who stands between 45cm and 50cm and weighs in the region of 11 to 12kg. He has a short, dense, wiry double coat which is a red, golden, sandy, wheaten color.

The ears of the dog are semi-erect/semi-floppy and the tail is held high and curved.The chest is deep and muscular and the front and back legs are strong, long and muscular.

Temperament:

The Irish Terrier is a companion dog today, even though he was once a guard- and hunting dog. He is an amicable dog while also being alert and active. He is also independent and strong-willed so he will require training and socialization as then he becomes obedient and relaxed and much easier to live with.

They're social dogs too, loving all the members of their human family, getting on well with children in the home.

Characteristics

The English Water Spaniel was aloof with strangers but loyal with his hunter. He was a little stubborn and an excellent water dog. They loved being in the water and could enter it without making any noise so as not to frighten his prey. He was highly intelligent and trainable. He also was very affectionate with his people.

irish terrier dog - characteristicsIrish Terriers are good with people and want to be an active member of their human families.

They are active dogs and will require ongoing mental and physical stimulation. This is a lively dog, but he still loves to spend quiet time indoors with his family.

They’re intelligent dogs with a strong sense of loyalty towards their owner, making excellent family pets.

Health Problems

The English Water Spaniel is a fairly healthy breed given to some fairly common disorders such as:

Hip Dysplasia

Can lead to lameness and arthritis

Cardiac abnormalities

Arterial fib and flutter and other problems that could lead to death.

Degenerative Myelopathy

This is a disease seem in several “Dwarf” breeds such as Corgis, as well as in many spaniels. This is the canine version of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS and it is fatal.

irish terrier puppies - health problemsThe Irish Terrier is a healthy dog breed and you won't find yourself running to the vet often with him, but still he can land up with one of the common dog problems.

It is always wise to be aware of hip dysplasia as this is a disease which can occur in all dog breeds and all dog ages. Also look out for eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy and cataracts as these can lead to blindness in your pet.

There is a disease known as cystinuria which is quite a concern with Irish Terriers. It’s an inherited kidney disease where increased amounts of arginine, lysine, amino acids cystine and ornithine are excreted in the urine.

In well-functioning kidneys, blood is filtered so as to create urine. Cystine is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream but with dogs affected with cystinuria they cannot reabsorb cystine back in their bloodstream, causing an accumulation in the urine. Dogs with cystinuria suffer inflammation of the urinary tract and can also develop urinary blockage and kidney failure. Immediate veterinary intervention is required.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

The English Water Spaniel is not an overly energetic dog and has a tendency to over eat. Feed him 1 to 1.5 cups of high quality dry dog food over two meals each day.

Health issues

In addition to the health issues mentioned earlier, the English Water Spaniel is also prone to:

Baldness

Pattern baldness – is genetic and occurs on the neck and back of the hind legs.

Cataracts

English Water Spaniels can have these in old age like most other breeds.

Retinal Dysplasia

Clumps form in the retinal tissue and can lead to blindness

Exercise and games

The English Water Spaniel was a worker and an outdoor athlete at a time before organized canine games and activities such as agility and flyball. They loved to swim, and they loved to hunt. Without a job to do they could become barky and destructive.

Grooming:

irish terrier dogs - caringThe coat of the Irish Terrier requires a brush twice a week to keep it bright. If you intend showing your dog, the coat will need to be stripped a couple of times a year to maintain the texture and color.

Other Irish Terrier owners take their dog to the groomers to have the coat clipped. The dog doesn't shed a lot and they are referred to as being somewhat hypoallergenic.

As with any other dog breed, other grooming needs with your Irish Terrier will include clipping the nails, checking his teeth for plaque build-up and checking inside the ears for infection.

If you're unsure how to perform these grooming procedures with your pet, simply ask your vet who will explain to you precisely how to ensure your dog remains in tip top condition.

Exercise:

He's a fairly active dog so you want to make sure that you are attending to his exercise needs. Take him for a walk every day, and if you've got a good sized garden, throw a ball for him. If you're a jogger you can count him in.

Diet:

What you feed your Irish Terrier will depend a lot on his age and his activity levels. Every dog is a unique individual and nothing is set in stone regarding their diets. Just like people though, feeding him a lot of junk food will contribute to illness and shorten his lifespan.

He needs quality food. If you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure to read up on how much to feed him. Try and mix in some cooked chicken, brown rice and vegetables from time to time as well as some raw meat.

Learn to know what foods are toxic for him. Make sure he has a bowl of fresh, cool water constantly available to him.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. English Water Spaniel vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. English Water Spaniel vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. English Water Spaniel vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. English Water Spaniel vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. English Water Spaniel vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. English Water Spaniel vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. English Water Spaniel vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. English Water Spaniel vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. English Water Spaniel vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. English Water Spaniel vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. English Water Spaniel vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. English Water Spaniel vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. English Water Spaniel vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. English Water Spaniel vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. English Water Spaniel vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. English Water Spaniel vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. English Water Spaniel vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. English Water Spaniel vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. English Water Spaniel vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. English Water Spaniel vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. English Water Spaniel vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. English Water Spaniel vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. English Water Spaniel vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. English Water Spaniel vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. English Water Spaniel vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Irish Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Irish Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Irish Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Irish Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Irish Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Irish Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Irish Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Irish Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Irish Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Irish Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Irish Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Irish Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Irish Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Irish Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Irish Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Irish Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Irish Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Irish Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Irish Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Irish Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Irish Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Irish Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Irish Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Irish Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Irish Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison