Last Updated: Mar 09, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Border Collie Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction
- Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview
- Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
- The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel
- Size (Weight and Height) of Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Lifespan of Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Temperament of the Border Collie Versus the Irish Water Spaniel
- The Intelligence of the Border Collie versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel
- The Popularity of Border Collie versus Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel
- Health Problems of Border Collie versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel
- Tolerates Being Alone: Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel
- Do Border Collies shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
- Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel
- How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Irish Water Spaniels?
- Does the Border Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?
- Do Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
- Can Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Irish Water Spaniel
- Can Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Border Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel. Which One is a Better Pet?
Border Collie Versus Irish Water Spaniel: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel? 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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Border Collie and for the Irish Water Spaniel. 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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel.
Note that the border collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth-coat border collie and the rough-coat border collie. Read our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.
Furthermore, the border collie dog breed is very different from the collie dog breed. Learn about the differences between these two dog breeds in our border collie versus collie article.
Finally, just like the border collie, the collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough collie and the smooth collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough collie versus smooth collie.
Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel: Overview
Both the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel are similar in size. The Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel are both medium-sized dogs.
Furthermore, the Border Collie 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.
On the other hand, 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.
Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Border Collie to the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel
Factor | Border Collie | Irish Water Spaniel |
---|---|---|
Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 3/5 |
Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Life Span | 12 to 15 years | 10 to 12 years |
Height | 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder | 1 foot, 9 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder |
Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 2/5 | 3/5 |
Good For Novice Owners | 2/5 | 2/5 |
General Health | 2/5 | 2/5 |
Does NOT Bark or Howl | 4/5 | 2/5 |
Dog Friendly | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Does NOT Shed | 3/5 | 5/5 |
Easy To Groom | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 1/5 |
Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Calmness/ Low Vigor | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Weight | 30 to 45 pounds | 45 to 65 pounds |
Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Tolerates Hot Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
Kid-Friendly | 4/5 | 5/5 |
Easygoing | 1/5 | 2/5 |
Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Easy To Train | 5/5 | 5/5 |
Intelligence | 5/5 | 4/5 |
NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 1/5 |
Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Average Lifespan | 13.5 years | 11.0 years |
Average Price | $1000 | No Data |
Price Range | $600 – $1250 | No Data |
Temperament Score | 82.4 percent | 90.0 percent |
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | ||
Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 37 | 156 |
Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 1 | 24 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Border Collie 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 Irish Water Spaniel. 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 Border Collie is 80 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 81 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Irish Water Spaniel, we still believe that the Border Collie is a better pet than the Irish Water Spaniel.
This is because Border Collies are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Border Collie will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Border Collie :-). We are for the Border Collie. So get a Border Collie!
The Similarities Between the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel
The Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel are most similar:
Size (Weight and Height) of Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel.
Border Collies weigh 30 to 45 pounds when fully grown. Border Collies are 18 to 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, 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.
Here is our article on Border Collie size, Border Collie growth, and Border Collie weight.
Lifespan of Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel
The lifespan of Border Collies is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Border Collies is 13.5 years.
The lifespan of Irish Water Spaniels is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Irish Water Spaniels is 11.0 years.
Border Collies live longer than Irish Water Spaniels.
Go to this article to learn more about Border Collie lifespan and how long Border Collie live.
Temperament of the Border Collie Versus the Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel has a better temperament than the Border Collie.
This is because the temperament score for the Irish Water Spaniel is 90.0 percent while the temperament score for the Border Collie is 82.4 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 82.4 percent, the Border Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 90.0 percent, the Irish Water Spaniel has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel by measuring the temperaments of 312 Border Collies and 30 Irish Water Spaniels.
The Intelligence of the Border Collie versus the Intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel
`Border Collie | Irish Water Spaniel | |
---|---|---|
Intelligence Rank | 1 out of 130 dog breeds | 24 out of 130 dog breeds |
Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 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: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 Border Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 1 out of 130 dog breeds. The Border Collie belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Border Collies tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.
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 Border Collie 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 Border Collie versus Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel
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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Border Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Water Spaniel. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Border Collie is 37 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 Border Collie
Popularity of Irish Water Spaniel
Year | Border Collie Popularity Rank | Irish Water Spaniel Popularity Rank |
---|---|---|
2013 | 44 | 141 |
2014 | 40 | 152 |
2015 | 38 | 144 |
2016 | 38 | 150 |
2017 | 38 | 164 |
2018 | 35 | 159 |
2019 | 33 | 170 |
2020 | 32 | 174 |
Health Problems of Border Collie versus Health Problems of Irish Water Spaniel
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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel 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 Border Collie is prone to more genetic health problems than the Irish Water Spaniel.
This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Border Collie than for the Irish Water Spaniel.
13 health tests are recommended for Border Collie while 5 tests are recommended for the Irish Water Spaniel.
Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Border Collies and in Irish Water Spaniels.
Border Collie Health Problems
Border Collies are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Border Collie 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 Border Collie puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Border Collie 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 Border Collies for:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Border Collies here.
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:
You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Irish Water Spaniels here.
More Discussions on Health Problems in Border Collies and Irish Water Spaniels
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 Border Collie Breed is Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems.
This is because the Border Collie ranks 2 out of 3 dog breeds for Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 102 Border Collies, 1 of them had Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems.
The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Border Collies, and how common these diseases are in Border Collies relative to other dog breeds, are given below:
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:
The table below lists the common health problems in Border Collie and in Irish Water Spaniel and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel:
`Disease | Border Collie Rank | Irish Water Spaniel Rank |
---|---|---|
Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis problems | 2 out of 3 dog breeds | Not Common |
Baer Hearing Test problems | 11 out of 21 dog breeds | Not Common |
Degenerative Myelopathy problems | 13 out of 70 dog breeds | Not Common |
Shoulder problems | 14 out of 22 dog breeds | 18 out of 22 dog breeds |
Dentition Database problems | 30 out of 49 dog breeds | Not Common |
Thyroid problems | 49 out of 115 dog breeds | 105 out of 115 dog breeds |
Hips problems | 116 out of 198 dog breeds | 104 out of 198 dog breeds |
Elbow problems | 117 out of 144 dog breeds | 31 out of 144 dog breeds |
Patella problems | 132 out of 145 dog breeds | Not Common |
Eyes problems | 135 out of 182 dog breeds | 150 out of 182 dog breeds |
Advanced Cardiac problems | Not Common | 5 out of 71 dog breeds |
Congenital Cardiac problems | Not Common | 9 out of 159 dog breeds |
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: Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel
Border Collies do not like to be left alone.
Irish Water Spaniels can be left alone only for a short time.
Do Border Collies shed more than Irish Water Spaniels?
Border Collies shed moderately.
Check out our articles to learn more on how to minimize shedding in Border Collies, and on how to groom a Border Collie
Irish Water Spaniels do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel?
Border Collies are moderately easy to groom.
To learn more about how to properly groom a Border Collie, check out our article on how to groom a Border Collie.
Learn more on how to take care of a Border Collie here.
Irish Water Spaniels are moderately easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel?
Border Collies get along fairly well with other dogs.
Irish Water Spaniels get along very well with other dogs.
Are Border Collies good family dogs? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
Border Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Border Collie make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.
Learn about Border Collie temperament here.
Irish Water Spaniels are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Border Collie Easier to Train than the Irish Water Spaniel?
Border Collies are very easy to train.
Irish Water Spaniels are very easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel
Border Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.
Irish Water Spaniels do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Border Collies and Irish Water Spaniels?
Border Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Irish Water Spaniels get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Border Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Water Spaniel?
Border Collies have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
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.
Do Border Collies Bark and Howl? What about Irish Water Spaniels?
Border Collies are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.
Irish Water Spaniels are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Border Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Cold Weather?
Border Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.
Irish Water Spaniels can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Border Collie vs. Irish Water Spaniel
Border Collies have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Irish Water Spaniels have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Border Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Water Spaniels Tolerate Hot Weather?
Border Collies can tolerate hot weather.
Irish Water Spaniels can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Border Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Water Spaniel?
Border Collies do not adapt well to apartment living.
Irish Water Spaniels adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Border Collie or the Irish Water Spaniel?
Border Collies are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Irish Water Spaniels are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Border Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Border Collie compares to other breeds aside from the Irish Water Spaniel. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Border Collie to other breeds:
Border Collie versus Cardigan Welsh Corgi Border Collie versus Tibetan Mastiff Border Collie versus Norfolk Terrier Border Collie versus Kooikerhondje Border Collie versus Shiranian Border Collie versus Pyrenean Mastiff Border Collie versus Puggle Border Collie versus Dandie Dinmont Terrier Border Collie versus Basset Hound Border Collie versus Beagle Border Collie versus Lakeland Terrier Border Collie versus Aussiedoodle Border Collie versus Shiloh Shepherd Border Collie versus American Eskimo Dog Border Collie versus American Foxhound Border Collie versus SheepadoodleConclusion: Border Collie versus Irish Water Spaniel. 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 Border Collie and the Irish Water Spaniel better suits you and your family.