Last Updated: May 01, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Collie Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction
- Collie versus Irish Terrier: Overview
- Collie versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Irish Terrier
- The Similarities Between the Collie and the Irish Terrier
- Size Comparison of the Collie versus Irish Terrier
- Lifespan of Collie versus Irish Terrier
- Temperament of the Collie Versus the Irish Terrier
- Price of Collie versus Price of Irish Terrier
- The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier
- The Popularity of Collie versus Popularity of Irish Terrier
- Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Irish Terrier
- Do Collies shed more than Irish Terriers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Irish Terrier?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the Irish Terrier?
- Are Collies good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?
- Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?
- Which one drools more, the Collie or the Irish Terrier
- How Kid-friendly are Collies and Irish Terriers?
- Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?
- Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?
- Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Irish Terrier
- Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Collie versus Irish Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Collie Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Collie and the Irish Terrier? 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 Collie and the Irish Terrier 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 Collie and the Irish Terrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Collie and the Irish Terrier 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 Collie and for the Irish Terrier. 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 Collie and the Irish Terrier.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Collie or the Irish Terrier.
Note that the Collie breed comes in two varieties based on coat texture. There is the smooth collie and the rough collie. Read our article on rough collie versus smooth 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.
See this article that compares the Border Collie to the Irish Terrier.
Finally, just like the collie, the border collie also comes in two varieties. There is the rough border collie and the smooth border collie. To learn about the differences and similarities between them, check out our article on rough-coat border collie versus smooth-coat border collie.
Collie versus Irish Terrier: Overview
Both the Collie and the Irish Terrier are similar in size. The Collie and the Irish Terrier are both medium-sized dogs.
Furthermore, the 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 Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.
Collie versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Collie to the Irish Terrier 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 Collie and the Irish Terrier
| Factor | Collie | Irish Terrier |
|---|---|---|
| Does NOT Drool | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Life Span | 10 to 14 years | 12 to 16 years |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Height | 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder | 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| General Health | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 3/5 | 5/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 3/5 | 1/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 4/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Easy To Train | 4/5 | 1/5 |
| Intelligence | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 50 to 70 pounds | 25 to 27 pounds |
| Average Lifespan | 12.0 years | 14.0 years |
| Average Price | $1480 | $1110 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $1800 | $900 – $1500 |
| Temperament Score | 80.8 percent | 80.0 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 37 | 118 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 16 | 53 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the 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 Terrier. 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 Collie is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.
Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Collie is a better pet than the Irish Terrier. So, you should get a Collie!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Collie and the Irish Terrier
Below is a list of where the Collie and the Irish Terrier are most different:
The Similarities Between the Collie and the Irish Terrier
The Collie and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Collie and the Irish Terrier are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Collie versus Irish Terrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Collie and the Irish Terrier.
The Collie weighs 50 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Collie is 22 to 26 inches all at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Irish Terrier weighs 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. The Irish Terrier is 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Lifespan of Collie versus Irish Terrier
The lifespan of the Collie is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Collie is 12.0 years.
The lifespan of the Irish Terrier is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Irish Terrier is 14.0 years.
The Irish Terrier live longer than the Collie.
Temperament of the Collie Versus the Irish Terrier
The Collie has a better temperament than the Irish Terrier.
This is because the temperament score for the Collie is 80.8 percent while the temperament score for the Irish Terrier is 80.0 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 80.8 percent, the Collie has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 80.0 percent, the Irish Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Collie and the Irish Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 896 Collies and 10 Irish Terriers.
Price of Collie versus Price of Irish Terrier
The average price of the Collie puppy is $1480. The price of the Collie typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Collie can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 356 Collie puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Irish Terrier puppy is $1110. The price of the Irish Terrier typically ranges from $900 – $1500. However, the price of the Irish Terrier can be as low as $450 and as high as $2800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 36 Irish Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Collie is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.
| Collie | Irish Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1480 | $1110 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $1800 | $900 to $1500 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Collie and Irish Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Collie puppies or how many Irish Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Collies. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Irish Terriers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Collie puppy or the Irish Terrier 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.
Check out our list of best Collie breeders here
The Intelligence of the Collie versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier
| Collie | Irish Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 16 out of 130 dog breeds | 53 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 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 Collie has an obedience intelligence rank of 16 out of 130 dog breeds. The Collie belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Collies tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.
The Irish Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Collie is more intelligent than the Irish Terrier.
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 Collie versus Popularity of Irish Terrier
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 Collie and the Irish Terrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Collie is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Collie is 37 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Collie
Popularity of Irish Terrier
| Year | Collie Popularity Rank | Irish Terrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 35 | 123 |
| 2014 | 36 | 125 |
| 2015 | 36 | 113 |
| 2016 | 37 | 115 |
| 2017 | 40 | 114 |
| 2018 | 38 | 116 |
| 2019 | 38 | 119 |
| 2020 | 40 | 120 |
| 2021 | 38 | 124 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Collie versus Irish Terrier
Collies do not like to be left alone.
Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.
Do Collies shed more than Irish Terriers?
Collies shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Collie or the Irish Terrier?
Collies require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Collie or the Irish Terrier?
Collies get along very well with other dogs.
Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Collies good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?
Collies are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Irish Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Collie Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?
Collies are very easy to train.
Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Collie or the Irish Terrier
Collies do have a very low tendency to drool.
Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Collies and Irish Terriers?
Collies get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Collie Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?
Collies 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.
Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Do Collies Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?
Collies are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Irish Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Collies Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Collies can very well tolerate cold weather.
Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Collie vs. Irish Terrier
Collies do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.
Irish Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Collies Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Collies can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Collie Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?
Collies adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Collie or the Irish Terrier?
Collies are very good for new dog owners.
Irish Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Collie Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Collie compares to other breeds aside from the Irish Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Collie to other breeds:
Collie versus Azawakh Collie versus Chinese Shar-Pei Collie versus Whoodle Collie versus Saint Berdoodle Collie versus Basenji Collie versus Mountain Cur Collie versus Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier Collie versus American Water Spaniel Collie versus Glen of Imaal Terrier Collie versus American Foxhound Collie versus Lancashire Heeler Collie versus Peek A Poo Collie versus SamoyedConclusion: Collie versus Irish Terrier. 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 Collie and the Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.