Irish Water Spaniel vs Standard Poodle

An Irish Water Spaniel
Photo: Roete002
A Poodle (Standard)
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK

Side by side

Irish Water Spaniel
Standard Poodle
Adult weight
Males 25–31 kg (55–68 lb); females 20–26 kg (45–58 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 27–32 kg (60–70 lb); females 18–23 kg (40–50 lb) (breed club figure)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 45–60 cm; females 45–60 cm3
Lifespan
Median 10.8 years4
Median 14 years4
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes5
Group
Retrievers & water dogs6
Companion & toy3
Coat
Curly coat6
Curly coat or corded coat3
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
Exercise
Plenty
A modest amount
Class
Field
Family

Which suits you

Lifespan
In UK vet records the Standard Poodle lives longer: a median of 14 years, against 10.8 for the Irish Water Spaniel.
Exercise
Plan for plenty of exercise with the Irish Water Spaniel, and a modest amount with the Standard Poodle.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Irish Water Spaniel: cooperative, with its own ideas; Standard Poodle: keen to work with you) and on loyalty (Irish Water Spaniel: sticks close to its people; Standard Poodle: bonded to its family).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 26 kg (56 lb) for the Irish Water Spaniel and 25 kg (55 lb) for the Standard Poodle.
Alike
Both are rated the same on intelligence: needs daily brain work.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Irish Water Spaniel
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is lively, playful and brave, and it is often called the clown of the spaniel family.

Standard Poodle
Companion & toy · Medium

In temperament the Standard is alert, quick to learn and energetic, moving with a springy gait and a proud carriage.

The Irish Water Spaniel page →The Standard Poodle page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Irish Water Spaniel
Standard Poodle
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Irish Water Spaniel
Standard Poodle
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Sticks close to its people
Bonded to its family
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Keen to work with you
Around the home
Irish Water Spaniel
Standard Poodle
Sensitivity
Differs
Average
Needs a calm, predictable home
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 25 kg.
Irish Water Spaniel
Standard Poodle
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More comparisons

Compare the Irish Water Spaniel with
Standard Poodle vs Toy PoodleMiniature Poodle vs Standard PoodleLabradoodle vs Standard PoodleBichon Frise vs Standard PoodleGoldendoodle vs Standard PoodleBedlington Terrier vs Standard PoodleAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·