Irish Water Spaniel vs Portuguese Water Dog

An Irish Water Spaniel
Photo: Roete002
A Portuguese Water Dog
Photo: Silke Hollje-Schumacher

Side by side

Irish Water Spaniel
Portuguese Water Dog
Adult weight
Males 25–31 kg (55–68 lb); females 20–26 kg (45–58 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 19–25 kg (42–55 lb); females 16–22 kg (35–49 lb)2
Height
No sourced figure
Males 50–57 cm; females 43–52 cm2
Lifespan
Median 10.8 years3
Median 13 years3
Fully grown
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Retrievers & water dogs5
Retrievers & water dogs2
Coat
Curly coat5
Wavy coat or curly coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
No sourced figure
Grooming
Brushing a few times a week
No sourced figure
Exercise
Plenty
Class
Field
Sport

Which suits you

Size
The Irish Water Spaniel is a little larger on average: about 26 kg (56 lb) as an adult, against 21 kg (45 lb) for the Portuguese Water Dog.
Lifespan
In UK vet records the Portuguese Water Dog lives longer: a median of 13 years, against 10.8 for the Irish Water Spaniel.
Temperament
They differ most on independence (Irish Water Spaniel: cooperative, with its own ideas; Portuguese Water Dog: keen to work with you) and on loyalty (Irish Water Spaniel: sticks close to its people; Portuguese Water Dog: bonded to its family).
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.

Portuguese Water Dog
Retrievers & water dogs · Medium

In temperament it is energetic and intelligent, with a strong liking for water and a close attachment to its family.

The Irish Water Spaniel page →The Portuguese Water Dog page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Irish Water Spaniel
Portuguese Water Dog
Activity
Needs lots of exercise
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Needs daily brain work
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Irish Water Spaniel
Portuguese Water Dog
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
Portuguese Water Dog
Sensitivity
Average
Average
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 behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Irish Water Spaniel grows to the heavier adult, about 26 kg against the Portuguese Water Dog's 21 kg.
Irish Water Spaniel
Portuguese Water Dog
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More comparisons

Compare the Irish Water Spaniel with
Irish Water Spaniel vs Standard PoodleLagotto Romagnolo vs Portuguese Water DogStandard Poodle vs Portuguese Water DogAmerican Water Spaniel vs Irish Water SpanielAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·