German Spaniel (Wachtelhund) vs Irish Water Spaniel
Compare German Spaniel (Wachtelhund) and Irish Water Spaniel: size, life expectancy, temperament and care side by side.
German Spaniel (Wachtelhund)
VS
Irish Water Spaniel
Comparison Table
Show Differences Only
Characteristic
German Spaniel (Wachtelhund)
Irish Water Spaniel
Breed Type
Purebred
Purebred
FCI Group
8 – Retrievers, Flushing Dogs and Water Dogs
8 – Retrievers, Flushing Dogs and Water Dogs
Height
45 – 54 cm
51 – 61 cm
Weight
18 – 25 kg
25 – 34 kg
Life Expectancy
12 – 14 years
12 – 14 years
Child-Friendly
3/5
5/5
Energy Level
3/5
4/5
Intelligence
3/5
4/5
Trainability
4/5
4/5
Health
3/5
3/5
Grooming Needs
3/5
3/5
Shedding
3/5
2/5
Barking Level
2/5
Not Available
Aggressiveness
1/5
Not Available
The 1–5 scale shows the level of each trait. A higher value means more of that trait. Individual animals may vary.
Characteristics
German Spaniel (Wachtelhund)
Quiet
Easy to Train
Medium
Irish Water Spaniel
Great with Kids
High Energy
Very Smart
Quiet
Easy to Train
Large
Summary
About German Spaniel (Wachtelhund)
Medium, robust German hunting spaniel built for dense cover, with a thick, weather‑resistant coat in brown or brown-white. Very loyal, often one-person focused yet family friendly. Highly energetic, driven working gundog that needs intensive exercise and meaningful tasks; still uncommon outside Germany.
About Irish Water Spaniel
Medium–large, athletic gundog with a distinctive curly liver coat, smooth face and tapering “rat tail.” Clever, water‑loving retriever that forms close bonds, often to one person. Needs substantial daily exercise, mental work, regular grooming and kind, consistent training.
Similar Breeds
More Breeds
