Irish Terrier vs Old English Sheepdog
Compare Irish Terrier and Old English Sheepdog side by side and get a clear picture of what sets the breeds apart. Explore differences in size, weight, temperament, activity level, and other key traits to more easily decide which breed best fits your lifestyle and circumstances.
Characteristic
Irish Terrier
Old English Sheepdog
Breed type
Purebred
Purebred
Height
44 – 50 cm
56 – 70 cm
Weight
11 – 15 kg
25 – 50 kg
Life expectancy
13 – 15 years
10 – 12 years
Child friendly
5/5
5/5
Energy level
4/5
5/5
Intelligence
4/5
3/5
Trainability
2/5
4/5
Health
4/5
3/5
Grooming needs
3/5
5/5
Shedding
1/5
1/5
Barking level
4/5
4/5
Aggressiveness
3/5
2/5
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Characteristics
Irish Terrier
Great with kids
High energy
Super smart
Stubborn
Medium
Old English Sheepdog
Great with kids
High energy
Easy to train
Giant
Summary
About Irish Terrier
Medium, athletic terrier with a wiry red coat, low shedding when properly groomed. Intelligent, energetic, and independent, needing daily exercise and mental stimulation. Deeply loyal and people‑oriented, a keen watchdog, with strong prey drive and sometimes challenging with other dogs.
About Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is a large, shaggy, athletic herding breed with a dense double coat needing regular grooming or a shorter pet clip. Affectionate, clownish, and people focused, it’s intelligent but sometimes stubborn, thriving with consistent training and daily mental and physical exercise.
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