Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Irish Water Spaniels Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Irish Water Spaniels Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Easy to Train?
- Do Irish Water Spaniels Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Irish Water Spaniels Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Irish Water Spaniels have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Irish Water Spaniels Playful? What is the Energy Level of Irish Water Spaniels
- Conclusion on Irish Water Spaniel Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Irish Water Spaniel breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Irish Water Spaniel by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Irish Water Spaniel.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Irish Water Spaniel for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Irish Water Spaniel.
The summary table below shows the score of the Irish Water Spaniel for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Energy Level | 70.6 percent |
| Prey Drive | 64.6 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 50.4 percent |
| Stubbornness | 5.0 percent |
| Excitability | 44.4 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 33.7 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 31.5 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 27.6 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 25.6 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 21.8 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 20.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 17.6 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 12.0 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 0.9 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Irish Water Spaniel`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Irish Water Spaniel, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Irish Water Spaniel.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Irish Water Spaniels are a little bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks low for aggression towards strangers.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 87 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 25.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Papillon | 26.2 % |
| 85 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 26.0 % |
| 86 | Ibizan Hound | 25.9 % |
| 87 | Irish Water Spaniel | 25.6 % |
| 88 | Boston Terrier | 25.5 % |
| 89 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 25.4 % |
| 90 | Pug | 23.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Irish Water Spaniels are not aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very low for aggression towards its owner.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 122 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has an owner-directed-aggression score of 0.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not owner-aggressive just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 119 | Scottish Terrier | 3.9 % |
| 120 | Italian Greyhound | 2.6 % |
| 121 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | 0.9 % |
| 122 | Irish Water Spaniel | 0.9 % |
| 123 | Pointer | 0.3 % |
| 124 | Chinook | 0.0 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Irish Water Spaniels are somewhat aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks average for aggression towards other dogs.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a dog-directed aggression score of 50.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat dog-aggressive just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 50.9 % |
| 51 | Australian Shepherd | 50.9 % |
| 52 | Dalmatian | 50.6 % |
| 53 | Irish Water Spaniel | 50.4 % |
| 54 | Fox Terrier (Toy) | 50.0 % |
| 55 | Doberman Pinscher | 49.5 % |
| 56 | Belgian Sheepdog | 48.4 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Irish Water Spaniels are somewhat fearful of strangers.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks average for fear of strangers.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 65 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a stranger-directed-fear score of 27.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat stranger-fearful just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 62 | Shih Tzu | 27.9 % |
| 63 | Standard Schnauzer | 27.6 % |
| 64 | Belgian Sheepdog | 27.6 % |
| 65 | Irish Water Spaniel | 27.6 % |
| 66 | Doberman Pinscher | 27.3 % |
| 67 | German Shepherd | 27.3 % |
| 68 | Boxer | 27.1 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Irish Water Spaniels Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Irish Water Spaniels are not fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very low for fear of other dogs.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 103 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a dog-directed-fear score of 20.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are not other-dog-fearful just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Chow Chow | 21.7 % |
| 101 | Old English Sheepdog | 21.1 % |
| 102 | Redbone Coonhound | 20.9 % |
| 103 | Irish Water Spaniel | 20.1 % |
| 104 | Scottish Terrier | 19.7 % |
| 105 | Irish Wolfhound | 17.6 % |
| 106 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 17.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Irish Water Spaniels Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Irish Water Spaniels are not fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very low for non-social fear.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 99 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a nonsocial-fear score of 17.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are not nonsocial-fearful just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 96 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 18.3 % |
| 97 | Pointer | 17.9 % |
| 98 | Collie | 17.7 % |
| 99 | Irish Water Spaniel | 17.6 % |
| 100 | Basset Hound | 17.5 % |
| 101 | Airedale Terrier | 17.2 % |
| 102 | Anatolian Shepherd | 16.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Irish Water Spaniels Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Irish Water Spaniels are a little bit competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks low on dog rivalry.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 84 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a dog-rivalry score of 31.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit competition-driven just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Newfoundland | 32.6 % |
| 82 | West Highland White Terrier | 32.5 % |
| 83 | Vizsla | 31.7 % |
| 84 | Irish Water Spaniel | 31.5 % |
| 85 | Borzoi | 31.5 % |
| 86 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 31.5 % |
| 87 | Papillon | 31.4 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Irish Water Spaniels are very much easy to train.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very high for trainability.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 5 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the trainability of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a trainability score of 95.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much easy to train just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgian Tervuren | 100.0 % |
| 2 | Belgian Malinois | 99.2 % |
| 3 | Border Collie | 97.3 % |
| 4 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 95.3 % |
| 5 | Irish Water Spaniel | 95.0 % |
| 6 | Portuguese Water Dog | 91.9 % |
| 7 | Australian Cattle Dog | 91.8 % |
| 8 | Rottweiler | 91.1 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Irish Water Spaniel is and how the intelligence of the Irish Water Spaniel affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Irish Water Spaniel is.
Do Irish Water Spaniels Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Irish Water Spaniels are quite a bit into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks high for small-pet-chasing.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 29 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a chasing score of 64.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit into chasing after smaller pets just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Rat Terrier | 65.4 % |
| 27 | Alaskan Malamute | 65.1 % |
| 28 | Weimaraner | 64.8 % |
| 29 | Irish Water Spaniel | 64.6 % |
| 30 | Doberman Pinscher | 64.5 % |
| 31 | Irish Setter | 64.1 % |
| 32 | Standard Schnauzer | 63.7 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Irish Water Spaniels Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Irish Water Spaniels are not attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 98 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 33.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | 36.0 % |
| 96 | Dingo | 35.6 % |
| 97 | Basset Hound | 34.7 % |
| 98 | Irish Water Spaniel | 33.7 % |
| 99 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 33.2 % |
| 100 | Eurasier | 32.0 % |
| 101 | Alaskan Malamute | 31.9 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Irish Water Spaniels have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Irish Water Spaniels are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 105 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a separation anxiety score of 21.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Belgian Tervuren | 23.3 % |
| 103 | Gordon Setter | 23.1 % |
| 104 | Airedale Terrier | 23.0 % |
| 105 | Irish Water Spaniel | 21.8 % |
| 106 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
| 107 | Cairn Terrier | 17.9 % |
| 108 | Rottweiler | 17.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Irish Water Spaniels are not touch-sensitive.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks very low for touch sensitivity.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 119 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has a touch-sensitivity score of 12.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not touch-sensitive just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 116 | German Wirehaired Pointer | 13.5 % |
| 117 | Saint Bernard | 12.8 % |
| 118 | Bernese Mountain Dog | 12.7 % |
| 119 | Irish Water Spaniel | 12.0 % |
| 120 | Portuguese Water Dog | 11.8 % |
| 121 | Gordon Setter | 11.6 % |
| 122 | Pointer | 9.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Irish Water Spaniels are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks average for excitability.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 64 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has an excitability score of 44.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 61 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 45.2 % |
| 62 | Labrador Retriever | 45.0 % |
| 63 | Belgian Sheepdog | 45.0 % |
| 64 | Irish Water Spaniel | 44.4 % |
| 65 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 44.4 % |
| 66 | Papillon | 44.4 % |
| 67 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 44.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Irish Water Spaniels Playful? What is the Energy Level of Irish Water Spaniels
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Irish Water Spaniels are quite a bit energetic.
This is because the Irish Water Spaniel ranks high for energy level.
The Irish Water Spaniel ranks number 29 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 10 Irish Water Spaniel owners reported on the temperament of their Irish Water Spaniel in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Irish Water Spaniel has an energy-level score of 70.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit energetic just like the Irish Water Spaniel are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 26 | Border Collie | 71.3 % |
| 27 | Vizsla | 71.3 % |
| 28 | Doberman Pinscher | 70.7 % |
| 29 | Irish Water Spaniel | 70.6 % |
| 30 | Dalmatian | 70.2 % |
| 31 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 70.1 % |
| 32 | Fox Terrier (Wire/Wire-haired) | 68.9 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Irish Water Spaniel Temperament
The temperament of your Irish Water Spaniel comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Irish Water Spaniel is exposed to.
You cannot change your Irish Water Spaniel`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Irish Water Spaniel to.
Exposing your Irish Water Spaniel to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Irish Water Spaniel to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Irish Water Spaniel`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Irish Water Spaniel.
If you think the Irish Water Spaniel is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Irish Water Spaniels cost and Irish Water Spaniel puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Irish Water Spaniel breeders in the United States and the prices of their Irish Water Spaniel puppies.