Irish Water Spaniel vs Löwchen
Side-by-side comparison across all 14 AKC trait ratings, with a clear verdict on which breed fits which kind of household.
Perfect Puppy Quiz · 5 questions · 90 seconds
Not sure which breed fits your life?
Answer five questions about your home, your schedule, and your tolerance for shedding. We’ll match you to your top three breeds from over 200.
Irish Water Spaniel
Löwchen
21–24 in
Height
11–13 in
45–68 lb
Weight
10–15 lb
12–13 yr
Lifespan
15–15 yr
$1.5–3.5k
Puppy price
$2.0–6.0k
#159
AKC popularity
#168
Trait-by-trait
Higher bar = more of that trait. Shedding, barking, drooling, grooming flipped for readability.5
Affectionate w/ Family
5
3
Good with Young Children
5
3
Good with Other Dogs
3
1
Shedding Level
2
3
Coat Grooming
2
2
Drooling Level
1
3
Good with Strangers
3
5
Playfulness
4
3
Watchdog / Protective
4
4
Adaptability
4
5
Trainability
4
3
Energy Level
3
1
Barking Level
3
4
Mental Stimulation Needs
3
Irish Water Spaniel Löwchen
Overlay
Where they diverge
Good with Young Children
Löwchen is better with kids (2-point difference)
Barking Level
Irish Water Spaniel barks less (2-point difference)
Shedding Level
Irish Water Spaniel sheds less (1-point difference)
Coat Grooming
Löwchen needs less grooming (1-point difference)
Drooling Level
Löwchen drools less (1-point difference)
The verdict
Choose the Irish Water Spaniel if…
- Hunters
- Active families
- Waterfowl hunting
- You value coat grooming — Irish Water Spaniel scores noticeably higher.
Choose the Löwchen if…
- Apartment living
- Allergy sufferers
- Seniors or retirees
- You value good with young children — Löwchen scores higher here.
Irish Water Spaniel Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Irish Water Spaniel home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
Löwchen Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Löwchen home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you