Irish Water Spaniel vs Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Side-by-side comparison across all 14 AKC trait ratings, with a clear verdict on which breed fits which kind of household.
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Irish Water Spaniel
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
21–24 in
Height
13–15 in
45–68 lb
Weight
25–40 lb
12–13 yr
Lifespan
12–14 yr
$1.5–3.5k
Puppy price
$1.5–3.5k
#159
AKC popularity
#156
Trait-by-trait
Higher bar = more of that trait. Shedding, barking, drooling, grooming flipped for readability.5
Affectionate w/ Family
4
3
Good with Young Children
5
3
Good with Other Dogs
5
1
Shedding Level
2
3
Coat Grooming
2
2
Drooling Level
2
3
Good with Strangers
4
5
Playfulness
4
3
Watchdog / Protective
4
4
Adaptability
4
5
Trainability
3
3
Energy Level
4
1
Barking Level
5
4
Mental Stimulation Needs
4
Irish Water Spaniel Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Overlay
Where they diverge
Barking Level
Irish Water Spaniel barks less (4-point difference)
Good with Young Children
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is better with kids (2-point difference)
Good with Other Dogs
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen is better with other dogs (2-point difference)
Trainability
Irish Water Spaniel is easier to train (2-point difference)
Affectionate w/ Family
Irish Water Spaniel is more affectionate (1-point difference)
The verdict
Choose the Irish Water Spaniel if…
- Hunters
- Active families
- Waterfowl hunting
- You value trainability — Irish Water Spaniel scores noticeably higher.
Choose the Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen if…
- Active families
- Outdoor enthusiasts
- Those wanting a cheerful, social dog
- You value barking level — Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen 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
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen 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
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