Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel" Compare Miniature Schnauzer and Miniature Poodle. Which is better: Miniature Schnauzer or Miniature Poodle or Irish Water Spaniel?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Miniature Schnauzer	Miniature Poodle	Irish Water Spaniel
Origins	Germany	Germany France	Ireland
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Hunting Dogs	Companion Dogs	Gun Dog
Popularity Rank	18	435	164
Reviews	0	0	0
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Other Names	Zwergschnauzer	Caniche, Barbone, Chien Canne, Carniche Moyen, Barboncino Miniatura, French Poodle, Pudle, Zwergpudel	Whiptail, Shannon Spaniel, Rat Tail Spaniel, Bog Dog
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1926 as a Terrier breed.	Not recognized by the American Kennel Club.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1878 as a Sporting breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Pinscher and Schnauzer type section.	Not recognized by FCI.	Recognized by FCI in the Retrievers - Flushing Dogs - Water Dogs group, in the Water Dogs section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club Canadian Canine Registry	No set
Price	$600-$1000	1000-1500	$800-$1000

General Appearance - Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel

Size	Small	Small	Medium
Weight	Male: 11-18 pounds (5.0-8.2 kg), Female: 10-15 pounds (4.5-6.8 kg)	15-17 pounds (7-8 kg)	45-65 pounds (20-30 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 14.5 pounds (5.0-8.2 kg), Female: 12.5 pounds (4.5-6.8 kg)	16 pounds (7.5 kg)	55 pounds (25 kg)
Height	Male: 14 inches (35.6 cm), Female: 13 inches (33.0 cm)	11-15 inches (28-38 cm)	20-23 inches (51-58 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 14 inches (35.6 cm), Female: 13 inches (33.0 cm)	13 inches (33 cm)	21.5 inches (54.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel

Coat	Wiry	Dense Curly Thick	Dense Tight Curly
Colors	Salt Pepper Silver Black	Apricot Black Brown Gray Silver White Fawn Blue Cream Red Beige	Brown
Grooming	Advanced: The Miniature Schnauzer requires a lot of grooming.	Professional: This breed needs a lot of work to keep in good condition.	Advanced: The Irish Water Spaniel requires a lot of grooming.
Shedding Level	Miniature Schnauzers shed none to minimal.	Miniature Poodles shed none to minimal.	Irish Water Spaniels shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel

Temperament	Alert Friendly Obedient Fearless Intelligent Spirited	Active Faithful Intelligent Alert Instinctual Trainable	Active Clownish Intelligent Alert Inquisitive Quick
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Miniature Schnauzer is an excellent dog breed.	Outstanding: Miniature Poodle is one of the brightest dog breeds.	Very smart: Irish Water Spaniel is an excellent dog breed.
Trainability	Miniature Schnauzers are easy to train.	Miniature Poodles are very easy to train.	Irish Water Spaniels are easy to train.
Playfulness	Miniature Schnauzers, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Miniature Poodle is a playful breed.	The Irish Water Spaniel is a playful breed.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.
Affection Level	Miniature Schnauzers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Miniature Poodles are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Irish Water Spaniels are highly affectionate dogs.
Social Needs	Miniature Schnauzers are a social breed.	Miniature Poodles need a lot of social interaction.	Irish Water Spaniels need for social interaction is average.
Barking	Average: The Miniature Schnauzer barks occasionally.	Average to high: The Miniature Poodle is a vocal breed.	Average: The Irish Water Spaniel barks occasionally.
Watchdog Ability	Miniature Schnauzers are one of the best watchdogs.	Miniature Poodles are good watchdogs.	Irish Water Spaniels are good watchdogs.
Territorial	Miniature Schnauzers strongly protect their territory.	Miniature Poodles are average defenders.	Irish Water Spaniels are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Low The Miniature Schnauzer has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Miniature Poodle has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Irish Water Spaniel has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Miniature Schnauzers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Miniature Poodles have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Irish Water Spaniels have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Miniature Schnauzers have average wanderlust potential.	Miniature Poodles tend to escape less than other breeds.	Irish Water Spaniels have average wanderlust potential.
Prey Drive	Miniature Schnauzers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Miniature Poodles have low to an average impulse to chase and catch something like a cat or any other small aminals.	Irish Water Spaniels have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Miniature Poodles are very apartment-friendly dogs.	Irish Water Spaniels are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Miniature Schnauzers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Miniature Poodles adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Irish Water Spaniels adapt well to lifestyle changes and different living environments.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Miniature Schnauzers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Miniature Poodles tend to have separation anxiety when their owners left them alone at home because they bond very closely with them.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.

Good With - Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel

Stranger Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are average friendly towards strangers.	Miniature Poodles are stranger friendly dogs.	Irish Water Spaniels are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are kid-friendly dogs.	Miniature Poodles are very kid-friendly dogs.	Irish Water Spaniels are very kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are average friendly towards cats.	Miniature Poodles are cat-friendly dogs.	Irish Water Spaniels are not the most cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are average friendly towards other dogs.	Miniature Poodles are dog-friendly dogs.	Irish Water Spaniels are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Miniature Schnauzer is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Miniature Poodle is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Irish Water Spaniel is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are usually recommended for elderly people.	Miniature Poodles are one of the best breeds for elderly people.	Irish Water Spaniels are one of the best breeds for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are generally with other pets.	Miniature Poodles are usually friendly towards other pets.	Irish Water Spaniels usually don’t get on well with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Miniature Schnauzers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Miniature Poodles are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	No Irish Water Spaniels are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Yes This breed makes a perfect therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Yes Miniature Schnauzer breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Miniature Poodle breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.	Yes Irish Water Spaniel breed usually likes being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel

Health Issues	Egészségesek Miniature Schnauzer fajták, de vannak bizonyos egészségügyi problémáik, amelyeket rendszeresen ellenőrizned kell az állatorvossal.	Egészségesek Miniature Poodle fajták, de vannak bizonyos egészségügyi problémáik, amelyeket rendszeresen ellenőrizned kell az állatorvossal.	Irish Water Spaniels are commonly healthy dogs.
Health Problems	Cataracts Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection (MAI) Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Addison's Disease Bloat Epilepsy Hip Dysplasia	No set
Life Expectancy	12-14 years	14-16 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	Yes	Yes	Yes
Energy Level	Miniature Schnauzers are high energy dogs.	Miniature Poodles have a higher energy level than other dog breeds.	Irish Water Spaniels are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Miniature Schnauzers have an average exercise need.	Miniature Poodles need quite a lot of exercise.	Irish Water Spaniels need a lot of exercises.
Sleeping Need	Miniature Schnauzers don't need too much sleep.	Miniature Poodles are quite energetic dogs and they don't spend to much time with sleeping.	Irish Water Spaniels don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	1/2 to 1 cup dry food a day.	0.5 to 1.5 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.	2 to 3 cups of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Average to High.	Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Miniature Schnauzer can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to warm weather conditions	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Irish Water Spaniel can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.
Stinkiness	Low The Miniature Schnauzer has a low chance of bad smell.	Low The Miniature Poodle has a low chance of bad smell.	Medium The Irish Water Spaniel has an average chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Miniature Schnauzer is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Miniature Poodle is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Irish Water Spaniel is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Miniature Schnauzer vs Miniature Poodle vs Irish Water Spaniel

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	3-6 puppies	2-8 puppies, average 5	4-12 puppies
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