Last Updated: Jun 18, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Great Dane Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction
- Great Dane versus Irish Terrier: Overview
- Great Dane versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table
- The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
- The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
- Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Irish Terrier
- Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
- Lifespan of Great Dane versus Irish Terrier
- Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Irish Terrier
- Price of Great Dane versus Price of Irish Terrier
- Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Irish Terrier
- The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier
- The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Irish Terrier
- Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Irish Terrier
- Do Great Danes shed more than Irish Terriers?
- Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier?
- Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier?
- Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?
- Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?
- Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier
- How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Irish Terriers?
- Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?
- Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
- Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Irish Terrier
- Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
- Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
- Conclusion: Great Dane versus Irish Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
Great Dane Versus Irish Terrier: Introduction
Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier better suits you.
We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier.
Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.
Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Great Dane and for the Irish Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier.
Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier.
Great Dane versus Irish Terrier: Overview
A very important difference between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Great Dane is a giant-sized dog while the Irish Terrier is a medium-sized dog.
Furthermore, the Great Dane belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.
On the other hand, the Irish Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.
Great Dane versus Irish Terrier: Comparison Table
The table below compares the Great Dane to the Irish Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.
When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets
Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.
However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.
Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
| Factor | Great Dane | Irish Terrier |
|---|---|---|
| Adapts Well To Apartment Living | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Good For Novice Owners | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Tolerates Being Alone | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Weight | 100 to 200 pounds | 25 to 27 pounds |
| Tolerates Cold Weather | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Potential NOT to Gain Weight | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT chew on things | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Height | 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder | 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder |
| Tolerates Hot Weather | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Low Prey Drive | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Tendency NOT to Wander | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Drool | 2/5 | 5/5 |
| General Health | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| Does NOT Bark or Howl | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| Easygoing | 1/5 | 3/5 |
| Affectionate With Family | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Kid-Friendly | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Dog Friendly | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| Friendly Toward Strangers | 5/5 | 3/5 |
| Does NOT Shed | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Groom | 5/5 | 2/5 |
| Easy To Train | 5/5 | 1/5 |
| NOT Rambunctious | 1/5 | 1/5 |
| Calmness/ Low Vigor | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Minimal Exercise Needs | 1/5 | 2/5 |
| Potential For Playfulness | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Life Span | 7 to 10 years | 12 to 16 years |
| Average Lifespan | 8.5 years | 14.0 years |
| Average Price | $1560 | $1110 |
| Price Range | $1000 – $2000 | $900 – $1500 |
| Temperament Score | 81.5 percent | 80.0 percent |
| Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests | No Data | |
| Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds | 15 | 118 |
| Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) | 48 | 53 |
Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Great Dane in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Irish Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.
The Better-Pet score for the Great Dane is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Irish Terrier is 78 out of 125.
Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Irish Terrier, we still believe that the Great Dane is a better pet than the Irish Terrier.
This is because Great Danes are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Great Dane will come out on top.
Also, we are biased in favor of the Great Dane :-). We are for the Great Dane. So get a Great Dane!
The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
Below is a list of where the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier are most different:
The Similarities Between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
The Great Dane and the Irish Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier are most similar:
Size Comparison of the Great Dane versus Irish Terrier
Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier.
The Great Dane weighs 100 to 200 pounds when fully grown. The Great Dane is 26 to 34 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
On the other hand, the Irish Terrier weighs 25 to 27 pounds when fully grown. The Irish Terrier is 18 to 20 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.
Appearance (Colors) of the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier
Great Dane Colors
The Great Dane comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- Harlequin
- Merle (Blue)
- Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
- Brown / Chocolate
- White / Cream
- Brindle
- Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
- Merle (Red)
- Bicolor
- Gray / Blue / Silver
The Great Dane comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- White / Cream
- Brown / Chocolate
- Black
- Gray / Blue / Silver
- Golden
- Merle (Blue)
- Harlequin
- Brindle
Irish Terrier Colors
The Irish Terrier comes in the following beautiful primary colors:
- Black
- Red / Chestnut / Orange
The Irish Terrier comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:
- Brown / Chocolate
Lifespan of Great Dane versus Irish Terrier
The lifespan of the Great Dane is between 7 to 10 years. The average lifespan of the Great Dane is 8.5 years.
The lifespan of the Irish Terrier is between 12 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Irish Terrier is 14.0 years.
The Irish Terrier live longer than the Great Dane.
Temperament of the Great Dane Versus the Irish Terrier
The Great Dane has a better temperament than the Irish Terrier.
This is because the temperament score for the Great Dane is 81.5 percent while the temperament score for the Irish Terrier is 80.0 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).
The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.
Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.
The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.
With its temperament score of 81.5 percent, the Great Dane has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
With its temperament score of 80.0 percent, the Irish Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.
The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 314 Great Danes and 10 Irish Terriers.
Price of Great Dane versus Price of Irish Terrier
The average price of the Great Dane puppy is $1560. The price of the Great Dane typically ranges from $1000 – $2000. However, the price of a Great Dane can be as low as $100 and as high as $5500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1324 Great Dane puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The average price of the Irish Terrier puppy is $1110. The price of the Irish Terrier typically ranges from $900 – $1500. However, the price of the Irish Terrier can be as low as $450 and as high as $2800. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 36 Irish Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.
The Great Dane is more expensive than the Irish Terrier.
| Great Dane | Irish Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Price | $1560 | $1110 |
| Price Range | $1000 to $2000 | $900 to $1500 |
The charts below show the price distribution for the Great Dane and Irish Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Great Dane puppies or how many Irish Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.
A breakdown of the prices of Great Danes. The typical price range is shaded Green.
A breakdown of the prices of Irish Terriers
Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Great Dane puppy or the Irish Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.
Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.
You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.
Adopting the Great Dane versus Adopting the Irish Terrier
You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Great Danes and many Irish Terriers are currently available for adoption.
These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.
Below is an adorable Male Great Dane named Curly that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Great Danes like Curly on pefinder.com.
Also, like Great Danes, Irish Terriers are also available for adoption. For example, Mccloud is a Male Irish Terrier that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Irish Terriers like Mccloud that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.
Moe is the name of another Great Dane (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.
You can find more Great Danes and Irish Terriers that are available for adoption on petfinder.
The Intelligence of the Great Dane versus the Intelligence of the Irish Terrier
| Great Dane | Irish Terrier | |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Rank | 48 out of 130 dog breeds | 53 out of 130 dog breeds |
| Trainability | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions | Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions |
Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.
According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:
Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.
This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.
To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.
Prof. Coren found that the Great Dane has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Great Dane belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Great Danes tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Irish Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 53 out of 130 dog breeds. The Irish Terrier belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Irish Terriers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.
The Great Dane is more intelligent than the Irish Terrier.
However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.
The Popularity of Great Dane versus Popularity of Irish Terrier
Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).
The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier over the years.
Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Great Dane is more popular with dog owners than the Irish Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Great Dane is 15 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Irish Terrier is 118 out of about 200 dog breeds.
Popularity of Great Dane
Popularity of Irish Terrier
| Year | Great Dane Popularity Rank | Irish Terrier Popularity Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 16 | 123 |
| 2014 | 15 | 125 |
| 2015 | 15 | 113 |
| 2016 | 14 | 115 |
| 2017 | 14 | 114 |
| 2018 | 16 | 116 |
| 2019 | 17 | 119 |
| 2020 | 15 | 120 |
| 2021 | 17 | 124 |
Tolerates Being Alone: Great Dane versus Irish Terrier
Great Danes do not like to be left alone.
Irish Terriers do not like to be left alone.
Do Great Danes shed more than Irish Terriers?
Great Danes shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Irish Terriers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.
Which is Easier to Groom, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier?
Great Danes are very easy to groom.
Irish Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.
Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier?
Great Danes get along very well with other dogs.
Irish Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
Are Great Danes good family dogs? What about Irish Terriers?
Great Danes are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Irish Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
Is the Great Dane Easier to Train than the Irish Terrier?
Great Danes are very easy to train.
Irish Terriers are not easy to train.
Which one drools more, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier
Great Danes have a very high tendency to drool.
Irish Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.
How Kid-friendly are Great Danes and Irish Terriers?
Great Danes get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Irish Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
Does the Great Dane Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Irish Terrier?
Great Danes have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.
Irish Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.
Do Great Danes Bark and Howl? What about Irish Terriers?
Great Danes are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Irish Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Irish Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?
Great Danes cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
Irish Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.
Wanderlust Potential: Great Dane vs. Irish Terrier
Great Danes have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Irish Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.
Can Great Danes Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Irish Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?
Great Danes can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.
Irish Terriers can tolerate hot weather.
Is the Great Dane Better for Apartment Owners than the Irish Terrier?
Great Danes do not adapt well to apartment living.
Irish Terriers adapt moderately well to apartment living.
Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Great Dane or the Irish Terrier?
Great Danes are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Irish Terriers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
Great Dane Versus Other Dog Breeds
You may also be interested in how the Great Dane compares to other breeds aside from the Irish Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Great Dane to other breeds:
Great Dane versus Norwich Terrier Great Dane versus Shiba Inu Great Dane versus Australian Kelpie Great Dane versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne Great Dane versus Cockalier Great Dane versus Belgian Sheepdog Great Dane versus Sloughi Great Dane versus French Bulldog Great Dane versus Dogue de Bordeaux Great Dane versus Whoodle Great Dane versus English Setter Great Dane versus Maltese Great Dane versus Black and Tan Coonhound Great Dane versus Shichon Great Dane versus Portuguese Pointer Great Dane versus Schnoodle Great Dane versus Weimaraner Great Dane versus Dutch Shepherd
Conclusion: Great Dane versus Irish Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?
In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Great Dane and the Irish Terrier better suits you and your family.