Irish Water Spaniel

In my own words

What do you mean you’re tired and want to go home? I haven’t finished my walk yet! It’s only been an hour since we left the house and I’ve just caught the scent of a rabbit which I’d really like to track. Then I was planning on jumping into that big pond over there and having a good swim!

I know what we should do – let’s go hunting! I can retrieve ducks for you, it’ll be awesome! You know, my breed used to be very popular in America as a duck hunting dog, that was until they found out about the Labrador Retriever and all of a sudden they weren’t interested in Irish Water Spaniels any more – how rude! Sure, my coat can be a little high maintenance but I’m just as good at retrieving as a lab. My mouth is so soft that I can bring game back to you without ever causing damage.

OK, OK… Let’s go home. Just as long as I can have some cuddles and petting when we get there. Deal?

Information essential about the Irish Water Spaniel

Kennel Club Group:

Gundog

Size:

Large: Weight Male 55 – 65 lb (25 – 29 kg) Female 45 – 58 lb (20 – 26 kg)

Height Male 22 – 24” (56 – 61 cm) Female 21 – 23” (52 – 58 cm)

Popularity:

In the 1800s the Irish Water Spaniel was an incredibly popular breed of dog, but it has since been overshadowed by the Labrador Retriever. These days, the Irish Water Spaniel is much less common and is fairly rare. It can be difficult to obtain the breed. However, its ability to be both a wonderful companion dogs and a skilled hunting dog are aiding in increasing the Irish Water Spaniel’s popularity.

Breed History:

As the name suggests, Irish Water Spaniels originate from Ireland. In the mid-1800s, an Irishman called Justin McCarthy, from Dublin, created the Irish Water Spaniel. It is unknown which dogs were bred to create the breed, but it is thought that it may be a mix of the Poodle and Irish Setter, Poodle and Curly Coated Retriever, or the Poodle and Portuguese Water Dog.

The Irish Water Spaniel was bred to be a dual purpose hunting dog, in that it can work both land and water. He was also bred to have an incredibly soft mouth, which allows him to retrieve game without damaging it. It was for these reasons that the Irish Water Spaniel became so popular in the 1800s, particularly in North America where it was used as a duck hunting dog. Sadly, the increasing popularity of the Labrador retriever, which was easier to care for, meant that the Irish Water Setter became less and less common and it is now considered a rare breed.

Character:

Devoted, eager to please, loving and protective…Your Irish Water Spaniel makes an excellent family dog. A happy, well exercised Irish Water Spaniel is a relaxed, docile pet with good manners and a willingness to please you. Your Irish Water Spaniel may be quiet, but he makes a wonderful watch dog and will bark only when he needs to warn the family about something which concerns him. Their protective nature also means they can sometimes make good guard dogs. A working dog at heart, your Irish Water Spaniel will need plenty of exercise to satisfy him – around two hours every day! His excellent stamina means that you may well get tired on walks before he does. The Irish Water Spaniel will be happiest living in the country, where his fantastic sense of smell will keep him occupied looking for rabbits and squirrels on walks, and where he can indulge his love of swimming by leaping into lakes and ponds. It’s important to show your Irish Water Spaniel that you are in charge and he ranks at the bottom of the family, or he will try to rule the house and become stubborn, mischievous, nervous, suspicious or over protective.

Temperament:

Your Irish Water Spaniel is highly intelligent and incredibly confident. They are sometimes considered the clown of all the Spaniel breeds as they are happy, exuberant and devoted dogs with a bubbly and fun personality. Your Irish Water Spaniel is completely devoted to you and your family; he loves to be close to you and enjoys human companionship at all times. His protective nature may make him a little bit wary of strangers, but it also means that he’ll keep watch over you, your family and your home and protect you if danger arises. Their friendly and gentle disposition means they get on well with other pets, providing they are properly introduced.

Conformation:

The largest of the spaniels, the Irish Water Spaniel has a large head with a long, deep muzzle and teeth which meet in a level or scissor bite. His almond shaped eyes are small and brown, his nose a liver colour and his ears should be long, set low on the head and hanging down. The narrow chest should be deep and the front legs straight. The Irish Water Spaniel’s hindquarters are a little higher than his shoulders. Helping him to be an excellent swimmer are his feet, which are webbed and round. The Irish Water Spaniel has a distinctive coat which is long and full of loose curls on the body, while the hair on the tail and face is shorter. On the top of the head there is a curly topknot of hair. The long, shaggy outer coat conceals a thick undercoat which helps to protect the Irish Water Spaniel from cold water.

Colour:

The colour of the coat should always be a solid liver shade with a slightly purple undertone

Training:

Your Irish Water Spaniel is not only incredibly smart but also has a strong desire to please; this makes him a fairly easy dog to train as he is capable of learning a large amount. However, they can become bored and have a stubborn streak, so short and varied training sessions with a confident owner are best suited to the breed. It’s important that you establish leadership over your Irish Water Spaniel or he will refuse commands and become disinterested in training. Socialise and train your Irish Water spaniel from an early age in order to get the best from him.

Care:

The Irish Water Spaniel is a high maintenance breed which needs a lot of grooming. His coat can become matted very easily so daily brushing is recommended and the coat should also be trimmed on a regular basis. Bathing should be done only when absolutely necessary as it can damage the natural oils in the coat. The Irish Water Spaniel may be a good breed for people who suffer from allergies as they shed little to no hair.

Health:

A Healthy Irish Water Spaniel usually lives from 10 to 12 years. Though they are generally a healthy breed, they have been known to suffer from entropion or inverted eyelids, hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism. If your Irish Water Spaniel swims a lot, he may be susceptible to ear infections. Irish Water Spaniels have also been known to have issues with seizures, however this is not common.

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