A member of the AKC Sporting group, The Irish Water Spaniel is often called the clown of the spaniel family, possibly due to the peak of curly hair between the eyes.
This dog breed was developed in Ireland from crossings of several spaniel dog breeds near the end of the 19th century and was actually bred primarily as a water retriever.
The Water Spaniel is the largest of the breeds of spaniels and probably the rarest - typically, he stands between 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs in at 45 to 65 pounds.
They possess a great desire to please, are loyal, brave and very intelligent. As the name implies, their all-time favorite pastime is swimming but they also enjoy retrieving.
This breeds smooth "rat tail", liver-colored coat and topknot of curls are other characteristic features of this dog breed.
Combining great intelligence with great athleticism, The Irish Water Spaniel is a picture of grace in the field, easily working as needs be.
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Distinctive features of this breed are the liver colored coat covered in curls except for the face and tail, which are smooth. Concerning the coat, a lot of care in grooming is needed, as the coat does tend to mat. Skilled trimming of the coat is necessary.
Their coat is very unusual in that it is comprised of hair, not fur like in most other dog breeds, which means that these dogs must have regular haircuts, just like humans. For this same reason, people that are normally allergic to dogs might have less of an allergic reaction to Irish Water Spaniels than to other dog breeds.
Very alert and inquisitive and eager to work, they can be somewhat reserved with strangers. With proper socialization they can make truly great pets - obedience training is also highly suggested.
The Irish Water Spaniel is an excellent water retriever. Keep in mind that this dog breed loves to work and needs to be given a job to do, whether it is out in the field, obedience, tracking, agility or something else.
FYI, this breed may drool and slobber. Their best home is indoors with access to a large fenced in yard. They can be good with children and pets if socialized with them early on.
Country of origin: Ireland Lifespan: 12-13 years Colors: Liver Known health problems: Epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy, hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism
• May share a common ancestry with the standard poodle.
• First came to the US in the 1800's.
• Takes a lot of work to keep it's tight curls clean and free of matting.
• Ownership may require that you learn how to properly groom the dog yourself to keep the coat in its best condition.
• Not for the novice owner, the intelligence of this breed requires that it receives constant discipline and training - they learn very fast and get bored very easily.
• This breed was bred to be strong enough to break ice to retrieve geese.
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