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Pronunciation

Description

The Irish Water Spaniel is the largest of the spaniels. The head is large with a long, square, deep muzzle, with a gradual stop. The large nose is dark liver in color. The teeth meet in a scissors or level bite. The small, brown eyes are almond-shaped. The long ears are set low, hanging close to the head and covered with loose curls. The chest is deep, but narrow. The front legs are straight. The hind quarters are as high as or slightly higher than the shoulders. The webbed feet are round spreading, covered with hair. The tail is low-set and carried level with the back. The coat is covered in long loose curls on the body and shorter hair on the face and tail. The curly outer coat has a dense undercoat that insulates the dog from cold water. There is a topknot of curls on top of the head.

Temperament

The Irish Water Spaniel is intelligent, devoted and spirited. Self-assured, eager and willing with a desire to please. Clever and capable of learning a great deal. A loving family dog.  With enough mental and physical exercise and owners who convincingly display a natural, firm, confident and consistent leadership over the dog will find it to be mild-mannered and docile. Can do well with other pets if properly introduced. Can be reserved with strangers. Should be well-socialized as a puppy and does best with children who know how to be little pack leaders. The Irish Water Spaniel is a quiet dog, barking only when necessary to warn the family, making good watch dogs, and some can act as a guard dog. Hardworking in both the obedience ring and on the hunt, this breed lives for a job to do. An excellent swimmer, he has considerable stamina and drive, and a very good nose. If they sense their owners are meek or passive they can become stubborn, mischievous, timid, nervous, suspicious, and/or even over protective, thinking they need to start making up their own rules as they will not feel their owners are strong minded enough to keep the pack stable and safe. They may refuse commands from family members who have not established leadership over them. Requires an owner who understands proper human to canine communication. This breed may drool and slobber.

Height, Weight

Health Problems

Living Conditions

Exercise

Life Expectancy

Grooming

The coat needs to be trimmed regularly. It mats easily and needs to be combed once a week. Is often good for allergy sufferers because they have relatively less dander than other breeds. These dogs shed little to no hair.

A man by the name of Justin McCarthy from Dublin, Ireland is credited for creating the Irish Water Spaniel breed. While he left no breeding records, it is said the breed may be comprised from Poodle and Irish Setter, or the Poodle and the Curly-Coated Retriever or the Poodle and the Portuguese Water Dog, or possibly a combination thereof. In appearance the dog resembles a brown Standard Poodle. The dogs were used as dual-purpose hunting dogs, working both land and water, with a soft mouth, able to retrieve even in frigid waters. In the 1800's the Irish Water Spaniel was popular in the United States as a duck hunting dog. Unfortunately the breed lost popularity when the easier care Labrador Retriever became more popular. The Irish Water Spaniel is now considered a rare breed. The Irish Water Spaniel was recognized by the AKC in 1884.

Group

Recognition

CKC = Continental Kennel Club
FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale
AKC = American Kennel Club
UKC = United Kennel Club
KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
CKC = Canadian Kennel Club
ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
NKC = National Kennel Club
NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club
APRI = American Pet Registry Inc.
ACR = American Canine Registry
DRA = Dog Registry of America, Inc.

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