Dog breed: Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is classified as a retriever by the American Kennel Club. He dates back many, many years. Similar type dogs appear on Roman artefacts. Ancestors may include Portuguese water dogs and other breeds from the Iberian region. Two strains developed in Ireland: the Southern County and Northern County Water Spaniel. While these two types each had their own distinct characteristics, today’s Irish Water Spaniel most closely resembles the Southern type. He has a very soft mouth and a keen nose. Although he was popular in the USA in the 1800s for duck hunting, he has lost favour to the short-coated Labrador Retriever which is much easier to care for. The Irish Water Spaniel is now considered a rare breed.

Some sources believe that the Irish Water Spaniel may have Poodle or Irish Setter in his background. He certainly looks a lot like a brown standard Poodle. Irish Water Spaniels were exhibited at the first Westminster Kennel Club Show in America in 1877 and were first introduced to Australia in 1891.

His most impressive feature is his distinctive curly coat. The crisp textured curled coat, plus the dense, thick undercoat which acts as insulation, is vital to protect the working dog from a harsh environment and elemental extremes. The curls are a rich, dark liver colour. Both sexes sport a goatee beard and the males’ coat is slightly heavier. A topknot of long, loose ringlets hangs down over the face providing protection to the eyes. A striking contrast to the curly body hair is a face, tail and V-shaped patch on the throat which have very smooth, short hair. The hair below the hocks is also smooth and short. The feet and toes are well covered in hair both over the feet and between the toes.

This type of coat requires regular time-consuming combing with a wide-toothed comb. Oil in the coat which helps repel water also attracts dust and the result can be a matted coat. Clipping will make the job of grooming your dog a lot easier and much simpler. The hair around the ears, eyes and toenails should be checked and trimmed as needed. Irish Water Spaniels tend to be good choices for those who suffer from allergies as they shed very little.

Irish Water Spaniels are one of the largest spaniels, standing between 21 and 24 inches tall at the shoulder and weighing from 45 to 65 pounds depending on age and sex. The general impression is one of an upstanding sporting dog of singular intelligence and robust stamina, conveying