Irish Water Spaniel Dog Breed

History:

The exact origin of Irish Water Spaniel dogs is debated among fanciers and is shrouded in the mists of Ireland. This breed of dogs is appeared in the Ireland in 1830s, mainly from the kennel of Justin McCarthy and his dog “Boatswain,” whelped in 1834, is credited with being the sire of the modern Irish water spaniel dog. Mr. McCarthy never revealed the sources of the breeding of his dog and took the secret with him when he died.

Several speculations focus on the early Poodle or Barbet type dogs from the France that could have come to the Ireland and the Portuguese Water Dogs that arrived on the Portuguese fishing boats. The first show classes for this breed of dogs were at a show in 1862 in Birmingham, and in 1899 the first Irish spaniel ran in a field trial.

These dogs remain a popular working and show dog in his native country i.e. Ireland. This breed came to the US in the 1870s but has never had the popularity that it enjoys in the Ireland. Today, this breed of dogs ranks 139th among the 155 breed of dogs and varieties registered by the AKC (American Kennel Club), a well-kept secret indeed.

Description

This breed of dogs is the largest of the spaniels. The head of this breed is large with a square, long, deep muzzle, and a gradual stop. These dogs have large nose which is dark liver in colour. The teeth of these dogs meet in a scissors or level bite and their small, brown eyes are almond-shaped. Their long ears are set low and they are hanging close to the head and covered with the loose curls. The chest of this breed is deep, but narrow. Their front legs are straight and their hindquarters are as high as or slightly higher than their shoulders.

This breed of dogs has webbed feet which are round spreading, covered with hair. The tail of this breed is low-set and carried level with the back and their coat is covered in the long loose curls on body and shorter hair on the face and tail. These dogs have curly outer coat which has a dense undercoat that insulates them from the cold water.

Health

This breed of dogs is generally healthy, but like all other dog breeds they are prone to certain health conditions. Not all of these dogs will get any or all of these diseases, but it is important to be well-aware of them if you are considering this breed of dogs. In Irish Water Spaniels, you can expect diseases like hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, elbow dysplasia, and von Willebrand’s disease. Some other diseases that are found in this breed of dogs are Cataract, Follicular Dysplasia, dog allergies, Entropion, Distichiasis, Megaesophagus, Epilepsy, and Drug Sensitivity.

Temperament

Irish Water Spaniel Dogs are an active dog breed that is usually found in a working retriever environment. This breed of dogs is quick to learn, intelligent, alert, and inquisitive. Sometimes, they display humorous antics while working that earns them their “clownish” reputation. With proper socialization, these dogs can be gentle with children. These dogs are often shy around the strangers. This breed of dogs requires lots of exercise and need an experienced dog trainer, and therefore is probably not the best choice for a dog owner that is casual. In addition to this, these dogs require access to water in order to swim, an activity they specialise in.

Grooming:

The Irish Water Spaniel’s tightly curled and dense double coat is thick and short next to the skin, for warmth, and it is topped with a long outer coat that gives extra protection. The coat of this breed sheds slightly, but it does not cling to the clothing and fabric of furniture quite as much as other types of hair.

You can comb the coat once to thrice a week, as needed. Make sure to comb all the way down to the skin in order to remove any tangles and mats. You can use a slicker brush to remove the dead hair. For a neat look of this dog, the coat must be scissor every fifth to eight weeks. Any time your dog goes in a lake, pool or ocean, try to give him a thorough freshwater rinse in order to remove algae, chlorine, and salt, all of which can dry and damage his coat. This breed of dogs does not need frequent baths and frequent bath could dry out his protective oily coat.