Irish Water Spaniel: temperament, size, care and health

About the Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest and one of the most distinctive of the spaniels. It has a liver-colored coat that falls in crisp, tight curls over the body, a smooth face and a topknot of long curls on the head. The tail is covered with short curls at the base and smooth hair toward the tip, which gives it a thin, whip-like look that earned the nickname "rat tail."

The breed was developed to retrieve waterfowl in Ireland's cold lakes and bogs. Its dense, oily coat repels water, and it swims strongly. Few owners hunt with it now, but it appeals to people who want an energetic, low-shedding, water-loving dog with a comic personality and an unusual appearance.

Temperament and family life

The Irish Water Spaniel is loyal, witty and often clownish, with a taste for playing the fool. It is usually affectionate with its family and reserved toward strangers, and it can bark to warn of visitors. It does well with older children that are gentle and respectful, but its exuberance can overwhelm toddlers.

The breed is intelligent and wants a job. It can be willful and strong-minded. A bored dog finds its own entertainment, including digging and stealing objects. It does best in a household that includes it and gives it something to do. Early socialization is wise because the dog can become overly shy or protective without it.

Exercise and training

An Irish Water Spaniel needs vigorous daily exercise: an hour or more of running, swimming and retrieving is typical. It loves water in any form and will find a pond, creek or puddle. Without outlets it can become noisy, restless and destructive. It adapts poorly to apartments.

Training works best with patience, humor and firm but fair leadership. The breed learns quickly, but it dislikes repetition and can be stubborn. It is sensitive, and harsh methods lead to resistance. It does well in hunt tests, field work, dock diving, obedience and agility. Teach a reliable recall and leash manners early.

Grooming and shedding

The Irish Water Spaniel sheds little but requires regular grooming. The coat should be brushed and combed through to the skin every week or two to prevent mats, and many owners trim the body coat to a manageable length several times a year. Keep the topknot, face and tail in the traditional style if you intend to show.

Hair grows inside the ear canals and the ears are prone to infection, so plucking, cleaning and thorough drying after swimming are essential. Clip around the eyes and the feet. Bathe as needed. The coat may smell of wet dog when damp, and the dog likes to roll in whatever it finds.

Health

Known problems include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and chronic ear infections. Bloat can affect deep-chested dogs. The breed is subject to a hair-loss condition called follicular dysplasia, as well as allergies, eye diseases and some immune conditions. Responsible breeders screen hips, thyroid and eyes, and test available genetic markers. This is general information, and a veterinarian is the right person to ask about any particular dog.

History

The breed is traced to Ireland, with water spaniels described there for centuries. The modern type is associated with a nineteenth-century Dublin sportsman named Justin McCarthy, whose dog Boatswain, born in the 1830s, is considered the foundation of the breed. McCarthy kept no breeding records, so the ancestry of the dog is uncertain, and Poodle and English Water Spaniel are among the breeds suggested. The American Kennel Club recognized the Irish Water Spaniel in 1878.

Is the Irish Water Spaniel right for you?

An Irish Water Spaniel suits an active, patient owner who wants a witty, low-shedding retriever and does not mind grooming, mud and water. It is a good choice for people who swim, hike or hunt with their dogs.

It is not suited to quiet apartments, to novices who want a compliant dog or to homes with small children. The Curly-Coated Retriever is taller and more serious, and the American Water Spaniel is smaller. The Barbet is friendlier with a similar coat.