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Sporting breeds: Irish Water Spaniel
Origin
The Irish Water Spaniel is a breed with a very ancient lineage. Remains have been found of this type dog, dating back to the 7th or 8th century A.D. There are old Roman ruins with carvings of this type dog. In the late 1100s, dogs found in Southern Ireland were known as Shanon Spaniels, Irish Water Spaniels, Rat-Tail Spaniels and Whip-tail Spaniels. The King of France received an Irish Water Spaniel as a gift in 1598. In 1607, the breed is described in Topsell's "Historie of the Four Footed Beasties." The breed as it is known today can be dated back to 1834 with the legendary dog Boatswain bred by Justin McCarthy.
The breed was first shown in Birmingham, England, in 1859. In the United States, the first Irish Water Spaniels were shown at the Westminster Kennel Club Show in 1877.
The Irish Water Spaniel is known as the clown of the spaniel family and is also the tallest of the spaniels.
General description
Height: 21-24 inches
Weight: 45-60 pounds
Color: The body covered with a coat of dense, crisply curled, liver colored hair, is the distinguishing characteristic of the breed. The coat is oily and double, giving it great water shedding capability. There can be a graying of the coat with age.
Grooming requirements
The Irish Water Spaniel has great needs when it comes to grooming. This is not the breed for anyone who does not like to brush a lot. The Water Spaniel's coat needs to be brushed with a slicker brush followed by a metal comb daily, and at the absolute least three times a week. The ears and legs are always the spot owners seem to miss. The standard show cut is a scissored cut, which can take hours for a professional groomer. The cost of this can be great due to the amount of work. Matting on the dog will only make the groom more expensive. If you have a pet that you are not going to show, you may prefer a clipped cut. The less hair, the less you have to brush. In either case you will need to keep the ears free of debris and food, so they should be brushed daily in order to avoid matting. If you brush your Irish Water Spaniel daily, you will still need to schedule your appointments for every 4-6 weeks.
Health considerations
The Irish Water Spaniel has a tendency towards cataracts and hip dysplasia. His parents should be free from both. He is also one of the many breeds than can suffer from several of autoimmune problems.
Breed characteristics and personality
The Irish Water Spaniel is gentle with children. He does well as a kennel dog, living outside the home. Keeping his coat clean is his main drawback to living in the home. He is not friendly to strangers.
The Irish Water Spaniel is cheerful, obedient and intelligent. His great intelligence is coupled with rugged endurance and a bold, dashing, eagerness of temperament. He is alert and inquisitive. He is usually loyal to those he knows but can be forbidding to strangers. Aggressive behavior or excessive shyness is not tolerated.
Although very gentle with children, the Irish Water Spaniel does not ordinarily make a good family pet. His oily coat makes living in the house difficult. He does not do well with strangers, but is loyal to his master.
Uses
This is a water-loving breed, used primarily for hunting wild ducks in marshes and lakes. He is not as well adapted to upland hunting as his coat tends to catch on briars.
Web links
AKC Irish Water Spaniel page
The Irish Water Spaniel Club of America
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