The Irish Water Spaniel is not an apartment dog because of her size and exercise requirements. Acreage or a properly fenced in yard are best for her. If she can get access to a place to swim occasionally, she will be a happier dog. She can be aggressive with other dogs so beware. She is good with older children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Irish Water Spaniel is 22 to 24 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 55 to 65 pounds. The female ranges from 21 to 23 inches to the withers and 45 to 58 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Irish Water Spaniel is no exception. Be on the look out for hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain), skin problems, and Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Irish Water Spaniel has a double coat with the outer, weather proof coat having plenty of curl and ringlets. Professional care is generally needed to keep her coat trimmed and free of mats. She almost does not shed.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net.
Her ears should be checked once a week and be kept clean. If you have her professionally groomed, make sure ear cleaning and inspection is part of the package. No water or excess fluid should get in the dogs ears, and do not try to irrigate the ears. Ear cleaning is too complicated and critical to instruct here. Look for hair growing in the ear canal, excess wax, or moisture. If her ears have a discharge, foul odor or she seems to be in distress and you suspect an infection, or tumor, consult your veterinarian.
*Life Span. The Irish Water Spaniel can live between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Irish Water Spaniel comes from Ireland where they retrieved ducks for hunters. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1878.
Some Registries: *Irish Water Spaniel *UKC United Kennel Club *NKC National Kennel Club *CKC Continental Kennel Club *APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc. *AKC American Kennel Club *FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale *NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club *KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain *ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club *ACR = American Canine Registry
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Good watch dog. Shed almost no hair. They like to swim. Very easy to train. Wants to please. Not a barker. Can be a clown
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS May need an experienced handler. Poor guard dog. Can be very stubborn. Can be a one person dog. She may slobber. Hard to keep out of water.
*Other Names Known By: Rat-tail Spaniel, Shannon Spaniel
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
The Irish Water Spaniel is considered to be one of the most adept of the hunting breeds at working the water and the land. His admirers believe that in many respects the dog should be classified in the Spaniel group since they believe that the dog has no equal when it comes to it's ability to retrieve the fallen birds out of the water and it uses also the skills of pointing and retrieving when hunting on land. The Irish Water spaniel, as the name implies, originally comes from the country of Ireland. At one time there were two of these types of dogs, a northern and a southern, but there do not seem to be any descendants of the type which used to flourish in the north of Ireland.
The Water Spaniel that exists today is the Irish Water Spaniel which originated in southern Ireland, a strong and athletic curly coated dog with a sense of humor and a clownish personality which endears him to his owners. He is a hunting dog of great ability. Breeders through the years have done a fine job of maintaining this dogs instinctive abilities and at the same time maintaining the structure and soundness of the breed. He possesses a thick tightly curled rather short coat which is oily by nature. This coat should not be "woolly" and should be exceedingly water proof. This is a coat that will mat and will also form cords if not cared for on a regular basis. The tail is long, the ears likewise are long and are covered with longer curls, while there is also a "topknot" of longer curls on the top of the skull which hangs down over the top of the head. The color is a dark liver. The dog has a "barrel" rib cage which lends a roll to his gait; this is not common among dogs of hunting origin, but the build of his ribs allows for great endurance when swimming. The old adage "form follows function" is true for this breed as this is a dog that is obviously built to swim and to retrieve from the water. With powerful jaws and a front and rear that is built for strength and endurance while swimming and the added performance as a hunting dog on the land, this is a dog that has attracted many admirers as an all around hunting dog of great ability.
The Irish Water Spaniel should be accustomed early to training, for he is very smart and is considered to be somewhat of an independent thinker; probably this is a dog that is not suitable for a "first time" dog owner. He can be headstrong and is active by nature, a playful and energetic dog that requires plenty of exercise. Typically gun dogs are quite intelligent and usually will think up their own diversions if not given something to do and the Irish Water Spaniel is no exception. He needs daily exercise and if allowed to be in the household he thrives on human companionship. He is a dog that will prove his loyalty and affection for his master and will provide hours of hunting pleasure when properly trained.
Both Mitch Endick & Michael Russell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Mitch Endick has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Puppies Dogs and Education. Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.