Dog breed
The Irish Water Spaniel (Irish: An Spáinnéar Uisce) is a breed of dog that is the tallest of the spaniels. It is one of Ireland's nine native dog breeds, also known as a "bog-dog". As a common hunting dog, they were often kept by historic landowning classes along with minor gentry, who commonly hunted and shot game. Performing a wide range of skills, such as the combined duties of pointers, setters, retrievers, and spaniels, they were a good fit for people who were unable to keep a team of dogs. The breed thrives in a working environment. They often love to please their owners, hunting and retrieving game happily. They are characterized by their curly coat, a distinctive "rat tail", and webbed feet, being very active and intelligent. They have a lifespan of about 10–12 years. Their inquisitive nature has earned them the nickname the "clown" of the spaniel family, and they'll often find surprising methods to complete tasks. Historically bred to hunt animals in marine settings such as marshes, today, their webbed feet make them skilled swimmers and are still used to hunt waterfowl. Now considered a rare breed, only a few thousand exist today, classifying them as a vulnerable native breed.
Temperament: As with most breeds classed within the American Kennel Club's Sporting group, such as the various other spaniels, retrievers, setters, and pointers, the Irish Water Spaniel is, essentially, an active, willing and energetic companion. Similarly to its fellow sporting breeds, it has been bred from stock used to fetch game and return it undamaged, thus it maintains the natural instincts of loyalty and of wanting to please. The Water Spaniel has a keen sense of being a "team-player", which makes it a relatively easy breed to train and discipline from a young age. Because of its great intelligence and "quizzical" nature, it has the reputation of being the "clown" of the spaniels, and will often do ordinary things in extraordinary ways. Some individual dogs may be very wary of strangers, if not properly socialised early in life; likewise, not every Irish Water Spaniel can be trusted to get along with cats or small pets, including smaller dogs. Early socialisation and training is a must.
Appearance: The Irish Water Spaniel is a sturdy, cobby dog native to Ireland. The coat, consisting of dense curls, sheds very little. A topknot of long, loose curls grows downward from the crown of the head and often covers the eyes, with a "beard" growing at the back of the throat often being accompanied by "sideburns". The coat colour is a liver-puce to chocolate-brown hue, with a distinct "purple" undertone, not seen in many other breeds. The minimal coat shedding does not mean Irish Water Spaniels are necessarily "hypoallergenic", although people who may be allergic to dogs could potentially experience less of a reaction to them. Their coat has a natural oiliness to them.
In addition to their coat, the Irish Water Spaniel has several other distinguishing characteristics which places it amongst the more unique breeds, among these the most distinguishing being the smooth "rat tail" that tapers at the end, completely free of long hairs (except at the base, where it is covered for 2–3 inches with curls). The face is entirely smooth and, unlike the poodle, should require little or no trimming to stay that way. They have almond-shaped eyes, having a deep-hazel hue. Their expression is said to be alert and quizzical. An Irish Water Spaniel is ruggedly built and, given its name, is bred for the water. The breed has naturally webbed feet which aid in its powerful swimming skills. Altogether, the Irish Water Spaniel presents a picture of a smart, upstanding, strongly-built (but not leggy) dog, combining great intelligence and rugged endurance with a bold, dashing eagerness of temperament.
They are the largest of the Spaniel group. Dogs range in height from 22 to 24 inches (56–61 cm), and weigh 55 to 65 pounds (25–[dose — ask your vet]). Males will weigh around 55-56 pounds while females weigh slightly less at around 45 to 58 pounds.
Health: A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 10.8 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds. Some major health concerns to watch out for in the breed include hip dysplasia and other joint problems, ear infections, alopecia, and distichiasis on occasion. Hip dysplasia affects a number of dog breeds, as it is when hip joints become mis-formed that cause pain and disability. This affects about 30% of the breed. Elbow dysplasia should also be looked out for, as it affects about 18% of the breed. About 14% of the breed experiences chronic ear infections, likely because of their long, drooping ears. This ailment can be resolved with good ear care. Another health issue that the breed may encounter are seizures. About 10% of the breed is affected by seizures, in which some may be a symptom of epilepsy.
History: The modern breed as we know it was developed in Ireland in the 1830s. There is a strong case that the breed's ancestors originated in Persia and arrived in Ireland from Spain. However, it is not known from which other breeds Irish Water Spaniels were developed, as the acknowledged father of the breed, Justin McCarthy (from Dublin), left no breeding records. A range of breeds have been suggested, based largely on superficial traits, including the Poodle, Portuguese Water Dog, Barbet, generic "old water dogs", and the now-extinct English Water Spaniel, as well as the Northern and Southern Water Spaniels. However, whether or not Irish Water Spaniels are antecedents, descendants, or hybrids of these other breeds is a matter of some speculation. It is believed, in Irish folklore, to be the descendant of the mythological cryptid, the Dobhar-chú.
