Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is the largest of the Spaniel breeds. Their outgoing and eager nature, combined with their unusual coat, have earned them the designation as the clown of the family

History:

The origins of the Irish Water Spaniel are shrouded in mystery. The breed as we know it today was developed by an Irish gentleman called Justin McCarthy during the 1950s. He used the Irish Spaniel as a basis and then added other breeds to change it to suit his ideal. However, he would never tell anyone the exact breeds that he used in creating the final breed. There is even some doubt that the original Irish Spaniel was even a true Spaniel. The most likely breeds to be involved were the Poodle and the Portuguese Water Dog.

Information about the breed prior to Mr McCarthy's intervention is also scant. There are Persian manuscripts dating to around 4000 BC that mention Water Dogs in Ireland, and documents from around 17 AD tell of Irish Spaniels. The most likely progenitors of the modern Irish Water Spaniel probably came to Ireland through Spain with the earliest Irish settlers. They were used as retrievers of water fowl, and are large and powerful enough to carry a bird as large as a goose.

Physical characteristics:

The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest of the Spaniel breeds. Its body is well-proportioned with neither the legs nor body at all exaggerated. Height: 21 - 24 in (53 - 61 cm). Weight: 45 - 65 lb (20 - 29 kg).

The first thing that you notice about the Irish Water Spaniel is its most unusual coat. It is an astonishing shade of liver with a purplish cast, often called puce liver. No other breed has a coat of this color. The coat itself is also striking. It is oily and water repellent, and falls in medium-length tight ringlets on the body, in longer ringlets on the legs, and is smooth on the face and at the end of the tail. On the relatively large head, the curls on the skull form a little cap that helps to give the breed its clownish air. The eyes and nose are dark, and the ears are long and oval-shaped.

Behavior:

The Irish Water Spaniel can have a wide range of behaviors; they are characterized by their variability. The young dog can be extremely playful, yet as it matures it can become very set in its ways and reluctant to respond to change. The Irish Water Spaniel soon fits in with the family and is happy to assume the lowliest position. However, when strangers arrive, this dog is very happy to contest their authority and so it makes a great watch-dog. The coat requires considerable maintenance and must be regularly brushed in order to keep it in top condition. This is an active dog that will thrive on regular exercise and is very happy to perform retrieving tasks.

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