The Irish Water Spaniel is a scarce breed, native to the Emerald Isle that is strongly built and taller and more square than most spaniels. Actually the fact the tallest of spaniels. Their coat consists of thick curls with a distinguishing puce / liver colour with a pronounced purple hue. Irish water spaniels are around sixty cms ( 24 inches) high and weigh twenty five – thirty kgs (around 60 lbs). The Irish Water Spaniel’s face and throat are smooth with the head topped with a “top knot” raising as a mound between the eyes. Irish Water Spaniel’s have a remarkable, a strange  average sized smooth, rat like tail. Which contrasts strongly with their curly hair.

Irish Water Spaniel’s were and are a working dog, so are very intelligent and active. Dog socialisation is important if they are to make good family dogs. Irish Water Spaniel’s require plenty of routine exercise and effort spent on dog training to really profit from them. Irish Water@ Spaniel’s are defensive of their family and have a fierce, deep sounding bark if provoked. They usually live for 9-11 years
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Their coat is non-shedding so many people who suffer allergic responses might not be affected by the Irish Water Spaniel. Irish Water Spaniel’s do not require regular daily brushing unless showing. Every so often a spruce up to get rid of straggly ends with scissors and a comb to eliminate the mats. No surprise with their name that they love swimming, so an occasional swim will curl up the coat again and keep them contented.

The Irish Water Spaniel developed in the the early nineteenth century in Ireland. The origins of the breed are unclear, experts generally thinking they may have come from the Portuguese Water Dog, Poodle and Barbet. The Irish Water Spaniel hunted as a gundog in the marshes, rivers and bogs in Ireland.

Although happy to curl up and sleep at home, routine walks and exercise are a must for a healthy, trouble free Irish Water Spaniel. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel may mean a naughty, mischievous dog. A great home for them is an active one, with plenty of activities going on and space, where the dogs’ minds as well as bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Numerous Irish Water Spaniel lovers exercise their dogs in the hunting field, in obedience tests, in conformation show ring or agility competitions.

The Irish Water Spaniel’s intelligence results in them enjoying obedience and agility activities and combined with their great nose often results in them being trained for explosive and drug detection.

The major health issue with Irish Water Spaniel’s is caused by their size and may suffer from hip dysplasia, prior to breeding, the potential mother and father should be scored for this.

They can be greedy, so you need to control the calories that they eat.

A great dog for an active couple or family who have the energy and either experience of other dogs, or are prepared to invest in the training, perhaps with the help of a professional dog trainer.