The Irish Water Spaniel is an uncommon breed, native to Ireland that is powerfully built and taller and squarer than most spaniels. In fact the tallest of spaniels. Their hair consists of thick locks with a distinctive puce / liver colour with a dominant purple hue. Irish water spaniels are around sixty cms ( 24 inches) tall and weigh 25-30 kgs (around sixty lbs). The Irish Water Spaniel’s throat and face are smooth with the head topped with a “top knot” raising as a peak stuck between the eyes. They have a remarkable, a strange  medium sized smooth, rat like tail. Which contrasts strongly with their curly coat.

Irish Water Spaniel’s were and are a working dog, so are active and very intelligent. Dog socialisation is important if they are to blend into family life. They require lots of routine walks and effort spent on dog training to really profit from them. They are defensive of their family and have a deep, fierce sounding bark if provoked. They on average live for nine – twelve years
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The Irish Water Spaniel coat is non-shedding so many people who suffer allergic responses might not be affected by this breed. Irish Water Spaniel’s do not require daily grooming unless showing. An occasional trim 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 happy.

They developed in the the early nineteenth century in Ireland. Many experts believe the dog came from the Portuguese Water Dog, Poodle and Barbet. The Irish Water Spaniel were used as a gundog on the bogs, marshes and rivers.

As well as liking relaxing and sleeping at home, they need routine exercise and walks for a content life. An unexercised Irish Water Spaniel is likely to lead to a naughty, mischievous dog. An ideal home though would be a working environment, where their minds in addition to their bodies are exercised. Dog walkers love them, as they appreciate good walks. Many Irish Water Spaniel owners work 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 the dog is due to their size and may suffer from hip dysplasia, prior to breeding, the potential parents should be scored for this.

They can be greedy, so you have to control their food intake.

A great dog for an active family or couple who have the time and either experience of other dogs, or are willing to invest in the training, maybe with the aid of a professional dog trainer.