Irish Water Spaniel: photo, description of the breed

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One of the most mysterious and oldest breeds of our time is, of course, the Irish Water Spaniel. These are quite large dogs with beautiful curly hair and outstanding intelligence. However, the breed is depressingly unpopular, although there are fanciers who hope for its revival and are doing everything possible for this. In the meantime, you should learn more about these representatives of spaniels.

Irish Water Spaniel

History of the origin of the breed

Due to the antiquity of the breed, the exact origin of the Irish Water Spaniel is not known for certain. Dog handlers and dog breeders have several versions of the formation of the modern breed type of dog. Excavations on Lake Lagore prove the existence of such dogs back in the 7th – 8th centuries.

The first description of a dog with a rat tail (a distinctive quality of the breed) dates back to 1607.

According to one version, the Irish used the ancestors of the modern spaniel subtype to hunt swamp game even before the invention of firearms. According to legend, similar animals came to Ireland from Persia, and then spread to the territory of modern Italy, France and Spain.

There is no exact data on whose genetic codes the representatives of the breed carry; a large number of variants appear in various sources. The most popular versions of the mixture of blood from which the “Irish” appeared, according to experts, are the poodle, Irish setter, barbet, Portuguese water dog, and curly-haired retriever.

The breed was first presented at an exhibition in 1859. A dog named Bosun became the first official representative of the species. It was with this dog that stud books began to be kept. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognized the Irish Spaniel in 1900. The latest amendments to the standard were made in 2001.

To date, the breed has not become widely popular throughout the world. Only 1,500 individuals have been recorded in the United States. There are only a few hundred breed representatives in Russia. This type of spaniel is most popular in its historical homeland.

Body type

This dog has an almost square body. The dog should not appear angular or too light. The physique of representatives of this breed should give the impression of a strong, powerful and resilient dog with a strong spine.

This medium-sized, strong dog is the tallest among spaniels. She has a proportional head, a powerful and long muzzle, a wide and large nose. The color is usually brown.

Description of the breed with photos

Description of the exterior of the Irish Water Spaniel according to the International Canine Federation:

General form. A strong, muscular dog, agile, with well-defined angulations. Intelligent, resilient and efficient.
Head. The skull is convex and arched. The length and width of the head are proportional and correspond to the shape and size of the neck. The muzzle is long, square, the transition from forehead to muzzle is clearly defined. Cheekbones are flat.
Nose. Pigmented dark brown, lobe large, well developed.
Eyes. Small, almost round, non-convex. Dark brown.
Ears. Set low, close to the head, long and soft.
Teeth. Good jaw closure with a scissor bite. A straight, tight bite is acceptable, but not desirable.
Neck. Strong and dry, long and set high.
Torso. The back is short, wide, straight. The chest is lowered to the level of the elbows, barrel-shaped. The ribs are convex, long, directed backwards. The loin is deep and wide.
Forelegs. Straight, strong and dry, elbows aligned with the withers.
Hind limbs. Strong and muscular, long shin, knees low. The hock joints are well defined.
Paws. Round in shape, compact with abundant hair. Webbing between the fingers.
Tail. Shorter than the hock, thick and straight. Set low, carried straight, below the level of the back. 8 - 10 centimeters from the base is covered with thick curly hair, which suddenly stops and the remainder remains bare or covered with short, smooth hair.

Sexual dimorphism is moderately expressed and is desirable when assessing the exterior. Females should be smaller and more compact than males.

Dimensions and weight

The Irish Spaniel is much larger than its counterparts in the group. Height at the withers for males is 53 – 58 centimeters, for females 51 – 56 centimeters. Weight respectively: 25 – 30 kilograms and 23 – 27 kilograms .

Color and coat type

The Irish breed's wool is unique - it has a natural oiliness that does not allow moisture to pass through. The coat should not be fluffy or wavy - hard curls should cover the entire body of the dog with the exception of the muzzle and the tip of the tail. The curls on the head are longer than on the body, forming a kind of “bang” that hangs over the eyes.

Varieties of colors:

Brown;
Chocolate;
Liver;
Hepatic.

Reddish tints are possible in all shades. White markings are a disqualifying fault.

Health and illness

The breed is not commercial; in most cases, breeders monitor the health of dogs; sick individuals are not allowed for breeding. Despite this, some tendency towards diseases can be traced:

Clouding of the lens of the eye, early loss of vision;
Hip dysplasia;
Osteosarcoma (age-related);
Epilepsy;
Hypothyroidism;
Allergic manifestations;
Otitis;
Obesity;
Diabetes mellitus (as a consequence of excess weight);

If the coat is not properly cared for, dermatitis may also occur.

Lifespan

The average lifespan of a water spaniel is 12 – 14 years . With proper care and maintenance, representatives of the subspecies live up to 15–16 years.

Character and intelligence

The character of the breed cannot be called universal. A dog with a strong character and a high level of activity is absolutely not suitable for soft, melancholic and constantly busy people. The Irish Spaniel is a dog for energetic people or professional hunters who are willing to spend time on a pet.

The dog was bred to work in pairs with a person, and becomes sad when alone for a long time. In the absence of physical and psychological stress, it can exhibit destructive behavior. In the absence of timely socialization, she becomes intimidated or embittered.

Attitude towards children and others

“Irish” people love their family very much; they are gentle, affectionate and loving with their owners. With strangers they behave with restraint, even wariness, but without aggression. Security qualities are not clearly expressed, but they will not give offense to themselves or their owners. The breed is loyal towards children, but you need to teach the child to treat the dog with respect. The spaniel will not allow familiarity towards itself. Children should not be allowed to put their hands in the pet’s eyes or mouth, or pull the ears - the “Irish” will defend himself. With correct children the dog will be affectionate and careful.

Breed characteristics and character

The Water Spaniel has characteristics that set them apart from other breeds. These are noble dogs of average parameters. Their appearance is characterized by a moderately curly coat. As for the body of dogs, it is large in size, but not to such an extent that they seem bulky creatures.

The Water Spaniel has a calm character. He can be both hunting and social. Always and without problems finds a language with children. Even more than that, with all their behavior and attitude they make it clear that they are like senior educators.

The friendliness and cheerfulness of this dog can be the envy of any dog. They are always happy to endlessly please their owners. Pets always have an incredibly warm relationship with them.

The water spaniel is one of those dogs that are considered hunting dogs and specialize in aquatic birds. Their task is to drive game out of aquatic vegetation.

The rest is up to the hunters. He copes well with work on land, thanks to his light and imperceptible movements, regardless of whether it is a field or a forest. This dog is energetic, active and stable in its work.

Pictured is a Spanish Water Spaniel

They show great enthusiasm when learning something new and unfamiliar to them. But harsh upbringing and the use of a whip are not acceptable to them. It is best to use consistency when training this dog breed.

And the beginner has every chance of becoming a good owner for the dog. It is only important to try to ensure that the dog is happy, and all her efforts will be a pleasure. It is better to start training and preparation from an early age, then there will be no problems with the dog at all.

This is a breed of highly active dogs, so physical activity is very important for them. In this case, it is difficult to do without daily walks. Attention and care are what this pet needs most. Sitting in splendid isolation for a long time in an enclosure or on a chain will not lead to anything good.

Even in the photo of a water spaniel, its positive traits are clearly visible. His incredibly kind and intelligent eyes immediately attract you. At home they are calm and balanced pets. But sometimes the hunter's instinct kicks in, and the dog can get excited at the sight of any domestic animal.

Training and education

The Irish Water Spaniel is the intellectual of the dog world.

It is easy and fun to train if the training is based on positivity. Long, monotonous activities will quickly bore your pet, and then he may show some stubbornness. Training needs to be structured in such a way that the dog learns something new at every lesson, then the result will not be long in coming.

Under no circumstances should you harshly punish a dog if it fails to comply with a command - poor communication with the trainer will aggravate the situation. In extreme cases, the dog will show aggression or simply refuse to work. A good effect with representatives of the breed is achieved when working with the right motivation and method of encouragement.

With the right approach to training, these dogs can take prizes in canine sports - agility, obedience, frisbee dog or canicross.

Pros and cons of the breed

Disadvantages of the breed:

Excessive energy;
Difficulty in caring for the coat;
The need to visit a groomer;
Inability to maintain in an apartment.

Advantages of the breed:

High level of activity;
Virtually non-shedding coat;
Endurance;
Intelligence;
Wariness towards strangers;
Loyalty to children;
Attachment to family;
Good health;
Aesthetic beauty.

The main advantage of the breed is its versatility. The use of a dog is acceptable both as a home companion and as a working assistant during the hunt.

Training

The Irish Water Spaniel, like many other hunting dogs, is distinguished by its deep intelligence, and this is confirmed by many owners of these wonderful animals. The dog is easy to train and quickly learns new information. They begin to educate her from the first days of her appearance in the house. The sooner she begins the period of socialization, the faster and easier it will pass. Training this dog breed begins with obedience training. She is taught to respond to her name: this is one of the easiest ways to establish contact with your pet. The Irish Water Spaniel requires very strict handling. The owners note that this breed has a stubborn nature, so it is worth being patient and persistent in raising a young animal.

If you plan to use a puppy for hunting, then from the first days of life he needs to be taught endurance. To do this, he is held near a bowl of food. Next, the dog (Irish Water Spaniel) is trained to search for prey using ordinary games. Only an obedient puppy can be taken on a hunt. However, even if you want to raise a pet, the dog still requires strict training.

The Irish Water Spaniel can be raised and trained without much difficulty: only a certain amount of attention, patience and rigor is required. The dog calmly treats small and large animal companions. She simply adores children, especially if they want to play, and is completely non-aggressive towards strangers. The Irish Water Spaniel will never offend a child and will always stand up for him.

Owners advise bringing a dog to a large family.

Maintenance, care and nutrition

The ideal conditions for keeping a water spaniel are a large, securely fenced suburban area, with accommodation in a house or an insulated booth. Keeping such an energetic dog in a typical building, without proper walking, is blasphemy.

The only option for keeping a pet in an apartment is daily walking for 4 - 5 hours a day, or 3 - 4 hours, but with intense exercise. Under any living conditions, it is imperative to include swimming in open water in the warm season in the life of the breed.

Representatives of the breed require careful care:

Weekly examination of the auricle, ear cleaning as necessary.
Teeth brushing is required once every 2–3 weeks.
Nail trimming once every 2-4 months.
Daily eye examination, wiping with special lotion as needed.
Annual vaccination against viral infections.
2 times a year preventive dental examination at a veterinary institution.
Comb out daily with a slicker brush and then with a long-tooth comb. The matted wool must be carefully separated by hand or cut with scissors along the growth of the guard hair.

In the absence of proper care, the dog will suffer from dermatitis, risk early loss of hearing, vision or teeth, and infection with viral (usually incurable) diseases.

An Irish Spaniel should not be bathed more than 3-4 times a year. Otherwise, the wool will become overdried and lose its original appearance.

Nutrition

For the full development of a predator, you cannot skimp on food. When choosing ready-made industrial food, you should pay attention to super premium or holistic food for dogs with a high level of activity. Cheaper food options have little energy and fat value and tend to cause the pet to gain weight and develop allergic reactions due to the large number of cereals included in the composition.

Natural nutrition should be based on the needs of a large predator - high protein and calcium content:

Meat and offal are the basis of the diet, a source of animal protein.
Cottage cheese, fermented milk - supply the body with calcium and vitamin B6, which promotes the rapid absorption of calcium (fat content no more than 3%).
Fish (allowed in the diet without bones or rolled into minced meat) is a source of phosphorus and potassium (there is no need to give it more than once a week).
Vegetables and unsweetened fruits are a source of fiber, vitamins, and are also necessary for the full development of the body.
Large bones with a meat-containing base - help clean teeth from stones.
Cartilage is rich in protein and microelements.
Porridge (oatmeal, rice) is a source of carbohydrates and should not exceed 10% of the total diet.

The bones must be large so that the dog cannot swallow or choke, but only gnaw off cartilage and leftover meat. Permitted products also include chicken or quail eggs.

Prohibited products:

Sweets, chocolate;
Flour;
Fatty fish or meat;
Boiled, tubular or spicy fish bones;
Sausages, smoked meats, marinades;
Seasonings, spices.

You must remember that a dog is a predator. Boiled bones, meat and vegetables have no value for the animal's digestive system.

How to choose a puppy

When choosing a puppy, you need to be prepared to pay a “tidy sum” - due to the small number of individuals, demand exceeds supply. There is not a single officially registered nursery on the territory of the Russian Federation, so you will probably have to either go abroad to pick up your pet or pay extra for delivery by courier. The easiest way is to contact the nearest kennel club; the chairmen of such organizations should provide assistance to the population in such matters.

It is impossible to buy an Irish Water Spaniel puppy at a bird market at a reasonable price - this is a scam. The price category for representatives of the breed starts from 40,000 rubles for a pet-class puppy.

Before buying a puppy, you need to decide what the dog is for; the cost directly depends on this:

The show class is the most expensive, has high exterior characteristics, with great prospects for exhibitions;
Breeding class - a medium-priced dog, suitable for breeding;
Pet class - the cheapest puppies, only as a pet.

When buying a dog for hunting, you need to look for specialized nurseries that breed working animals.

Temperament

According to owners' reviews, the Irish Water Spaniel is a self-confident, loyal and very intelligent dog. This is a family dog that requires a lot of attention. Representatives of this breed truly love human contact. They are best suited for families where the children have reached an older age, however, this dog will never offend children either. If your pet is well socialized, it will get along well with other pets. As a rule, spaniels are quiet dogs and only bark when necessary. As the owners say, these are protective dogs.