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| Breed: Irish Water Spaniel |
| Also Called: |
| Height: The Irish Water Spaniel is about 21-24 inches tall. |
| Weight: The Irish Water Spaniel weighs between 45-65 lbs. |
| Colors: The Irish Water Spaniel can be solid liver. |
| General Appearance: The Irish Water Spaniel presents a picture of a smart, upstanding strongly built sporting dog. Great intelligence is combined with rugged endurance and a bold, dashing eagerness of temperament. Distinguishing characteristics are a topknot of long, loose curls, a body covered with a dense, crisply curled liver colored coat, contrasted by a smooth face and a smooth "rat" tail. |
| Temperment: The Irish Water Spaniel can't always control his exuberance and zest for life. The Irish Water Spaniel is happy in the country or the city and is always ready to play. Very alert and inquisitive, the Irish Water Spaniel is often reserved with strangers. A stable temperament is essential in a hunting dog. |
| Care: The Irish Water Spaniel'ss coat is naturally water-shedding. Weekly grooming with a steel comb is necessary to keep their curly coat mat free. Pay special attention to behind the ears. Some stripping of unwanted hairs is necessary, as is trimming around the feet. |
| Health Concerns: |
| Training: The Irish Water Spaniel needs firm handling from an early age. |
| Activity: The Irish Water Spaniel's love to swim and should be allowed to swim as much as possible. |
| Life Span: The Irish Water Spaniel lives an average life of 10-12 years. |
| Litter Size: The Irish Water Spaniel has an average litter of 4-12 puppies. |
| Country of Origin: The Irish Water Spaniel originated in an unknown region. |
| Brief History: The exact country of origin for the breed is not clear, but the country from which the most recent foundation stock came is Ireland. Some research indicates that common ancestors include the Poodle, Barbet and Portuguese Water Dog. Recent history has the breed taking its present form in the 1830's. Its development is credited to Justin McCarthy and his "Boatswain" dog. The breed's purpose is that of a waterfowl hunter; his strong swimming ability enables him to be physically qualified for the task. He is a quality retriever in any cover and is used for a variety of game. The breed has retained type for over 150 years, and is very popular in Ireland. |
| Registries: AKC, ANKC, CKC, FCI, KC(GB), UKC |
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