Irish Water Spaniel
A tall, curly-coated Irish water dog with a clownish streak, great stamina and a reserved attitude to strangers.
At a glance
- Size
- Large
- Height at the withers
- Males 53–59 cm · Females 51–56 cm
- Weight
- Males 25–30 kg · Females 20–26 kg
- Life expectancy
- 10–13 years
- Exercise
- 90–120 min a day
- Grooming
- A few times a week
- Coat
- Curly, medium
- Colours
- Liver
- Bred for
- Retrieving, Water work, Flushing game
- Country of origin
- Ireland
- FCI
- Group 8, no. 124 · Retrievers, flushing & water dogs
Breeders on Kuldo
No breeders on Kuldo have this breed yet.
Living with the breed
| Affectionate with family | 4/5 – High |
|---|---|
| Good with children | 4/5 – High |
| Good with other dogs | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Good with cats | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Open to strangers | 2/5 – Low |
| Energy | 4/5 – High |
| Playfulness | 5/5 – Very high |
| Needs mental stimulation | 5/5 – Very high |
| Easy to train | 4/5 – High |
| Prey drive | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Watchful and protective | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Barking | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Shedding | 1/5 – Very low |
| Grooming effort | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Drooling | 1/5 – Very low |
| Good for first-time owners | 2/5 – Low |
| Suits apartment living | 1/5 – Very low |
| Adaptability | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with being alone | 2/5 – Low |
| Copes with heat | 3/5 – Moderate |
| Copes with cold | 4/5 – High |
Kuldo's own guidance from the breed's typical traits. Every dog is an individual, so talk to the breeder.
Is it the right breed for you?
Great if you …
- love water and long outdoor days
- want a low-shedding, curly-coated dog
- enjoy a dog with a sense of humour
Think twice if you …
- want a dog that greets every stranger warmly
- have little time for exercise and grooming
- are a first-time owner
Care
Temperament
Playful, clever and loyal, with a clownish sense of fun. It tends to be wary of strangers and can be stubborn.
Exercise
Needs one and a half to two hours of exercise a day. Swimming, retrieving, field work and agility suit it well.
Grooming
Comb the curly coat a few times a week to prevent mats and trim it every couple of months. It sheds little.
Training
Intelligent and learns quickly, but gets bored with repetition. Keep training fun, varied and consistent.
Health
Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, some eye conditions and drug sensitivities are reported in the breed. Ask the breeder for hip and elbow scores, eye results and thyroid tests.
Health tests breeders usually do
- Hips (HD)
- Elbows (ED)
- Eye examination
- Thyroid
Ask the breeder to show you the parents' results.
About the breed
The Irish Water Spaniel took its modern form in Ireland in the 19th century, bred for retrieving wildfowl from cold water and marsh. It is the tallest of the spaniels and is easy to recognise by its liver curls, topknot and smooth, tapering tail.
It is lively, funny and devoted to its own family, but often reserved with strangers. It needs a lot of exercise and mental work and is happiest with water nearby. The coat does not shed much but needs regular care to stay free of mats. It is a rare breed and suits experienced, active owners best.
Did you know?
The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest of the spaniel breeds and is known for its bare, rat-like tail.