Irish Water Spaniel Dog Breed Profile
The Irish Water Spaniel is not an apartment dog because
of her size and exercise requirements. Acreage or a
properly fenced in yard are best for her. If she can
get access to a place to swim occasionally, she will
be a happier dog. She can be aggressive with other dogs
so beware. She is good with older children. As a reminder,
never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size
(two years old or older) of the male Irish Water Spaniel
is 22 to 24 inches to the withers (highest point of
the shoulder) and 55 to 65 pounds. The female ranges
from 21 to 23 inches to the withers and 45 to 58 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds
have certain inherited health problems associated with
that specific breed and the Irish Water Spaniel is no
exception. Be on the look out for hypothyroidism (sluggish
thyroid gland which can result in weight gain), skin
problems, and Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness
in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and
lameness). This disease list is an informative guideline
only. Other diseases may also be significant threats,
please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the
first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as
an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for
shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and
on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for
check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog
sweets.
*Grooming. The Irish Water Spaniel has a double
coat with the outer, weather proof coat having plenty
of curl and ringlets. Professional care is generally
needed to keep her coat trimmed and free of mats. She
almost does not shed.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with
toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing
removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which
can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease.
Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth,
bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and
clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow
slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally
a guillotine type trimmer is the best for this chore
and competent instructions to accomplish this can be
found on the net.
Her ears should be checked once a week and be kept clean.
If you have her professionally groomed, make sure ear
cleaning and inspection is part of the package. No water
or excess fluid should get in the dogs ears, and do
not try to irrigate the ears. Ear cleaning is too complicated
and critical to instruct here. Look for hair growing
in the ear canal, excess wax, or moisture. If her ears
have a discharge, foul odor or she seems to be in distress
and you suspect an infection, or tumor, consult your
veterinarian.
*Life Span. The Irish Water Spaniel can live
between 10 and 12 years with proper nutrition, medical
care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Irish Water Spaniel comes from Ireland
where they retrieved ducks for hunters. They were first
registered by the American Kennel Association in 1878.
Some Registries:
*Irish Water Spaniel
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 4 to 12 Irish Water Spaniel puppies
Category: Sporting, Gundog
Terms To Describe: Smart, upstanding, strong, smart,
bold, eager, alert, inquisitive
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Good watch dog.
Shed almost no hair.
They like to swim.
Very easy to train.
Wants to please.
Not a barker.
Can be a clown
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
May need an experienced handler.
Poor guard dog.
Can be very stubborn.
Can be a one person dog.
She may slobber.
Hard to keep out of water.
*Other Names Known By: Rat-tail Spaniel, Shannon
Spaniel
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this
information may be correct for your dog. This information
is meant as a good faith guideline only.
About the Author
Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website
developer for the popular pet site petpages.com.
www.petpages.com
is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds,
and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offers
information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets,
rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.
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