Irish Water Spaniel

One of the oldest Spaniels, the Irish Water Spaniel was first mentioned in manuscripts over 1,000 years ago. Around the 1600s, the King of France received the dog breed as a gift. In the mid-1800s, this working dog came to America. It was extremely popular in the 19th century thanks to its funny-looking appearance and water-retrieving abilities.

Ideal Irish Water Spaniel owners should educate themselves on reward-based training as this is a highly sensitive breed. Training them fully might take a while, but the reward is a reliable, rock-solid companion. Their striking waterproof coat will need maintenance and work, and not all professional groomers will know how to groom this somewhat rare dog breed.

Roaming land and swimming are two of the Irish Water Spaniel dog’s favorite activities—no matter the weather. They are exuberant and love the outdoors, so an owner who can match their energy is a good fit.

A large, fenced-in yard is ideal for the Irish Water Spaniel, as is a quieter home. They enjoy running, swimming, and walking on a leash. They’ll want a ton of variety in their walks to keep them stimulated.

Curly Sue, look out—the Irish Water Spaniel’s coat is covered in tight ringlets. It’s oily, which helps with swimming in cold water. Owners will need to take a wide-toothed comb to the coat frequently and trim it every so often. Irish Water Spaniels have a coat that retains water and mud, so they need to be dried off fully after walks to allow the debris to shake off.

While Irish Water Spaniel dogs are clever, they are also highly sensitive. They need kindness and positive reinforcement to succeed at training, plus an owner with patience to put in the work. A strong owner bond will help them become star students. Irish Water Spaniel puppies can be slow to mature.

Active families that love the outdoors, training, and physical activity will do well with an Irish Water Spaniel. Older children are preferable as these dogs can be a little too sensitive for noisy households with small children who might have unpredictable behavior.

The cost of an Irish Water Spaniel from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.