Spanish Water Dog

The Spanish Water Dog breed could have originated in North Africa, Turkey, Hungary, or Spain. In Northern coastal regions, they were water retrievers. In land-locked regions, they herded sheep and cattle and worked as hunters. During Spain’s Industrial Revolution, many of the jobs the dogs performed were taken over by merchants. However, the breed was revived in the 1970s, first coming to America around that time.

The ideal Spanish Water Dog owners have experience with highly active, highly intelligent dogs. They should be active themselves and also love the outdoors. When their needs are met, they can be calm members of a household. SWD owners will need to be at home most of the time, as these dogs do not like to be left alone for long periods of time. Owners who love to swim with their dogs are a plus!

While adult Spanish Water Dogs need vigorous exercise, SWD puppies should be cautiously exercised to prevent injury. Once they hit full maturity, the sky’s the limit—the SWD dog loves everything from running to hiking to swimming to snow-shoeing. Their minds need stimulation as well, through puzzles, games, and training.

While they don’t need a lot of space inside, as a SWD owner you will need space for their thick, wiry coat to dry off after a swim. Rural homes with plenty of outdoor space and access to a variety of activities, especially water, are ideal. The city is not the best place for such active dogs.

Spanish Water Dogs have a wiry coat that should always be clipped, never brushed. If kept short, the grooming process can be relatively simple, but if the coat is allowed to cord, it is recommended that owners find someone experienced with the breed for professional grooming. They are a hypoallergenic breed.

Spanish Water Dogs enjoy training. They are eager to please and love a new challenge, making them well-rounded dogs that excel at almost anything. Positive reinforcement and switching up training methods to prevent boredom are both key.

The Spanish Water Dog can be a well-mannered and great family pet for families that love staying active and ideally live close to water. They do not like being alone for long periods of time, so families with busy schedules that don’t have enough time to devote to the dog’s needs are not ideal. While they can do well with children, they might instinctively herd smaller children, nipping at their heels. Older children or no children are best.

The cost of a Spanish Water Dog 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.