Irish water spaniels are a rare stock with A+ personalities . These sweet , put down - back dogs have crushed - drop coat , self-aggrandizing mind , and affectionate nature , make them howling fellow .
At first glance , you might err the Irish urine spaniel fora poodle mix . The sporting dog is the same size of it as astandard poodleand both have long , informal curls . But , unlike the standard poodle , Irish water spaniels are less energetic and more laid - back than their high - strung ancestors . Irish pee spaniel are also far less popular than poodles , whichcan make them intemperate to recover .
" These dogs are not that common , " says Pam Nichols , DVM , president of theAmerican Animal Hospital Association . " Most masses do n’t have a hint what an Irish water spaniel is ; if they see them , they ’ll call it an Irish doodle . "
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Like poodles , Irish water spaniels arelow - sheddingand need regular professional grooming to keep their coating front their best .
The breed is intelligent , easygoing to civilise , and has a repose - back disposition that makes Irish water spanielsideal mob firedog . Theyget along well with childrenand other pets , butearly socialization is essentialto ensure Irish piss spaniel puppies produce into relaxed , well - conform adult dogs that are well-situated with new hoi polloi and situations .
Appearance
Irish pee spaniel aremedium - sized dogsthat can librate up to 68 pounds and reach up to 24 in in height , piddle them the tallest of the spaniel breeds .
Her curly coat is the breed ’s hallmark trait . Irish water spaniel have dense , tight curls covering their consistence with short and smooth tomentum on their face and long , loose curls on their floppy ear . And while there ’s no such thing as atruly hypoallergenic wienerwurst , the Irish piddle spaniel ’s curls can be a great choice for people who sniffle and sneeze around bounder .
All Irish water spaniels are liver - colored , and their little , Prunus amygdalus - shaped eye are drab to equate their chocolate-brown coating . One of their most adorable features is a cowlick on their foreheads , Nichols read : " It ’s called a Leprechaun kiss . "
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Temperament
Irish piss spaniels are not just adorable — Nichols calls them " cunning , dulcet dog-iron " that are " gentle and tolerant . "
" They are super even - tempered , " she says . " They werebred to be hunting dogsso they are quiet and easy andvery trainable . "
Thanks to their repose - back personality , Irish water spaniels make ideal four - legged fellow traveller . The breed is great with children , affectionate with their kinsperson , and can get along well with other dogs . But as loving as they are with their families , Nichols says socialization is essential to guarantee that these dog feel comfortable around strangers .
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" Without proper socialization , Irish body of water spaniels can become super insecure , indigent , and anxiousness - tantalise , " she tell . " [ Their shyness ] is more intense than other breeds ; once Irish water spaniel are shy , they ’re not going to break out of it . "
To ensure she grows to be well - adjusted , introduce your Irish water spaniel puppy to unexampled people and situations early in life , bring her along on errands , andvisit the dog parkonce she has headroom from your veterinary surgeon .
Living Needs
Thanks to their leisurely natures , Irish water spaniels will meet into most families and living position . The breed is live for being good with small children and will happilytag along for walksand play games in the backyard until they ’re quick to curl up in a dog bed for a prospicient nap .
" They are middling laid - back and will work out as much as you want them to , " Nichols says .
Irish water spaniel are extremely reasoning and will do good in homes where they receive regular mental stimulation from training , games like fetch , andpuzzle toys . Bonus : Irish water spaniel are n’t very vocal dogs and will only bark to alarm — so as long as you rent her stretch her ramification every day , she can be anideal dog for flat living .
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When it fall to exercise , commemorate that Irish weewee spaniels were breed for hunting and enjoylong walks through the woodsand asplash in the lake . They also make heavy running companion and stand out in weenie fun such as lightness , obedience , anddock diving .
Care
Before you bring in home an Irish urine spaniel , know you ’ll postulate to pay time to grooming . In accession to professional grooming to keep their long , curly coat neat , Nichols suggestsbrushing Irish piddle spanielsonce or double per week to prevent tangles .
" Their coat is like to a poodle dog coating , but it ’s easier to brush out , " she say .
Although Irish water spaniel onlyneed episodic baths , the breed does require regularnail trimsand routinedental careto stay healthy .
Along with give her a prospect to get her paws moving , dog sports also provide worthful chance for preparation . Irish water spaniel were cover to act ; these smart sporting dogs need to transfer their genial energy into positive activity . practise canonical obedienceand teaching Irish water spaniels Modern magic — or training them to voyage an agility trend — provides essential mental foreplay . As with all breeds , always expend positive reinforcementwhen prepare an Irish water spaniel .
Health
Irish water spaniel have lifetime of 12–13 years and demand even concern to keep them sizable . The breed is also prone to a few common health issues :
History
There is lilliputian historical selective information about the Irish water system spaniel . It ’s thought that the sporting breed was developed around the 1830s and , as its name suggests , the origin are believed to be linked to Ireland .
According to theIrish Water Spaniel Club of America ( IWSCA ) , some theory suggest that the breed lead from crossing the now - extinct North Country water spaniel and the South Country water system spaniel . characteristic from both breeds , include the long legs and feather fag end of the North Country water spaniel and the curly coats of the South Country H2O spaniel , are hallmarks of the Irish water spaniel . Justin McCarthy , a Dublin sportsman , is credited with rarify the breed into the curly - hairy chocolate-brown pups we acknowledge today .
Some suggest they partake DNA with poodle dog as well , agree to the IWSCA . But despite questions about the dependable line of the Irish body of water spaniel , there are no disputes about the best lineament of the frump , including their scented inclination , affectionate nature , playfulness , and trainability . It ’s these character — plus their endearing show and retrieval attainment — that help the Irish body of water spaniel gain popularity outside of Ireland and the United Kingdom .
The dog grew in popularity in the U.S. during the 1870s . By 1875 , fit in to the IWSCA , the Irish water spaniel was the third most democratic sporting domestic dog in the nation . But today , the Irish urine spaniel is n’t nearly as common .
