Irish Water Spaniel

The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest of the spaniels — a curly liver-coloured retriever with a smooth "rat tail" that identifies it instantly.

History

It was established in Ireland by the 1830s by Justin McCarthy, whose foundation dog Boatswain sits behind the whole breed, though McCarthy never revealed what went into it. It worked wildfowl in Irish bogs and estuaries, and the dense oily curls are the point: they shed water and stand up to cold and rough cover.

Temperament

The breed is known for being clever, playful and a little clownish, devoted to its family and reserved with strangers, with an independence unusual among spaniels.

Care and training

It needs a great deal of exercise and access to water. The curly coat needs regular brushing and trimming and sheds very little. Training needs variety; it bores and then invents its own entertainment.

Health

Known tendencies include hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism and a documented sensitivity to certain vaccines and drugs. These are known patterns for the breed and a matter for a breeder and a vet; the measured facts are in the panel.