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Irish Water Spaniel

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1. General Description of the Irish Water Spaniel

   The Irish Water Spaniel is easily recognized for its thick, liver-colored, curly coat and unique topknot of flowing, extended curls. Besides giving the dog a distinguished look, this coat also provides a great deal of protection in any terrain. The breed has a somewhat rectangular body that is medium in length. The Irish Water Spaniel has a finely chiseled, large head with medium-sized, almond shaped eyes and sizeable nose. The ears are long and coated in curls of over two inches in length. The slick, smooth “rat tail” is another identifying characteristic of the Irish Water Spaniel. This is the tallest of the spaniels, and as such the dog can cover a lot of ground and hunt all day.

2. Irish Water Spaniel Temperament

   The Irish Water Spaniel is an intelligent, curious and active breed well known for its oft-displayed humorous conduct (thus its nickname, “the clown of the spaniels”). With the proper training, the breed can be good with children and pets, but is often nervous and shy in the presence of strangers. The Irish Water Spaniel can be stubborn and independent which can make training difficult, although this is somewhat offset by the dog’s intelligence and desire to please. The Irish Water Spaniel is an able watch dog and a passable guard dog.

3. Caring for an Irish Water Spaniel

   In order to keep the Irish Water Spaniel’s flowing coat free from mats, it is important to use the brush two to three times a week. Pay particular attention to trimming hair around the feet. Shedding is virtually unnoticeable, as lost hair tends to get caught in the coat rather than fall off. The Irish Water Spaniel is an active dog, and it is important to meet its exercise needs with daily walks or, preferably, free romps through a field or large yard. The Irish Water Spaniel loves to swim and will benefit greatly if given the chance to do so. However you choose to exercise your Irish Water Spaniel, make sure he gets a chance to exhaust himself every day. Because of the breed’s potential stubborn streak, it is important to begin obedience training at an early age to ensure a well behaved adult dog. Known health issues in the breed include canine hip dysplasia, otitis externa and distichiasis.

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We include the following list of misspellings so our internal search tools can send you to the right place. People often misspell Irish Water Spaniel as Irish Water Spaneil or Irish Water Spainel.