Sometimes called the class clowns of the spaniel family, the sporting Irish Water Spaniel can be lovable goofballs. They’ll chase anything you throw with wild abandon—tongues lolling and ear-to-ear grins on their faces. Highly intelligent and independent, be prepared for a companion who’ll keep you on your toes. These mischievous pups will play your game of fetch, but they may decide to take the long way back when delivering the ball. And grab your beach towel! With their webbed feet and curly water-repelling coats, plan on playing many games of fetch in a pond, lake or pool. Gundogs who were bred to retrieve fowl, Irish Water Spaniels love the water. (It’s in their name, after all.) If you enjoy a good laugh and a good splash, you’ll get along swimmingly with this fun-loving breed.
Irish Water Spaniel Appearance
With webbed feet and a waterproof coat, the Irish Water Spaniel breed is part dog, part duck. A tousled topknot and liver-colored curls give them an endearing look. And their unique, hairless tails acts like a rudder while swimming. These cuties are sometimes confused for Poodles, because they both have curly coats and were bred to hunt. (You can tell them apart by their haircuts and tails: Standard Poodles usually have fancier ‘dos and Irish Water Spaniels have longer and less-furry tails.)
Ears:
Irish Water Spaniels' floppy low-set ears are covered with long, loose curls and hang neatly next to their head.
Eyes:
They have small, almond-shaped dark brown or amber eyes with a playful or watchful gaze.
Nose:
They have large, liver-colored (reddish brown) noses.
Coat Length:
Irish Water Spaniels have a signature topknot of soft, loose curls, bodies covered in short ringlets or waves, and silky smooth faces and tails.
Coat Color:
Irish Water Spaniels' coats range from medium to dark reddish brown (liver) colors, sometimes with a little purplish hue.
Tail:
They have a smooth tail that is carried low and has short curls towards the base.
Irish Water Spaniel Temperament
Highly intelligent, funny and playful, Irish Water Spaniels are sporting dogs at heart, bred to retrieve fowl during hunting. Naturally, they love exercise that incorporates games. They’ll even make a game out of training and often change the rules to amuse themselves. Teaching them to fetch? Expect them to find something else entirely different to fetch than what you threw, or to make a lot of stops on the way back to you. It’s no wonder they have a reputation for being a class clown.With their athletic abilities and love of retrieving, they should be kept on a leash outside in case a squirrel catches their eye. Otherwise, you may have a runaway dog on your hands.Irish Water Spaniels are very rarely aggressive, although they may be cautious around strangers. Early exposure to plenty of other dogs and people ensures this breed will live up to their friendly tendencies and help them be more comfortable in new situations and around new people and other dogs. And while they’re quiet in nature, they will alert you when something’s amiss, making them great watchdogs.Irish Water Spaniels are almost always good with kids—they’re naturally playful, and their goofy antics will delight children of all ages. Start socializing your dog while in puppyhood to help bring out their friendly tendencies (and don’t forget to teach the kids in their life how to play nicely with them, too).
