Irish water spaniel | Facts & Information

Other names: IWS, Whiptail, Irish Water Spaniel dog

Origin

This breed is descended from the ancient breeds of South Country Water Spaniels and was developed in the mid-nineteenth century.

The breed was recognized by The Kennel Club in 1862.

It is also known as the rat-tailed Spaniel.

Irish Water Spaniel Feed

The recommended daily food for this dog is at least two medium meals containing all nutritional foods, including proteins that can be assimilated from meat.

The amount of food depends on the age and activity of the dog, so if you are unable to establish a diet yourself, it is best to consult a veterinarian.

Food and activity should be observed periodically because the animal can gain weight quite easily. He will consume more than is the case if he is provided with food as they say "to be, not to be the hungry puppy".

How much he likes food and how well he does it is seen in his work. If he is happy and full of energy, it is good for him. This is one of the many signs you can see. Another is the fur, its quality and shine.

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Appearance Irish Water Spaniel

It is a medium-sized, robust dog, the tallest of spaniels. It has a proportional head, long, strong snout, large and wide nose, Brown-Brown. The eyes are rather small, dark brown.

The ears are very long, lobed (leaf), pinned down, left near the head and covered by long curly hair. The tail, characteristic of the breed, resembles that of the rat, is short, straight, conical, worn below the line of the back and covered with created fur, only 8-10 cm from the base and the rest is hairless or with a fine, short, straight hair.

The coat of this dog is similar to that of a sheep, has dense curls, and can be soft or wiry. The hair is short and straight on the face, neck and part of the tail towards the tip.

Paws are well tamed, may have a beard, sideburns, has a curly mot on the top of the head. It has a red-brown color in various shades. The height is 52 - 60cm and the weight is between 20-30 kg.

Behavior Irish Water Spaniel

It is an intelligent, active, bold, energetic, lively, cheerful, quite quiet and sometimes stubborn dog.

He is devoted to his master, accepts children but is shy, reserved for strangers or new situations.

They need to be socialized from an early age to be able to get along with other dogs or other animals in the household.

Dressage Irish Water Spaniel

It is good that the training of this dog is done early and by an experienced person with authority.

Training must be firm, consistent, balanced, varied, determined to achieve the desired results.

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Features Irish Water Spaniel

Irish Water spaniel can be stubborn and independent. It requires adequate socialization to prevent the development of extreme behaviors (either very shy or very aggressive). Some specimens may be aggressive with other dogs.

The coat of this dog should not be brushed too often and a lot so that it does not become fluffy. If this happens, it must be washed or taken to swim to restore the curls.

If necessary, the fur will be trimmed by a specialist. These dogs do not have hairs. It is not prone to hereditary diseases.

It is used to hunt large wild birds, especially geese and as a pet.

Irish Water Spaniel Diseases

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of the coxofemoral joint that results in pain, lameness and consequent arthritis.

Epilepsy is a disorder of the nervous system that develops between the ages of 2-5 years.

Megaesophagus is a condition characterized by a decrease to disappearance of muscle contractions at the esophageal level. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland does not function properly.

In the absence of a sufficient amount of thyroid hormone, illness can occur. Entropion is a condition of the eyelids that involves twisting inwards their free edge.

Eyelashes at the level of the free edge of the eyelids irritate the surface of the eyeball, which can lead to much more serious problems. The Irish Water spaniel is also prone to skin allergies and ear infections.

The average lifespan of the Irish Water spaniel is 10-12 years.