Description: Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is a distinctive and versatile breed, best known for its curly, waterproof coat and energetic personality. Originally bred in Ireland as a gundog and water retriever, this breed excels at swimming and has an innate love of water. The Irish Water Spaniel stands out not only for its dense, tight curls and unique rat-like tail but also for its intelligence and playful temperament. These dogs are highly trainable and thrive in active households, making them excellent companions for families who enjoy outdoor activities. While they are lively and may be reserved with strangers, they are generally affectionate and loyal to their families. Because of their intelligence, the breed needs mental and physical stimulation to prevent boredom. Regular grooming is necessary to maintain their coat, but they shed minimally compared to many other breeds.
Irish Water Spaniel ratings
Properties
The Irish Water Spaniel is a unique and distinctive breed, primarily known for its intelligence, versatility, and curly waterproof coat. This breed is one of the oldest and rarest of the spaniel family, originating from Ireland and developed as a specialized water retriever.
The Irish Water Spaniel’s most notable physical feature is its tight, crisp, and curly liver-colored coat, which is both water-resistant and low-shedding. This curly fur helps protect the dog from cold and wet conditions, making it especially suited for retrieving game from water bodies. The breed is also recognized for its characteristic 'rat tail'—a long, tapering tail that is smooth at the base, covered in curls at the root but nearly hairless along the along length. Irish Water Spaniels are medium to large dogs, with males standing 22–24 inches tall at the shoulder and typically weighing 55–65 pounds.
In terms of temperament, the Irish Water Spaniel is known for being intelligent, alert, and eager to learn. This breed is energetic and playful, enjoying regular exercise and mental stimulation. It tends to form strong bonds with its family and is typically affectionate and loyal. Because of its intelligence and people-oriented nature, the Irish Water Spaniel responds well to positive training but may exhibit stubbornness or independence if not properly motivated. Early socialization is important, as some individuals may be reserved or wary around strangers.
This breed’s water-loving heritage means it generally enjoys swimming and retrieving, and it excels in activities such as field trials, agility, and obedience. The Irish Water Spaniel is generally good with children and can adapt well to family life, provided it receives sufficient physical activity. However, its energetic disposition and occasional mischievousness mean it may not be suited to very sedentary households. The coat requires regular grooming to prevent matting and to keep the dog healthy and comfortable. Healthwise, the breed is generally robust, with a lifespan around 10–12 years, though it can be prone to issues such as hip dysplasia and ear infections due to its floppy ears. Overall, the Irish Water Spaniel is an active, intelligent breed best suited to experienced dog owners who can provide the activity and companionship it craves.
Appearance
The Irish Water Spaniel is a distinctive and unique-looking breed, easily recognized by its unusual coat and silhouette among spaniels. This medium-to-large-sized dog typically stands between 21 to 24 inches (53 to 61 cm) at the withers and weighs between 45 and 68 pounds (20 to 31 kg), with males usually larger than females. The overall body is strongly built yet graceful, giving an impression of power combined with agility, which is essential for its original role as a water retriever.
The hallmark of the breed is its dense, curly, liver-colored coat, which covers almost the entire body. The coat consists of tight, crisp ringlets with a natural oiliness, which serves to protect the dog from cold water and harsh weather conditions. The texture is not wiry or wooly but instead has a soft curl that resists tangling and matting to some extent. The coat is particularly long and curly over the body, including the chest, sides, and back, as well as down the legs. One of the most striking features is the distinctive 'rat tail,' which is thick and covered in curls at the base but quickly becomes bare, showing smooth, tapered skin on most of its length. This unique tail is a breed hallmark.
The head of the Irish Water Spaniel is also quite remarkable, with a long, square muzzle and a prominent brow. The skull is domed, and atop it sits a characteristic topknot of loose, curly hair that often falls over the eyes and can give the dog a mischievous appearance. The eyes are small, almond-shaped, generally dark amber in color, and set well apart, expressing alertness and intelligence. The ears are long, low-set, and heavily covered with long, curly hair, almost blending in with the neck and cheeks.
The Irish Water Spaniel's overall appearance is one of rugged athleticism combined with elegance, thanks to its well-proportioned, slightly arched neck, deep and broad chest, and straight, strong back. The limbs are muscular, straight, and powerful, which, along with webbed feet, enable the breed to swim efficiently. This combination of unique coat, unusual tail, and balanced build set the Irish Water Spaniel apart as one of the most distinctive and instantly recognizable spaniel breeds.
History
The Irish Water Spaniel is a unique and distinctive breed with a rich and somewhat mysterious history. Origins of the Irish Water Spaniel date back several centuries, but the exact lineage of this breed is still debated among historians and canine experts. Many believe the roots of the breed lie in Ireland during the 1830s, with the most significant development attributed to a man named Justin McCarthy of Dublin. He developed the foundation dog known as 'Boatswain,' which would ultimately become the progenitor of the modern Irish Water Spaniel.
The breed was developed specifically to serve as a waterfowl retriever and was highly prized by Irish hunters for its extraordinary swimming ability, intelligence, and endurance. The Irish Water Spaniel's dense, curly, water-resistant coat and its distinctive 'rat tail' helped it excel in retrieving game from cold waters and thick marshes. The ancestry is believed to be a mix of various now-extinct water spaniels from Ireland, and possibly even the Poodle, Barbet, and Portuguese Water Dog, though records are sparse and much is left to speculation.
By the mid-19th century, the breed had established itself not only in Ireland but also in England, where it began appearing at dog shows as early as 1862. The Irish Water Spaniel quickly garnered admiration for its prowess in field trials and its unusual looks, characterized by its curly, liver-colored coat and cleanly tapered tail. In 1870, the American Kennel Club (AKC) recognized the breed, making it one of the earliest AKC-recognized breeds.
Throughout its history, the Irish Water Spaniel has enjoyed periods of popularity as a sporting and companion dog, though it has never achieved the widespread numbers of more common retrievers like the Labrador or Golden Retriever. Nevertheless, dedicated breeders and enthusiasts have worked to maintain the breed's working abilities, temperament, and unique appearance. The Irish Water Spaniel remains an excellent choice for active families and hunters, offering loyalty, intelligence, and an enduring connection to its Irish heritage.