| Irish Water
Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel dates back to the
early 1100s, when they were actually known as Shannon Spaniels,
Rat-Tail Spaniels or Whip-Tail Spaniels. Often known as the clown of
the Spaniel group, probably because of its great head of hair, the
Irish Water Spaniel is energetic and has trouble hiding his
exuberance for life. As its name
implies the Irish Water Spaniel is an excellent water dog. Its curly
coat is built to repel water and keep the dog warm in extreme
weather conditions. In addition, the Irish Water Spaniel has webbed
feet, making it an excellent swimmer.
The Irish Water Spaniel is also
characterized by an innate desire to please its master. This highly
intelligent breed is a natural retriever and does very well in
obedience training. Because the Irish Water Spaniel is a relatively
uncommon breed when it comes to AKC registrations, the breeders have
been able to protect many of this breeds natural hunting abilities
and instincts. As a result, the Irish Water Spaniel is an excellent
hunting partner and performs flexibly in a variety of hunting
environments, from water retrieves to upland hunting.
Clubs and Organizations
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