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She hath more qualities than a
water spaniel; which is much in a bare Christian.
- Shakespeare (Two Gentlemen of
Verona)
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Ch Scheherazade de L'Alto and puppies
"Whoopie"
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Am Cdn Ch Dreadlocks Solloe de L'Alto
"Solloe"
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The Irish Water Spaniel is one of
the largest of the Spaniels and is believed to be a relative of the
Poodle.
Originally bred as a water-bird retriever,
the Irish Water Spaniel is thought to be a
descendant of two different breeds of Irish Water Spaniels, one from
Southern Ireland and the other from Northern Ireland.
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This strongly built sporting dog
stands up to 24 inches high at the shoulder. He has a wonderful
temperament and is one of the more unusual looking dogs. His tail is long
and resembles a rat's tail. Although the Irish Water
Spaniel's fun-loving personality has led to him being known as the
"clown of the spaniel family", he can be very protective of his
owner and property. As his name suggests, he
loves water, and will take almost any opportunity to leap into it!
The Irish
Water Spaniel's coat is a dark liver colour.
It consists of thick, tight ringlets and curls that
form a protective water repellent barrier, allowing the dog to retrieve
birds from even the coldest water. Weekly
combing of this coat will keep its tendency to mat under control.An
inquisitive and determined breed, the Irish Water Spaniel needs strong
management and training early on. These dogs have a mind of their
own and may not be the breed for the first-time dog owner. Regular
exercise is necessary to channel his energy. He should have a home
with a fenced yard. For him to be in his element, he should have regular
access to swimming.
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