Irish Water Spaniel
Popular Dog Breeds
All about the Irish Water Spaniel
The Irish Water Spaniel is an intelligent and a spirited breed of dog. It is a quick learner and loves learning new things making them very easy to train.
Socialising at an early age is required to bring out the best behaviour in your dog and will ensure s/he gets on well with children and other pets, although as a quiet breed, they will probably remain reserved with strangers.
Because of the breed’s strong hunting instincts, caution is advised with small pets such as rabbits, rats, guinea pigs, birds etc.
Grooming an Irish Water Spaniel
Hair type: The coat of the Irish Water Spaniel is covered in long loose curls on the body and shorter hair on the face and tail. The curly outer coat has a dense undercoat that insulates the dog from cold water. There is a topknot of curls on top of the head. They also have webbed feet that are round spreading and covered with hair.
Daily coat care: The coat of this dog breed needs to be trimmed regularly. It mats easily and needs to be combed once a week using a slicker brush and a steel comb. This breed is good for allergy sufferers because they have relatively less dander than other breeds. These dogs shed little to no hair.
Recommended groom frequency: Your Irish Water Spaniel should be professionally groomed every 6-8 weeks.
At Petmania Grooming Studios we have a full range of treatments available for your Irish Water Spaniel. If you get puppy, we recommend our Puppy’s First Visit at around four months, once your puppy has received all his vaccinations.
Diet
Depending on the size and activity level of your Irish Water Spaniel, you will need to feed between 160g and 250g of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals. Prone to weight gain, a food that offers a nutrient balanced diet and restricted access to treats is recommended for Water Spaniels.
To help you choose the best food for your dog, speak with one of our pet care advisors instore or browse the range of dog foods available at your local Petmania.
Activity Level
The Irish Water Spaniel is largely a hunting and a guarding breed. Therefore, it requires a lot of exercise for proper physical as well as mental development. Long walks daily are recommended. Apart from that, vigorous exercise schedules are recommended every now and then. Keeping this breed indoors for too long can lead to behavioural problems.
Where to get an Irish Water Spaniel
There are lots of places offering dogs or puppies for sale in Ireland, but we would always ask that you consider adopting a dog first. Our animal rescue partners have 100’s of rescue dogs and puppies seeking a forever home and would be delighted to introduce you to them.
However, if a rescue dog is not for you, we do recommend that you choose a registered breeder and seek Irish Kennel Club registration papers which will confirm that the dog has been bred to their strict code of ethics.
