Irish Water Spaniel
愛爾蘭水獵犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Irish Water Spaniel is the tallest of the spaniels and really a retriever — a crisply curled, liver-coloured water dog with a topknot and a bare "rat tail", fixed in type by Justin McCarthy's dog Boatswain in the 1830s and now a vulnerable native breed. Alert and inquisitive, the clown of the spaniel family, it is playful, hard-working and brave, eager to please and quick to train with fun, reward-based methods, but sensitive to heavy handling and sometimes frustrating when its mind is on a task of its own. It needs plenty of daily exercise — ideally swimming — a fenced garden, and a vet who knows the breed can react badly to sulfa antibiotics and ivermectin.
Facts
| Size | Large |
|---|---|
| Height | 53–61cm |
| Weight | 20–31kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–13years |
| Breed group | AKC: sporting FCI: 8 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 45–150min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 5/ 5 |
| Barking | 1/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Elbow dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen elbows by X-ray. Ask your vet if you notice front-leg lameness, especially in a growing dog.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is reported in the breed. Ask your vet about thyroid testing if you notice weight gain, lethargy or coat changes.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Skin and allergy problems
Skin problems and allergies are commonly reported in the breed. Ask your vet if you notice itching, redness or recurring ear/skin infections.
MDR1 drug sensitivity
MDR1 gene mutation (sensitivity to certain drugs) is reported in the breed; a DNA test is available. Tell your vet before any medication is prescribed.
Behaviour
Clown of the spaniel family — gentle but protective
The CKC calls the IWS alert and inquisitive, often the clown of the spaniel family and somewhat frustrating when its mind is on a task of its own; despite its size it is gentle with those it regards as friends but can be protective of owner and property. A natural retriever and efficient swimmer, it is energetic, needs regular moderate exercise and a fenced yard is a must.
Eager to please, needs a job — never heavy-handed
The AKC describes a playful, smart, eager-to-please dog with lots of energy that appreciates having a job and tries its best once it understands what is asked; keep sessions fun to avoid boredom and use positive, reward-based methods, because a harsh or heavy-handed approach brings unwanted results. It needs lots of daily exercise — long walks, running beside a bike, ball games or play with other dogs — and excels in agility, dock diving, rally, tracking, flyball and as a therapy or assistance dog.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 3/5 (moderate) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "more than 2 hours per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 5/5, barking level 1/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Irish Water Spaniel
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Spaniel Irish Water (Sporting Dogs)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Spaniel Irish Water
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise more than 2 hours per day, lifespan under 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Irish Water Spaniel (standard no. 124, group 8)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club describes an intelligent, athletic and versatile dog — "the best kept secret of the dog world" — with powerful endurance, bold eagerness and a clownish sense of humour, wonderful with families and quick to show loyalty and fun given proper training and sufficient exercise. It notes the breed's numbers are small, with fewer than 200 dogs a year registered with the AKC, and that it participates in the CHIC health-testing programme.”
— Irish Water Spaniel Club of America via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Irish Water Spaniel — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Spaniel Irish Water — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Spaniel Irish Water — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Irish Water Spaniel — FCI standard no. 124 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Irish Water Spaniel Club of America — home page (breed introduction) — Irish Water Spaniel Club of America (public breed pages) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.