Spanish Water Dog
西班牙水犬
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Spanish Water Dog is a rustic, woolly-curled dual-purpose worker from Andalusia, used for centuries to herd, hunt and retrieve from water, with a coat that is never brushed and forms cords when left to grow. Upbeat, playful and very active, it is highly intelligent and extremely biddable with positive, problem-solving training, but it is loyal to its own people and can be wary of strangers, so early and ongoing socialisation is essential. It needs a good run every day, has a good "off switch" at home, and some individuals have a very high prey drive.
Facts
| Size | Medium |
|---|---|
| Height | 40–50cm |
| Weight | 14–22kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: herding FCI: 8 |
| Role | Sporting |
| Coat | Curly coat |
| Shedding | 1/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 4/ 5 |
| Barking | 3/ 5 |
| Good with children | 4/ 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.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma or lens luxation is reported in the breed; screening tests exist. Ask your vet urgently if an eye becomes cloudy, red or painful.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
prcd-PRA is reported in the breed; The Royal Kennel Club lists the DNA test as a Good Practice requirement and the parent club requires it (plus an eo-PRA test and annual eye examination) before breeding. Ask your breeder about the parents' PRA status.
Hypothyroidism
Autoimmune thyroiditis is reported in the breed and the parent club requires a full OFA thyroid panel on breeding stock; The Royal Kennel Club also lists a DNA test for congenital hypothyroidism with goitre (CHG). Ask your vet about thyroid testing if your dog gains weight, loses coat or seems lethargic.
Behaviour
Biddable problem-solver that shuts down under harshness
The AKC calls the SWD highly intelligent and active in mind and body, thriving on the problem-solving nature of clicker-style positive training and extremely willing to please; harsh methods may make it lose enthusiasm and "shut down". As a herding breed some have a very high prey drive and need a reliable recall — even with training some cannot resist a squirrel or deer.
Loyal to its own, aloof with strangers
The CKC describes a faithful, obedient, spirited, hard-working and watchful dog that is not timid or shy but generally aloof with strangers, happiest when working — agility, herding trials, water sports. The AKC adds that the temperament deserves special consideration: very loyal to owners but often wary of strangers, so ongoing socialisation and positive new experiences are essential from an early age.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "Upbeat / Playful but also work-oriented / Very Active".
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 4/5, barking level 3/5. 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 — Spanish Water Dog
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 — Spanish Water Dog (Herding 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 — Spanish Water Dog
Breed characteristics (size medium, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years), plus the recommended pre-breeding health schemes and DNA tests.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Spanish Water Dog (standard no. 336, 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's health page lists the conditions found so far in the breed — hip dysplasia, prcd-PRA, autoimmune thyroiditis, congenital hypothyroidism with goitre, neuroaxonal dystrophy, Addison's and Cushing's disease, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, glaucoma, allergies and epilepsy — and asks buyers to inquire about the sire's and dam's clearances before purchasing: an annual eye examination, DNA tests for prcd-PRA and eo-PRA, certified hips and a full thyroid panel are required, while elbows are optional because the breed shows little tendency to elbow dysplasia.”
— Spanish Water Dog Club of America — SWD Health via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Spanish Water Dog — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Spanish Water Dog — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Spanish Water Dog — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Spanish Water Dog — FCI standard no. 336 — 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]Spanish Water Dog Health — Spanish Water Dog Club of America — Spanish Water Dog Club of America (public health 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.