Irish Water Spaniel

USE: The Irish Water Dog easily adapts to most shooting disciplines. It looks for game, it often happens to stop and it fetches willingly, even in thick thickets. Given their build and naturalness, dogs of this breed are traditionally intended for waterfowl hunting.

The precise origin of the breed remains obscure. It is generally believed that the Irish Water Spaniel developed from Persian dogs that came to Ireland via Spain. The first attestation in Ireland of water dogs hunting waterfowl dates from the year 1600. Thus we know that dogs with waterproof coats were used in Ireland even before the introduction of the shotgun with small pellets. The only objective evidence of the Irish Water Spaniel's ancestry is its most striking peculiar trait, its rat tail. This peculiarity is not found in any other dog of the same genus and makes very likely the hypothesis that the current breed descends from a native Irish ancestor. This tail is the origin of the names given to the breed: "w hip tail" (tail in the shape of a whip) or "rat-tail" (tail of a rat). Anyway, during the second half of the 19th century, the descendants of these dogs were recognized and achieved great success at dog shows. A club was founded in 1890 for the promotion of the Irish Water Spaniel.

Proud, combining great intelligence and endurance with a character made of boldness and passion; its vitality and fidelity are unfailing. Good family dog ​​with a sense of humor but reserved with strangers.