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Weighing 21 to 24 at the shoulder and weighing 55 to 65 pounds, Irish water spaniels stretch the line between “medium” and “large” dogs on our size scale. Among its distinctive features are a crisp curved, liver-colored, waterproof coat; A thin “rat tail”; And a clean chisel head crowned with long, loose curl tops. The IWS moves with a smooth ground covering move, keeping it engaged in a long day’s work in the area.
Centuries ago, the Spaniels were divided into land and water varieties. The water variety includes the now extinct Tweed Water Spaniel as well as the English and Irish breeds. In Ireland before the 1850s, two distinct water spaniel strains existed: the South Country Water Spaniel and the North Country Water Spaniel. The Irish Water Spaniel as we know it today evolved from both of these strains, but the closest ones are of the South Country type.
In the 1830s, Justin McCarthy, a player from Dublin, refined the type away from its predecessor varieties and into a different and repeating breed. His dog, Boatswain, was the first pure IWS. By 1859, Irish Water Spaniels began appearing in dog shows.
The popularity of the IWS grew rapidly with English and Irish players, due to its ability, dispersion, and its ability to handle the cold waters of the North Sea. Soon, the word spread to the US and in the 1870s, many dogs were imported. By 1875, the Irish Water Spaniel became the third most popular sports breed in America.
A smart, sensible, convincingly made liberal Gandog Bread for all types of shooting, especially for water-fountains. Great intelligence is combined with rugged endurance and an adventurous, curious nature. Distinctive features are long, loose curls and a dense, covered, and darker coat adjoining the body, contrasted with a smooth face and a smooth “rat” tail.
The gestation period in lasts for 60-64 days The primary period of the reproductive cycle of the female is called Proestrus and goes on for around 9 days. During this time the females begin to draw in males. The subsequent part is the Estrus when the bitch is receptive to the male. It goes on for around 3 to 11 days. The third part is the Diestrus. Usually, it happens around day 14. In this period the bitch’s discharge changes for distinctive red and reaching its end. The vulva gets back to average, and she will no longer allow mating. The fourth part called the Anestrus. The time span between heat periods ordinarily keeps going around a half year. The litter size ranges between 6 to 8 puppies at a time.
Start grooming the Irish Water Spaniel when he is still a puppy and not need to do much yet. He should quickly learn that grooming time is a positive experience. Gentle brushing and nail and ear cleaning should always be part of the grooming regimen. Suitable for patients suffering from allergies, the breed’s hypoallergenic coat requires brushing at least weekly and trimming to clean and shape it every two months. If you do not want to learn to scissor to protect your IWS from ragging, you can make a regular appointment with a groom who is familiar with the breed.
IWS is playful, smart and eager to please. He has a lot of energy and would appreciate having a job to do. He is a reliable worker and will try his best to do whatever you ask him – as long as he understands what it is. Keep training sessions fun and interesting so that you can keep from getting bored. He will best respond to positive, reward-based training methods; Never use a rigid or heavy-handed approach, as it will bring undesired results. IWS canine sports excel in agility, dock diving, rally, trekking and flyball, and their sensitive nature makes them a natural as medical and support dogs.
A distinguished sporting dog, the Irish Water Spaniel is an active, high-energy companion. He is eager to please, making it relatively easy to train, but he is in great need of daily exercise. Hiking or hiking, running with a bicycle, chasing a ball in the backyard, or playing with other dogs daily will help keep him physically and mentally healthy, and will be relaxing and quiet indoors.
Irish Water Spaniels should perform well on high quality dog food, whether it is commercially manufactured or prepared with the supervision and approval of your vet. Any diet should be appropriate for the age of the dog (puppy, adult or senior). Some dogs are at risk of being overweight, so watch your dog’s calorie consumption and weight level. Treatment training can be an important aid, but giving too much can lead to obesity. Know which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. If you have any concerns about your dog’s weight or diet, check with your vet. Clean, fresh water must be available at all times..
Your veterinarian should be reminded that IWS may have adverse reactions to sulfa antibiotics as well as the dorming drug Ivermectin. Most IWS are healthy dogs, and responsible breeders screen their stock for health conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia, allergies, and thyroid disease. Good breeders will use health screening and genetic testing to produce puppies that are as healthy as possible. Discuss any health questions with both your puppy’s breeder and vet so that you can make informed decisions about your dog’s health.
Recommended health tests from the National Breed Club: