How does the Irish Water Spaniel work in the field?
The Irish water spaniel is the tallest spaniel, but in Britain it usually works as a retriever. It is particularly suited to wildfowling and picking up on wet ground.
The Irish water spaniel is the tallest of the spaniels, with a coat of tight liver curls, a topknot and a smooth 'rat tail'. Despite the name, in Britain it is usually worked as a retriever, much like a Labrador, and it is particularly suited to wildfowling and picking up on wet ground, where its waterproof coat and stamina come into their own. It marks well, swims strongly and retrieves to hand, and it can also hunt and flush in cover. Working Irish water spaniels are rare, so look for parents with working test experience or regular work on a shoot or the foreshore, and ask the breeder how each is used.
What is the Irish Water Spaniel like to live and work with?
Intelligent, playful and full of character, devoted to its family but often reserved with strangers. It bores quickly with repetition.
Irish water spaniels are intelligent, playful and full of character, often described as the clowns of the gundog world. They are devoted to their family but can be reserved with strangers, so early socialisation matters. They think for themselves and can be stubborn, and they are quick to lose interest in repetitive training. They suit an owner who enjoys a dog with personality and is prepared to keep training interesting. Look for parents that are confident and steady with people, keen to work, and responsive to their handler on a shoot day as well as at home.
Which health tests matter for the Irish Water Spaniel?
Both parents should have hip and elbow scores and a current eye certificate, plus any tests the breed club recommends. Ask about follicular dysplasia in the lines.
Ask for both parents' hip scores and elbow grades under the BVA/KC schemes, and a current eye certificate under the BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme. Some Irish water spaniels suffer from patchy hair loss caused by follicular dysplasia, which has no DNA test, so ask whether it has appeared in the parents' lines. With a small population, breeders have to balance health against keeping the gene pool as wide as possible, so ask how the mating was chosen. The breed club keeps an up-to-date list of recommended tests; ask which have been done and see the certificates. Results for Kennel Club registered dogs can be checked on the Kennel Club's Health Test Results Finder. Our buying checklist covers what else to check before you pay.
How much training and exercise does the Irish Water Spaniel need?
The retriever pattern with lots of water work and plenty of variety. An adult needs at least an hour of exercise a day, and the coat needs regular combing.
Training follows the retriever pattern of steadiness, marking, delivery to hand and the stop whistle, with plenty of water work. Irish water spaniels learn quickly but need variety, as repetition bores them, and they respond much better to reward than to pressure. Many are slow to mature, so a patient approach pays off. An adult needs at least an hour of exercise a day, ideally including a swim. The curly coat sheds little but needs regular care: it should be combed through and trimmed every few weeks to prevent matting, and checked for burrs after a day in cover.
How long does it take to train the Irish Water Spaniel?
For the Irish Water Spaniel, readiness for the intended role matters more than a birthday. Check demonstrated foundations, physical suitability and the support needed for the next stage.
Early learning includes socialisation, recall, short retrieves and early water work. After comfortable everyday foundations, the dog learns to sit, wait and deliver to hand, and to stop on the whistle. With reliable foundations, add longer marks, blind retrieves in water and cover, and an introduction to game, often on the foreshore or with a picking-up team. Working-bred litters are rare, so watch for Irish water spaniel puppies for sale. Use the training progression guide to discuss readiness with a reward-based trainer. Ask your vet about physical demands, and plan game, water and gunfire introductions with competent help.