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Personality: "Intelligent, devoted and spirited," says Dog Breed Info Center of the Irish water spaniel. "Self-assured, eager and willing with a desire to please. Clever and capable of learning a great deal." TerrificPets.com also sings the breed's praises: "The Irish water spaniel is an active, intelligent, alert breed of dog. It is also a very playful, inquisitive and responsive dog that has a good temperament as a pet, watch dog or hunting dog."
Grooming: This breed's unusual coat carries with it certain grooming needs. TerrificPets.com warns that "this is a breed with a coat that requires a great amount of grooming. Because the Irish water spaniel is covered in hair, it needs regular grooming just as a person does." Dog Breed Info Center says that an Irish water spaniel's coat, though it sheds little, still "needs to be trimmed regularly. It mats easily and needs to be combed once a week." The American Kennel Club adds, "Their hypoallergenic coats require brushing every few weeks and trimming every two months to neaten and shape the coat."
Common Health Issues: "Prone to hip dysplasia, hypo-thyroidism, eye entropion and ear infections," says Dog Breed Info Center. TerrificPets.com also notes the breed's high rate of ear infections, due to their love of swimming.
Training Tips: As with other active breeds, Irish water spaniels must be exercised physically and mentally, and they require a strong "pack leader" too. But as long as these factors are in place, Irish water spaniels make for fairly obedient pets. "Owners who convincingly display a natural, firm, confident and consistent leadership over the dog will find it to be mild-mannered and docile," says Dog Breed Info Center. And the American Kennel Club says, "He possesses the natural instinct to please, making him relatively easy to train."
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