Irish Water Spaniel
FCI 124
56 cmAdult male
at the withers
at the withers
- Mass
- 24.9–30.8 kgSamce
Irish Water Spaniel — size comparison
The Irish Water Spaniel is a strong dog with a tightly curled brown coat. Its smooth muzzle contrasts with an abundant topknot and ear curls. Its most unusual f
Silhouette comparison
Height
Ground withersReference values · details in the profiles
HeightScale in cm
0204060
56 cm
The scale compares the named dimensions. View direction and measurement points are given for each animal.
Irish Water Spaniel — size comparison — facts and sources
The Irish Water Spaniel is a strong dog with a tightly curled brown coat. Its smooth muzzle contrasts with an abundant topknot and ear curls. Its most unusual feature is the tail: hairy at the base, then covered with short hair that makes it look almost bare. This combination readily distinguishes it from Poodles and other water dogs.
Written references to Irish dogs assisting with waterfowl date from the seventeenth century. They were selected to find and retrieve game from wet ground and water. The modern breed's precise ancestry remains uncertain, so resemblance to other curly-coated dogs does not prove a simple relationship. Swimming ability, endurance and willingness to retrieve were particularly valued in establishing its type.
It is quick to learn, active and deeply engaged in its activities. Within the family it can be mischievous, inventive and affectionate, while often keeping a more cautious distance from strangers. It likes solving tasks but does not always perform them in the most predictable way. Liveliness combines with independence, and its interest in water and retrieving objects fits the breed's history well.