All Dog Breeds >>Irish Water Spaniel Breed Standard
General Apperance
That of a smart, upstanding, strongly built moderate gundog bred for all types of shooting, especially for water-fowling. Great intelligence is combined with rugged endurance and a bold, dashing eagerness of temperament. Distinguishing characteristics are a topknot of long, loose curls and a body covered with a dense, crisply curled liver colored coat contrasted by a smooth face and a smooth "rat" tail.
Size,Proportion,Substance
Strongly built and well-boned, the Irish Water Spaniel is of medium length making it slightly rectangular in appearance. A well-balanced dog that should not appear leggy or coarse.
Size: Height: Dogs22 to 24 inches (measured at the highest point of withers) Bitches 21 to 23 inches
Weight: Dogs 55 to 68 pounds
Bitches 45 to 58pounds
Head and Skull
The head iscleanly chiseled. Theskull is large and high in dome with a prominent occiput and a gradual stop. The muzzle is long, deep and somewhat square inappearance with a strong underjaw. Lips are fine in texture, tight and dry. The nose is large and dark liver in color. The teeth are even with a scissor or level bite. Hair on the face is short and smooth except for a beard of long, loose curls growing at the back of the lower jaw whichmay continue up the side of the face as sideburns.
Neck,Topline,Body
Neck: The neck is long, arching, strong and muscular and is smoothly set into cleanly sloping shoulders.
Topline: The rear is equal to or slightly higher than the front never descending or showing sag or roach
Back: Strong, broad and level.
Body: Medium length. The ribs are carried well back and so well sprung behind the shoulders as to give a barrel shape. Thechest is deep with a brisket extending to the elbows. The loin is short, wide, muscular, and deep so it does not give a tucked-up appearance.
Forequarters
The entire front gives the impression of strength without heaviness. The forechest should be moderate. Shoulders are sloping and moderately laid back, clean and powerful. The upper arms are approximately the length of the shoulder blades with clean elbows set close to the body. Forelegs are well boned, muscular and straight, set well under the withers.
Hindquarters
Hindquarters Sound hindquarters are of great importance to provide drive and power while swimming. They are as high as or slightly higher than the shoulders withpowerful, muscular, well-developed thighs. The hips are wide. The croup is rounded and full with the tail set on low enough to give a rounded appearance. The stifles are moderately bent. Hocks are set low and moderately bent. Balance of front and rear angulation is important.
Coat
Proper coat is of vital importance to protect the dog while working. The coat on the face is short and smooth framed by the distinctive topknot and ears of long, loose curls.
The coat on the throat is smooth forming a V-shaped patch from the back of the lower jaw behind the beard to the breastbone.
The remainder of the neck, body and base of the tail are covered with dense, tight, crisp curls. The remainder of the coat on the tail is short and smooth coated. Forelegs are covered down to the feet with curls or waves all around. The hind legs are also abundantly covered with curls or waves except that the hair is short and smooth on the front of the legs below the hocks. Feet are well clothed with hair.
Dogs may be shown in natural coat or trimmed. However, no dog should be groomed or trimmed so excessively as to obscure the curl or texture of the coat.
Color
Rich liver to dark liver with a purplish tinge, sometimes called puce liver. No white hair or markings except for the graying of age.
Gait
Moves freely and soundly with balanced reach and drive. Should be true, precise and not slurring; may have a characteristic rolling motion accentuated by the barrel-shaped rib cage.