Spanish Water Dog

The Spanish water dog is a breed that was developed in Spain as a water retriever for fishermen and as a herding and guard dog for farmers. It is thought to be descended from African breeds brought to the Iberian Peninsula over 1,000 years ago. Spanish water dogs are medium-sized with adorable, long, curly hair that cascades down over their eyes and helps them thrive in the changeable climate of Spain. As companion pets, they are affectionate, trainable, and low-maintenance. They get along well with children and household pets, but they do have strong herding instincts and need to be trained not to chase and nip too enthusiastically. This is a breed that is sure to bring delight to your family and spark great interest from people you meet on the street with its friendliness and attractive appearance.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Spanish Water Dog

The Best Dog Food for a Spanish Water Dog

It’s always important to provide your dog with high-quality food to keep them looking and feeling good. Spending a little more every week on better food can save you and your companion a great deal of discomfort and much higher expenses later to treat preventable medical conditions.

Spanish Water Dog Size and Weight

Spanish water dogs are medium-sized. Males range from 17.5 to 19.75 inches tall and can weigh 40 to 49 pounds. Females can be 15.75 to 18 inches tall and weigh anywhere from 31 to 40 pounds as adults.

Spanish Water Dog Common Health Issues

The Spanish water dog has a reasonably long life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. However, a number of different health problems have been found in the breed. Owners need to feed their dog a high-quality dog food and make sure they have regular testing at the vet to catch any of these issues early on, when there may be more treatment options. Below is a list of possible health issues your dog may encounter:

• Hip dysplasia
• Progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA)
• Hypothyroidism
• Hypoadrenocorticism (also known as Addison’s disease)
• Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency
• Allergies
• Cataracts
• Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter (CHG)
• Distichia
• Cherry eye
• Neuroaxonal dystrophy

Temperament and Behavior

Spanish water dogs are energetic, playful, and affectionate. Having been bred for retrieving game, herding, and guarding, they love playing games like catch and fetch or just zooming around the yard. Their natural herding instincts will come out with other animals and people, especially children. They will enthusiastically chase things that run and nip at their heels to herd them in a different direction. This behavior can be curbed with early socialization and positive training. They can be wary around strangers — a good behavior in a guard dog — but will warm up as they get to know the person.

How to Take Care of a Spanish Water Dog

Maintenance And Grooming

As water dogs, this breed doesn’t mind a bath as much as other dogs do. But it only needs bathing every 3 to 4 weeks, depending on your family’s lifestyle and how messy the dog’s outdoor play environment has been.

Spanish water dogs have a long, woolly, curly coat with no undercoat. It comes in solid black, beige, white, or brown, or two colors mixed. They shed minimally, and their fur will grow naturally into cords or dreadlocks. The breed standard is to allow the coat to grow and have a natural look, not to clip it or groom it for aesthetic reasons. Although the coat should not be trimmed, it should be sheared down once a year for a fresh start that will eliminate any tangles or mats that have developed.

Training

Spanish water dogs are highly trainable and need to be trained from puppyhood to channel their instincts in ways that are well-mannered and acceptable in your family. Don’t fall into the trap of letting them get away with undesirable behavior because it is cute. Behaviors become increasingly difficult to correct the longer you tolerate them. Training should not be harsh. These dogs are intelligent and eager to please. The best training is to reward positive behavior rather than punish negative behavior. When the pup does something you don’t like, substitute a different behavior, such as giving him a toy when he tries to chew your shoe.

Your dog will likely try to herd your children and your other pets by circling and nipping. With children, this needs to be stopped immediately. The dog should be firmly corrected, removed from the child, and given an activity such as a game of fetch to distract him.

This breed should always be kept on a leash when not in a fenced enclosure. They are curious and smart, so they may try to jump over, climb, or dig under fences and can fit through small openings. Some homeowners prefer invisible fencing, but this does not stop other animals from coming into your yard, or your animal from breaking through if he is determined enough.

Exercise

Spanish water dogs require a great deal of exercise, including daily walks and playtime in a fenced yard. They are highly social and prefer to be with you, but can entertain themselves for some time alone in the yard. Just keep an eye out that they’re not working on an escape plot! They enjoy having a job to do that is both physically and mentally stimulating. Catch, fetch, flying disc, and agility tasks are all activities they will enjoy. If you want a sedentary dog, this is not the dog for you.

Spanish Water Dogs and Children

Spanish water dogs do quite well with children when trained and socialized at an early age. Teach your children not to tease or hit the dog, and what to do when the dog is playing too roughly. Train your pet not to chase or nip at your child. Adults should always supervise small children around dogs, especially an energetic herding breed such as this. Older children need to be included in the training regimen for your dog, to help them bond, provide consistency for the animal with various family members, and spread out the task of burning off this dog’s incredible stores of energy.

Dogs Similar to the Spanish Water Dog

• Portuguese Water Dog: A very similar breed to the Spanish Water Dog. One difference is that they can have wavy or curly coats, whereas the Spanish water dog always has a curly coat.
• Poodle: Similar in size to the Spanish water dog with a curly coat, but requires much more grooming to stay in good condition. Of the two breeds, the poodle has a higher intelligence level.
• American Water Spaniel: This breed is smaller and cheaper to purchase and maintain than the Spanish Water Dog. It has less of an impulse to chase and catch prey than the Spanish water dog.