Dog
Spanish Water Dog Champions
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Pronunciation:
span-ish waw-ter dawg
Breed Description:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog is a medium sized breed that should be athletic and robust without appearing too large or course. The dog should have a level top line and the build should be slightly longer than they are tall. The head of the Spanish Water Dog should be slightly flat and the ears should hang down the side of the head and be triangular in shape. The tail should be short, either through a natural bob or a docked tail.
The coat of the Spanish Water Dog should be thick and wooly in look and texture. The hair should be curly and as it grows, the hair will begin to form into cords that can measure up to 4 and a half inches in length. The coat can either be a solid color or bi-colored, however, the only colors that are allowed are white, black or brown.
Temperament:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog is well known for their versatility as both a working or family dog. They are very intelligent dogs that thrives when he has something to do, whether that is training or working. The breed is usually very affectionate with their family and are loyal and protective of them. They tend to be suspicious of strangers and can be quite reserved with them. The breed does well with children and they can do well with other dogs and pets. The Spanish Water Dog can become bored very easily so this is definitely a breed to keep engaged in an activity.
Height:
The average weight for a Spanish Water Dog is between 16 to 18 inches for a female and 17 to 20 inches for a male.
Weight:
The average weight for a Spanish Water Dog is between 30 to 40 pounds for a female and 40 to 50 pounds for a male.
Health Problems:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog is a very hardy breed, however, they can suffer from a number of health problems including hip dysplasia, ear infections and progressive retinal atrophy.
Living Conditions:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog can do very well in apartments if they are given proper exercise. The breed does well outdoors and can thrive in both hot or cold climates.
Exercise:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog is a very active breed of dog that should receive between 45 to 60 minutes of exercise each day. This is a working breed so they are happiest when they have something to do and they love to get outdoors, especially for a swim.
Life Expectancy:
10 to 14 years
Grooming:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog can be easy or difficult to groom depending on whether you are showing your dog or not. If you are, then you should expect to care for a corded coat. This means that cords should be separated on a regular basis to prevent the hair from matting. Bathing should only be done when necessary but it is very important to thoroughly dry the coat to prevent mildew from forming in the cords. Occasionally, the cords will need to be trimmed to keep the coat tidy. If you are not showing your dog, then the coat can be clipped every six to eight weeks to keep grooming to a minimal. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and care should be taken to prevent ear infections, while nails should be trimmed once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Spanish Water Dog breed of dog is a very ancient breed of dog that is believed to have been developed sometime before the early 700's. The actual origins of the dog is unknown, but the main theory is that the breed was developed from woolly coated dogs that were native to North Africa. It is believed that these dogs were brought to the Iberian Peninsula by the Moors where they were developed into the dogs as we know them today. However, there is some documentation that the breed may have arrived with barbarian tribes shortly after the fall of the Roman Empire. Despite not knowing ho the breed came to be, we do know that much of its development as it is today is linked to the Iberian Peninsula where they were used for both herding and guarding livestock as well as hunting and working as fishing dogs. The breed has remained fairly unknown and it wasn't until 1985 that the breed was recognized by the FCI due to the efforts of Antonio Garcia Perez and Santiago Montesinos. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
